Which Players Distance Irons are Best for a Picker?

[Pepperturbo]

12 hours ago, revanant said:

Thanks again for the perspective!

 

I'm thinking I'm going to pull the trigger this month.

 

Where have you been blending them, generally?

 

I'm thinking of going 620CB 5i-8i, but I could probably be talked into more irons. 🤣

Sometimes 3i-5i CBs, 6i-PW MBs, other times just 3-4i CB, rest MBs.  A few times all CBs.  All depends on my bones that day.  Even though I now have a new set of T100s, I'll still take out the MBs, maybe even mix in a few MBs with T100s, like Max Homa.

[Walk-it-in]

The Mizuno 223, p770s and 790s have less bounce and sole thickness than say a Ping i210/230 or i525. Being a shallow picker, the thinner soles of the Taylormade players distance irons might be a better turf interaction and Mizunos better feel. 

[PuffyC]

On 4/3/2022 at 12:19 PM, Pepperturbo said:

.What's odd is hearing a touring pro say he struck the ball well, only it didn't go anywhere near the plan.  That's like saying I missed my target at 550 meters, but it was straight... LOL> 

That’s funny. I’ll occasionally hit a shot and say something like ‘wow that sure was pretty. Totally wrong direction but that ball flight was perfection.” Sometimes you gotta take your victories where you can get them 😉

[Pepperturbo]

On 12/10/2022 at 8:19 PM, PuffyC said:

That’s funny. I’ll occasionally hit a shot and say something like ‘wow that sure was pretty. Totally wrong direction but that ball flight was perfection.” Sometimes you gotta take your victories where you can get them 😉

I have done that too, but don't see it as winning anything.  Taking something that wasn't in the right direction as a win is tantamount to blowing smoke up your keister... hoping it tickles your fancy.

[Chunkitgood]

Whichever one you want.  Lie angle and length are the only things that really matter.  
 

Tour player’s “nowhere near the plan” is likely 20 feet off.

[OnTheBag]

I've been a picker my whole life.  Grew up on hard-pan municipal courses with no irrigation.  Taking a divot on them was painful.  As a result, I have always gravitated to bladed irons.  Low-to-no bounce, thin, flat sole and low CG compared to face height.  Eye 2's were probably the only CB I could play consistently.  Likely due to the low to negative bounce on most of the irons.  

 

I would love to play a GI or distance iron now.  However, when I do, I wind up skulling more shots than I hit cleanly.  The sole bounce and radius seem to get in the way.

[App Alum]

On 3/10/2022 at 12:11 AM, Feelingofgreatness said:

Check out the New Level 902-os

Second this. Relatively narrow, pre-worn sole.

[JDIL]

I'm literally hitting the 2021 Apex Pros about 10-15 yards longer than the P790s and P770s. I'm an extreme picker (why didn't y'all tell me not to practice for. 2 years on mats) until I get to the short irons/wedges. I also think my (short)height has something to do with that as well. Always struggled with game improvement irons. Launch was always so low, 6 iron almost unplayable, I didn't touch my 5 iron except off the tee. A few times I borrowed slightly smaller clubs I hit them much better. Wilson FG Tour F5, 2016 Apex Pros. 

 

3 rounds with the Apex Pros and I can actually hit the 5 iron, and it actually goes further than the 6 with a good descent angle to hold a green. With out any numbers to back it up, I'm just speculating it's the thinner sole plus the higher loft that matches my shallow delivery.

 

I played all 3 P790s, and the 2021 was the best out of them for me. Still not as high and far as the Apex Pros but better and playable.

Edited December 17, 2022 by JDIL

[Hamsterdam84]

9 hours ago, JDIL said:

I'm literally hitting the 2021 Apex Pros about 10-15 yards longer than the P790s and P770s. I'm an extreme picker (why didn't y'all tell me not to practice for. 2 years on mats) until I get to the short irons/wedges. I also think my (short)height has something to do with that as well. Always struggled with game improvement irons. Launch was always so low, 6 iron almost unplayable, I didn't touch my 5 iron except off the tee. A few times I borrowed slightly smaller clubs I hit them much better. Wilson FG Tour F5, 2016 Apex Pros. 

