What category irons should I be looking for?

[DStar]

I'm hoping to get a fitting booked in the next few months as I'm really getting into the golf now and seeing a more consistent score and I feel my swing is settling down to have more balance too.

I'm currently off 15 after playing (properly) for 5 months and I've come down from 21/22 pretty quickly. I'm playing much more and practicing a lot too. I want something that should last a good few years as I'm not in a position to change clubs regularly. 

Currently playing MP32's which I picked up off eBay so they're many years old, possibly not now correct loft/lie with old shafts etc. When I get it right they are fantastic, feel so good. I think I'd like something similar...but maybe blades aren't doing me any favours.

Problem I have is that I'm a lefty and there aren't many places nearby that do much for us wrong-un's.. 

Locally I can test Mizuno, Titleist, TM & Callaway. They've said they may have to try & get some LH heads in for me...

Out of those brands which irons would you think may be best suited? I'm hoping that my HC will keep coming down and plan on doing some serious practice over the winter with lessons too. 

Thanks

Steve

[Metalman070]

On 10/3/2020 at 11:09 PM, Buffly said:

@TxTwinDad+2 TXG had a great video about sole design and how it affects different types of players. 

Basically, if you can consistently make impact then game improvement designs could hold you back - simple summary of the video. 

Obviously, everything is player dependent and a fitting could reveal a benefit with different turf interaction or not. 

Check out the video for something to ask your fitter:

 

I have seen many of there videos however not that on. I am playing of at 11 HC now. I totally relate to what he was saying about the feel of the club sliding along the ground. I am experiencing that now. I will go in for a fit very soon. I am not sure I could get that on a mat? 

[RickyBobby_PR]

Whatever category and brand gives you the best results. Handicap has nothing to do with the category of club. There’s plenty examples of low digit handicaps with high swing speed playing GI or players distance clubs. AP2 and now T100 irons are the #1 irons played on pga tour and they are more in the players distance than players clubs. There also examples of mid handicaps playing more of a players club because the sole along with the ball flight work best for their swing.

Launch, ball speed, spin, peak height and descent angle are the things one should look at when choosing any iron, wedge, hybrid or wood.

Let the fitter get you in the right combo of head and shaft.

[Larryd3]

go into the fitting open minded and see what works best.  Let the fitter do their job and help you get what will work best for you.  Hopefully you will be able to hit them off grass before making a purchase.  I did my last fitting at Truespec and it was off mats hitting outside so I could see the ball flight.  After I narrowed down what seemed best, we went outside and hit them off of grass.  Worked our really well other than the price of the clubs, but that's for a different thread.  Have fun at the fitting.  

[DStar]

1 hour ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Let the fitter get you in the right combo of head and shaft.

That's the plan but I may need to see if they can get in some of the options as the 2 pro shops I've been to only had very limited options in LH. 

The place that does Mizuno only had a 921 Hot Metal, the pro at my club only had an Apex, P7-MC and a couple of Ping. Nowhere has any LH Titleist to try...although my pro can get them I believe. 

Just trying to come up with a list of some that may be suitable to see if they are available to try. 

In the UK we don't seem to have massive golf stores that do everything.  

[MWL_9]

Honestly, it all depends how you hit them.  You could probably go game improvement or player distance.  I was fitted at GolfTec at the end of last summer and knew I wanted to get into the player distance so I could learn to start working the ball more.  I ended up with TaylorMade P790s, which were on my short list of clubs I was interested in.  Another set that was on my list, Callaway Apex, I couldn't hit at all, which was surprising because my previous two sets were Callaway.  Ping and Mizuno were the other two in my final three. The Mizuno wasn't a surprise, but the Ping sure was! Go in with an open mind and see where the numbers take you.  Enjoy! 

[jaywelby34]

I would say don't go in with an ide of exactly what you want.  Let the fitter help you with finding the right club. The numbers and how you feel swinging them won't lie.

[RickyBobby_PR]

17 minutes ago, DStar said:

That's the plan but I may need to see if they can get in some of the options as the 2 pro shops I've been to only had very limited options in LH. 

