What to look out for when wanna buy iron set ?? please advise me

Hi all, currently i'm looking to buy an iron set, but i have no experience on testing out irons.

Therefore, please advise me, when i'm testing out iron, what should i look out for ?

where is a good place to test out iron set ? driving range with pro-shop ?

should I wait for any golf sales or promotion to buy an iron set ?

need all the expert here to advise me..thank you.

yelnats wrote:

See a fitter and have them fit you to suit your swing. Getting your lie angle right is crucial. Fitters do not adjust lie angles usually because they are unwilling to spend the time and some do not have the experience to do it properly. Your fitter should be able to bend 1 to 6 degrees either way. If they can't find someone that will.

If you want to improve your swing, look for swing improvement irons (narrow sole, less offset). Game improvement would be the oversize chunky ones. Easy to hit but does nothing for the swing.

You should also narrow your choices down to whether you want forged or cast irons. Steel shafts or graphites. A fitter can help you with this.

Try as many clubs as possible. From the entry to the premium brands. Do some research on the iron brands. Feel free to ask any questions.

hi yelnats, thank you so much for the advise. It sounds very complicated to me.
What is the diff between a forged iron vs cast iron ?

Someone told me that steel shaft is better because it is less flexible, thus less error, but steel shaft seems to be heavier than graphite shaft, i guess.

I hope i can try as many club as possible, but where is a good place to try these clubs ?
And also where can i find information and do reseach on iron ?

chim chim !!...sorry for so many questions...haha !!

Here is the best place for information! Just see whether the stingy buggers want to share their knowledge or not.

To me, it seems that you are still a beginner. Am I right?

First of all, do you know what you want? What are you looking for? A set for you to keep hacking around now? Or a set to last you from learning to mid level play?

Forged irons and cast irons are technically the same. They are irons. The clubs you used for your 2nd shot or for Par 3s. It is just a matter of the making process that defines a club to be forged or cast.

Still assuming that you are a beginner, there should just be 3 kinds of irons that you should be aware about. Super Game Improvement Irons, Game Improvement Irons and Blades.

Blades are a definite no-no for you now. do not even think about it. do not even smell it. just stay far far away from it.

You should be looking at the Game improvement irons. These are the irons with the wider soles and lower CG that aids in the launching of the ball.

So what makes of Super Game improvement irons? These are the super irons with the super wide soles and super low CG that aids in the launcing of the ball. Super~

As for testing, the best would be to join us in our range outings and you can give ours a go. otherwise, it would be wise to visit some ranges, go to the pro shops there and ask if they have demo clubs to try. be thick skin abit, ask them for everything they have to try.

Not stingy lah..want to share knowledge but scared give wrong/bad info leh..

Ok.. here's my take.. don't get offended or anyting hor..

If you are asking this type of question, chances are you are new to this game, and chances are your swing is not really repeatable.

Therefore, you will probably not benefit a lot from custom club fitting.
Buy a decent off the shelf set of irons to practise and whack around first. I would suggest 2nd hand set that's maybe last years or 2-3yr ago model. Look for "game improvement" clubs, think MC already wrote up a bit on this.

Steel or graphite?? How old are you or how strong are you?
If you are young and strong; steels are great. If you are old and weak like me, graphites might be easier.

Doesn't mean steel is better because it's less flexible and less error.
Graphite can be as good or even better than steel, but can be very expensive.
In general cheap steel is better than cheap graphite.

I guess good place to try clubs would be to meet up with the forum members and try out their clubs. Or one of those "golf carnival" thingys that are sometimes organized at driving ranges.

Welcome and keep asking away.. and maybe someone here can help you..

just to add abit more, graphite gives you more distance and it is easier to launch the ball.

steels hits shorter but distance control is definite and dispersion is less.


dispersion is the angle of varience where your shot will go to.

mUAr_cHEe wrote:

Here is the best place for information! Just see whether the stingy buggers want to share their knowledge or not.

To me, it seems that you are still a beginner. Am I right?

First of all, do you know what you want? What are you looking for? A set for you to keep hacking around now? Or a set to last you from learning to mid level play?

Forged irons and cast irons are technically the same. They are irons. The clubs you used for your 2nd shot or for Par 3s. It is just a matter of the making process that defines a club to be forged or cast.

Still assuming that you are a beginner, there should just be 3 kinds of irons that you should be aware about. Super Game Improvement Irons, Game Improvement Irons and Blades.

Blades are a definite no-no for you now. do not even think about it. do not even smell it. just stay far far away from it.

You should be looking at the Game improvement irons. These are the irons with the wider soles and lower CG that aids in the launching of the ball.

