Edel SMS and SMS Pro Irons - 2023 Forum Review

[TSauer]

34 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

I dunno about the rest of the forum but I'm having a hard time keeping up with all the various tests going on.  Not complaining mind you, just saying. 

It definitely makes the work day go by quick! I’m loving it. 

[Contron]

Enjoyed reading through the intros! It’s exciting to hear how much of a change that 8 gram change at each position made during your fitting @Triple_Putt (also good job at paying the dog tax). I’ve heard multiple stories of that “aha” moment too, which makes me even more intrigued when @Getoffmylawnthrows the 6 and 4 into the mix. Fun times ahead!

[pozzit]

Great intos so far. Its interesting to see the comparison of @Getoffmylawn who has a pretty good idea of what he needs and couldn't get fit so to will be all trial and error and @Triple_Puttwho hasn't had a fitting and at least has a start to his path from the fitting. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

First let me say congrats to the testers. I will be following along. Secondly, some good intros so far.

[GolfSpy AFG]

3 hours ago, hartrick11 said:

Great start! Super interesting that they still use tip weights vs. just using the plugs to dial in SW. Did they get into why they do that?

Thanks!

I didn’t communicate directly with Edel myself so I don’t have an answer, yet, but I do hope to be able to track an answer down.  More to follow…

[GolfSpy AFG]

2 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

Good luck testers.

@Getoffmylawn, your setup is going to be really good for testing, but also don't forget on course. I wouldn't be surprised if one config works for indoors (mats) and the other better on the course due to turf interaction. I could be wrong.Also very interesting about them using tip weights and not the heavier weights. Maybe they wanted the bigger weight delta between the removable weight to affect CG and feel more? I know with my current MOI set, i believe their are tip weights in and I noticed I am more in the heel than I was before I got them MOI matched. Would be curious if their 12g weight in a 4-4-12 setup would be different than say 2-2-8. Who really knows.

@Triple_Putt, KBS tours are awesome shafts. I hope they suit you well on the course.

That’s a great point, but don’t worry, there will be plenty of on-course testing, especially regarding the turf interaction of the Pro’s.  My hope is to provide a Strokes Gained comparison at the conclusion of the test.
My focus with the sim work will be on the measurable impacts of the weights on launch, spin, and distance, but I promise these will get plenty of opportunities on the course!

[cnosil]

On 4/11/2023 at 4:14 AM, Getoffmylawn said:

and 1 degree strong.  (That will make for a gapping problem with my current wedges…more on that in another post.)

It will be interesting to see.  Hit the Edel the  other day in the players distance most wanted testing and they were a bit shorter than some of the other clubs so they may not create a gapping problem.  

[GolfSpy AFG]

5 minutes ago, cnosil said:

It will be interesting to see.  Hit the Edel the  other day in the players distance most wanted testing and they were a bit shorter than some of the other clubs so they may not create a gapping problem.  

I hear ya, but I’m coming from a 46 degree PW and a set GW.  No set GW in the SMS Pro, and with the degree stronger the PW will be at 44.  Either way I need at least a GW replacement.

But not to worry, already on order too…

[richk9holes]

One of the Edel testers should get this putter to go with their sticks.

https://www.rockbottomgolf.com/golf-clubs/putters/pre-owned-edel-golf-the-brick-putter/

 

[ejgaudette]

Introduction is up and hope everyone enjoys it. Can't wait to get things started!

[Bucky CC]

Free case of Coors Light with every club purchase?  It'll be interesting to see if there are any noticeable changes to the company over the next 6-12 months.

https://edelgolf.com/blogs/latest-news/edel-golf-under-new-ownership

[CFreddie]

2 minutes ago, Bucky CC said:

Free case of Coors Light with every club purchase?  It'll be interesting to see if there are any noticeable changes to the company over the next 6-12 months.

https://edelgolf.com/blogs/latest-news/edel-golf-under-new-ownership

I see blue accents on all clubs in their future (only when it gets cold, of course)...

[ACalling]

Great Intro and fitting details @Getoffmylawn, @Triple_Putt and @ejgaudette. really enjoyed what you all had to say. I can feel the anticipation building and I'm sure you are all ready to see how they can perform on a course with your personal set. Enjoy playing around with the irons and playing a...round with the irons (see what I did there?) 

Looking forward to the next updates

[GolfSpy BOS]

While we anxiously await shipping notifications I had done some shopping on Edel's site and received a nice package in the mail today!

  

Hopefully we all get an even better shipping notification soon!