 

3 rounds with the Apex Pros and I can actually hit the 5 iron, and it actually goes further than the 6 with a good descent angle to hold a green. With out any numbers to back it up, I'm just speculating it's the thinner sole plus the higher loft that matches my shallow delivery.

 

I played all 3 P790s, and the 2021 was the best out of them for me. Still not as high and far as the Apex Pros but better and playable.

Loft on a 6i GI club is more in line with a 4i in a traditional set. One of the reasons I don't like GI clubs and their juiced lofts - makes half the set unplayable for most beginners since they lack club head speed to get the low irons in the air.

Edited December 17, 2022 by Hamsterdam84

[JDIL]

On 12/17/2022 at 5:41 AM, Hamsterdam84 said:

Loft on a 6i GI club is more in line with a 4i in a traditional set. One of the reasons I don't like GI clubs and their juiced lofts - makes half the set unplayable for most beginners since they lack club head speed to get the low irons in the air.

It's something that definitely needs to be tested. The lower loft can be offset by a lower CGI, but only to a point. That point needs to be tested because of swing speed and dynamic loft, AOA delivery of the clubhead etc. A slower swinger, but with a nice angle of attack, can get that clubface to the ball in a way where the CGI really does it's thing, and gets that ball in the air. 

But my ideal club: would be something like the P790/Apex but a thinner sole. I know that would affect the CGI, but raising it just ever so slightly to reduce the bounce to whatever the Apex Pros have for bounce.

Edited December 18, 2022 by JDIL

[SteelyDan]

How about the PXG O311P or XP? Would they work for pickers?

[Ripken08]

7 hours ago, SteelyDan said:

How about the PXG O311P or XP? Would they work for pickers?

Didn't for me.  All PXGs are higher bounce.

[Arik]

Any update??

[AndersonGT]

Screw it. I'm bumping this because everyone picked on me and acted like I was crazy for wanting to try a thinner soled iron being a picker...

 

Maybe I can get some updated choices. Kinda want to save some money and am considering Wilson Staff Model, Rogue ST Pro, and maybe Cobra Forged Tec. Srixons are now off my board because from my research, the V-soles don't work well with pickers. Seems I need to add P790s to my list. I'm going to pass on the T100s. 

[Jut]

I had the Rogue ST Pros and then moved on to the PXG XCOR2 irons.  Love ‘em. 

[OnTheBag]

52 minutes ago, AndersonGT said:

Screw it. I'm bumping this because everyone picked on me and acted like I was crazy for wanting to try a thinner soled iron being a picker...

 

Maybe I can get some updated choices. Kinda want to save some money and am considering Wilson Staff Model, Rogue ST Pro, and maybe Cobra Forged Tec. Srixons are now off my board because from my research, the V-soles don't work well with pickers. Seems I need to add P790s to my list. I'm going to pass on the T100s. 

Picker here as well. Now that Ben Hogan is back in business, take a look at their PTx Pro irons.  Their V-Sole is drastically different than Srixon.  I've used several sets of their Ft Worth and Icon irons in the past with good results.  They now have a demo program and some cheaper sets on The Bay.

[ArcticSound]

1 hour ago, AndersonGT said:

Screw it. I'm bumping this because everyone picked on me and acted like I was crazy for wanting to try a thinner soled iron being a picker...

 

Maybe I can get some updated choices. Kinda want to save some money and am considering Wilson Staff Model, Rogue ST Pro, and maybe Cobra Forged Tec. Srixons are now off my board because from my research, the V-soles don't work well with pickers. Seems I need to add P790s to my list. I'm going to pass on the T100s. 

I’m an ultra-shallow in-to-out player and played Rogue ST Pros last year. I loved the performance but didn’t like the feel. Switched to the last model Wilson Staff CB and feel in love the feel. Unfortunately I suck, though, and found I was really struggling with them. 
 

I just switched back to the Rogue ST Pro and immediately got better. The thinner sole, minimal bounce, and sharp leading edge seems to work really well for my swing. They also have a surprisingly low CG and a pretty high MPF, if that’s a number that you buy into.

[SteelyDan]

If picking means barely avoiding fat hits, check out the Mizzy Hot Metal Pros. Their sole isn’t super thin, but just wants to glide through without digging.

