Best Golf Clubs Of 2010 Part 2 - Irons
Irons are the bread and butter clubs. They used to give you 3-9, PW and SW. With the advent of the hybrid the longer irons like the 3 & 4 are more or less obsolete in some cases. If you walk in to a golf shop today you will easily find combo golf clubs in a bag. Usually they now come with the 3 & 4 in hybrids instead of traditional irons. This normally happens in the "Super Game Improvement" category. Meanwhile, some low handicappers prefer sharp looking more playable irons with less directional help which are less forgiving and found in blade like irons with little or no cavity behind or in forged irons (called Players' irons). Other single digit players may still prefer friendlier ones. Irons that are in between are the Game Improvement types which are mostly used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dG9hb3_blo
It is most important that you are equipped with the right set of irons which when fitted well with your game is likely to last for quite some time. I'll skip the "Players" irons portion for good reason as not all single digit players use them too and go on to the others and also the Super Game Improvements which are suitable for players who need a lot of help not just in direction but also to get the ball up, kind of like idiot-proofed.
Irons
Game Improvement
Adams Idea a7 - a forgiving set of irons which includes 2 Tour-inspired hybrids. This is a optimally combined set designed to outperform traditional irons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIdELnfmZxQ
Mizuno MX-300 - Mizuno is most famous for their quality and feel. In their stable, the MP series are sharp irons for better players and the MX series are for mid to high handicappers. For the first time, the MX-300 introduced is the closest gap between their MP and MX series ever made. The appearance is more like a player's iron but some added forgiveness and feel will also appeal to both set of players. It's a in-between of the low handicap's MP-52 and the high handicappers' MX-200.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8yO9PBr6qM
Mizuno JPX-800 - Mizuno has the Super Game Improvement MX-1000 and the older MX-100 and of course the MX300 so they set out to make these irons by bench marking against all the other greats to make them more forgiving maintaining their trademark feel, to hit them longer and with more accuracy - a set suitable for the single digit player to a 24 handicapper. It has a hot metal face, a special cavity created for maximum energy transfer and a triple cut sole for ball striking from all lies which according to Mizuno exceeded all Mizuno irons created before and also the competition. This is no small claim. I did not like the blue at the back cavity though it's a nice colour but it doesn't look as sharp. I think Mizuno may be on to something but as usual they belong to the high end of the market. I dare not try it for now as Mizuno's superior feel can easily amaze me and get me hooked. Its too early for me to do some explaining to the wife and children why I could not afford more things for them but could lay hands on golf clubs.
Ping G15 - These are built for consistency. High launching and highly forgiving, these are explosive. Straight shooters and distance is impressive. What stands out for Ping is their club-fitting process which is probably the best in the industry.
TaylorMade R9 - Built for distance and control. It comes with an innovative shock absorption system packed in for better feel and superior sound. It has increased forgiveness and a specially designed beveled sole for better turf interaction for crisp contact.
TaylorMade Burner 2.0 - Burner 2.0 is like a software upgrade in computer. Anyway, Burner was not designed as a traditional set. TaylorMade's idea was to design each club as individual club for specific performance departing from the way most clubs were made.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYpFiKqssI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwxiLbySB6k
I have told the story of TaylorMade from Gary Adams' invention of the first metal wood which today gave us so much joy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnwM9z5Ek0g
Titleist AP1 - where AP stands for advance performance. A larger cavity and thinner face creates lively feel and hottest hits. The sole has tungsten nickel for more stability and forgiveness.
Take note that most of us could only handle only the AP1 not the AP 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1plN3qKmAOI
The sharpest looking clubs are Mizuno followed by Titleist, TaylorMade then Ping. In terms of forgiveness the easiest are Adams, Ping/TaylorMade/Titleist are all tied. Awards to TaylorMade/Titleist and Mizuno for best feel. For the best consistency category, Mizuno and Titleist ace it with Ping following. Distance-wise, the latest Mizuno JPX-800 and Ping G15 cuts it perhaps followed by TaylorMade R9.
So what's your beef? What are you looking for? As for me, I am very curious on the Mizuno JPX-800 maybe even the Burner but I will probably need a windfall to get them. C'mon wind, blow it my way!
My resolution for 2011 in golf would be to be even more consistent perhaps to reduce the score by another 3-5 strokes! So flex your knee a wee bit, lean a little forward, watch and maintain that spine angle. Most of all - "Stand Tall!"
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