So what makes of Super Game improvement irons? These are the super irons with the super wide soles and super low CG that aids in the launcing of the ball. Super~

As for testing, the best would be to join us in our range outings and you can give ours a go. otherwise, it would be wise to visit some ranges, go to the pro shops there and ask if they have demo clubs to try. be thick skin abit, ask them for everything they have to try.

hi muar-chee

thank you so much for the valuable advise.
as a matter of fact, i really had no idea what I really wan, but I was thinking should i need to spent lots of $$$$$$$ to buy a super super club or just some decent well ok club that allows me to play decently both on range and course...

now i know i should keep myself far far away from blade..hopfully it's not too sharp...hehe
and look for fat fat sole..is that correct ?

which range are you guys usually hangout and maybe i should find a day to join in tooo....hehe

thank you so much

Ssquirrel wrote:

Not stingy lah..want to share knowledge but scared give wrong/bad info leh..

Ok.. here's my take.. don't get offended or anyting hor..

If you are asking this type of question, chances are you are new to this game, and chances are your swing is not really repeatable.

Therefore, you will probably not benefit a lot from custom club fitting.
Buy a decent off the shelf set of irons to practise and whack around first. I would suggest 2nd hand set that's maybe last years or 2-3yr ago model. Look for "game improvement" clubs, think MC already wrote up a bit on this.

Steel or graphite?? How old are you or how strong are you?
If you are young and strong; steels are great. If you are old and weak like me, graphites might be easier.

Doesn't mean steel is better because it's less flexible and less error.
Graphite can be as good or even better than steel, but can be very expensive.
In general cheap steel is better than cheap graphite.

I guess good place to try clubs would be to meet up with the forum members and try out their clubs. Or one of those "golf carnival" thingys that are sometimes organized at driving ranges.

Welcome and keep asking away.. and maybe someone here can help you..

hi ssquirel

no worry, all advises from everyone here is taken with an open mind, so definitely no hard feeling..

yes, you are right, my swing is not consistent, and i am also worry about custom fit, because i guess the fitter will had a hard time trying to fit into my swing..since it is always changing...haha !! guess he will go crazy...haha !!

so as what MC had recommended, i should go for the fat fat sole...the fatter the better...right ?

i'm 37, no medical issue...but not super fit also...i guess both type of shaft should be fine..correct ? i heard people change shaft after sometime, so does that mean that if i buy steel shaft set, after a few yrs, i can change to graphite shaft ?

i guess i have really ask lots of question here....pai seh, pai seh....hehe

THe most important thing that i feel is to get a club that its easy to hit... thats why some of us when our swing is consistent, we will go look for a club fitter to make our game easier.

If my memory served me well (half the time it doesn't)... Jimmychoo was selling his arsenal titleist 775 CB and DGMan offered to fit any buyer for free... IMHO this is an excellent set for beginners (plus you'll get free fitting ) ... but again it could have been sold since it was awhile back...

my two cents worth...

you will improve over time.. and as you improve.. you would want better irons also..

here's my personal experience.. it's true that the fatter the sole. the easier it is to hit the iron.. but when i got a little better.. i find the fat sole kinda ugly and cumbersome.. and thus wanted to get a better looking set of irons..

i think if you are serious about the game and improving.. then you should get the 'swing improvement' irons that yelnats mentioned about.. those do not have the fattest sole in the world.. but aren't the thinnest/hardest to hit irons around too.. they will offer the best of both worlds in terms of forgiveness and look/feel and should last you a long while..

yeaps.you can easily change the shafts in all your clubs, all reputable fitters will be able to do that. =)

welcome to the game of golf!!

My personal feeling:
Fat wide soles good for people who like to "sweep" type of swing.
Thin soles type better for people who like to "hit/strike down" type of swing.

If you don't know the difference or just starting out, get the broader soles type, more weight below= lower c.g = ball easier to fly.

Game improvement doesn't mean for hacks only. Good players can still work the ball (draw/fade, etc) with game improvement sets.

Don't worry about "in a few years time", get what you need for the present. If you get good and love the game, in a few years time you WILL change equipment, and not just the shaft, chances are you'll change the whole set. If you get tired of the game, in a few years time, you'll just give up the game (hopefully not )

If you have deep pockets, spend the money on the clubs that appeal to you the most. Even if you don't like playing them, everytime you look at them, you get that nice warm fuzzy feeling. If you pockets not so deep, decide on your budget first; then go shopping and see what's available for your budget, then maybe can return and ask more opinions on the clubs you're considering.

Try to set a realistic budget and try to stay away from those 3+9 sets (3 wds, 9 irons + bag). Those usually are not too well made and can kill you interest in the game..

FORE!!!!

Ssquirrel wrote:

My personal feeling:
Fat wide soles good for people who like to "sweep" type of swing.
Thin soles type better for people who like to "hit/strike down" type of swing.

If you don't know the difference or just starting out, get the broader soles type, more weight below= lower c.g = ball easier to fly.

Game improvement doesn't mean for hacks only. Good players can still work the ball (draw/fade, etc) with game improvement sets.

