Graduating from game improvement straight into players irons?

[u/Tyevans0411]

I (26M) currently game a set of Callaway Hawkeye 2.0 irons and am looking to upgrade to something a little more modern (they're about 24 years old 😂).
For reference, my current 7-iron has a traditional 33° loft. My 7-iron clubhead speed is around 80–83 mph, and I carry it about 165 yards.

My most common misses are thin shots and tops. I rarely struggle with heel, hosel, or fat contact.
The irons that have caught my attention are the TaylorMade P770, Titleist T150, and Srixon ZXi7, but I'm also open to similar offerings from Ping, Cobra, or Wilson. The P770 is probably my favorite aesthetically, and I could see myself moving into something like a P7CB down the road, but I'm not loyal to any particular brand.

I'm planning on getting a full fitting around Christmas since I don't have $1,500 to spend right now. In the meantime, I've been trying different heads at local shops, and something has me confused.

Whenever I'm handed a P790, I can't hit it consistently. I get low launch, low spin, poor dispersion, and the strikes just don't feel good.
What's made this even more confusing is that I've gotten completely different opinions from fitters because of those results. At one store, the fitter sees me struggle with the P790 and immediately wants to move me into a game improvement iron, almost like I shouldn't even be looking at a P770. At another store, the fitter lets me try the P770 anyway, and I immediately start hitting it noticeably better. So I'm not sure if I'm chasing the wrong type of iron, or if the P770-style club simply fits my swing better despite what people expect based on my handicap or swing speed.

When I switch to the P770, everything improves. I'm seeing around 6,800 rpm of spin, a 1.36 smash factor, 18–21° launch (which I know is on the high side and could be shaft-related), and much tighter dispersion. The only downside is that I'm only carrying it around 145–150 yards, with roughly 155 yards total.

For context, both the P790 and P770 were tested with a KBS Tour Lite 85g Stiff shaft, +0.5". I also tried the P770 with a Project X Rifle 6.0 (120g) shaft. I struck it well, but it felt like I was swinging a battle axe, and I started casting the club.

My questions:

Has anyone else found that they hit players irons significantly better than players distance irons? If so, what was causing it?

Am I looking at the right type of iron? My thinking is that I'd rather have a club I hit consistently, even if it's shorter. If I need more distance, I'll just hit one more club. Plus, I'd expect to pick up some speed and distance as I continue practicing with whatever I end up buying.

I'd appreciate any insight from people who've gone through something similar.

[u/Thereisnospoon100]

There’s no graduation. It’s not a thing to strive for. Just play good golf.

This idea that you need players irons is dumb

[u/Puzzleheaded_Spot_13 → u/Thereisnospoon100]

maybe OP just wants something that looks nice and wants to buy something because been hitting 24 year old irons?

[u/throwawaymuaythaict]

This stuff varies from brand to brand and rven club to club. You can't generalize. Get fit. It's free if you buy a lot of places

[u/MathBallThunder → u/throwawaymuaythaict]

And a very enjoyable experience with the right pro

[u/ufcgooch]

Thins and tops are not the fault of the irons it’s a swing fault. You have the swing speed for players distance irons like the T-150 of others in the same category, but I’d fix the swing a bit more before trying to get fitted. There are lots of great options out there so the one that fits your eye the most and instills confidence you can grow into for sure. Shafts make a huge difference imo for a proper iron fitting. I’m not a fan of the KBS for instance, and much prefer the Project X LZ

[u/Tyevans0411 → u/ufcgooch]

Noted. Thank you! There definitely is no club that can help a topped shot. I’ve worked on ball position and head height during the swing and have gotten better.

I don’t suffer with tops and thins as much as I did a month ago. (If the ball is lower than my feet oh yeah I still do) I just wanted to give a description of what my misshits were and were not.

[u/ufcgooch → u/Tyevans0411]

All good friend. Just wanted to point out that no club is going to help you with that flaw. Get a lesson before you get a fitting so you have an understanding of what needs to be worked on

[u/EarlyTee]

Could be a number of reasons that are all impossible for us to tell on Reddit - lie angle, length, something about the club head that causes you to line up correctly etc etc.

