Hook DeLoft

I'd take the 145 every time. What I would really like is the ability to hit irons much higher than I do now, but that is a swing issue.

I signed up, but based on the above, it seems like something I want nothing to do with.

The one that worked best for me was a Ping i15 u wedge. I ordered the iron set bent 2 degrees strong so the U wedge was 48 degrees. I think the lower bounce from bending it strong was part of the reason I liked it so much. I could hit it high or low, draw it or fade it. It worked well from different lies. The real mystery is why I got rid of it. Just the usual club hoing stupidity, I guess.

I'd go with Bubba's. I would love to be able to develop that club head speed with the ability to move the ball that much. Also, I'm guessing his swing is easier on his back than a lot of other swings out there.

Wow. Them's some lofts! The longest iron I could hit in that set would be the "7" iron. The thing that really bothers me about loft creep is that companies have started using 5 or even 6 degree gaps in the short irons in an effort to cover all distances. And this is from a guy who bags strong lofted irons.

I really enjoyed that. I would have liked to see a comparison to the irons you fitted him in. It seemed his trajectory and spin with the New Level irons were a little low given his clubhead speed. Perhaps that was because the lie was too upright for him (?). Overall, very nice review.

In a few years they should be worth $2000 easy.

I have the same problem. The best I have used are the Winn DriTac. I still need to wear a glove in the Mississippi heat and humidity but I can go without a glove when the temps and humidity are lower. Another idea is to spray your hands with an antiperspirant like Right Guard and use sweatbands on your wrists ala Bob Estes.

My previous Ping G irons go from 5 degrees in the 4 iron to 12 degrees in the PW. Titleist doesn't list the bounce numbers for the irons I'm currently using, 718 AP1's.

Thanks for the replies. I suspected grinding would be a bad idea but I figured I'd ask. I may be wrong, but I really think high bounce is more of an issue for me than a wide sole. I think I could be happy with a wide sole iron if it had low bounce.

Occasionally use only hybrids or long irons off every tee. That would give you an idea how you would play longer courses.

I'm a sweeper with my irons, rarely taking a divot. However, I am not a good ball striker. It seems irons that are designed for the most forgiveness have wide soles and a lot of bounce. I keep going back and forth between SGI irons and more "players" style irons with thinner soles. The SGI irons work better on off center hits, but the wide soles only seem to work from lush lies. I find the players irons have much better turf interaction but are much less forgiving on off center hits. So, the question is: would having a clubmaker grind the soles of GI irons like the Ping G series to give them less bounce improve their friendliness for someone with a shallow swing?

Tier 5: Kevin Streelman Winning score: 270

I have a Callaway 9 wood, vintage 2004, that I use instead of a hybrid. I also have a set of Ping Eye 2's that I occasionally use. Otherwise, everything in my bag is probably no more than 3 years old.

I hadn't heard of DHGATE until seeing this thread. That led to a google search that led me into the nether regions of Chinese clone/fake/whatever club selling. I think it explains some of the stupidly low prices of new/nearly new clubs on ebay. I think the question is do you want to save a lot of money by buying from those people, knowing you are essentially stealing from OEMs? OEM prices have become outrageous but that may not be a justification. In order to get a new set of irons for what I consider a reasonable price, I recently bought a set of Maltby TS-2 irons from Golfworks. Quality clubs built to my specs with premium shafts and grips for well under $700. I recommend going that route or buying used from a reputable source.

Looking forward to your impressions. My swing speed is 72 to 75 mph with a 7 iron and I definitely need help elevating the ball.

Added trade options

I vote for Wilson FG17 irons. Classic muscle backs. Ones in nice condition can be found on ebay for less than $100. I have a set that I pull out once in a while. The most forgiving blades I've ever hit. VERRRY soft when hit on the sweet spot. You should know that the lofts are much weaker than modern irons. You will need to take one or two extra clubs depending on what you play now.

10.5 degree TS2 with Tensei Blue stiff shaft. Tour Velvet grip. Light marks on face and sole, otherwise like new. The face pic shows the face marks to be more noticeable than in person. Includes headcover. I can't find a Titleist wrench but I'll include a Ping wrench that works with this head. $375. I'll cover shipping and PP fees. Paypal goods and services only. Or trade for Ping G400 or G410 (Plus, Max or SFT) with regular flex shaft

I remember reading about a driving range exhibition Kim and Tiger gave together. Someone asked how they hit a fade and Tiger went into a fairly long explanation that talked about set up and swing changes. Kim said something along the lines of "I just think fade."

I took a demo Callaway iron to the course last week. The loft was supposed to be 30 degrees. It seemed to me that it was launching a little higher and flying a little shorter than I expected. When I took it back to the shop, I told the owner about my observations. He then measure the loft of the iron. It was 32 degrees instead of 30. However, this was a demo iron that people had been hitting off a mat in the store and was forged construction. It is certainly possible the lie had been weakened by repeated strikes on the mat. Also possible that it came from the factory 2 degrees weaker than spec'd. I agree that it would be great for mgs to measure the actual lofts of all the irons that are tested.

I'm guessing they are the replacement for the AP1's. I'm betting the irons aimed at better players will be better looking.

Tier 5: Cam Champ Winning Score: -11

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