Wishon EQ1-NX Single Length

[jmagri78]

Hey everyone,

 

Looking to replace my iron set this year and I'm considering single length irons for the first time since I've played golf. A little background and what I'm currently playing will hopefully help with the feedback. I'm currently a 15 HC and been playing the Sub70 699 irons with X100's in them. 

 

Can you share your experiences for those that have these irons. I included a couple questions below, thanks.

 

• What been the gustation period from variable to single length irons?
• What have been the biggest adjustments going to single from variable irons? 
• Would you recommend going with the same or similar shaft? Any shaft recommendations?

Edited January 3 by jmagri78

[TKS]

Generally, the gestational period has already started, the mind needs to be confident in the concept.

 

My observation and experience says 5-8 rounds, a month or two. The highest lofted wedge and final iron need to be determined.

 

The process start as determine if your current set is a good fit. If so, the basis for moving to SL could be based on the 8 iron.

 

Without much detail about your game/swing that's as much as I can offer. More than happy to help.

 

 

Edited January 4 by TKS

[bekgolf]

On 1/3/2025 at 8:21 AM, jmagri78 said:

Hey everyone,

 

Looking to replace my iron set this year and I'm considering single length irons for the first time since I've played golf. A little background and what I'm currently playing will hopefully help with the feedback. I'm currently a 15 HC and been playing the Sub70 699 irons with X100's in them. 

 

Can you share your experiences for those that have these irons. I included a couple questions below, thanks.

 

• What been the gustation period from variable to single length irons?
• What have been the biggest adjustments going to single from variable irons? 
• Would you recommend going with the same or similar shaft? Any shaft recommendations?

 

I've written a response to this post a few times and decided not to post.  The reason is I'm only a hobbyist when it comes to club assembly and I'm not sure how valuable my info is.  With that said here is my experience to date with single length clubs:

 

If I was to do it again I'd find a fitter who was experienced with single length clubs.  I've been through a number of shafts, OAL, and tip trims.  The biggest issues were the height of the wedges, the tight yardage gaps, and the fact that my high 90's driver ss didn't jive with anything lower than a 6 iron.  I also found that 50* is my single length wedge limit.  I settled on 36.5" OAL  for all of them but tried other lengths.  I'm 6'1" with a 34" wtf.

 

It took most of last season and several shaft changes but I'm finally at a point where I feel comfortable with my EQ irons.  One big revelation was single length hybrids, they are so easy to hit that they are staying in the bag no matter what else is in there.  My single length hybrids are 37" OAL.

 

I'm committed to the EQ single length for next season.  All of the experimentation kept me busy and kept my mind engaged in figuring something out.

 

[deserter]

I have sterling irons and they have been great. Before that I tried out pinhawks and once sterlings came out I was ready for an upgrade. There was a marked performance boost in long irons. I am sure that eq1´s are even better. 

 

I always struggled with variable length clubs so transitioning to single length was pretty much instantly better. I like that I have basically the same tool in my hands all the time even though I use it very differently in different situations. Still it´s like if I have a hammer I would use the same hammer for small, medium and large nails. Just more power for large ones and more gentle taps for small ones. 

 

Similarly, for different lofts in my Sterlings, I adjust.

I choke up on for partial shots which I like to hit with all lofts.

Lower lofted irons are the ones I use for full shots, when I need spin and carry to hold a green. The lowest 5 iron is the only one I hit with full power.

Wedges are bent a bit upright as I effectively play them shorter and low lofts are bent a little flat because I like them fade biased for full shots. This is not necessary at all, but it just shows that the tinkering never ends.

 

So...

Even though I don´t always do the same 8 iron swing, I think it´s great to have them all feel the same. I don´t want to use 6 differently weighted hammers for hammering all the differently sized nails. One will do just fine. 

 

 

 

[ChaosTheory]

18 hours ago, deserter said:

Even though I don´t always do the same 8 iron swing, I think it´s great to have them all feel the same.

Agreed.  People don’t think this through.  It’s easier to develop more shots with one club that with several differing ones.  

[betarhoalphadelta]

Other than relearning my club distances, there wasn't really any other gestation period for me, or adjustment. 

 

The yardage gaps are a little more narrow (~10 yds) and the top of the set is down a little distance-wise from my previous set (+1.5" variable length, so a 40.5" 3i). 

 

As for the shaft, my previous fitting had been almost 20 years prior, so I went to a fitter to determine the proper shaft. IMHO if you fit well into the X100, I generally don't feel like the head hanging off the end of it will suddenly make a big difference compared to your 699 Pros. That said, if you weren't truly "fit" into the X100, it might be worth going to a fitter and getting fit for the shaft for the EQ1s. 

 

[Rich Douglas]

On 1/3/2025 at 9:21 AM, jmagri78 said:

Hey everyone,

 

Looking to replace my iron set this year and I'm considering single length irons for the first time since I've played golf. A little background and what I'm currently playing will hopefully help with the feedback. I'm currently a 15 HC and been playing the Sub70 699 irons with X100's in them. 

 

Can you share your experiences for those that have these irons. I included a couple questions below, thanks.

 

• What been the gustation period from variable to single length irons?
• What have been the biggest adjustments going to single from variable irons? 
• Would you recommend going with the same or similar shaft? Any shaft recommendations?

 

Gestation period: a few weeks if you practice and play regularly

Biggest adjustments: 1. Getting used to the low-lofted irons being so short. 2. Staying aggressive with the wedges. At first I was backing off them because of their length. They were way shorter than the rest of the set because of that. Once I realized it, I swung them like all the others and they were fine.

