JPX 923 Irons Model Comparison

[Urrrshurrr]

Hi Everyone,

I'm currently getting back into the game after ~5 years away from it. 
I played a couple times per season in those years away, but it was a far cry from the ~110 rounds I played in the year prior to getting too busy to play regularly.

I currently have ~12 year old equipment and am looking to upgrade but am having a hard time deciding on which model to go for.
I'd like to try to the JPX 923 series, but am not sure on how each model compares to the others in terms of forgiveness.

I used to shoot high 80's to mid-90's regularly, but since starting back up I'm having a hard time breaking 100. 
I plan to put in the effort and practice to get my game back (currently installing a net with a launch monitor in my back yard), but I'm not sure if I should be looking at the 923 HM, 923 HM Pro's or the 923 Forged.

Although I'm aware that I need a forgiving iron set, I'm worried about the thicker top lines messing with my head when addressing the ball.  
How much less forgiving would the HM Forged set be when compared to the regular HM?

Thanks, any advice is appreciated!

[MattF]

I have the HMP's and could have gone with the HM's.

I would have a serious look at the HM HL or the HM's.

This a good video from Chris Voshall from Mizuno about the HM HL, HM and HMP.
 

One thought, I don't know why people get so hung up on top line. It's not like they're 1" thick.

[cnosil]

15 hours ago, Urrrshurrr said:

Although I'm aware that I need a forgiving iron set, I'm worried about the thicker top lines messing with my head when addressing the ball.  
How much less forgiving would the HM Forged set be when compared to the regular HM?

Thanks, any advice is appreciated!

What does forgiving mean to you and what kind of forgiveness are you looking for?   Forgiving is generally associated with loss of ball speed on off center hits.  It does not address or help prevent fat or thin shots or correct major slices/hooks. IMO, choosing a club simply based on its forgiveness profile isnt the best way.  You need to go hit the clubs and see how they perform in you hands and not worry about how they look but how they perform.

[KC Golf]

2 hours ago, MattF said:

I have the HMP's and could have gone with the HM's.

I would have a serious look at the HM HL or the HM's.

This a good video from Chris Voshall from Mizuno about the HM HL, HM and HMP.
 

One thought, I don't know why people get so hung up on top line. It's not like they're 1" thick.

I still think about top line and offset.  It’s just seems harder to aim for me if it’s too out of whack.

[Urrrshurrr]

Thanks everyone.  I watched the posted video and I've watched numerous other review videos online as well.  Unfortunately it's a bit of a hike for me to get somewhere to test a bunch of irons out in a simulator.

I should have been more specific when mentioning why I thought I needed irons with forgiveness.  Since I'm getting back into the game after a hiatus, my ball striking isn't as it used to be.  I still have plenty of speed and don't require any further distance, I'm just looking for something that will be less off-line when it's not struck right in the center of the clubface.  (Not concerned with trying to save shots massively out on the heel or toe, I know that's a lost cause and I don't deal with too many of those.)

If that's not what the game improvement irons really help, perhaps I'm looking at the wrong type of clubs.

As an example, I played a round last week with a friend and tried out the Taylormade M4 irons that he uses.  Although my shots with his clubs were decent, every single shot was producing a draw. (Not a full hook, but more of a draw then I would like to play all of the time.)  So I'm guessing that irons like that have too much offset for my swing?

I think I'll see the most improvement to my swing once I get some consistent practice back in and can keep my swing path straighter every time.

[cnosil]

6 minutes ago, Urrrshurrr said:

Thanks everyone.  I watched the posted video and I've watched numerous other review videos online as well.  Unfortunately it's a bit of a hike for me to get somewhere to test a bunch of irons out in a simulator.

I should have been more specific when mentioning why I thought I needed irons with forgiveness.  Since I'm getting back into the game after a hiatus, my ball striking isn't as it used to be.  I still have plenty of speed and don't require any further distance, I'm just looking for something that will be less off-line when it's not struck right in the center of the clubface.  (Not concerned with trying to save shots massively out on the heel or toe, I know that's a lost cause and I don't deal with too many of those.)

If that's not what the game improvement irons really help, perhaps I'm looking at the wrong type of clubs.

As an example, I played a round last week with a friend and tried out the Taylormade M4 irons that he uses.  Although my shots with his clubs were decent, every single shot was producing a draw. (Not a full hook, but more of a draw then I would like to play all of the time.)  So I'm guessing that irons like that have too much offset for my swing?

I think I'll see the most improvement to my swing once I get some consistent practice back in and can keep my swing path straighter every time.

Again,  as people we respond to what we see and feel when a club is in our hands.   Ball direction is a factor of both club path and face angle not necessarily the type of,club.   I can still hit a 50 yard slice with an SGI iron.  When I test clubs, I feel like I hit players/players distance clubs better and straighter than GI models.   If you’re not going to hit the clubs, what you randomly pick will be just as good as what someone else hits and gets forgiveness from…..basically It may or may not work for you. 

