I sat thinking about the 7i thread and how misleading advertising is. People are duped into buy the newest irons because the are "longer". I use quotations, because "longer" simply means an increase the distance gap between each club, ultimately making you less accurate. Maybe "longer" is the right word -- longer from the pin.

So here is the question: If you're shopping for a brand new set of irons and money is not an issue, what are you looking for?

For me:

1) Forgiveness -- because I simply don't play enough anymore. I want more distance on mis-hits and less unintentional hooking/drawing.
2) Trajectory -- a lot of newer sets promote high ball flight, which causes a balloon for me, I probably won't like that set.
3) Appearance -- need to be attractive at set up because I can't stand staring at shovels.

Feel, and lofts that aren't all jacked up. I don't want to hit the ball further, I want to hit it a known distance.

Mizuno MP53 Ti Muscle
$300

[This message has been edited by Troutslime (edited 8/21/2014 1:07p).]

1. Mizuno MPs
2. < $300

1. Consistency (same strike produces same result)
2. Appearance
3. Forgiveness (not too concerned with this one. I'm not convinced that modern day musclebacks are that much more unforgiving than the cavity backs)

I don't really care if I'm half a club shorter/longer, although I guess it might mess with the gapping between irons and wedges.

1) appearance at set up, no matter what they feel like if they are fugly or too much offset I am not confident
2) trajectory-for me personally, I like lower hitting irons so the weight distribution high is a key for me
3) customization, if I can get the shaft and swingweight I want then perfect (I am spoiled by PING) some companies cannot do this

1.) Appearance at setup - little or no offset, thin top line, not a big fan of mirror finishes in the Texas sun (although Mizzuno blades look beautiful in the store and online).

2.) Feel and consistency - not always hand-in-hand, I know. But, I prefer forged clubs due to soft feel and have found that consistency often coincides with my feel. YMMV

3.) Playability, due in large part to bounce and sole width. I hate wide soles.

1) forgiveness. I'll work the ball off the tee with my driver on occassion, but I don't try to work my irons - especially now that my long irons are replaced with hybrids. I want a club that gives me the best opportunity for a clean strike with straight flight and consistent distance. Having two kids, being busy coaching their softball teams, and doing all of the other dad stuff leads to my golf game volume ebbing and flowing. So it's nice to have irons that aren't going to punish me as much if I haven't picked up a club in a month or two. I'm a 5 hcp so I'm not too terrible, but I'm very much a "keep it simple, stupid" golfer. I want something that will give me a little leash after a layoff, and I'm not going to ask for anything fancy even when playing a lot.

2) not overly rigged to cause high trajectory - same as OP, I generate high enough flight. This can conflict with #1 in some clubs because manufacturers tend to think wanting forgiveness goes hand in hand with needing help getting it up.

3) look/feel - not clunky/heavy. This too can conflict with #1.

I've played Ping i3+'s for the past 11 years. At least for me, they fit the combination of providing forgiveness without completely overdoing #2 and #3. There is some compromise required from me on 2 and 3 with them, but close enough to live with. I did get them with JZ steel vs. CS Lite to lower the chance of ballooning.


[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 8/21/2014 2:06p).]

All feel!

I could care less what they look like!

I think forgiveness is a marketing gimmick. Just my OP. I am not talking about different styles cavity, muscle and blade. I understand the differences there but within the styles I do not believe they can do much to truly improve your game.

If it feels good you will be confident and confidence is second only to a repeatable swing. (IMHO)

PS: Consistent distances should be a given with any quality iron. Inconsistent distances are typically due to an inconsistent swing. Again in my OP.

Definitely feel for me. I want to feel almost a soft "bass thump" when I stripe one.Can't stand a "clank" feel or sound.
My clubs are about 7 years old , Cleveland CG Gold irons. I love the gel-back feature.They might look funny but they have awesome feel.

1. Appearance at address, by a mile.

2a. Trajectory
2b. Turf interaction.
2c. Forgiveness.

3. Feel / sound.
4. Cosmetics.

quote:

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Inconsistent distances are typically due to an inconsistent swing.

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I couldn't agree more. However, I have been told that off-center hits with CB have smaller groupings on a spray chart than with a MB. The off-center hits I'm referring to are left and right of center, not fat/thin. Obviously, regardless of the iron you are playing, a chunk will come up short 100% of the time and a thin will probably fly (or run) long.

I don't know the exact numbers, but a CB is supposed to promote more consistent distance on a toe-strike than a MB. For example, a toe-strike 2 CM off-center would lose 10-15% distance with a CB, but would lose 30% distance with blades.

I do agree with your point though -- there is no set of clubs that can make up for L.O.F.T.

quote:

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PS: Consistent distances should be a given with any quality iron. Inconsistent distances are typically due to an inconsistent swing.

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Sure, but that's why the OP and I both mentioned it in the forgiveness category. Some clubs do not see their distance fall off as quickly on mis-hits as others. And again, like the OP clarified, I'm talking about clubs where there is distance forgiveness if you have a bit of a miss toward the toe or heel vs. expecting a miracle to happen when I thin or chunk a shot. Personally, I want something I can mis-hit slightly and not see a big fall-off. If we had perfectly consistent swings, then forgiveness wouldn't be mentioned at all.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 8/21/2014 4:57p).]

A little miss hit here , a little miss hit there , that's why we should all have a great short game practice schedule.
do you guys spend 75% of your practice time 75 yards and in ? We all should

1. Top line. Has to be thinner than average.
2. Feel of the head/shaft combo.
3. Consistent results/minimized spray.

Rocketbladez Tour with KBS Tour is still the setup on the market that best fits my parameters.