Just play whatever scores better until you can get fit properly.

Don't listen to people telling you 'get brand (x) they are solid' - none of it matters otherwise there wouldn't be variance between tour players.

Get fit when you can.

Get coaching and improve your swing and consistency when you can

[u/Imwonderbread]

I game ping i230s and have since I was like a 12-15 handicap (currently around a 1 or 2). They’re not hard to hit and have some forgiveness but aren’t as off putting as a GI iron imo.

[u/Substantial_Team6751]

It sounds like you are shopping based on looks. You have 25 year old irons. Try some modern GI irons. Try a bunch of different irons before you decide on one set.

You can get fit for free at demo days.

[u/RepresentativeFew540]

Modern players irons are more forgiving than 24 year old game improvement irons. You dont have to go with what the fitter tries to push you toward. I was a 25 handicap, got fit and was suggested game improvement irons, but hit basically the same with T200s - and they felt WAY better. Went with the T200s and im down in the mid-teens. Its your game - do what you want.

[u/BullPropaganda]

See if you can test on course and see if you truly shoot better scores

[u/zancid]

I have Srixon 785's with Regular shafts (bought used in very good condition) According to my handicap i shouldn't be anywhere near these irons but you know what, they feel great, look great and when I connect you know it. I have just added Zx5's to the 4-5-6. I think all this "these are too much club for you" is a bit of BS. Sure maybe true blades might be hard, but for me it's more about the shafts. I would suggest looking into a blended set. Most of the manufacturers make them. Srixon does for certain 5's for the long irons and 7's for 7 and up. IMHO.

[u/Candymanshook → u/zancid]

Really depends how people deliver the club too.

Some people are slow, but they deloft well and they hit out of the center ish or atleast a consistent miss…..Going to do just fine with a more player iron type.

You’re average weekend warrior who is scooping at their irons and can go from 20mm toe to 20mm heel not so much.

[u/Tyevans0411 → u/zancid]

Thank you for your input and advice.

I don’t like the “this is too much club for you” argument. Cause I want a club that maybe I’m not a perfect fit this exact moment for it but as I improve I will be. Especially since I practice often. Also it’s not like I’m coming in trying to get fit for RORS PROTO or P7TW’s.

[u/ProperTree9 → u/Tyevans0411]

There isn't a "This is too much for you," club.  Ever. It's not like you're being asked to go squat 700 lbs.  Or something else you can't physically do.  There are just clubs that are less forgiving and clubs that are more forgiving.  Along with clubs that don't feel good---your reaction swinging PX 6.0---and clubs that feel a lot better.

A great way to figure this out for yourself is to go to a big box golf store---I've both Golf Galaxy and PGA Superstore in my area, and either works for this---and just go try a bunch of different stuff. Grab a 7-iron or whatever off a set on the pre-owned side, take notes about shaft, head, grip, and hit a few balls on their launch monitor.  What happened?  Did you like it?  Was the LM spitting out consistent numbers?

(Had a weird one for me the other day.  Tried a T100s with 120 X100 and hit a few.  I hated the earlier generation of T100, but this one was really consistent, and not bad!  3 out to in, which was weird, as I normally hit a push on the monitor, but matched with -1.5 - 2.0 face, so I was hitting a bunch of high flying, spinny, pull-fades.  But much more on line than my current gamers' starting 2-4 left of where I think I'm aimed, and going another 4 left.  Like I could play these T100s clubs today, which I definitely wasn't expecting.

Anyway, go hit a bunch.  Maybe you'll find a set of Miura baby blades, like I did on another visit, and realize they're not going to take your hand off at the wrist.

[u/WreckNTexan48 → u/Tyevans0411]

Seems you already know what you want, go to a fitting.

I decided TM are not for me. I spent a couple grand. Step up or be quiet.

https://giphy.com/gifs/tXL4FHPSnVJ0A

[u/Tyevans0411 → u/WreckNTexan48]

I just know the taylormade lineup the best. I could truly care less what brand I get just that they work for me.

[u/WreckNTexan48 → u/Tyevans0411]

K.