The place that does Mizuno only had a 921 Hot Metal, the pro at my club only had an Apex, P7-MC and a couple of Ping. Nowhere has any LH Titleist to try...although my pro can get them I believe. 

Just trying to come up with a list of some that may be suitable to see if they are available to try. 

In the UK we don't seem to have massive golf stores that do everything.  

I’m not familiar with what’s all in the UK but from memory watching videos from rick and Pete there’s American Golf that has several stores with selections of clubs and I believe do fittings.

Theres just too many variables to say what would work for a golfer. 

[DStar]

1 minute ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

I’m not familiar with what’s all in the UK but from memory watching videos from rick and Pete there’s American Golf that has several stores with selections of clubs and I believe do fittings.

Theres just too many variables to say what would work for a golfer. 

There is AG and they do fittings. Nearest one is over an hour away and this is what they list on the website for us Lefties 

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

3 minutes ago, DStar said:

There is AG and they do fittings. Nearest one is over an hour away and this is what they list on the website for us Lefties 

 

Maybe give them a call to see if they have demo irons in lefty as they may not stock them to sell but do order.

Another option may be to find the locations for the fitting center of brand you are most interested. I’ve seen Chris Ryan go to the Taylormade one and poulter was just at the titleist one 

[Pandaman]

22 hours ago, DStar said:

 

In the UK we don't seem to have massive golf stores that do everything.  

Have you considered an independent specialist fitter other than a club pro shop?  They are probably more likely to have less common options.  Or maybe try Orka?

My experience with a 'fitting' at AG a few years ago was not confidence inspiring, felt more like I was being pointed to what he wanted to sell me, so I walked away and went the 'independent' route.

Whereabouts in UK are you? If you are East Midlands I can point you to the guy I used.

[DStar]

7 minutes ago, Pandaman said:

Have you considered an independent specialist fitter other than a club pro shop?  They are probably more likely to have less common options.  Or maybe try Orka?

My experience with a 'fitting' at AG a few years ago was not confidence inspiring, felt more like I was being pointed to what he wanted to sell me, so I walked away and went the 'independent' route.

Whereabouts in UK are you? If you are East Midlands I can point you to the guy I used.

I hadn't as I wasn't aware of any local. I'm not convinced by AG either as I know a couple of guys who have had a bad experience with them.

I'm in Malvern, Worcestershire so not too far from EMids. 

[Pandaman]

15 minutes ago, DStar said:

I hadn't as I wasn't aware of any local. I'm not convinced by AG either as I know a couple of guys who have had a bad experience with them.

I'm in Malvern, Worcestershire so not too far from EMids. 

Just checked his website and it looks like he has closed down, retired presumably.  I found him via a google search and several appeared, so they are around.  Some did seem to be located at golf courses, but not all of them.

[DStar]

5 minutes ago, Pandaman said:

Just checked his website and it looks like he has closed down, retired presumably.  I found him via a google search and several appeared, so they are around.  Some did seem to be located at golf courses, but not all of them.

Ah, that's a shame. Thanks anyway 

[fixyurdivot]

In answer to your question, whichever performs best at the fitting.  A competent fitter will know in pretty quick order which type clubs and shafts are best suited after watching you produce the baseline LM data. On the surface, the "players" category irons you're currently using wouldn't likely be in the bags of most 15 handicap players. But you could be an excellent ball striker who cannot drive or putt well (even with drop dead gorgeous putters ). So, as has been stated already, don't focus too much on the club categories.

From the list of OEM's you show as available, there are plenty of great options and I'd be surprised if at least a couple rise to the top, yielding better numbers than the MP32's, and leaving you in a conundrum as to which to choose. One challenge you might have is aesthetics.  If the better performing irons end up being larger profile, thicker top line, than what your use to seeing.

Then there is the decision on shafts.  Not sure your age, or any joint issues, but have you considered composite?  You might ask the fitter about this option if he/she dosen't bring it up.  Lastly, ask about your grip size.  My True Spec fitter did not ask about that but when I went to a Srixon Demo to test out the v-sole on turf, he noticed that my fingers appeared to be wrapping too far around.  He had me try a midsize and I immediately loved the feel.  All the little things can matter too.