[Middler]

Here you go…

 

[GaryF]

On 7/10/2023 at 5:17 PM, Urrrshurrr said:

Hi Everyone,

I'm currently getting back into the game after ~5 years away from it. 
I played a couple times per season in those years away, but it was a far cry from the ~110 rounds I played in the year prior to getting too busy to play regularly.

I currently have ~12 year old equipment and am looking to upgrade but am having a hard time deciding on which model to go for.
I'd like to try to the JPX 923 series, but am not sure on how each model compares to the others in terms of forgiveness.

I used to shoot high 80's to mid-90's regularly, but since starting back up I'm having a hard time breaking 100. 
I plan to put in the effort and practice to get my game back (currently installing a net with a launch monitor in my back yard), but I'm not sure if I should be looking at the 923 HM, 923 HM Pro's or the 923 Forged.

Although I'm aware that I need a forgiving iron set, I'm worried about the thicker top lines messing with my head when addressing the ball.  
How much less forgiving would the HM Forged set be when compared to the regular HM?

Thanks, any advice is appreciated!

I’m an 11 hdcp and was playing 14 yo Ping G15s.  I tried many many different clubs then recently went through a fitting process.  I was thinking P-D clubs but the only one I hit consistently well was the Titliest T200.  In the end after hitting everything under the sun over multiple days with my fitter, it came down to the Callaway ST Rogue Max and JPX923 HM. Both had the same carry but the 923s hands down had better spin.  I just didn’t perform as well with the pros, and it wasnt even debatable. 

I can’t answer how much less forgiving the pros would be, but I don’t really see the top line being that much thinner.  But to get a better gauge, the shaft you choose will make all the diff in the world.  I’ve got recoil ESX 460 F3.  I received my HMs a couple weeks ago and am amazed at the spin and high trajectory I’m getting, and the higher trajectory contributes to longer carry.  

I don’t mean any disrespect, but if you are having trouble breaking 100, your issues are way more than the visual of the top line.   You might be better served first by taking a couple lessons and getting some swing issues fixed.  You might get some immediate and significant improvement which would then get you in a better position to do the club search. Maybe find a fitter that also gives lessons.  That’s what I ended up doing and I think it gave the fitter a better understanding of my swing and tendencies.  

 

Edited July 14, 2023 by GaryF

[Hook DeLoft]

I have a set of the JPX Hot Metal HL irons.  They work well for me because I need help launching the ball.  A high speed player or someone who already hits the ball high might find that they launch too high and balloon.  My club head speed with a 7 iron on a launch monitor averages 78 mph.  Not having access to a shop with a launch monitor and the irons you want to test can be a real conundrum.  You might consider a DTC iron from a company that offers demo irons, such as Sub 70.  By the way, I am currently testing the new MacGregor MT86 OS irons for My Golf Spy and find them and the Mizunos to be very forgiving on off center hits.  The Mizunos perform better on thin strikes but that may not be true of the other Hot Metal models.  Also, both Sub 70 and MacGregor offer hollow body irons with less offset that should be pretty forgiving.

Edited July 15, 2023 by Hook DeLoft
correction

[Urrrshurrr]

Thanks for the suggestions!  As far as lessons go,  I would definitely be up for that.  (I did take some lessons years ago, but perhaps the refresher would help.)  

I definitely don't need any help getting the ball in the air, so I likely wouldn't want the HL model.  And I did just look into some of the DTC companies.  Takomo irons look pretty decent for the price and some of the reviews have been excellent.

Being that I used to be a mid-80s scoring player, I think I'll spend a bit of time working on getting my old swing back before making any decisions.  Although that swing was many years and many pounds ago when I was in much better shape! Haha

[Bosox04]

Just got a set of Hot Metals with the Hi Fli hybrids to replace the 4&5 irons. The irons are good, but I don’t like the hybrids. The ball flight is much lower than my old 4&5 irons.  I will be trading them soon. 

 

[TG8]

On 7/10/2023 at 4:17 PM, Urrrshurrr said:

Hi Everyone,

I'm currently getting back into the game after ~5 years away from it. 
I played a couple times per season in those years away, but it was a far cry from the ~110 rounds I played in the year prior to getting too busy to play regularly.

I currently have ~12 year old equipment and am looking to upgrade but am having a hard time deciding on which model to go for.
I'd like to try to the JPX 923 series, but am not sure on how each model compares to the others in terms of forgiveness.

I used to shoot high 80's to mid-90's regularly, but since starting back up I'm having a hard time breaking 100. 
I plan to put in the effort and practice to get my game back (currently installing a net with a launch monitor in my back yard), but I'm not sure if I should be looking at the 923 HM, 923 HM Pro's or the 923 Forged.

Although I'm aware that I need a forgiving iron set, I'm worried about the thicker top lines messing with my head when addressing the ball.  
How much less forgiving would the HM Forged set be when compared to the regular HM?

Thanks, any advice is appreciated!

I know it is Obvious to go hit them to compare but please do! I got fitted for the hmp and was shocked.  They dropped my spin down which made my bag gapping yardages more ideal. And I was coming from a players type iron and the topline gets ignored the more you play them.  If anything it gives me more confidence that I can hit a great shot with a mishit.