Question

1.14K viewsOctober 20, 2023

Samsonite 39 October 19, 2023 0 Comments

I recently got to test a set of Caley 01T irons as part of member testing over at MyGolfSpy – and I’m shocked at how good they are, to be honest – it’s essentially a P790 clone. I’d tested out a 6/9 iron in the TS3 earlier this year, before finding out I was getting to test the Caleys, so held off on buying a set (filling out the set, that is), but I really loved the way the 3’s felt. I’m curious, though, if there would be an advantage to playing the TS1-M’s (LOVE the look) with the (slightly?) hotter face compared to the TS3 – I don’t really suffer for distance (165 8-iron (34 degree)), so it’s more just curiosity that’s got me wondering if, given that I’m in a hollow-bodied iron currently, you’d recommend the TS1-M (or TS1) over the TS3? I’ve gotten down to a 9.4 (hallelujah!) over the last three years, playing with the Sim Max irons from 2020, but feel like I’d like something with a little more workability, so I’m leaning TS3, but…I also have some friends on the forum trying to get me to play the TS4’s, lol. One of the things I’m stunned by is how much I love the turf interaction with the thinner sole of the Caley irons – the TS3 has a pretty similar width profile, and from what I can see, the TS1/4 also have similar widths (not identical, clearly) – but wondering if there are differences with how they interact with the turf from the TS3.

Essentially, any direction would be hugely appreciated (in that you can give any – I understand some of it just comes down to player preference).

Thanks!

Britt Lindsey Answered question October 20, 2023

1 Answer

Answer 1 · 2023-10-22T10:45:46+00:00

Honestly, I have not really heard much about the Caley irons. I would love to test the playability of them. Maybe someday I can get my hands on a #6 iron and check them out.

As far as your decision about the TS3’s and the TS1-IM’s, it’s a can’t go wrong decision in my biased opinion. You will get more of a players “blade” look with the TS1-IM’s, and it is a different construction and materials. I would not expect you to see a noticeable difference in distance based on the thinner face construction of the TS1-IM. In all clubs that claim this it is a very minor factor and the more loft you have as you move through the set it basically has little if no effect. The reason we design irons with a high strength thin face is to allow more mass to be placed in other places in the head to increase stability. When there is a little deflection of the face in the lower lofted irons that increase ball speed a fraction, that is a bonus. They have basically the same lofts (TS1-IM is .5 deg. weaker in the 5 and 7 and 1 deg. weaker in the 6, but the other clubs in the set are the same), bounces are similar. The actual vertical cg in the TS3 is lower which is the main reason it is a rated a little higher in the MPF rating (849 vs 728), but both fall into the Super Game Improvement category. As far as workability, I have said this many times on this forum, if we assume you hit a shot you are trying to work in the center of the face, there is not difference in workability in irons. Fades or draws are created by path and face angle at impact, period.

So, it really does come down, in my opinion, what you want to look at. Does one appeal to you more at address. The TS3 might be ever so slightly more forgiving if that matters. I think you will be happy with either.

Britt Lindsey

This is perfect – can’t thank you enough. I took my TS3 6/9 iron out again to the range on Friday and was reminded just HOW good they truly are. I have the Score TT shafts in them, but I think when I was ready to build them out I’d stick with either the Nippon 105s (currently in my 2020 SIm Max’s) or the KBS Tour Lite (currently in the Caleys) – Given that there are bound to be length differences, I’d probably just order them built that way from you all and call it a day :)

The only question now would be do I dare entertain the idea of the TS4s over the 3’s, lol. But that’s not on you – that’s solely on me :)

Thanks again!