New Irons????

When do you know its time to upgrade yours irons? I'm currently playing with a set of Ram Concept without custom fit and kind of yo yo around my handicap.

Having bought the Taylormade R7 driver and a few new Rescue Woods I've started getting in my head a new set of irons would suit but I know how a new set can knock you back a little.

I'm not wanting to spend a fortune so I've come across the Mizuno MX-19 at £249, does anyone think is would be a good upgrade or just a waste of money?

Mark

Cheers for the advice reason i'm delaying is that I've got a holiday booked to the Algrave March and not sure I could bed a new set of irons in.

Christopher what is the process for custom fitting as like I said I've only had two set of clubs before without custom fit before but did notice a huge difference fom my first set ( dunlops ) not laugh!!!! to my current set of Rams?

Christopher if i'm not wrong dont you work in a club shop? If you what would you recommend for a set of irons in the range of £300?

Thanks for explaining that, the only thing thats put me off custom fit before is that it may disrupt my game for a period of time if I change shaft lengh/grip size etc.

Would you not recommend American Golf for a re-fit?

Mark,

I had a custom fit once at American Golf & it consisted of me hitting 10 balls off the mat with tape on 1 club with the chap saying "nice shot" even when I duffed it. All in all it took 20mins & they guy wanted me to spend £400 on a new set of irons!!

Compare that to the 2 hour fitting session at the Belfry where the pro sat & talked to me for about 10mins asking about my game, my goals, my expectations etc. Then hitting balls on the range while the ball flight was filmed with the launch monitor & then having the results explained to me. I tried 3 different sets of clubs, different shafts & eventually narrowed it down to the Taylormade R7's 1' upright, standard length, tempered flex.

The even better news was that the price was cheaper than Amercian golf & I got the custom fitting for free because I purchased the irons from them.

That's my bit of advice.

John. 

John,

Thanks for the advice, so did American Golf get your setup correct or was it just a bad job full stop with a lack of effort on their part.

John,

Thanks for the advice, so did American Golf get your setup correct or was it just a bad job full stop with a lack of effort on their part.

Mark, with you currently in single figures it is obvious that you can strike a golf ball correctly and that your current irons are performing well.

I very much doubt that any new ones will have the effect you want, and, I assume, that is to get lower.

I have had clubs fitted on the odd occasion and only once was I satisfied with the service and that was with a company, now not in existence - Petron.

The clubs that you mentioned are not really made for your standard of play. To improve below your current handicap can only be achieved by being able to work shots in either direction as well as high and low with consistency, and for this, I feel that only the pure blades are capable of this.

Myself, I am heading in the other direction very rapidly because the body is shot to pieces, so I have had to put my blades in the cupboard and am now using a set of seven year old Callaway X14 steelheads, which are so forgiving, but do not have the same qualities for shotmaking as my blades.

Hope you get what you want and that you do reduce your handicap further.

I enquired about a custom fit with direct golf and he said the same about the Mizuno's and recommended something like MacGregor M685 which work out cheaper as well.

John regarding my handicap, its getting bloody hard to play near to it nowadays seem to be around the 12-13 mark if i'm honest

Interesting that you mentioned the MacGregor M685's as they were a nice looking club and I nearly went and bought them when I was looking for some help with the irons, as opposed to struggling with the blades.

Fortunately for me I was offered the Callaways for £100 and, quite honestly., I love them to bits. Only wish my woods were as straight as I hit these.

Don't forget it is winter and the greens are nowhere good enough to play to single figures.

My game this year as been more up & down a little inconsistant really. I'm not one for lessons or spending on new equipment as ive only had two standard sets of clubs so kind of came to a decision that maybe custom fitting along with a new more modern set of iron would help a little

James,

As a starter if you buy a copy of Todays Golfer they have a Top 10 of most equipment including game improver irons. This should wet your appetitie, then when you have got a short list come back & you can ask for comments on those irons.

John. 

I bought a set of mizuno clubs and they instantly knocked 4 or 5 shots off my round. Might just be a coincidence but the feel and look of the club inspire confidence. Considering getting a set of Mizuno custom fitted next time as my scores have gradually improved over the last 2 years with no increase in the amount of play. Good luck and many birdies.

John,

I went to try the Macgregor M685's and I have to say its a solid club, maybe not the best looking inthe world but I loved the feel of it and they are only £179 plus £3 per club for custom fit.

All this time I've been playing with too short a shaft, too thin a grip and the lie 1 degree out

Just hoping this doesnt knock my game down a little in the short-term as I go the algrave in march

Mark,

If you buy from a pro shop the fitting should be free.  I suggest having a shop around before you buy as paying an extra £20 for the set but getting free fitting would work out cheaper. 

Chris,

I did think the same when they gave me the price, not sure if it was £3 per club for the re-grip but will check it through before I go further.

Also Direct-Golf is the only place i've found that stock the Macgregor M685 apart from several online companies in the US so i'm a little stuck

Or just go for a set of custom built clubs - they don't have the fancy big name brand labels on but the heads are made in the same chinese factories, you can have whatever type of shafts or grips you want and they aren't as expensive as you'd imagine.  My set were under £400 and included several refits to tune them (especially the 4 and 5irons).  Still, if you want to help sponsor a tour player that's up to you...