Next batch of updates and on course impressions:
About the issue with the shaft on my 9iron - still have no heard anything back from Srixon or KBS, but I kept playing it and havent had any issues. My read is that it is cosmetic as I have some similar looking issues on my road bike and the manufacturer says that it is cosmetic so I will go with that and keep playing.
About my golf game - been fighting a weird chest related injury after coming back from my golf trip so I haven’t been able to play as much as I would like. I am normally 27-36 holes per week with a few practice sessions as time allows but since mid-June, I have only been able to play 45 holes. After making the turn on Sunday, I had to bow out because even with the painkillers, I couldn’t stand the pain.
About the clubs - this is what everyone cares about so sorry about the background but wanted to provide some info for why I am slow to report out.
On the range: Launch monitor data is limited at this time but I am hitting these clubs longer than my previous irons with the same range balls. The ball speed is up across the board which I believe can be attributed to the loft differences which are about 1-2 degrees stronger on the srixons than my last set of irons. In the long clubs I am seeing dramatic differences in carry which is great since my long iron play has always been a soft spot in my game. The gapping fits much better with my 3 hybrid and 4wood than it did previously. I used have a nasty gaping hole from 205-225 that was sort of a no-mans land for me, however the 4iron slots nicely in there now as my 4-6irons have increased their distances between clubs.
On the course: well as noted on the range, these clubs are longer (all except the pitching wedge because I think it spins a lot more than my previous one - more to come on that with launch monitor data) so my gapping is a bit chaotic at the moment. I normally strategize my approach shots by following DECADE principles but that has bit me a bit as I keep flying greens. Eventually this will normalize as I start to build dispersion patterns with the new irons, but until then I am having a lot of fun with this new distance.
Feel and Playability: these irons feel as good or better than the 785’s I first feel in love with. The shaping and finish is great and I forgot how much I loved the turf interaction with Srixon’s v-sole and the fairways at my course.
Next Steps: as the recovery progresses, and now that I do not have much travel left on the calendar, I plan to get more launch monitor data. I will be starting with ball data at home with my monitor and then taking the monitor to the course once I can get back out there. Updates may be based on 3-hole loops I can play at my course because full rounds are a bit tricky until I am healed up. I really wish I could really hit these irons at lot more than I have been able to!