Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Low handicapper switching to game improvement irons”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from jasonTel3 – a low handicap player who plays blades but who has had his head turned by game improvement irons. According to jasonTel3, every ball was hit straight when testing out a set of Ping G400’s at a simulator, and he’s been asking fellow members for advice on whether he should make the move to GI’s.
Here are a few posts from the thread discussing jasonTel3’s conundrum, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- balls_deep: “My first thought is to say don’t do it.. but then if you’ve hit them, liked them, and the numbers were right, it could be a good option. A friend I play with uses G400 and they have too much offset for my liking. I also don’t like that you can see the cavity on the 4 and 5 iron. Top line is actually very nice for a SGI iron. I just read the Ping Blueprint article on Golf Digest where they were talking about how some players hit small heads better. I definitely fall into that category. That said, I just ordered a set of i210 to try as I had really good luck with the i200 and should never have sold them. Have you tried the newer I series? IMO it’s GI help in a players look with an acceptable sole width. Long story short though – if you felt comfortable and the fit was right, why not try them? If you don’t work the ball a ton, I don’t see any issue with it. High and straight is a good way to go!”
- hammergolf: “I’ve been playing Ping G25’s for 6 years. Still can’t find anything I like better. I can hit any shot I need to whether it’s my stock draw, fade, high, or low. And when I hit it a little thin, or on the toe, it still lands on the green. My thought is why play golf with a club that will punish you for mishit when you can play one that will help you.”
- azone: “Everyone has an opinion, and here is mine. If you are/have been a good ball striker with a sound mental game, your mind will keep writing checks your body may not be able to cash as you get older or don’t practice enough. Those “ugly” forgiving irons look beautiful when a miss ends up on the green, and you are putting– not in rough or deep in a short side bunker. Those irons won’t be AS ACCURATE as, say, a blade, BUT if you aren’t as dependable as in the past, your results will be better. I used to keep two sets of blueprinted irons; blades for practice and CB for play. I play with guys that have cashed checks playing…and they don’t care how ugly the iron is.”
- Jut: “As a decent player (and ball striker) and a sweeper/picker (I could hit off of a green and not take any landscape with me), I’ve found much success with the F9s (which, with the wide sole, are very similar to the G410 irons). In the past 4 years I’ve gone from Mizuno MP-68 to Callaway Apex CF16 to Ping i500 (a brief and bad experience) to the Cobra F9’s. For what it’s worth, the Cobras have been the best of the bunch by far.”
Entire Thread: “Low handicap going to game improvement irons”
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!
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!
- 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
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black TX 80 g
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB Wood Shaft 83 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), Bridgestone Tour B 220 MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 (46, 52, 56, 60)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 130 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X Mindset
Check out more in-hand photos of Chris Gotterup’s clubs here.
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joro
Jun 7, 2019 at 1:27 pm
Why not, they are more forgiving and easier to hit.
ChipNRun
May 27, 2019 at 2:13 pm
I have run into several former small-college golfers who made the switch. With a job, wife and young kids, they don’t have the golf practice/play time they once had. Since they can’t keep their swing “blade ready”, they find they shoot better with GI irons than blades.
Ed the clubfitter from May 25 says it all:
“… If I can get someone into an iron that’s going to launch a bit higher and improve his or her misses…now we’ve got something.”
Steve
May 26, 2019 at 7:26 pm
The feeling of flushing a cavity back or blade is half the fun of the game. I think the ideal situation is cavity back/blades for the front nine, Max GI for the back nine.
Dave Linkchorst
May 25, 2019 at 11:25 pm
http://www.golfwrx.com/374934/forgiving-irons-a-perspective-you-might-not-like/?fbclid=IwAR2TdaYpJY3l1_13ux0zOCVonU4t1bPl-4aGN8se_aK9pC_6RVaQLRaIRuc
Dave r
May 25, 2019 at 6:16 pm
The more forgiveness the better no matter your handi cap. Golf is not easy and we do get older and our bodies do tend to not rotate as when in our younger days. Sore knees arms etc need all the help you can muster up for them. I play to a. 5 handi cap and am 70 years old and I know it’s the clubs not me , I really enjoy playing the game and these have allowed me to.
And I agree with Mitch you sure do not need top of the line to play well.
ken
May 25, 2019 at 11:23 pm
I disagree.
One can compare two players of equal ability, give one the muscle back forged irons, the other cast game improvement irons made for mid to high handicappers and these two players will make similar scores.
Now, take two players, each of equal ability, Take one and give tto play forged muscle back irons.
The other gets the wide sole game improvement irons.
Almost a guaranteed certainty the player using the appropriate clubs will score better
steve
May 25, 2019 at 4:39 pm
Golf is not an easy game. Why, for gods sake, would anyone want to make it even more difficult than it already is? If there is equipment available that makes it easier to keep the ball in play, why would someone not use it? Ego is a horrible reason, but all too often it rears its ugly head.
Ed
May 25, 2019 at 3:35 pm
With the technology today, there are plenty of options for a good player who may not be the best ball striker…or doesn’t hit it as high. With irons, remember it’s about accuracy not distance. As a fitter I’m paying as much attention if not more on misses as the good ones are going to be …well, good. If I can get someone into an iron that’s going to launch a bit higher and improve his or her misses…now we’ve got something. This will without question lower your scores… As you will hold more greens,, you will maintain ball speed on misses and your dispersion will be tighter. If you’re hesitant on going to a more game improvement iron because of what your buddies will think, that will change when they’re paying you out for the skins beat down you’ll be giving them. Good luck.
Steven M
May 25, 2019 at 1:43 pm
The question is. Why wouldn’t you want to improve your game? If they’re going to help, it’s obviously a good thing…
Gary Oxenforth
May 25, 2019 at 12:52 pm
what is considered a low handicap? I am a 9.
nolongerKucherfan
May 25, 2019 at 3:04 pm
8.9 is a low handicap..golf is cruel
MattH
May 23, 2019 at 3:50 pm
The bigger problem here is the guy trying to make a choice from hitting off a simulator.
Turf interaction is a huge part of the strike and it’s way different in a blade to an SGI.
P
May 23, 2019 at 1:43 pm
Get the PSi
Mitch Stockdale
May 23, 2019 at 12:07 pm
I am 52 years old, a scratch player, and I switched to a game improvement club (Maltby’s) and I love them. I have found that having that extra forgiveness is nice!! There is nothing wrong hitting it higher and straighter. I can still play knock down shots and produce draws and fades when needed. The only adjustment I had to make was looking at a larger, thicker club head. It was an adjustment at first, but now no issues. It’s not what you play, but how you play it. I also went to a “generic” set of clubs after playing top of the line for years. I will keep my reasons why private because I do not want to start a debate. But I will say, I have saved a great deal of money and my game has not suffered one bit!!!!!