Forgiving Irons with Traditional Lofts/Distances?

[Tax Man Golfeth]

I'm playing S56 irons and Vokey wedges right now that are all 1" long, so they already tend to go a bit farther than normal. But on top of that, I have a high SS and am very long with these clubs (it's WRX.. go with it). That said, the Pings don't inspire confidence in me, especially the 5-6i. I have an older Callaway X-22 set, and I'd rather hit the 3i any day vs the Ping 5i. Unfortunately, the Callaway's are chunkier than I prefer in the shorter irons and aren't properly fit for me, and the Uniflex shafts are noodles. So are my Ping/Vokey shafts for that matter.

 

I'm looking for something a little chunkier in the long irons, maybe some offset, but I don't want larger gaps in the short irons, and don't want distance irons per se either. I'd prefer something that wants to fly straight; height is not a problem... all my irons fly a mile high when struck solidly, but help on mishits would be great. With some of these new GI sets, I think I'd test 200 yds with an 8i, which does me no good at all given virtually all iron/wedge shots are inside that distance and I'm already bagging 4 wedges.

 

So what are some decent options? Ping ie1 has some appeal, but are the long irons very forgiving? Are they materially different than S56? Other ideas?

[Enfynet]

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

[Srixon-Ian]

I would look into the Adams XTD A tours. I don't know how many you will find in +1 but if you have to reshaft you could buy a 3-PW reg flex set. They have a 46* PW and the 5 iron is a degree weaker than the M2 6 iron.

[SixSixGolf]

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

 

This marketing myth needs to die.

[darkhors]

I'd say the Callaway CF16 Apex/Pro combo set. Their long irons are easy to hit and the short irons are more traditional player CB's. Their forged with the cup face and since it's a combo direct from Callaway, they gap the lofts correctly for that set as opposed to buying 4-7 Apex and 8-P Pro.

[Enfynet]

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

 

This marketing myth needs to die.

What makes you think it's a myth?

[Bsgolf53]

They don't make them...you just need to get them bent to the lofts you want.

 

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

 

This marketing myth needs to die.

What makes you think it's a myth?

Loft is a loft is a loft is a loft...it's a number

[Tax Man Golfeth]

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

 

I mean traditional in the sense that when manufacturers say "such and such club is 1 club longer!!", and then the next year it's "1/2 club longer", so forth and so on, all they are doing is creating giant gaps in the bag in the shorter end, at least for stronger players, and I don't care what the manufacturers say about loft vs launch. It is what it is... a club that goes farther when compared with other clubs with the same number stamped on the bottom. If you're routinely hitting a blade-style Vokey 46 160yds+, you don't need your 8i to be "1 1/2 clubs longer!!!". However, being long doesn't automatically mean you're a 3+ HC and should throw a 2-W Hogan muscle-back set in the bag. A little help on off days or crappy swings or thin hits would be nice. Plus hitting the ball hard with a swing that's slightly off means the ball is going a million miles offline with my current set. I'm not sure if that can be remedied with clubs, but if so, I definitely need some forgiveness there.

 

Lower CG could help with thin hits, sure. Do I want a 24 degree 6i? No.

 

I don't think I could bag those XTD irons. They look frightening...

 

Callaway set looks sweet... I'll check it out.

[drake47]

combo set and adjust then lofts to keep the spacing right, if necessary.

 

S55, I

AP2 Ap1

Srixon 745 545

[Conrad1953]

They don't make them...you just need to get them bent to the lofts you want.

 

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

 

This marketing myth needs to die.

What makes you think it's a myth?

Loft is a loft is a loft is a loft...it's a number

 

Loft doesn't exist in isolation or every club with the same loft would

launch the same........and they don't.

[cyr67]

I'd suggest Mizuno MP15, 25, or H5. I own the 15's. They are all player-ish irons with more 'traditional lofts' (PW-46, 9 iron-42, 4 iron-24) with some forgiveness. H5's would be most forgiving. I'm not sure any of these offerings would be that much more forgiving than your 56's, though.

[Conrad1953]

I'm playing S56 irons and Vokey wedges right now that are all 1" long, so they already tend to go a bit farther than normal. But on top of that, I have a high SS and am very long with these clubs (it's WRX.. go with it). That said, the Pings don't inspire confidence in me, especially the 5-6i. I have an older Callaway X-22 set, and I'd rather hit the 3i any day vs the Ping 5i. Unfortunately, the Callaway's are chunkier than I prefer in the shorter irons and aren't properly fit for me, and the Uniflex shafts are noodles. So are my Ping/Vokey shafts for that matter.

