Titleist DCI-990 modern equivalent?

[Ireland2]

I’m a 5 handicap who has played these for 20 years (note they are not the 990b’s, these are just 990’s). Loved them.

 

Just been fitted for Taylormade P-790’s and just a little concerned I’m going to lose a little feel / workability.

 

Is there a club at around the same players level as the old 990? I’m assuming the 620CB is a harder club to hit? Even the T-100s?

 

Other brands?

 

Consistency with ball strike has definitely got a little less as I’ve got older.

 

Thanks

[968cab]

I like a step back from the 790s…I play the P760 which aren’t made any longer, but the current P7MC is close. JMO, but more controllable than the 790, less sole width for sure. 
 

Ive always preferred the cavity back type iron, DCI and Hogan Edge back in the day.  

[ThinkingPlus]

You could add the Cally Apex 21 Pro and Srixon ZX-7 to your list.  Both should be comparable to the DCI 990s.  Not sure whether the latest Titleist offerings would compare well.

[swgolf12]

I forget which generation but I think by 716 AP2 they were more forgiving than the original AP1.  The current Titleist 620 CB with the tungsten in the longer irons will be more forgiving than the 990's. If you want even more forgiveness get T100.

[Ireland2]

Thanks for the replies…

 

Surprises me that the 620CB’s might be as / more forgiving than the 990’s. They seem a bit smaller, as do the T-100’s for that matter.

 

I hit the T-100’s well but can see myself having a nightmare on a low confidence day.

 

If the P790’s just feel too chunky (less workable), I could pick up a set of cheaper 716CB or 718CB’s also. Seems a bit extravagant though!

Edited September 15, 2021 by Ireland2

[steventoo]

1 hour ago, Ireland2 said:

I hit the T-100’s well but can see myself having a nightmare on a low confidence day.

 

I've had the 2019 T100's for a few years and I'm moving to the 2021 T100S' - they might look a bit scary but they are really easy to hit. I think they're more forgiving than the Titleist 755's, which I played from new in 2007 until I replaced them with the T100's. The 755's look more forgiving, but the T100 tech blows them out of the water.

 

I had some 990's when I was a kid and the 755's were a revelation of both playability and forgiveness after them.

 

The 620CB's are absolutely fantastic irons if you can control the spin, but they're even more of a nightmare on a low confidence day than the T100's. 

Edited September 15, 2021 by steventoo

[iknowbagu]

The 990s are firmly in my top 3 irons of all time.  Possibly the most underrated Titleist iron ever.  I still have 2-P in my garage and I will literally never let them go.  I take them out once or twice a year just for nostalgia.

 

Give the 620CB a chance.  Titleist nailed it with that one.

[webwarmiller]

I wish Titleist still made cast player's clubs.   Played a mixed set of 962/962B for years (still own them) and they are indestructible just like those 990s you played for 20 years. 

[Thayneil]

On 9/14/2021 at 7:14 PM, Ireland2 said:

I’m a 5 handicap who has played these for 20 years (note they are not the 990b’s, these are just 990’s). Loved them.

 

Just been fitted for Taylormade P-790’s and just a little concerned I’m going to lose a little feel / workability.

 

Is there a club at around the same players level as the old 990? I’m assuming the 620CB is a harder club to hit? Even the T-100s?

 

Other brands?

 

Consistency with ball strike has definitely got a little less as I’ve got older.

 

Thanks

keep the 990s

 

maybe deloft a touch check lies and  grips

 

your good for another 20

[kved]

I was a die hard 990 user from the early thousands to 2014.  Used Apex pros and loved the distance gain but they were just too hot sometimes.  

 

Found the Mizuno MP18SC's not long ago and absolutely love them.  Hit them just as far as the apex pros and found playability and distance reliability to be spot on.  

[Valtiel]

14 hours ago, Ireland2 said:

Surprises me that the 620CB’s might be as / more forgiving than the 990’s. They seem a bit smaller, as do the T-100’s for that matter.

This is the big difference between older and newer iron tech, especially with Titleist. Forgiveness in a compact player's package thanks to perimeter Tungsten weighting. From an MOI standpoint, the original 990 is basically the same as a modern blade, whereas the T100 is actually more similar to a game improvement iron. Very high MOI even for a chunkier iron, let alone a compact one. Separating the idea of size = forgiveness is tough though, and it is easy to still get psyched out looking at a small club. Some of the older AP2's would be a fine compromise there, especially the 714. 

Edited September 15, 2021 by Valtiel

[sociojeje]

In what context were you "fitted"? Controlling for the huge loft gaps between two models, did you clearly see something better? 

If so, you may want to try the new one (though it comes with $$$).

 

If you still want to upgrade but don't want p790, assuming you like titleist CBs, you may take a look at the link below and think about which models give you more confidence with familiarity. I'm sure you can find some recent CB models for your liking. Those CB models are mostly with "traditional" lofts. 

