Hackzaw

I suppose my thought (and remember, I've never been properly fit before), was that there must be an "ideal" set of launch conditions. So for each iron, you're more or less striving to achieve a desired set of values in launch angle, spin, and ball speed, which over all translate to a specific distance. I've never used a launch monitor before, but wouldn't you be able to have someone swing each of their clubs, and if any adjustments are necessary, the launch monitor would indicate these. It would be kind of a quality control check. You know you'd have consistent spacing between irons. Do any clubfitters out there use a launch monitor for fitting irons?

Hey everybody. I'm going to be building a new set of irons (well not me, but a club fitter), and after buying 3 sets in as many years, it's finally dawned on me that I need to get properly fit to get the most out of my equipment. I've called a clubfitter in the area, and described to him I wanted to build clubs. He doesn't do this full time, but rather just as a hobby. He does MOI match clubs, so he's certainly a notch up on the cut and gluers of the world (i.e. ME!!). However, when I asked about about the use of a launch monitor, he said you don't need a launch monitor to fit irons. Is this true? Is there information that's useful when using a launch monitor for fitting irons? Would I shortchange myself getting fit without a LM? He did concede that a LM is very useful for the driver, and maybe fairways.

Hey Lew - I'm in the same boat. I've just received 7-AW in the 560MC's. I am going to be visiting with a club fitter to get properly fit for the shafts. But basically, I'm interested in a lightweight steel shaft (as if that narrows it down!!). I've also got 4-6 iron in the Wishon 785HF's. Same situation with picking a shaft. I just about hijacked your thread asking about the use of a launch monitor and fitting irons, but I'll start another thread to have my question answered appropriately. Enjoy the 560's!!! Wishon is just releasing their 2007 catelogue. I'm eager to check it out.

Call me a nerd or whatever, but I'm actually enjoying the read as we speak. I'm about half done, through the 4x3 sytem, and I gotta say, I'm pumped to put this to practice. I don't see how you could argue whether the 4x3 sytem couldn't benefit you. Basically, all it means is that you'll ACTUALLY know 3 specific yardages for four different wedges. I'm so keen, I want to get a laser rangefinder so I can accurately measure my shots, and put it to work on the course. Hackzaw

I forgot about one of my regular foursome guys....on the scorecard he shoots high 70's to low 80's. But his crutch is that he has never played the ball down. He tips it EVERYWHERE! I've seen him give himself the absolute perfect lie in hazard. I do call him on it, but it doesn't seem to change anything. I've told him to just put a tee under the ball. His response is that the course isn't in good enough condition to play the ball down. We play for sody pops after, so nothing much but when the three of us play it down, and he tips it.... And he almost always comes in lower than us. One time, we all agreed to play it down. By the 6th hole he had broken two clubs and was furious. We told him to forget it and go ahead and tip up if that's what it's going to take to peel you off the moon. Wild stuff!

I play with my stepmom occasionally, and she does two things chronically, that I just can't understand why: 1) She ALWAYS tees off with one type of ball and replaces it with a different type of ball in the fairway for the remainder of the hole. I could ALMOST understand teeing off with one type, and then if there were water protecting a green, then she might change it just so she wouldn't lose a nice ball - but even that's a stretch. Maybe she thinks her one ball is good for distance off the tee, but no good for some reason into a green - honestly, her level of play doesn't warrant changing balls. 2) She routinely tees off a couple club lengths in front of the tee blocks. I don't know - it drives me crazy. NOW, I play a fair bit of golf with a guy that cheats to an unbelievable degree. I think it's laughable, but if you were to ask what he shoots, he'd say he always shoots low to mid 90's. He's never broken 110 in his lifetime. He drives the ball 150 yards for crying out loud! But you know what, I don't even care. We played up at Taboo (in the Muskoka's in Ontario), he couldn't find his ball....out of the corner of my eye I saw him toss a ball on the ground followed by "GOT IT!" - Whatever. But one really sneaky thing this guy does, and it took a couple times to realize...on the green, when marking his ball, he casually throws down his coin...8" in front of the ball!!! Then when placing his ball back down, again he casually throws it down....8" ahead of the coin!!! He's instantly picked up 16" merely by marking the ball. CHEATER. I've never called him on it. He get's me free golf all the time.

I know these things have been discussed at length, and further the GPS vs Laser Rangefinder debate will never sieze...however, for my purposes, I'm drawn to the GPS tools, only for the statistical purpose. Ideally, I'd love to have both a GPS system and a laser rangefinder, but that's not only cost prohibitive, but time consuming, and perhaps overkill. So, if the choice were narrowed to Skycaddie or Intelligolf (GPS software on a PDA), what are the pro's, con's and preference for each. So far, in my research, it appears Skycaddie is just a little more refined to be an "on-course" aid. (Keep in mind, I've never actually seen or used either of these). If I'm not mistaken, Skycaddie shows the layout of the hole with the bunker locations, hazards, and proper shape of the green? I read about the rotating green feature of Skycaddie, so no matter where you are in relation to the green, the green will rotate and show you yardages, in the orientation you're facing. You still don't get "accurate" distance-to-the-pin position, correct? Skycaddie is strictly a golf-range tool; in other words, not versatile for anything else. Intelligolf looks as though it's key feature is the stat tracking ability. I don't know what statistical ability the Skycaddie has. I'm guessing, but during play, I think Intelligolf just can tell you the distance to the center of the green. I think you can enter custom points i.e. front of green, back of green, certain hazards, etc. I believe the greens are also just shown as circles. Intelligolf doesn't show layup positions per se, unless they're custom marked, I believe. But where Intelligolf shines is with the statistics, particularly, when transferring the data back to the desktop. Of course, Intelligolf is used on a PDA, so the cost is quite reasonable since I've got a PDA already. I'd need the GPS unit and the software, so it would likely only cost half as much compared to the Skycaddie. Thanks for any of your comments. As you can see, I'm undecided about each of these. For that matter, I'm still undecided about going with GPS versus a Laser Rangefinder period. In the end, I try to ask myself what I want out of the tool that will translate to better playing. Is it knowing "exact" yardage to the pin which would contribute to better playing (and I'm a 10.6 index, so I'm not that accurate, yet ;v])? Or would something that gave me "close-enough-for-my-purposes" to the pin, but which revealed the parts of my game that needed the most attention be the tool to get. Perhaps this is the distinguishing factor in the debate of GPS versus Laser Rangefinders is that it's dependent on how good the golfer is, and what kind of accuracy they need. I'm not suggesting that any GPS isn't accurate, but unless I'm wrong, none of them give the exact yardage to the pin, right?