Go in with an open mind and have fun with the process!

 

[dcherif]

On 8/9/2021 at 6:58 AM, DStar said:

That's the plan but I may need to see if they can get in some of the options as the 2 pro shops I've been to only had very limited options in LH. 

The place that does Mizuno only had a 921 Hot Metal, the pro at my club only had an Apex, P7-MC and a couple of Ping. Nowhere has any LH Titleist to try...although my pro can get them I believe. 

Just trying to come up with a list of some that may be suitable to see if they are available to try. 

In the UK we don't seem to have massive golf stores that do everything.  

I'm a lefty as well and recently got fitted into the taylormade p770 standard length 1* upright with kbs $ taper in stiff. I'm a 12 hcp currently. Prior to these I was playing 2007 Callaway Xforged with project x 6.5's and loved them. At one point back then I was playing to a 5hcp. 5 years away from the game and coming back from injury and the irons did not hold me back and I was at about a 20 when I started back. New clubs I went a couple degrees stronger because of age and injury and stiff shafts rather than xstiff. Honestly I could have kept playing the same ones, I felt I just needed a bit of distance help,(really didn't)  I'm still contemplating trying the callaway apex line maybe a combo set. I cant get an approach wedge in lefty that matches my 770's and I think the apex I might so that has me thinking. Yep callaway offers the approach wedge just looked through the site. My fitting was with taylormade at a demo day/fitting. They got the clubs right, and it took about 2 months to get everything in.

[Heavye1026]

On 8/9/2021 at 7:17 AM, DStar said:

I'm hoping to get a fitting booked in the next few months as I'm really getting into the golf now and seeing a more consistent score and I feel my swing is settling down to have more balance too.

I'm currently off 15 after playing (properly) for 5 months and I've come down from 21/22 pretty quickly. I'm playing much more and practicing a lot too. I want something that should last a good few years as I'm not in a position to change clubs regularly. 

Currently playing MP32's which I picked up off eBay so they're many years old, possibly not now correct loft/lie with old shafts etc. When I get it right they are fantastic, feel so good. I think I'd like something similar...but maybe blades aren't doing me any favours.

Problem I have is that I'm a lefty and there aren't many places nearby that do much for us wrong-un's.. 

Locally I can test Mizuno, Titleist, TM & Callaway. They've said they may have to try & get some LH heads in for me...

Out of those brands which irons would you think may be best suited? I'm hoping that my HC will keep coming down and plan on doing some serious practice over the winter with lessons too. 

Thanks

Steve

I was in a similar boat as you with not knowing what I should be fit for.  I actually just went last Wednesday to get fitted at a Club Champion here on Long Island, not sure if they're over there in the UK.  I went into it with 15 year old Nike Slingshot OSS clubs I had been using since senior year of high school.  So I was looking to get out of those and get something closer to a blade, with no brand in mind, since Nike hasn't made clubs in a decade.  Tried The Mizuno Hot Metal, Callaway Mavrik, Ping 425, and the Taylor Made SIM2 max.  Everyone's going to be different obviously, but I bumped up almost 10-15 yards with the SIM2 and had much better consistency than I didn't know I was capable of.

Long story short, I would just find yourself a fitter that will give you the most options and can work with you. Club Champion literally has 30,000+ configuration options with club heads/shafts.  Don't pigeon hole yourself to one brand, because you may be pleasantly surprised at what you end up with and what you'll be able to make the golf ball do when properly fitted. I went in looking for more of a player's iron, but ended up with the SIM2's which are technically a game improvement iron.  That and they look pretty sweet, so I'm not complaining.  To my wife's delight, I wasn't fitted for the most expensive club on the market pre-customization! 

Good luck!

[DStar]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! I'll do some more research into fittings and see if I can find a few other options 

[xostalacosta]

Guys, thank you all for the information! I've been looking for this for a long time