Some advice needed

**marshalltaggart** · 09-01-2004

Brief History:
I got back into golf after a five year break and have been playing now for a little over a year. I am currently hitting a set of Golfsmith Forged Blades, my old set which I gave away were blades that is why I went back to blades. My game is coming back around and I am shooting in the low 80s fairly consistently.

The Question:
I recently demo'd a few different irons and really like the way the Callaway X-16 Pro series felt and was wondering how much of an impact these irons would have on my scoring? My game isn't that bad but I was wondering what the additional forgiveness would do for me?

Thanks

Marshall

**bethpage caddy** · 09-01-2004

If you're hitting blades right now and shooting in the low 80's, I'd demo a set of Mizuno's or such and stick with them.

**dorkman53** · 09-01-2004

Definitely DEMO on a driving range (not a store mat/net) before you make such a major change in club type (blades to cavity backs, or vice versa for that matter). It's ALWAYS a good idea to demo anyway, but particularly in this situation you might be pleasantly surprised or very disappointed in the Callaways vs. what you have already. Callaways ain't cheap, and that's a lot of money to throw around without some firsthand knowledge of expected results!

**marshalltaggart** · 09-01-2004

bethpage

Do you think going to a more forgiving club like the X-16 Pros will help lower my score a noticeable amount?

**dorkman53** · 09-01-2004

Probably not much, if you are a good ballstriker with your blades. I'm currently making the reverse of your trek. I've going from deep, undercut cavity backs to Hogan FTX's, which are blades in the short irons and slowly morph to a shallow cavity back in the mid and longer irons. I've actually noted an improvement in my scores, but there are other variables (new driver, switch to better (for me) hybrids for the long irons, and LOTS of play during the long summer season.
I don't think it is easy to predict what your scores would do, but if you found you were more precise and accurate with a lower dispersion on one vs. the other on the driving range, that would probably be your best clue.

**marshalltaggart** · 09-01-2004

dorkman53,

Let me ask you this. I am stationed overseas and the pro shop on base only has 6 iron demos to hit. Do you think hitting only a 6 iron is good enough to judge the whole set? The clubs that usually give me trouble are the 2-4 irons, I don't carry a 5 wood because I feel I have better control with irons. What would you do in a situation like this?

Thanks

**dorkman53** · 09-01-2004

Originally Posted by marshalltaggart

dorkman53,

Let me ask you this. I am stationed overseas and the pro shop on base only has 6 iron demos to hit. Do you think hitting only a 6 iron is good enough to judge the whole set? The clubs that usually give me trouble are the 2-4 irons, I don't carry a 5 wood because I feel I have better control with irons. What would you do in a situation like this?

Thanks

"What would I do?", or "What should you do?"
What I would do for the irons is to find the 6 iron that works best for you and go with that. The shorter irons will be easier to hit anyway, so if you can hit the 6, the 7-PW should be fine. What I have done that is a slightly unothodox is to replace my 3-5 irons with Hogan hybrids, since I hit them better than any 3-5 irons I've ever hit. So I have hybrids for the long irons, and modified blades (Hogan FTX's) for the short irons. A bit weird, but I'm scoring well with them, and I never spend a minute worrying about what someone else is going to think.

**collegegolfer** · 09-01-2004

if you have trouble with the 3 and 4 iron I'd go for something like 5 and 7 wood (or 7 and 9...whatever fills the gap for you) and get rid of them. I know numerous pros that have done that with the invention of the hybrib clubs. The Mizuno Fli-Hi (I think that's the name) is also a very good club as far as hybrib type clubs go. Very solid feel and it comes in many different lofts and so forth. Funny thing about hybrids...nobody wants to play ugly oversized irons because you'd be laughed off the course. But, when a pro hits a hybrid (which is basically an ugly oversized club) it catches on. I love the way things like that come into style. I wish I were that popular so I could make pocket protectors come into style.

**Paul Webb** · 09-01-2004

hey there, I think you should stick with the clubs you are using at the moment, after 4 yrs away it will take a little time to re acclimatise back to your clubs. I had aset of powerbilt protrac clubs which are the base model and as soon as i bought a new set upgraded to the TPS 7.0 it took me several months to get used to the new ones which are cavity back, but i was told by my pro that as long as you are hitting fairly consistently(20 cent piece) i could go for blades but knew i was not that good yet so went with the cavity backs, maybe in a few years when im on scratch. Im on a 7 hcp at moment, hope this helps

**jc@bg** · 09-02-2004

Marshall,

The X-16 is a buttery soft feeling iron that would certainly help you feel good about your iron game, but hybrids would work better than even the X-16 long irons, and in the short irons, what you're playing now must be working pretty well. I'd pick up a hybrid or two (Hogans and Adams are reasonably inexpensive) and leave the full set of irons replacement until you have a little more time to analyze where your scoring "problems" (if you have any) are greatest.

IMO

Originally Posted by marshalltaggart

Brief History:
I got back into golf after a five year break and have been playing now for a little over a year. I am currently hitting a set of Golfsmith Forged Blades, my old set which I gave away were blades that is why I went back to blades. My game is coming back around and I am shooting in the low 80s fairly consistently.

The Question:
I recently demo'd a few different irons and really like the way the Callaway X-16 Pro series felt and was wondering how much of an impact these irons would have on my scoring? My game isn't that bad but I was wondering what the additional forgiveness would do for me?

Thanks

Marshall

**henderss** · 09-03-2004

Marshall,

I also shoot low 80's and used to play a set of Mizuno "True" blades (much like the recent Taylor Made RAC MB series)
I bought the Callaways about 6 months ago for their forgiveness and went for a set of X-14 pro's (apparently very similar to X-16's) - beautiful clubs. I hit them long and found them very forgiving - but after a couple of months I started to miss the feeling of forged, especially in the mid to short irons. I also missed that bit of muscle which I always found gave me better control.
The final issue I had with the the X-14's is that they were very heavy in the swing compared to forged clubs.
All relatively minor points and I still love them, especially the 3 to 6 iron, but enough to see them replaced by a set of Cobra SS forged. These have the cavity back for forgiveness but also a muscle pad low down and I find they have better feel than cast.

Based on my experiences and on what you've said about your game, it seems we may be pretty similar, and I'd recommend you stick with a better "players" club.
If you fancy a change, I recommend you try something with a better feel in the short irons but more of a cavity in longer irons - ie. Mizuno MP 30's, Nike Pro Combo, Taylor Made RAC Combos or the Hogans recommended above. I'd obviously also recommend giving the Cobras SS forged a try too.
Obviously this is all a personal choice as many swear by the Callaways and you cannot beat the quality but thats just my 2 cents.

BTW - I have also gone down the route of leaving the 3 iron out the bag and replacing it with a 7 wood....I recommend this setup. I didn't like the hybrids as I struggled with them off the fairways ( I had a Taylor Made rescue 2 iron for a while) but I seem to be in the minority on that subject. Recommend you definitely try before you buy though.

Good luck!

**bdcrowe** · 09-03-2004

FWIW, the Golfsmith forged blades are an excellent club. Most golfers play cavities with the ideal of going to blades when ready. If you are shooting low 80s with your blades, keep what you have. I agree about trading out the 3-4 with a wood or 2. When my long irons go cold, I put my 7 wood in the bag and go flag hunting. I usually take a full 7 wood for 3 iron and grip down for 4 iron distance. That also saves a club in the bag for extra wedge, or Driving iron, if my driver is off. You blades are good clubs. X16s are more forgiving, but even in that, there is the danger that your swing may just get sloppier with the forgiveness and you'll be in worse shape. MHO...