I'm looking at getting my first legit set of irons. Much like Alex's thread, I plan on getting used. I figure, going used means I'll get more club for my money.
I'll be heading down to the nearest pro shop to test some clubs out, but based on reviews and my price range, I've narrowed my search down a bit to:
Ping i20s
Bridgestone J40 DPC
Ping g25
And the Titleist 710 AP2
Now to my questions. Do any of you have experience with any of these irons? If so, do you like them, hate them? I'd rate myself as beginner/intermediate. Would any of those be too advanced for my skill level?
That being said, I'd be open for other suggestions. My upper limit is probably $600 or so (for used).
Thanks in advanced for the advice!
It really depends on what your skill level is and what you want your clubs to do. Of your list, you have all 3 of the basic forms of irons: Blades, hallow backs, and cavity backs (Titleist 710, Ping g25, and Bridgestone J40, respectively).
They all perform differently.
If you don't have a consistent swing, a cavity back is nice. It is designed that you can strike anywhere on the face and have will fly straight. However, you lose a good bit of distance and the ability to really shape your shot.
Blades are if you have a very consistent swing. The sweet spot on blades are super small, but when you hit you, the ball will fly! However, if you're ~1/2" outside the sweetspot, it feels like you hit a wall. Also, if you have trouble getting the face of the club square upon impact, blades will make your slice, worse. Again, if you are an advanced golfer, you can shape your shots easier.
Cavity backs are a pseudo hybrid. The usually have more metal around the outside of the club, so there is forgiveness. Its a big thing now to put more weight at the bottom of the club, to generate a larger sweet spot. It also generates more backspin to help get the ball higher. This was a big turn off for me, as I really come down on the ball already, and I lost a ton of distance. These still have sidespin issues, though less than blades.
Another big thing that I hate is the amount of offset are on a lot of clubs today, especially the hollows. That is how much the club looks bent when you address your ball. I personally hate it, though if you can stand it and have trouble getting the ball up, its nice to have.
Just read your skill ratings, and I would suggest the Bridgestones. Also check out some Mizunos. I think the ones at my proshop are 1200+, but ebay is a good place to look. I would recommend a lightly used set of MP-64s or M4s to start with. Or even kicking it old school and getting a set of T-zoid pros. They are a hybrid blade/cavity back. Great set of clubs. My personal clubs, though I altered the shafts (rifled +2", spiderweb grips... cant wait to start golfing again XD).
Let me know if I confuzed you at all, or if you understand. Sometimes I rant and it makes sense in my head, but not to most other people.
