Game Improvement Irons vs Player Distance Irons distance

[Calibred_Golf]

I have a bit of a question and am curious what everyone in the community thinks when it comes to the distance variables of Game improvement irons and player distance irons. currently, I play Taylormade Sim2 irons with KBS 85 gram stiff shafts. I recently got fitted for the Mizuno JPX Forged with true temper 105 stiff shafts. With my sim2 irons, my 7 iron would range from 170-175 and it would stop immediately with a high launch. I went and hit my new clubs and my new 7 iron was going 185 and then take a small bounce and stop. 

Usually, I would have thought I would lose a club going from game improvement to player distance but I gained a club, why is that? Thank you for any insight. 

[Bobbers]

My first question, and I don't know the answer, would be what are the lofts of the two 7 irons in question?  There's certainly more involved, offset, perhaps swing weight, etc. but loft is the easiest spec to compare as a starting point.  Regardless, impressive results, congrats.

[cnosil]

50 minutes ago, Calibred_Golf said:

I have a bit of a question and am curious what everyone in the community thinks when it comes to the distance variables of Game improvement irons and player distance irons. currently, I play Taylormade Sim2 irons with KBS 85 gram stiff shafts. I recently got fitted for the Mizuno JPX Forged with true temper 105 stiff shafts. With my sim2 irons, my 7 iron would range from 170-175 and it would stop immediately with a high launch. I went and hit my new clubs and my new 7 iron was going 185 and then take a small bounce and stop. 

Usually, I would have thought I would lose a club going from game improvement to player distance but I gained a club, why is that? Thank you for any insight. 

Post launch monitor data and it could be explained in more detail.    

But the basic answer is probably that they fit you better, better contact, and you swing the club faster;  probably due to the 85 vs 105 gr shaft and its profile. 

Edited March 13 by cnosil

[cnosil]

Just now, Bobbers said:

My first question, and I don't know the answer, would be what are the lofts of the two 7 irons in question?  There's certainly more involved, offset, perhaps swing weight, etc. but loft is the easiest spec to compare as a starting point.  Regardless, impressive results, congrats.

If default spec, The SIM 2 is 28.5 and 37.25" and the JPX Forged is 30 and 37".   Kind of defeats that loft jacking makes the ball go farther argument.  

[revkev]

25 minutes ago, cnosil said:

If default spec, The SIM 2 is 28.5 and 37.25" and the JPX Forged is 30 and 37".   Kind of defeats that loft jacking makes the ball go farther argument.  

Shafts are very different - it would help to see data. Everyone is different and there no standard within those categories - generally the GI’s will have more offset and a larger footprint but beyond that there’s no real standard.  
 

Throw in changing course conditions and this is probably not an apples to apples comparison. 

[cnosil]

4 minutes ago, revkev said:

Shafts are very different - it would help to see data. Everyone is different and there no standard within those categories - generally the GI’s will have more offset and a larger footprint but beyond that there’s no real standard.  

Completely agree; that was my assessment in my first post.  

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

Post launch monitor data and it could be explained in more detail.    

But the basic answer is probably that they fit you better, better contact, and you swing the club faster;  probably due to the 85 vs 105 gr shaft and its profile. 

This right here. Without data it’s only speculation what is happening between the two.

 

[revkev]

Thinking of cnosil’s observation about loft jacking I’m longer with my Srixons than my Wilsons even though the Srixons are a degree weaker and 1/4 inch shorter - - fit and shaft I’m sure. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, revkev said:

Thinking of cnosil’s observation about loft jacking I’m longer with my Srixons than my Wilsons even though the Srixons are a degree weaker and 1/4 inch shorter - - fit and shaft I’m sure. 

Could be vcog location too and how close to it you are hitting as well

[cnosil]

16 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Could be vcog location too and how close to it you are hitting as well

Could be multiple things.  We were just pointing out that simply looking at loft does not mean a club will go farther.   Just real life example of the falsehood that loft jacked irons always go farther.   

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

Could be multiple things.  We were just pointing out that simply looking at loft does not mean a club will go farther.   Just real life example of the falsehood that loft jacked irons always go farther.   

Agree. Kinda blows up the loft jacking concept leading to more distance 

Edited March 13 by RickyBobby_PR

[revkev]

And that was our point, I think - 

[GolferXY]

Loft jacking is only part of the design of course.  Nowadays, companies like Ping, TM, PXG, et al, jack the lofts and at the same time reposition the weight to affect launch angle, descent angle, sweet spot...add in the new high tech metals being used for the faces...getting fitted is more important than ever IMHO.

All other things being the same, jacking the loft does give you more distance when looking at irons of the same composition, i.e., a Ping i530 in retro will not go as far as a i530 in power loft given the same conditions and swing.  Comparing iron specs of different designs only makes for TMI for the typical weekend warrior.  Get fitted. Shrug.