[ob1soccer]

P790 lasted 3 rounds i hate them.

Currently in demo mode between zx5 and Mizuno 225

[chinaski]

T150. They are amazingly good on thin strikes. 

 

EDIT: I should say low on the face and not a true thinned shot. 

Edited April 25, 2024 by chinaski

[AndersonGT]

For some reason thin top line (T150) make me nervous. Some good feedback here. I have 2ndSwing store near me so I'm making a list of everything to hit. Based on your feedback along with my own preferences...for instance, prefer forged or multi-material forged, no V-sole as I have had tried multiple variations.

 

WRXers

1. Mizuno 921 Forged (My alt to 923 HM)

2. Rogue ST Pro

3. Titleist T200 (My alt to T150)

4. PXG XCOR2 (Although Cast, I do hear they lean on the softer side)

5. PXG 0311P Gen5

 

My Want to Try list (Unless I hear a lot of negative feedback)

1. D9 or Dynapower Forged

2. '22 Forged Tec and Forged Tec X

3. Apex Pro '19

4. Apex DCB

5. Fourteen TB5 (Probably not going to find them at 2nd Swing Store)

6. Takomo 101 (Again probably won't be able to try these)

7. Sub 70 639 CB (See Above)

 

When I go, if one club seriously stand out vs. another, I will certainly buy once cry later. Example being I love the looks of the new 2024 Apex Pros! Same goes for the Fourteen TB5. 

 

[wjets]

I’m a sweeper and I use ping i230 without any problems whether off sparse fairways or pristine fairways they just work for me.

[ob1soccer]

zx5 or Mizuno Pro 225 for anyone?

[SteelyDan]

2 hours ago, ob1soccer said:

zx5 or Mizuno Pro 225 for anyone?

Friend of mine is a picker and switched from T200 first gen to Pro 225. T200 worked much better.

[FredPo]

T100s have been the best irons I’ve played for this picker

[Hari_Selden]

On 4/24/2024 at 4:40 PM, AndersonGT said:

Screw it. I'm bumping this because everyone picked on me and acted like I was crazy for wanting to try a thinner soled iron being a picker...

 

Maybe I can get some updated choices. Kinda want to save some money and am considering Wilson Staff Model, Rogue ST Pro, and maybe Cobra Forged Tec. Srixons are now off my board because from my research, the V-soles don't work well with pickers. Seems I need to add P790s to my list. I'm going to pass on the T100s. 

You likely won't find any to hit, but Honma TW 747/757 vx check most of the right boxes. Preworn edge, narrow soles, semi-strong lofts, low cg and interesting shaft choices if you check JDM sources.

[LeftyLeftOut]

Always struggled to hit my irons. I had bought into the game improvement label of clubs as that's what my handicap said I should play. It wasn't until I tried out some 718 Ap2's that I had hit better than any GI iron I had played before. That made me start to actually research into best club attributes for different swing types. As a picker I found the best qualities to suit my swing were 

*Minimal offset

*Low bounce 

* thin soles

I also found out that for my swing, so this is subjective, that a higher VCOG helped me with distance. I game Nike Vapor Pros. I would have preferred the Vapor Pro Combo set, but being a lefty searching a brand that no longer produces golf clubs, I haven't found a set yet, so I don't game below the 5i with the Vapor Pros. Righties wouldn't have a problem finding a set of the Vapor Pro Combos for cheap, and may be worth a go. 

[toddba11]

Titleist T-200 or blades, hard pan in TX.  

[toddba11]

On 4/24/2024 at 3:40 PM, AndersonGT said:

Screw it. I'm bumping this because everyone picked on me and acted like I was crazy for wanting to try a thinner soled iron being a picker...

 

Maybe I can get some updated choices. Kinda want to save some money and am considering Wilson Staff Model, Rogue ST Pro, and maybe Cobra Forged Tec. Srixons are now off my board because from my research, the V-soles don't work well with pickers. Seems I need to add P790s to my list. I'm going to pass on the T100s. 

Agree on the V-Soles, bought a set and resulted in lots of skulling, they were up for sale real quick.

[ChristopherMcDonald]

Certified picker here. Absolutely loving my New Level 902-OS as someone else mentioned here previously.