Golfchief - Good concept with going to Golfsmith, only problem is that the Canadian Golfsmith is very, very different than the US version. The Canadian Golfsmith is strictly a showroom with a warehouse of inventory. They don't have ANY assembled clubs and no swing test areas. I believe our Golftown would be comparable to the US Golfsmith. What I'll have to do is go into the Golftown and pretend I'm interested in buying a new set of irons!!

Allin - I have been looking at the A-flex shafts. I was thinking it might be the right shaft for me. I suppose I'll have to get my swing speed measured and go with what the stats say. Colin - I was reading your post about perhaps reshafting your clubs and I couldn't help thinking you're in a similar situation as I. BTW - thanks for the Maltby recommendation. I checked out their site and it looks as though they make an iron which really appeals to me....the forgiving forged one at $10 cheaper/head than a comparable Snake Eyes head. Cmarkmyers - which Snake Eyes iron head do you use - I'm considering the 600 XC's. As far as the shafts, I do believe that once fitted with the right shaft (probably just flex), then the shaft starts working ideally for you. I know the regular TT DG 300's weren't working. They felt stiff. They didn't feel like they were "loading and unloading" unlike my wife's shafts. After I get my swing speed measured, I might make a prototype iron before making an entire set. Great idea to utilize the experience and knowledge offered on this board. As a community, we're all experimenting in one way or another and to share our experiences is valuable for all.

Hello. I'd like some input as to what is desirable in terms of the shaft characteristics when looking at iron shafts i.e. flex, trajectory, weight and torque. First a little history. I took a 1/2 day club making course offered through Golfsmith Canada. I've subsequently made a driver, three hybrids, and a complete set of irons. I'd like to focus on an iron discussion. I had been using Titliest 704 CB's with TT DG R300 shafts. I never did hit these irons any good and probably maintained a 15-20 handicap. On a whim, I took my wife's Lady Jazz clubs fitted with lady flex graphite shafts to the range. WOW!! I hit these like a dream! Obviously, the shaft was better suited to my slow (never really been measured) and steady swing. The R300 shaft in my Titliest were too stiff. The stats say the TT DG R300's are for a 75-85 mph swings speed, with low trajectory and low torque, at 127 grams. BTW - I used to hit a hard fade (some may refer to it as a slice!), and lose all shots to the right. I made a set of Snake Eyes Python irons (game improvement), using UST RV2 75 shafts (Reg flex). I do hit these a lot better, with my handicap down to a 10, but I'm still not convinced I've got the right recipe. The UST's are listed for a Regular at 65-75 mph, with a mid trajectory, low torque, at 81 grams. I still seem to be missing that fabulous zippy contact I was able to get with the wife's clubs. Oh, and the wife won't let me just use her clubs!! They did feel a little too whippy, but not by much. I'm considering making a new set of irons using the Snake Eyes 600XC forged heads, but I don't know what shafts to put in them. I'm considering an extra light weight steel shaft like the new TT GS75 which is meant for 65-75 mph, with high launch, low torque, coming in at 86 grams. I suppose the obvious thing to do is go and get properly fitted for the shafts, but I wanted to hear opinions about how to get that really zippy, pure speed out of a shaft. Is it the flex rating, the bend point (i.e. trajectory), shaft weight, torque? Thanks for your comments.

I've been playing with Titleist 704 CB's with R300 shafts for a second season now. I'm a 12 handicap with great aspirations to reach the single digit range one day, and I do play a lot. However, I do know when I'm out on the course I'd be lucky to hit one really sweet iron shot...you know one of those buttery, smooth, juicy buggers that feel effortless. And when I do hit one of those, I think to myself...so that's how an iron shot is supposed to feel. The remaining 22 or more iron shots never feel like that one. I often miss either short or right of target. I suppose the question I'm faced with is this....these irons are a forged cavity back, so they're supposed to allow workability but also with forgiveness, probably suited for the mid to low handicappers. Would strictly speaking, my iron striking improve with an even more forgiving iron....I don't even want to say it, but perhaps a "game improvement iron"? Let's put it this way, the thought of having to hit a pure 4 iron frightens me (don't ask about the 5 iron). I know I miss toeside, and sometimes take a heavy divot, therefore hitting really high on the clubface. Had I been swinging a more forgiving iron, maybe it would still feel like a half decent shot with reasonable success?