[sirchunksalot]

2 hours ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

While we anxiously await shipping notifications I had done some shopping on Edel's site and received a nice package in the mail today!

  

Hopefully we all get an even better shipping notification soon!

That's a nice divot tool! I love the personalization and the laser milling marks. I'm looking forward to you guys getting the clubs in your hands and seeing what you think of them on the course. 

[ChitownM2]

Got my introduction and fitting notes up last night.  The waiting game is definitely the hardest part....I bought a new stand bag to go with the new clubs and it was supposed to be delivered yesterday but it's no where to be found and the tracking # hasn't updated since Tuesday .  

[ejgaudette]

7 minutes ago, ChitownM2 said:

Got my introduction and fitting notes up last night.  The waiting game is definitely the hardest part....I bought a new stand bag to go with the new clubs and it was supposed to be delivered yesterday but it's no where to be found and the tracking # hasn't updated since Tuesday .  

Sorry about the bag, hopefully it shows up soon along with the clubs

[ChitownM2]

1 minute ago, ejgaudette said:

Sorry about the bag, hopefully it shows up soon along with the clubs

Yeah something is goofy.  Purchased Sunday but it was on backorder until May 11, but then it shipped Tuesday morning however it only lists a 3 lb weight and it's the Titleist Hybrid 14 so it's almost a 7lb bag by itself so I'd expect shipping weight to be ~10lb.  Hopefully it gets scanned somewhere today and gets back on track.

[scotter032]

10 minutes ago, ChitownM2 said:

Got my introduction and fitting notes up last night.  The waiting game is definitely the hardest part....I bought a new stand bag to go with the new clubs and it was supposed to be delivered yesterday but it's no where to be found and the tracking # hasn't updated since Tuesday .  

Nothing is worse than the anticipation of new, fitted golf clubs to arrive!!! ESPECIALLY when it was supposed to have happened already and a round being had under their belt.... Hopefully they arrive today for you...

[ChitownM2]

1 minute ago, scotter032 said:

Nothing is worse than the anticipation of new, fitted golf clubs to arrive!!! ESPECIALLY when it was supposed to have happened already and a round being had under their belt.... Hopefully they arrive today for you...

I'm guessing we all still have a couple of weeks to wait on the clubs since the order just went in a week ago, but you're definitely right.  I can't wait to get started!

[GolfSpy AFG]

I thought I'd take a break from endlessly refreshing my email inbox looking for a shipping confirmation to post a little more on my current irons.

In the bag right now are JPX 919 Forged Irons with Aerotech Steelfiber i95 shafts, 5 iron through a set gap wedge, with Jet Black SM9 Pokeys bringing up the rear in a 54 and 60 degree (bent to 55 and 59 respectively).

As I've shared in my intro, the irons are rocking copious amounts of lead tape to put them all at D3 swing weights.  And, on order to audition as replacements is a 5 and 6 iron in the Edel SMS, and a 7 iron through PW in the SMS Pro.  I have other plans for the wedges at the bottom end of the bag...

 

[sirchunksalot]

1 minute ago, Getoffmylawn said:

I thought I'd take a break from endlessly refreshing my email inbox looking for a shipping confirmation to post a little more on my current irons.

In the bag right now are JPX 919 Forged Irons with Aerotech Steelfiber i95 shafts, 5 iron through a set gap wedge, with Jet Black SM9 Pokeys bringing up the rear in a 54 and 60 degree (bent to 55 and 59 respectively).

As I've shared in my intro, the irons are rocking copious amounts of lead tape to put them all at D3 swing weights.  And, on order to audition as replacements is a 5 and 6 iron in the Edel SMS, and a 7 iron through PW in the SMS Pro.  I have other plans for the wedges at the bottom end of the bag...

 

With the irons you've got in the bag, I think the weeks are going to have a tough challenge ahead of them. I love the Mizuno JPX Forged irons, they have a lovely profile and offer a lot more forgiveness that some would think.

@ChitownM2, I hope you can get the shipping straightened out on your bag. It's frustrating when something says it's been shipped and gets lost in the void. 

[GolfSpy BOS]

while we wait for our sticks to ship I thought it would be worth it to share a quick review of the new Edel tee shirts…

Soft, comfortable, didn’t shrink in dryer, sizing as expected, soft, soft, soft. Love Them!

#islandnotincluded

[ejgaudette]

Taking a great cue from @Getoffmylawn I wanted to dive in a bit to what I mentioned in my intro about how I will set up my bag when the Edels come in and how that affects my gapping at at the top and bottom.