Don't worry about "in a few years time", get what you need for the present. If you get good and love the game, in a few years time you WILL change equipment, and not just the shaft, chances are you'll change the whole set. If you get tired of the game, in a few years time, you'll just give up the game (hopefully not )

If you have deep pockets, spend the money on the clubs that appeal to you the most. Even if you don't like playing them, everytime you look at them, you get that nice warm fuzzy feeling. If you pockets not so deep, decide on your budget first; then go shopping and see what's available for your budget, then maybe can return and ask more opinions on the clubs you're considering.

Try to set a realistic budget and try to stay away from those 3+9 sets (3 wds, 9 irons + bag). Those usually are not too well made and can kill you interest in the game..

FORE!!!!

spoken like a Guru....

Ssquirrel wrote:

My personal feeling:
Fat wide soles good for people who like to "sweep" type of swing.
Thin soles type better for people who like to "hit/strike down" type of swing.

If you don't know the difference or just starting out, get the broader soles type, more weight below= lower c.g = ball easier to fly.

Game improvement doesn't mean for hacks only. Good players can still work the ball (draw/fade, etc) with game improvement sets.

Don't worry about "in a few years time", get what you need for the present. If you get good and love the game, in a few years time you WILL change equipment, and not just the shaft, chances are you'll change the whole set. If you get tired of the game, in a few years time, you'll just give up the game (hopefully not )

If you have deep pockets, spend the money on the clubs that appeal to you the most. Even if you don't like playing them, everytime you look at them, you get that nice warm fuzzy feeling. If you pockets not so deep, decide on your budget first; then go shopping and see what's available for your budget, then maybe can return and ask more opinions on the clubs you're considering.

Try to set a realistic budget and try to stay away from those 3+9 sets (3 wds, 9 irons + bag). Those usually are not too well made and can kill you interest in the game..

FORE!!!!

Game Improvement irons are not only for beginners lah. My kaki Mowen is a great example. Was an MP60 user with a 15hdcp. Switched to Ping G10s and pulverising his golf kakis with a 7.1 hdcp currently. I am secretly thinking of getting 1 set myself to shave off a few strokes of my own hdcp.

Deep pockets also doesn't mean that you need to spend it on $$$$$$$ golf clubs. A good example is mr Lamts18. Deep pockets with many many golf sets and he's a happy man.

Could this be a start of Mizunos Vs Ping match???

Was an MP60 user with a 15hdcp. Switched to Ping G10s and pulverising his golf kakis with a 7.1 hdcp currently

MC, faster go jio some ping players and fight it out see whether its true or not. I know 4Dtoto is a ping user.

Liddat I take Mowen liao...can give JC a run for his money!

i seriously also considering a MX200 or G10 or the later G15s and reshaft it with i70 R shafts... like this i hope i can participate in whatever upcoming games of what vs what..

Why regret? The MX 19 and MX 25 are good irons and very forgiving..If you think its the shaft, why dont you try reshafting one club and see if it works for you....

Its worth paying Joe's shop in Kreta Ayer a visit. They got lots of 2nd hand golf stuff there. If you are a noob and is looking for a relatively good set of irons but is not willing (yet) to pay loads of $$$, Joes shop could be something that might interest you.

Lamts18 wrote:

Why regret? The MX 19 and MX 25 are good irons and very forgiving..If you think its the shaft, why dont you try reshafting one club and see if it works for you....

Hehehe.. I think he reshaft 1 to try liao...(that day I kaypoh go and see lor...)
but the mx-19s are cast and I think very risky if he wants to adjust lie (if I'm the clubfitter, I will ask him to bend them himself..hahaha)...

So I think he's looking for another set so that he can adjust lie..maybe the mx25s or mx900s?? 8)

cast... better dont try.... the springy effect....

Lamts18 wrote:

Why regret? The MX 19 and MX 25 are good irons and very forgiving..If you think its the shaft, why dont you try reshafting one club and see if it works for you....

SSquirrel is correct. I reshafted one to try....felt good but not worth the cost to reshaft the whole set since MX-19 is cast iron and cant bend.

No point reshaft a set that doesnt have lies that suit you. better to buy the prototype which makes more economic sense.

My verdict is that I will continue to use this for another year and then perhaps I am good enuff then for a custom set.

I hope that bro snowman can learn from my mistake. I shld have bgt the MX-25 from the onset. keke

Golf_Snowman...you have to get fitted for the set. That's for sure. Lie angles will determine your shot direction accuracy. As for graphites, unless you have an injury, you should at least give steel shafts a try. Remember that on irons, you want accuracy (be it direction or dispersion). Going longer on the irons is not a necessity.

The problem with game improvement irons is that golfers have no idea when they actually do hit the sweet spot. Plus, a GI set does not require you to hit the ball first and take the turf. It's hard to develop a good swing with a GI set.

hmm...

to each his own, i guess.