 

I'm looking for something a little chunkier in the long irons, maybe some offset, but I don't want larger gaps in the short irons, and don't want distance irons per se either. I'd prefer something that wants to fly straight; height is not a problem... all my irons fly a mile high when struck solidly, but help on mishits would be great. With some of these new GI sets, I think I'd test 200 yds with an 8i, which does me no good at all given virtually all iron/wedge shots are inside that distance and I'm already bagging 4 wedges.

 

So what are some decent options? Ping ie1 has some appeal, but are the long irons very forgiving? Are they materially different than S56? Other ideas?

 

The i series Pings are somewhat of a combo set without exactly looking like

one, based on the design that launches the long irons higher and the short irons

lower.......but the S series has this feature as well.

 

The reason most people struggle with longer irons is lack of swing speed so

since you have lots of speed it could just be a mental thing. I'm not saying it

is but it seems to me if you just take the same swing with the 4 iron that you do

with the 7 iron you should be fine, since you have adequate speed to launch

the 4 iron properly.

[SixSixGolf]

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

 

This marketing myth needs to die.

What makes you think it's a myth?

 

Lower lofted "high launching" GI irons have been busted by trackman. They don't launch any higher. Launch is just a function of strike and the dynamic loft delivered by the player. Golf clubs aren't magic.

[Golf64]

Ping I are a great choice OP. AP2, MP25, Apex pros would other good choices. ;)

[Enfynet]

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

 

This marketing myth needs to die.

What makes you think it's a myth?

 

Lower lofted "high launching" GI irons have been busted by trackman. They don't launch any higher. Launch is just a function of strike and the dynamic loft delivered by the player. Golf clubs aren't magic.

And the deeper, low CG irons will have a higher dynamic loft and more gear effect at impact. It's not magic, it's physics. If you put "traditional" lofts on these low-deep GI irons, you will have much higher ball flight.

 

If you want traditional lofts on forgiving irons without the increased ball flight, you are going to need something with more weighting along the topline of the club.

[Bunkersarebigcups]

Mizuno MP H5s, Wilson Fg Tour F5s (If you dislike the larger sized short irons they do pair up niceley with the V4s)

[SixSixGolf]

I think you need to specify what you mean by traditional. Lower CoG cavity irons have lowered lofts to avoid launching too high.

 

This marketing myth needs to die.

What makes you think it's a myth?

 

Lower lofted "high launching" GI irons have been busted by trackman. They don't launch any higher. Launch is just a function of strike and the dynamic loft delivered by the player. Golf clubs aren't magic.

And the deeper, low CG irons will have a higher dynamic loft and more gear effect at impact. It's not magic, it's physics. If you put "traditional" lofts on these low-deep GI irons, you will have much higher ball flight.

 

If you want traditional lofts on forgiving irons without the increased ball flight, you are going to need something with more weighting along the topline of the club.

 

You obviously don't understand what dynamic loft is.

[Enfynet]

I'm pretty sure the consensus is this:

 

Dynamic Loft is the amount of loft on the club face at impact and is measured relative to the horizon.

[Tax Man Golfeth]

I'm playing S56 irons and Vokey wedges right now that are all 1" long, so they already tend to go a bit farther than normal. But on top of that, I have a high SS and am very long with these clubs (it's WRX.. go with it). That said, the Pings don't inspire confidence in me, especially the 5-6i. I have an older Callaway X-22 set, and I'd rather hit the 3i any day vs the Ping 5i. Unfortunately, the Callaway's are chunkier than I prefer in the shorter irons and aren't properly fit for me, and the Uniflex shafts are noodles. So are my Ping/Vokey shafts for that matter.

 

I'm looking for something a little chunkier in the long irons, maybe some offset, but I don't want larger gaps in the short irons, and don't want distance irons per se either. I'd prefer something that wants to fly straight; height is not a problem... all my irons fly a mile high when struck solidly, but help on mishits would be great. With some of these new GI sets, I think I'd test 200 yds with an 8i, which does me no good at all given virtually all iron/wedge shots are inside that distance and I'm already bagging 4 wedges.

 

So what are some decent options? Ping ie1 has some appeal, but are the long irons very forgiving? Are they materially different than S56? Other ideas?