Shaft: Whatever works now, but all of them exactly the same (to a 7- or 8-iron, depending on your set and preferences).

 

I made the switch in 2016 and have never, ever looked back. I played Wishon Sterling until the Wishon EQ1-NX came out and I switched to those. 

 

These clubs never caught on in a big way. Only one major OEM got into the field--Cobra because of their contract with BDS. That's too bad, because I'm a much better irons player because of the switch. Iron play used to be the weakest part of my game, but now it's driving accuracy. (Because that was next on the list!)

[Rich Douglas]

On 1/3/2025 at 8:29 PM, TKS said:

The highest lofted wedge and final iron need to be determined.

A good rule of thumb: whatever the lowest lofted iron is in your conventional set, build a single-length set that goes to one club less. So, if you're lowest-lofted club is a 4-iron, build your single-length set with a 5-iron as the lowest lofted.

 

Wishon overcame this in the EQ1-NX by building 4-, 5-, and 6-hyrbrid clubs that can be designed with the same specs as your irons. (They can also be weighted for traditional lengths.) Thus, my highest club was a 4-iron, and now it's a 4-hybrid with the same specs--length, weight, swingweight, MOI--as the rest of the irons. It swings and feels like just another iron in the set, but it goes higher and carries farther than a single-length 4-iron, creating the proper gapping.

[bekgolf]

39 minutes ago, Rich Douglas said:

A good rule of thumb: whatever the lowest lofted iron is in your conventional set, build a single-length set that goes to one club less. So, if you're lowest-lofted club is a 4-iron, build your single-length set with a 5-iron as the lowest lofted.

 

Wishon overcame this in the EQ1-NX by building 4-, 5-, and 6-hyrbrid clubs that can be designed with the same specs as your irons. (They can also be weighted for traditional lengths.) Thus, my highest club was a 4-iron, and now it's a 4-hybrid with the same specs--length, weight, swingweight, MOI--as the rest of the irons. It swings and feels like just another iron in the set, but it goes higher and carries farther than a single-length 4-iron, creating the proper gapping.

 

The EQ1 hybrids are super easy to hit.  I have one in 28* to replace my 6 iron.  4 and 5 iron replacements are Cobra LTDx SL hybrids, they work well but if I was to do it over I'd go with all Wishon EQ1 for the hybrids.  I can hit the EQ1 6 iron just fine but the hybrid is another level of forgiveness.  I'd buy a whole set of EQ1 in hybrid form if they were available.

[JoeZ]

I'd like to try the current offering from Wishon as well. Problem is, there are no fitters around where I'm located. I'm in CT USA.

 

My understanding is you can't purchase components because they want qualified club fitters to build the clubs.

 

Funny thing is, I can go online, fill in a form regarding the set makeup, the shaft and grips I want, plunk down my money and have someone build them. Doesn't seem like much of a fitting to me.

 

Maybe I'm missing something.

[TKS]

You are correct, filling out a form is not a " fitting". 

However, in the situation you are in, a good long conversation and vids of your swing may be adequate to have a set built for you.

 

Edited March 9 by TKS

[ChaosTheory]

I have built a set of 6-SW at 37".  So far I have kept my Maltby TS2 6 & 7 in the bag, and put in the SL 8 through SW.  I really like them.  I'm only 5'9" with wrist to floor of 34 inches, so I should like short clubs, but I don't.  I can hit conventional wedges and short irons solidly but I tend to pull- draw them.  At 37 inches, the SL short irons and wedges are a dream come true.  It's the "favorite club" thing.  My most natural setup and swing seems to be at 37 inches.

 

I used the same shaft as I had been playing, so it's a great comparison.  Loft for loft, my early reaction is that the Wishons are shorter and possibly spin more.  I could use more spin so I might accept the trade off as is.  Otherwise I would bend the Wishons a little stronger.  I did bend them up for lie angle, about 1.5 degrees.  I thought they were about average to bend for a cast club.

 

I'm pleased at the stock trajectories of the wedges.   They are good and high but not the moon balls I have experienced with older SL irons.   I tried an Aerojet One set, and while the trajectories were even better, the differing shafts across the set made it not playable for me.  Now with all the same shaft and flex, this new set is what I need.  And it's so nice to not see a well struck 9 iron curving left.  I'm pleasantly surprised with how the GW and SW work around the green.  Did not expect that.   I'm sticking with a conventional 58 and probably always will.  I use it a lot with an open face, and don't want to be messing with a 37" wedge there.

 

May the honeymoon last!

 

 

[TKS]

I have to add, I play 2 sets of EQ1-NX wedges, one SL with EQ1-NX set, another built to my traditional lengths with added weights and adjusted lies accordingly. Great soles, feel and spin. I need to bug Tom about a traditional wedge based on the EQ1's profile.

[ChaosTheory]

Has anyone stripped the platinum colored paint off the backside of the irons?  The paint on my sand wedge looks terrible after only a few rounds.

[AZGolfNut2]

On 7/6/2025 at 7:32 AM, ChaosTheory said:

Has anyone stripped the platinum colored paint off the backside of the irons?  The paint on my sand wedge looks terrible after only a few rounds.

 

I didn't even realize the backs were painted. I've had my current set going on 3 years and they look perfect, zero issues with paint flaking/chipping. Maybe you got a bad batch of heads, might be worth reaching out to wherever you bought them and see what the options are for getting them replaced.