More launch for i210 3 iron

[mc2]

I’ve recently picked up a set of 3-U i210’s, with KBS Tour 90 R.

 

The shaft fit seems to be very good for me. 
 

5-U are perfect in terms of launch. 4 seems about 80% there and I’m probably happy to leave that. 

 

3 iron I’m mostly striking well but I’m not getting enough launch and distance. 
 

I’ve been cycling through hybrids and fairways unsuccessfully in this slot for 2 years, the 3 iron has a been a surprise revelation.

Miss is short rather than left/right and I much prefer that miss on the courses I play. I’d just love to get more launch from it. 

 

What are you options? I have read on here from knowledgeable people that shaft should be selected on feel/weight and launch should be tweaked by loft.

 

If I bend the 3 iron weak will I get enough launch and distance? If I bend the 3 then I’ll probably need to bend the 4 aswell to gap better? Can I bend the 3 iron 2 degrees and the 4 iron 1 degree or something along those lines? I don’t really want to bend the whole set weak, I like the ball flight on the rest of the set. 

 

Can shafts do anything for me? Would a drop in weight provide more clubhead speed and therefore more spin and launch? 
 

I’ve demoed a G425 4 iron with the AWT R shaft and I was launching that just fine. The G425 4 iron sits between the i210 3 and 4 irons in terms of loft. From specs it seems the AWT is about the same weight as the KBS, so should I just be looking at something like the G425 iron or any other iron design that has a higher launch than the i210?

 

I’m only moderate swing speed but I want to try and make this work if I can. I’m more confident with an iron in hand and the miss is more playable on my regular courses.

 

I use the club in this slot as a fairway 2nd shot on Par 5’s (I can’t reach them in two, so I just need a long straight shot and protecting against left/right), tee shot on long Par 3’s, safety tee shot on short Par 4’s and maybe a fairway shot that rolls up to the green on long Par 4’s if I’ve gone shorter off the tee. Quite a lot of different uses. 

 

Thank you 

 

 

 

 

[animalgolfs]

KBS TOUR 90 launch high - and if your swingspeed isn't a certain level - you'll never get the benefits at that loft, regardless of which shaft you use.

 Ole Tom is right - 39 iron length & 24* loft is where most amateur should max. 

 

Now a shaft change may improve how you deliver the club, which could result in more consistent strikes - but I doubt you'll get more height & carry, or at least significantly.

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/261563/wishon-what-lofts-should-your-clubs-be/

Edited January 17, 2022 by animalgolfs

[mc2]

3 minutes ago, animalgolfs said:

KBS TOUR 90 launch high - and if your swingspeed isn't a certain level - you'll never get the benefits at that loft, regardless of which shaft you use.

 Ole Tom is right - 39 iron length & 24* loft is where most amateur should max. 

 

Now a shaft change may improve how you deliver the club, which could result in more consistent strikes - but I doubt you'll get more height & carry, or at least significantly.

Thanks. I thought the shaft change may be along those lines ie. just not making enough difference to be significant. 
 

What do you think about using a head design with more launch/hot face like the G425 4 iron in that slot? 

[mc2]

Also I know the i210 is a lower launching head, so despite the high launch shafts, I get more of a mid ball flight but that works for me as one of my main courses is a windy links on the beach. But that may not be helping me when it comes to the 3 iron. 
 

I believe I just have enough swing speed for an iron in this slot, but I need to add launch somewhere in the equation. Whether that is loft bending, or different head, or something else.

[animalgolfs]

15 minutes ago, mc2 said:

Also I know the i210 is a lower launching head, so despite the high launch shafts, I get more of a mid ball flight but that works for me as one of my main courses is a windy links on the beach. But that may not be helping me when it comes to the 3 iron. 
 

I believe I just have enough swing speed for an iron in this slot, but I need to add launch somewhere in the equation. Whether that is loft bending, or different head, or something else.

I would try a driving iron type in that 20* area- 1st. Since you play wind & like the short miss. And I'd probably use -1/2" length as a starting point. Some hybrids are quite low launching as well - Adams Pro 18 comes to mind - so finding a low launching hybrid could be the ticket. Unfortunately I know nothing about your swing/game - so any advice is really just personal preference. Others on here have way more insight than I do - hopefully they'll chime in.....good luck

[jomatty]

If the KBS tour 90 R is a good fit for you it seems unlikely that a 3 iron is going to go further than your 4 iron.  For me a 3 iron and a 4 iron are just not good options.  You can try a lighter graphite shaft but my gues is that it will not work out. 

[GolfTurkey]

Try taking a longer run-up, you don't see many fast bowlers trotting in off two paces.

 

But seriously, I'm not sure that a 3 iron is a winnable proposition especially off the deck without some serious swing speed.

[mc2]

 

I had my first ever fitting last week, I took my i210 set to a fitter to get fit for shafts and loft/lie as I was tired of trying to work it all out myself. I am an instant convert for fittings now.

 

The 3-U i210 I bought off the rack turned out to be:

 

• 1 degrees strong
• Swingweight lighter than standard i210 swingweight (D0)
• The KBS 90 R shafts were measuring much softer than they normally do for that model/flex

 

And here's what I was fit into:

 

• 2 degrees weak
• D2 swingweight 
• Nippon NSPRO 95 (the active tip in these giving me the best results) 

 

• Also I was fit for blue dot when my set were black dot, and was fit for standard size grips and my set had mid size on them. 

 

So that's a good cautionary tale really, I bought the i210's off the rack in a pro shop and was told they were "standard", however they were far from standard: strong lofts, soft shafts and light swingweight. They were clearly someone's cancelled custom build. They were in brand new condition but much cheaper than retail, close to cost price I think (Red flag lol).

 

In my original post I said 5-U had good launch and I just wanted to increase launch in 3 and maybe 4 iron, however when this fitter showed me what I could with weaker lofts I was shocked! The ball flight that I thought was normal for me was greatly improved by weaker lofts. I'm looking forward to having more confidence with stopping power around the greens (has been an issue for me). Even though I had the weight right with the KBS, the active tip of the NS PRO gave me more consistent strikes. I tried lighter and heavier shafts but my club head speed was higher and consistency was best at 95g.

 

Also pretty much what people have said here and in other threads, I don't have enough swing speed for 3 iron, and the 4 iron is touch and go but with the weaker lofts the fitter said I can use the 4 as a low hitting runner club if I play a windy course (which I do), so I've gone 4-W rebuilt with the new shafts/specs. If I have trouble in the wind with the new height, I can always bend a degree forward again the fitter suggested. 

 

I guess I just also need a fitting now for top end of the bag to work out what I can hit consistently in that 3 iron spot particularly. 

[vanya]

I have i210s & the 3 iron has been measured at 18.5 loft. Check your specs. DJ has his 3 iron at 21. I’m off to Ping to get the irons put to a 3 iron starting at least up to 20 & then take it from there with the rest of them. I have decentish CHS (driver 113-115) but 18.5 in the 3 iron is a tough launch if it’s used as a club that hits into greens….