As as aging competitive senior player, my questions about iron fitting surround iron lofts. I noticed a fairly significant decline in my distances this past year, especially in my 5, 6, 7 irons…the lower lofted irons. I found that they tended to be flatter and falling out of the sky. Just wasn’t getting the same out of them as previously. My shaft was DG 105, so I’m already in a light/ultra-light set-up there. Realizing I’m not generating the same clubhead speed to get the proper launch on those irons, I’m wondering if moving away from the Player’s Distance category, where the lofts are mostly jacked to provide more distance…and into a slightly higher lofted set in the “modern players” range might be the ticket to getting proper launch and carry out of my longer irons? I realize there are lots of variables, and a good fitting is the answer…but conceptually, is it possible I could get more distance from a slightly weakened loft structure, or is distance mostly predicated by loft, and I should look to other variables in my fitting such as ultra-light shafts and lower kickpoints, and/or moving to higher lofted fairway woods and hybrids at the top end of my set? Again, I’m wondering if conceptually i might benefit from a modern players’ loft structure as opposed to player’s distance…is that possible?
I hope that’s clear enough. I am still a good ball striker, low handicap, competitive senior, but I’m finding it difficult to find and iron I can carry 175-180 these days…thanks in advance!
Muskie
Thank you for your feedback. My driver SS is still between 95-100, with my average carry being 230ish. My average 6iron SS is 78-80, with average carry 165ish. My recent fitting at Club Champion confirmed these numbers. According to Trackman, I was carrying the JPX forged 6i 168 on average. They fitted me into Nippon Modus 120 S flex (which is 115 gr) with a D-6 swingweight…and it’s simply been a horrible fit. It was so counter-intuitive to take an aging swing and go up in weight class about 15 grams. I questioned it, and they were like “the numbers don’t lie”, and even though I had strong reservations , I trusted and went with their recommendation. Needless to say, I haven’t been happy at all, and am still working with them on the “performance guarantee”. They are honoring it past the 90 days because I informed them of all these issues within a couple weeks. I played 2 competitive events at big venues, one at Olympia Fields South, and one at Lawsonia Links…and I couldn’t hit an iron over 8 with any confidence or consistency. I was embarrassed at Olympia Fields, and by the time I played Lawsonia, I knew I couldn’t expect much from my iron set-up, so I compensated by playing to my strengths and around the limitations of the irons, and I actually did get a decent result or 2 out of the longer irons there, but it took my best effort.
To your point…yes, I’m open to going down in both weight and flex as needed, but I don’t think I’m near the A/L range just yet. Every shaft is different with respect to flex and bend point, etc. I’m open to R or R+ flex, or soft-stepping S-flex…just have to find the right fit. With respect to set make-up, I’m not ready to get rid of my 5 iron yet. I need a functional club for trouble shots, and such, and truly, I believe I’m still capable of hitting a 5 iron properly with the right fit. I’m thinking 1-3-7w, 4hy, 5-GW, 54*, 58* or 1-3-5w, 3hy, 5-GW, 54*, 58*
Anyway, thanks for indulging me, and for your input. Much appreciated.
Muskie