Xt1ncT-NZ
Englishman in New Zealand
- Joined
- May 30, 2011
- Messages
- 1,007
- Reaction score
- 58
- Location
- Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand
- Handicap
- 16
First my admission - I've been a "club ho" for the last 8 years - actually longer, but let's just keep it to while I've been in NZ shall we 
Since coming here I've had: 2003 - Lynx Black Cats, traded to TaylorMade OS Reg flex. These helped me come from an 18 handicap down to 12. 2004 - traded the TMs for Ben Hogan Apex FTX stock stiff 4. I had these adjusted 1* up and fitted with my fave Lamkin Crossline full cord grips, these took me from 12 down to my lowest ever of 6.9. 2006 - traded the Hogans for the worst irons I have ever owned - Mizuno MX900s, this was simply because I was going through a period where I just couldn't hit my Hogans. These didn't last long, and the same year I traded them for my favorite clubs EVER. Tourstage z101's. All I have to say about these is I liked them so much I bought a 2nd set! That was so I could keep a set of club at my father in laws house .
This brings us right up to date. Early in 2010 I decided for some unknown reason (probably the club-ho in me coming out) to buy a set of J36 combo irons. PX5.5 shafts. I quickly put the Lamkin grips on them. These clubs are nice, very nice in fact. One problem. I really dislike the pocket cavity 3-5 irons. And my dislike is growing daily! The dislike isn't justified, as I know I can hit them well and maybe it's mainly a subconscious thing. If they were the CBs all the way through the set I'd probably be fine. But they're not, and it's not fine.
So, right now I have them for sale on an auction site here in NZ. I've already sold my R9 3 & 5 woods (going to replace with a 4 wood, or maybe the 910f so I can adjust the loft in line with conditions), I'm also selling my x tour wedges. And this is what I am looking to go to:
Driver - keep my 910 D2, shafted with RIP Alpha 60s.
Fairway - most probably going to a 910F 17* - if too windy I can reduce the loft - I may still go for a 15* and increase the loft, the jury is still out on that one.
Hybrid - keep my TM Rescue 2009 model - 19* and a 2-3 iron replacement
Irons - TBD!!!
Wedges - not sure of the model yet, but most probably Callaway Jaws 52, 56 & 60
Putter - I am currently gaming a SeeMore mFGP 34". I also have a custom shop Scotty Mil-Spec with my name stamped onto the face. Have had it since 2006, and it needs a bit of TLC to bring it back to it's best. Beautiful putter though.
So now to my iron dilemma.
What I like - clean lines, not too "chunky". Prefer forged, but not a deal breaker!
Irons I've tried:
AP2 (like very much), I15 (really really want to like, but I just dont. Could be the AWT shaft), MP53, MP63, JPX800 Pro, Razr X Tour (like very much), and yesterday I went to the shop I frequent in bad weather and the pro there suggested TM CBs.
I've been on the Mizuno Optimizer a number of times, but I wanted to check that the numbers were still right, and the 3 swings I made with it gave me a 90mpg swing speed, and 6,3,8,9 in the other numbers - these are tempo, toe down, kick point and one more thing that I can't remember, and also maybe not in that order!
The shafts it suggested were DG XP S300 hard stepped once, PX 6.0, KBS Tour X Stiff soft stepped once. I tried the PX and KBS and the KBS was my preference. They can't soft or hard step from the fitting cart so I tried the stock stiff and extra stiff shafts. The pro is firmly of the opinion that with my swing that the stiff will be too soft. And I'm fine with that. Did I mention that I've used this fitting tool about 5 or 6 times now all with the same shafts coming up? I love it! Anybody buying new clubs should definitely use it!
I always thought that maybe my shafts were too stiff, turns out the opposite is true!
My dilemma is which iron to go with. I now only play once a fortnight, although I try to practice twice a week if possible (I have my own business and work evenings on occasion). I've really narrowed my choice down to the AP2s, Razr X Tours (not tested with the KBS as the fitting cart didnt have that head or shaft), Cleveland CG16 Tours (only downside is that they seem to launch really high) and the TM CBs. Right now I am leaning towards the CBs simply because I think they'll be a bit more forgiving though the set which is pretty important to me. Also important is the nice top line on both sets.
