Equipment

Forum Thread of the Day: “What happened when distance irons seduced me…”

Published

7 years ago

Apr 30, 2019

Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from Popeye64 who has been a blade player all his life but was seduced by distance irons which came at a price. Here’s what Popeye64 had to say on his experience switching to distance irons:

“I have been a career blade style player with pretty close to traditional lofts. I had some KBS 105s shafts in my MMBs, and I just didn’t like the combo. Maltby came out with the TS-2 irons, and I was definitely smitten with the clubs. Feel, ease of playing and wow…did they go far. I played a full season with them and had an excellent GIR last year but wasn’t so close to the hole.

GW was 120y. PW was 140 y, 9i was 158 yards… The issue was I was having to go less than full swing on a lot of holes or step on an iron to get it into a distance window. I am long enough off the tee that most of my second shots are inside 150. So having a set of MMB heads laying around I shafted them up with some Paderson Ts shafts. Love them by the way.

Putting them back in play and being traditionally lofted I now am at 58° 70 Y.. 54° 95 Y.. GW 105.. PW 120.. 9 135.. 8 150. I have been bombing the flag again with the much tighter gaps with the irons. But I’m still using the TS-2 5 and 6 iron. But I am also using MMB 6 iron. There is a 4° gap between the 6 irons, and it’s a nice fit.

So yes I was sucked in on the distance iron craze, but it wound up being a comprise in my game. How many of you guys have gone back to old school lofts?”

Here are a few posts from the thread in response to Popeye64, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

PowderedToastMan: “I think there are flaws in old school and new lofts. Lofts with the longer clubs have always tended to be too close together. I think a 22 degree 4 iron and a 48 degree PW with equal gaps in between would be the perfect set of irons (set of 7) and a nice blend of traditional and current loft setups.”
disco111: “Being a senior, actually a super senior, I have delved into the jacked lofts equation. What I have determined is that if you don’t have enough swing speed, the loft on the club is inconsequential.”
MaxRylie222: “Playing my 4th year, I used to fall for distance irons, had the m4 irons hitting 7 iron around 170-180 but switched to ap2 718 this year and my love for distance goes out the window as the 718 has traditional loft, now hitting 7 irons around 150-155 and very happy.”
FormerBigDaddy: “This is one of the reasons why I have a hard time giving up my Taylormade 2005 TP CB’s. Traditional lofts just make gapping so much easier for me: 48 degree PW and 22 degree 3 iron. The guy I play with has an older set of pings, and I think they play close to mine. He just ordered the new TW irons in the weaker lofts as well. I don’t think I’m losing much with my CB’s and I’m constantly lurking on eBay for replacement irons that are in good shape. Not looking to go stronger in lofts anytime soon. Couldn’t care less what iron I’m hitting around guys with distance irons when I’m smoking my driver 20 yds by them!”

Entire Thread: “What happened when distance irons seduced me…”

Equipment

Interesting clubs at top of bag – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, users are talking about top of bag setups that are non-traditional or thought-provoking in some way. Original poster @SuperSpurs106 inquired about other members who might use unorthodox set-ups to help with gapping issues or weak spots.

They wrote:

“I currently have a PING G430 driver, TM Qi35 3W and a TM Qi4D 7W. Driver and 7W are fine but can’t get on with my 3W and have always struggling with this club over the years. Thinking of adding a 2H which I know would look odd. Just wondering if anyone else had a weird set up at the top of their bag?”

Our members in the forum have offered up their thoughts and personal experiences with non-traditional top of bag set-ups, and their reasoning for thinking outside of the box to begin with. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

BowMain42: “Don’t worry about what “looks” odd. If the club does what you need it to do, it’s the right club.”
scooterhd2: “I cant hit 3 woods either. Thats why I roll with a unicorn XL Hibore 2 wood. 400 cc head at 16 degrees of loft and its just a monster 3 wood off the tee. Off the deck, we are playing the f6 baffler. 5 wood at 41.75 inches and its easy to control.”
phizzy30: “I had driver, 3 metal, 2/4 hybrid once upon a time as a higher ss player. 4 hybrid is gone and in place is a driving iron nowadays. I don’t think what you’re proposing is weird in anyway, however the yardage gap might be glaringly huge between driver and 2 hybrid. What is it about your 3 metal that has got you all messed up? You could always go 4 metal with shorter shaft and see if that works.”

Entire Thread: “Interesting clubs at top of bag”

If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!

Equipment

Members of the Mini Driver Club – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user has gone searching for fellow users of a mini driver. In a post, @TightFade asked for other mini driver users to chime in with their weapon of choice, the reason for employing a mini, and what club follows it in the bag.

@TightFade asked:

“What mini are you playing? What spot in the bag did it take over? What’s the next club after it? For me: Elyte mini 13.5. Replacing 3w. Next up club looks like it’ll be 5w.”

Our members in the forum have been sharing their own bag setups featuring the mini driver, and the various reasons they purchased one in the first place. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

RCGA: “Ping G430 Max 12* ‘Thriver.’ Next club is a 4w and 2i (I play a weird course).”
JMB3: “R7 at 12.75 with Diamana BB 63s. 3w replacement. Next Club: Elyte Ti 5w at 17*.”
ColdOkieGolf: “R7 15.5 turned down to 13.5 It replaces the 3w. I found it surprisingly easy to hit off the deck, and it’s very rare that I need or want to hit something beyond 250 from the fairway, so next club is my 7w.”
ChaosTheory: “I’m sub-90 MPH with driver. But I’m able to hit DOD. I have been wanting something like the R7 15.5, so I just ordered one. I have a spot in the bag so nothing has to go. But I could see it replacing my trusty 4 wood, which I never use for approach shots. Just tee shots and lay ups. If I drop the 4 wood, I will turn my 7 wood down to ~20 degrees and will have good gaps. I recently tried a thriver build: 12 degree driver turned to 14, with a heavier 44 inch shaft and added head weight. I hit it great. Very accurate and not overly high, but the problem was that it sometimes went as far as a typical drive. And that’s not what I needed. So I will probably turn the 15.5 up to 16.5 or even 17.5. It’s all theoretical at this point. ?”

Entire Thread: “Members of the Mini Driver Club…Check In.”

If you aren’t a member, join us in the GolfWRX forums today!

Whats in the Bag

Chris Gotterup WITB 2026 (June)

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Chris Gotterup had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Drivers: TaylorMade Qi4D (8 degrees), Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @8), Ping G440 LST (7.5 degrees)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS T1100 Handcrafted 6.5 TX 70 g, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Grey 6.5 TX 70 g