Taylormade M1 irons, replacing Ping i3s

[Blackjack Don]

Thanks in advance for all opinions. I appreciate the advice.

Problem: My much used and beloved Ping i3s need to be retired to the back of the garage. (Donated to Opportunity Village.) For the past two years, they've been on the receiving end of thousands of practice hits, mishits, reshafting, regripping, shots from bare ground, weeds and the waste areas filled with tiny rocks that are diamond-hard. They've done their job well. I can hit them pretty well now, under 90.

Solution A: After trying lots of clubs, I found the Ping G to perform best for me, until I hit Taylormade's M1. Not the M2, which I didn't care for--hitting rocks--and the 2018 clubs that felt the same way. Mishit blades, if you know what I mean? But I absolutely fell in love with the M1. It barely outperformed, for me, the Ping G. I hit a 7i carry 160, routinely coming to a stop around 170. This is a 20 yard improvement over my i3 7i. The Ping G carried closer to 150, but felt like nothing on most hits. Same with the M1, perhaps not quite as unrock-like. Ball there. Ball gone. It was close.

Solution B: New or used? I'm on a very, very tight budget. I'm the guy who paid $15 for the round you paid $65, so you know what I'm talking about.

B-a: How many clubs? I have a Ping 50 degree wedge that is my go-to club for everything. I can live with the Ping i3 SW. I have a Calloway 3 and 4 hybrid that I can hit a ton, but I hit my i3 5i 170. I have a significant gap between 180 and 200. I don't have a 5w and I have good above that. There's a difference between pre-owned 5-PW and new 3-AW, enough to pay for new mid-size grips and most of my summer golfing.

I'll figure it out, but I appreciate the advice. I still have to hit both steel and graphite to compare, which doesn't do much to the price of used, but adds another hundo to the credit card. Such a dilemma, but a fun one to have.

Thanks.

Don

[amished]

If you hit them well, I would definitely go for the M1s if they are the best fit for you and the i3s are no longer sufficient.  Personally, I would never buy a new set of irons and resort to only used ones if you have a good reputable seller.  The difference I can never believe is there in one years worth of technology change so the savings outweigh what benefits I can think of.

Personally, I think of my bag as different parts: my woods, my irons, my wedges, and my putter.  So if I'm comfortable with my wedges, they will stay in my bag until they're worn out and buy my irons around my wedge set.  If you like your 50, I don't see why you would switch...  I might consider switching your SW down the road since you stated that you can only "live with it" rather than expressing a like for it, but wedges are something that I feel you can get a one-of and not feel like it's out of place since it will have it's own specific use and feel that you need that club to have.

I think with the difference in distance that you're getting between your current iron set and the M1s that you hit, the 5 iron will not leave you as much of a gap as you had before, so the 5-PW would be the right choice given what you've put down.

[Blackjack Don]

Thanks, man. Lots of good advice.

I've been watching M1's on eBay. There was a set of 5-PW from a private seller that got no bids. It was relisted and for the heck of it, I put in the min bid of $285. And I got it for that. Not really intended to, but there it is. At least they are a hundred cheaper than the next lowest, and way under what they usually go for, even used. (I've been at least one rev behind on everything since early PCs, for value.)

I like the idea of thinking about the clubs the way you do. Wedges and woods are separate from irons in my bag, and My L2 putter ain't goin' nowhere! 

Off to Amazon for some new grips, as I need midsize. Standard grips roll around in my hands. For about $400, I get a new-to-me set of clubs and perhaps another 20 yards of distance. I think I got a bargain.

Thanks for the reply

[parman]

I just did the same thing, replaced some G25s with AP2 716 irons and love them. (Very good condition for 329) I hit them a bit longer than the pings and the cost difference was minimal since all this was done online. I was looking for some Spider weights and found Amazon to be cheaper and faster than eBay. Good luck with the grips and nice deal!