 

https://www.titleist.com/previous-models?SearchTerm=&GolfClubType=3&ModelYear=&OrderBy=year

 

 

[Fairway14]

On 9/14/2021 at 5:14 AM, Ireland2 said:

 

 

Is there a club at around the same players level as the old 990?

Titleist 620CB.

[Ireland2]

Hey folks,

 

appreciate again the answers. One final question:

 

Do you think the Mizuno MP-20 MMC’s might also be in the same ballpark as the 990’s?

 

Really like the look and swing of them. Just haven’t had them out on the turf.

[ThinkingPlus]

1 hour ago, Ireland2 said:

Hey folks,

 

appreciate again the answers. One final question:

 

Do you think the Mizuno MP-20 MMC’s might also be in the same ballpark as the 990’s?

 

Really like the look and swing of them. Just haven’t had them out on the turf.

The Mizunos will have a little higher CG, but better MOI.  The location of the CG relative to the hosel horizontally is a little better as well.  If you struggle elevating your irons off tight lies, the MMCs might not be the best choice, but otherwise they should work well.

[NRJyzr]

On 9/15/2021 at 3:15 AM, Ireland2 said:

Thanks for the replies…

 

Surprises me that the 620CB’s might be as / more forgiving than the 990’s. They seem a bit smaller, as do the T-100’s for that matter.

 

I hit the T-100’s well but can see myself having a nightmare on a low confidence day.

 

If the P790’s just feel too chunky (less workable), I could pick up a set of cheaper 716CB or 718CB’s also. Seems a bit extravagant though!

 

Looking at the MOI of the clubheads, the 620 *are* more forgiving, but the difference isn't what I'd call profound.  Less than 180 gm-cm².

 

The P7MC that another mention are almost identical in forgiveness.  

 

For what all that's worth.  

 

Edited September 24, 2021 by NRJyzr

[NRJyzr]

On 9/15/2021 at 5:46 PM, Valtiel said:

This is the big difference between older and newer iron tech, especially with Titleist. Forgiveness in a compact player's package thanks to perimeter Tungsten weighting. From an MOI standpoint, the original 990 is basically the same as a modern blade, whereas the T100 is actually more similar to a game improvement iron. Very high MOI even for a chunkier iron, let alone a compact one. Separating the idea of size = forgiveness is tough though, and it is easy to still get psyched out looking at a small club. Some of the older AP2's would be a fine compromise there, especially the 714. 

 

The 990's contemporary blades are about the same MOI, also.  In spite of the use of tungsten in modern blade clubheads, there hasn't been all that much movement upward.

 

Even the Wilson Staff 68 Dynapowers have a higher MOI than the 990, albeit marginally.

 

[ChipNRun]

Consider the Ping i200 or i210 clubs. Variously pegged as a Players or Players Distance iron, it is user-friendly while still retaining good yardage separation between irons. And, the Ping i210 comes with nine different stock shafts, plus additional upgrade shafts.

 

Viktor Hovland and Stewart Cinq won with i210s in 2020. 

[Ireland2]

As it happens, after years of not really caring about my equipment, this forum (and the internet in general) has turned me in to an equipment junkie!

 

I still have the P-790’s on order since August. These are coming with Modus 120 Stiff shafts… Lie 1 degree flat. Standard length.

 

But on Friday night (after a couple of drinks), I saw a clearance sale with €450 off the MP-20 MMC’s which I had been coveting. Pressed “buy” and they arrived three days later. KBS $ Taper 120. Standard lie but believe Mizuno are a little flatter anyway. Hope I can hit them! Will find out tomorrow. Might have to work a bit harder with this shaft… (for reference, 82mph 7-iron; 100mph driver)

 

Thanks again for earlier replies.

[pjm]

Good luck with the new sticks.  I swapped from my 990s to Mizuno 921 Forged earlier this year.  Having used the 990s for so long, I had great confidence in their distances.  The Mizunos are really nice and probably more forgiving, but on fat shots or thin shots it doesn't make a difference.  The 990s really are a classic iron and indestructible!

[Billy-Bo-Jim-Bob]

On 9/15/2021 at 9:54 AM, iknowbagu said:

The 990s are firmly in my top 3 irons of all time.  Possibly the most underrated Titleist iron ever.  I still have 2-P in my garage and I will literally never let them go.  I take them out once or twice a year just for nostalgia.

 

Give the 620CB a chance.  Titleist nailed it with that one.

I’ll never give up my 990’s. Moved into JPX921 after 20 years w 990’s. Don’t think I’ll ever find an iron that has better consistency and distance control than the 990. Ball flight just hits a different window than I can find anywhere else. If titleist offers an updated 990, I’m in!