So, what do people here think? Have you tried any of the above? What about shaft selection?
Would appreciate any thoughts.
Cheers
Rob
Since coming here I've had: 2003 - Lynx Black Cats, traded to TaylorMade OS Reg flex. These helped me come from an 18 handicap down to 12. 2004 - traded the TMs for Ben Hogan Apex FTX stock stiff 4. I had these adjusted 1* up and fitted with my fave Lamkin Crossline full cord grips, these took me from 12 down to my lowest ever of 6.9. 2006 - traded the Hogans for the worst irons I have ever owned - Mizuno MX900s, this was simply because I was going through a period where I just couldn't hit my Hogans. These didn't last long, and the same year I traded them for my favorite clubs EVER. Tourstage z101's. All I have to say about these is I liked them so much I bought a 2nd set! That was so I could keep a set of club at my father in laws house
. This brings us right up to date. Early in 2010 I decided for some unknown reason (probably the club-ho in me coming out) to buy a set of J36 combo irons. PX5.5 shafts. I quickly put the Lamkin grips on them. These clubs are nice, very nice in fact. One problem. I really dislike the pocket cavity 3-5 irons. And my dislike is growing daily! The dislike isn't justified, as I know I can hit them well and maybe it's mainly a subconscious thing. If they were the CBs all the way through the set I'd probably be fine. But they're not, and it's not fine.
So, right now I have them for sale on an auction site here in NZ. I've already sold my R9 3 & 5 woods (going to replace with a 4 wood, or maybe the 910f so I can adjust the loft in line with conditions), I'm also selling my x tour wedges. And this is what I am looking to go to:
Driver - keep my 910 D2, shafted with RIP Alpha 60s.
Fairway - most probably going to a 910F 17* - if too windy I can reduce the loft - I may still go for a 15* and increase the loft, the jury is still out on that one.
Hybrid - keep my TM Rescue 2009 model - 19* and a 2-3 iron replacement
Irons - TBD!!!
Wedges - not sure of the model yet, but most probably Callaway Jaws 52, 56 & 60
Putter - I am currently gaming a SeeMore mFGP 34". I also have a custom shop Scotty Mil-Spec with my name stamped onto the face. Have had it since 2006, and it needs a bit of TLC to bring it back to it's best. Beautiful putter though.
So now to my iron dilemma.
What I like - clean lines, not too "chunky". Prefer forged, but not a deal breaker!
Irons I've tried:
AP2 (like very much), I15 (really really want to like, but I just dont. Could be the AWT shaft), MP53, MP63, JPX800 Pro, Razr X Tour (like very much), and yesterday I went to the shop I frequent in bad weather and the pro there suggested TM CBs.
I've been on the Mizuno Optimizer a number of times, but I wanted to check that the numbers were still right, and the 3 swings I made with it gave me a 90mpg swing speed, and 6,3,8,9 in the other numbers - these are tempo, toe down, kick point and one more thing that I can't remember, and also maybe not in that order!
The shafts it suggested were DG XP S300 hard stepped once, PX 6.0, KBS Tour X Stiff soft stepped once. I tried the PX and KBS and the KBS was my preference. They can't soft or hard step from the fitting cart so I tried the stock stiff and extra stiff shafts. The pro is firmly of the opinion that with my swing that the stiff will be too soft. And I'm fine with that. Did I mention that I've used this fitting tool about 5 or 6 times now all with the same shafts coming up? I love it! Anybody buying new clubs should definitely use it!
I always thought that maybe my shafts were too stiff, turns out the opposite is true!
My dilemma is which iron to go with. I now only play once a fortnight, although I try to practice twice a week if possible (I have my own business and work evenings on occasion). I've really narrowed my choice down to the AP2s, Razr X Tours (not tested with the KBS as the fitting cart didnt have that head or shaft), Cleveland CG16 Tours (only downside is that they seem to launch really high) and the TM CBs. Right now I am leaning towards the CBs simply because I think they'll be a bit more forgiving though the set which is pretty important to me. Also important is the nice top line on both sets.
So, what do people here think? Have you tried any of the above? What about shaft selection?
Would appreciate any thoughts.
Cheers
Rob
i15s have arrived. Just gotta make time to go pick em up tomorrow!