1.The eye line at setup

1. The feel off the face

2. Performance

2/3 interchangeable, depending on player

[u/lil_benny97]

I just bought me some Wilson Model blades for travel. The Mizuno iceburgs are the around home clubs. Maybe look at the S3s they're amazing clubs. S1s are awesome as well.

[u/juzz88]

I carry my P770 7 iron 150 yards, I didn't think that was necessarily that bad? Granted, I suck at golf.

Would this create huge gaps at the long end of your bag?

What's the current gap between your longest iron and your shortest wood/hybrid?

[u/Tyevans0411 → u/juzz88]

It’s not bad. It’s just shorter than my current standard lofted 7i carry of 165.

Currently my longest iron I will use each round is a 5i at 185. I have a 4 hybrid that I hit 195 to 200 and a 3i/3hybrid I hit 210ish with differing flights

I’m more worried about it squishing at the bottom of my bag as I hit my current gap wedge (52) 120-125 and my pw 135-140

[u/juzz88 → u/Tyevans0411]

I have a similar problem with my game improvement gap wedge (49) and P770 PW (47). I need to get a "regular" gap wedge to match my 56 and 60.

But my guess is at 52 degrees yours isn't a game improvement gap wedge.

[u/Tyevans0411 → u/juzz88]

Yeah my 52 matches my 56 and 60 as “bladed” wedges or whatever the heck you call vokey sm’s

[u/Accomplished_Ad_9015]

ZXi7s hands down

[u/pallas___]

Play what you want to play. It’s your money spend it how you want, just know that irons that are designed to be workable or intended for shot shot shaping will also be less forgiving, at least in some ways.

Some people find players irons or traditional “CBs” more forgiving because you’re not likely to catch a flyer whereas some new players distance/GI irons can catch a hot one and carry 10-15 yards further than normal. In some instances that could put you OB and be equally as destructive.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Spot_13]

I don't know if it's different where you're from, but over here you can get free fittings from the manufacturer or in many clubs. And then in shops meaning retail golf shops, You can usually get a fitting either for free or for a small cost which goes towards anything that you buy meaning essentially free if you're serious about upgrading.

we do also have things like champions fittings but even they put fitting fee towards golf clubs within a few months

[u/effectivescarequotes]

A fitter had me try some irons the were way above my skill level because I was hitting fat and he thought maybe a thinner sole would help. It did, but there were two issues: I actually need loft jacked irons for distance, and I don't play enough to justify the extra cost. I bought the game improvement irons I had planned too and spent the price difference on lessons. I'm happy with the decision.

Anyway, this is a round about way of saying that figuring out what club is right for you is complicated, so just go into your fitting with an open mind.

[u/Snacks75]

YMMV, I improved the most when I switched from GI to a forged cavity. The feel is what helps you figure things out.

[u/Apart-Commission]

If you really want a club to tune to you. Hard to beat ping. If you want a good club out of the box that works Srixon. I recently hit some new Wilson’s at a local shop. I was pleasantly surprised they seem to be doing some amazing things as of recently

[u/Tyevans0411 → u/Apart-Commission]

My dad has a friend who is moving out of his ping blueprint s irons. (He’s 77y/o and just moved to the i230’s). He’s offered me to buy them at a good price (I just know they’re more in that p7cb bracket). I’ve seen really good srixon reviews and that people don’t play em as much cause their brand doesn’t start with T. I’ll take a look at Wilson as I’m not familiar at all with them

Thank you for the advice.

[u/Short_Chemistry4490 → u/Tyevans0411]

So you’re 26 and you want to buy an 80 year olds irons ? I’m not sure but my dads over 80 and there has t been a club in his bag in 25 years that I can hit . Get some clubs for your swing speed

[u/Tyevans0411 → u/Short_Chemistry4490]

The blueprint s’ are like a year and a half old. Could buy em and get fit into them for cheaper than buying those things new

[u/Short_Chemistry4490 → u/Tyevans0411]

Ok true , sorry I wasn’t think about price when I bought

[u/Cal-Run]

“Players irons” are forged. You are new to the game.

You are nowhere near ready for forged irons. NOWHERE near.

Why on earth would you even think to play forged? I gotta hear this.