Coming into this year my set up was actually about to be tweaked. I had been playing 5-PW with Mizuno 919 HMP irons with a hybrid, and 5 wood to fill the gaps at the top with only two wedges. This off-season I bought a set of Ping Glide 4.0 wedges in 50/54/58 and drop the 5 iron since it is 23°, more like a 4 iron, in favor of dropping in another hybrid at the same loft. This was going to set me up with at Driver 3W,  5w, 20° hybrid, 23° hybrid, 6-PW and then 50/54/58.

Well the Edels throw this right out the window as they are weaker lofted (unsurprisingly) than the Mizunos. So how to set up the bag now is the question. Tentative I am leaning toward going down to 1 hybrid at 22° or 21° to fill the gap as my woods are not adjustable being Callaway Epic speed models. If I had adjustable models I would be likely taking 3w down to 16° like a 4 wood, and then 5w down to 20° ish more 6/7 wood territory to better gap all those things better which hey maybe I need to think about some new woods to get that done.

At my home course this should not matter too much with only 2 par fives and I generally only tee of with Driver, or 5w or less. Time will tell on some other courses if that gapping is a problem. So till then the following will be the bag set up,

• Driver
• 3W
• 5W
• 22° Hybrid
• 5-PW
• 50/54/58
• Putter

Come on the bag needs some new shinny stuff,

[Triple_Putt]

How often can I keep refreshing my email waiting for a shipping notice for these beauties!  

[GolfSpy AFG]

19 minutes ago, Triple_Putt said:

How often can I keep refreshing my email waiting for a shipping notice for these beauties!  

The worst part is that I subscribed to their mailing list, so every now and then an email from "Edel Golf" pops in, but it's not THE EMAIL we're waiting on...

[GolfSpy_KFT]

10 minutes ago, Getoffmylawn said:

The worst part is that I subscribed to their mailing list, so every now and then an email from "Edel Golf" pops in, but it's not THE EMAIL we're waiting on...

Now THAT is the definition of cruel and unusual punishment 

[GolfSpy AFG]

And now another break from endlessly refreshing my inbox looking for shipping confirmation emails:

Let's continue along with the current What's In My Bag theme.  I've posted these pics elsewhere, but some of you have likely noticed I did't order a 4 iron in the SMS.  I thought about it to be honest, especially given that I'm not paying for it, but at the end of the day I've watched my JPX 919 Forged 4 iron collect dust for 3+ years and I just couldn't in good conscious ask Edel for it.  Edel's stock offerings for shafts are really generous (3 of us got Aerotech Steelfiber shafts), they've agreed to any grip including their upcharge options, and they're also including weight kits that would normally cost some money...I'm not going to ask for another club on top of all that that has a very low chance of getting used.

So, can I hit a normal set 4 iron?  Sure, sometimes really well.  However, philosophically I try to set my bag up for forgiveness...I try to game clubs that I can still plan on hitting confidently on days I'm not striping it.  So, I also own a Callaway Apex Pro 4 hybrid (to go with a 3 hybrid), but that gave way about 3 months ago to this...a TaylorMade Stealth DHY 4 hybrid with a Ventus HB Blue shaft (the real one with Velocore).

The DHY is a great blend of hybrid and driving iron...very forgiving, but allows for varied ball flights.  And, it's extremely versatile around the greens, punching out, etc.  Put simply, there is just no way this is coming out of my bag.  So, that end of my bag will go Callaway Apex Pro 3 hybrid at 19 degrees, TaylorMade Stealth DHY 4 hybrid at 21 degrees, then an Edel SMS 5 iron at 25 degrees.  (Yes, a bit of a gap there, but I'm very comfortable scrubbing length off the DHY.)

 

[GolfSpy AFG]

I'm trying to think of a way to describe the anxiety and excitement of waiting for a shipping email confirmation for these sticks.  The closest thing I can come up with is showing up at the hospital because the wife's going into labor, pacing around for hours, and then having the doctor tell you she's only dilated to a 3 and still has a ways to go.

So there's a little bit of insight into my sickly golf-obsessed mind...

[Josh Ross]

49 minutes ago, Getoffmylawn said:

I'm trying to think of a way to describe the anxiety and excitement of waiting for a shipping email confirmation for these sticks.  The closest thing I can come up with is showing up at the hospital because the wife's going into labor, pacing around for hours, and then having the doctor tell you she's only dilated to a 3 and still has a ways to go.

So there's a little bit of insight into my sickly golf-obsessed mind...

Hahaha, what a comparison. Hopefully the "baby" is here soon!