 

The i series Pings are somewhat of a combo set without exactly looking like

one, based on the design that launches the long irons higher and the short irons

lower.......but the S series has this feature as well.

 

The reason most people struggle with longer irons is lack of swing speed so

since you have lots of speed it could just be a mental thing. I'm not saying it

is but it seems to me if you just take the same swing with the 4 iron that you do

with the 7 iron you should be fine, since you have adequate speed to launch

the 4 iron properly.

 

Ping I are a great choice OP. AP2, MP25, Apex pros would other good choices. ;)

 

Mizuno MP H5s, Wilson Fg Tour F5s (If you dislike the larger sized short irons they do pair up nicely with the V4s)

 

Thanks guys. Something a touch larger than the S56 in the short irons would be fine, and significantly larger in the long irons is what I'm thinking of. If money was on the line and I'm getting judged based on accuracy, I'd bet on hitting a target with that X-22 3i before I bet on hitting a target with my S56 5i, so there's something going on besides CHS. 5i just looks small and feels like it's not going to square itself; the shot will either be spectacular or awful. Usually awful.

 

Ping ie1 is definitely on my short list, as the lofts are basically the same as my S56 (which I forgot to mention are a degree strong... a craigslist "find"), but GG does all their fittings based off a single iron (6/7) and since I need lengthened clubs, I won't have a chance to really test out the longer irons to see if they are point and shoot straight or not.

 

AP2 seems remarkably similar to S56 to my eye, and some of those Mizzys seem like they'd be a similar profile, but I'll take a look next time I'm in the store. ...Never hit a Wilson; I'll take a look.

[SixSixGolf]

I'm pretty sure the consensus is this:

 

Dynamic Loft is the amount of loft on the club face at impact and is measured relative to the horizon.

 

So explain to me how two clubs present different dynamic lofts with the same static loft and identical swings.

[Nessism]

Ping i-series have a progressive blade length; long iron heads have a longer blade than the short irons. The i's are more forgiving than the S's while not looking overly chunky. Within Ping's pro staffers (all tours) the i's are the most popular clubs they make.

[bigmoneyp]

Rocketbladez Tour

47* pitching wedge.

[Pepperturbo]

I'm playing S56 irons and Vokey wedges right now that are all 1" long, so they already tend to go a bit farther than normal. But on top of that, I have a high SS and am very long with these clubs (it's WRX.. go with it). That said, the Pings don't inspire confidence in me, especially the 5-6i. I have an older Callaway X-22 set, and I'd rather hit the 3i any day vs the Ping 5i. Unfortunately, the Callaway's are chunkier than I prefer in the shorter irons and aren't properly fit for me, and the Uniflex shafts are noodles. So are my Ping/Vokey shafts for that matter.

 

I'm looking for something a little chunkier in the long irons, maybe some offset, but I don't want larger gaps in the short irons, and don't want distance irons per se either. I'd prefer something that wants to fly straight; height is not a problem... all my irons fly a mile high when struck solidly, but help on mishits would be great. With some of these new GI sets, I think I'd test 200 yds with an 8i, which does me no good at all given virtually all iron/wedge shots are inside that distance and I'm already bagging 4 wedges.

 

So what are some decent options? Ping ie1 has some appeal, but are the long irons very forgiving? Are they materially different than S56? Other ideas?

 

Forgiving irons are for people that need deep CB design and offset to forgive off-center strikes and help getting ball airborne, as well as stronger lofts for distance. There is nothing traditional about any of those attributes. Finding clubs with more traditional lofts with those attributes isn't likey to happen today. Also, Pings S56 irons generally are for better golfers.

[Enfynet]

I'm pretty sure the consensus is this:

 

Dynamic Loft is the amount of loft on the club face at impact and is measured relative to the horizon.

 

So explain to me how two clubs present different dynamic lofts with the same static loft and identical swings.

Face rotation during the swing as a result of the CG trying to align itself with the acceleration of the shaft. Combine that movement with the change in gear effect, and you will alter the ball flight/trajectory. As it is, the OP mentioned hitting the ball high naturally, so the newer GI clubs will just increase his ball flight.

[SixSixGolf]

If the face rotates then you're changing dynamic loft not the club. You're just spewing marketing buzzwords to try and dance around the fact that you have no idea what you're talking about.

[Enfynet]

You just asked how two clubs with the same static loft can present different dynamic lofts. That is called changing the dynamic loft. How are you not getting this?

[Tax Man Golfeth]

I'm pretty sure the consensus is this:

 

Dynamic Loft is the amount of loft on the club face at impact and is measured relative to the horizon.

 

So explain to me how two clubs present different dynamic lofts with the same static loft and identical swings.

Face rotation during the swing as a result of the CG trying to align itself with the acceleration of the shaft. Combine that movement with the change in gear effect, and you will alter the ball flight/trajectory. As it is, the OP mentioned hitting the ball high naturally, so the newer GI clubs will just increase his ball flight.

 

So if the CG is farther back in the head as in an SGI iron (and if there's offset, which would move it further back), that would make the club want to square up faster through the hitting area?

[TravisG]

I'm playing S56 irons and Vokey wedges right now that are all 1" long, so they already tend to go a bit farther than normal. But on top of that, I have a high SS and am very long with these clubs (it's WRX.. go with it). That said, the Pings don't inspire confidence in me, especially the 5-6i. I have an older Callaway X-22 set, and I'd rather hit the 3i any day vs the Ping 5i. Unfortunately, the Callaway's are chunkier than I prefer in the shorter irons and aren't properly fit for me, and the Uniflex shafts are noodles. So are my Ping/Vokey shafts for that matter.

 

I'm looking for something a little chunkier in the long irons, maybe some offset, but I don't want larger gaps in the short irons, and don't want distance irons per se either. I'd prefer something that wants to fly straight; height is not a problem... all my irons fly a mile high when struck solidly, but help on mishits would be great. With some of these new GI sets, I think I'd test 200 yds with an 8i, which does me no good at all given virtually all iron/wedge shots are inside that distance and I'm already bagging 4 wedges.

 

So what are some decent options? Ping ie1 has some appeal, but are the long irons very forgiving? Are they materially different than S56? Other ideas?

 

I picked up a set of PING I's and play to a 6-7. The 4/5/6 are very easy to hit, more so than my 2011 TP CBs and similar to the Mizuno JPX 850 cast I was testing. Being much smaller than the JPX 850 I was surprised with how forgiving they are. Maltby numbers aren't the end all be all but they scored well for C-DIMM and MOI for their size.

[Enfynet]

I'm pretty sure the consensus is this:

 

Dynamic Loft is the amount of loft on the club face at impact and is measured relative to the horizon.

 

So explain to me how two clubs present different dynamic lofts with the same static loft and identical swings.

Face rotation during the swing as a result of the CG trying to align itself with the acceleration of the shaft. Combine that movement with the change in gear effect, and you will alter the ball flight/trajectory. As it is, the OP mentioned hitting the ball high naturally, so the newer GI clubs will just increase his ball flight.

 

So if the CG is farther back in the head as in an SGI iron (and if there's offset, which would move it further back), that would make the club want to square up faster through the hitting area?

In a sense, yes. Because the club will rotate about the CG, this will push the leading edge of the toe forward a bit during the swing. This will increase dynamic loft and assist in closing the clubface. Players that struggle with a slice might find this beneficial.

[Tax Man Golfeth]

 

Face rotation during the swing as a result of the CG trying to align itself with the acceleration of the shaft. Combine that movement with the change in gear effect, and you will alter the ball flight/trajectory. As it is, the OP mentioned hitting the ball high naturally, so the newer GI clubs will just increase his ball flight.

 

So if the CG is farther back in the head as in an SGI iron (and if there's offset, which would move it further back), that would make the club want to square up faster through the hitting area?

In a sense, yes. Because the club will rotate about the CG, this will push the leading edge of the toe forward a bit during the swing. This will increase dynamic loft and assist in closing the clubface. Players that struggle with a slice might find this beneficial.

 

Ah. Hooks, overdraws and blocks are my misses this year; path gets miles to the right if I'm not careful. Trying to eliminate hip slide/right shoulder down move and cover the ball more. Ball flight really straightens out then, but still draws.

 

At any rate, the S56 5i just feels unstable like it's offering no help. Curious though that the S56 scored similarly to the ie1s in the Maltby rankings...

 

 

 

I picked up a set of PING I's and play to a 6-7. The 4/5/6 are very easy to hit, more so than my 2011 TP CBs and similar to the Mizuno JPX 850 cast I was testing. Being much smaller than the JPX 850 I was surprised with how forgiving they are. Maltby numbers aren't the end all be all but they scored well for C-DIMM and MOI for their size.