---->Srixon 701 tours...INFO NEEDED!!!

titleistpro2 · May 15, 2008

Compare to j33cb / ap2 / etc....

The 701 tours appear to be just what i've been looking for in that the set up square, have a flat leading edge, minimal offset, etc....AND appear to have some level of forgiveness.

I've got the itch for some new irons. I've been rocking the j33cb's for 2 years and really enjoy them...looking for a TOUCH more forgiveness, but it's got to be the right kind of forgiveness. I got the ap2's (in the correct shaft obviously) and while they were nice, they absolutely sucked at knockdown / low shots, which I HAVE to have in the Kansas wind (this is an example of the WRONG kind of forgiveness).

In short, are these 701 tours more or less forgiving than j33cb's for those that have hit both and for everyone else, just give me your .02 cents.

thanks, Matt

bradkv · May 16, 2008

I have played both, and I prefer the 701 tours personally. I don't think there's really a big difference between the two in any way, I just prefer the look and feel of the 701's. Offset and head size are about the same, with the 701's having a little more of a square toe look. I find the 701's VERY easy to knock down and keep low, and I prefer the sole on the 701's as well. Both irons have a great sole for a "digger", but the Srixons seem to work a little better on uneven lies due to the cutouts on the heel and toe of the iron. I also felt like the Srixons felt a little softer than the Bridgestones. I hit a very high ball, and love to be able to flight the ball down a little when it's windy (which it has been here EVERY weekend since about January it seems), and these Srixons work really well, so in that Kansas wind, they should work pretty well for you.

titleistpro2 · May 16, 2008

Thanks for the response. I'm loving the squared up look that they have...I'm hoping that they're a tad more forgiving than the bridgestrones. I guess I'll just have to get a set on the way and see for myself.

chisag · May 16, 2008

The 701 tours appear to be just what i've been looking for in that the set up square, have a flat leading edge, minimal offset, etc....AND appear to have some level of forgiveness. I've got the itch for some new irons. I've been rocking the j33cb's for 2 years and really enjoy them...looking for a TOUCH more forgiveness, but it's got to be the right kind of forgiveness. I got the ap2's (in the correct shaft obviously) and while they were nice, they absolutely sucked at knockdown / low shots, which I HAVE to have in the Kansas wind (this is an example of the WRONG kind of forgiveness). In short, are these 701 tours more or less forgiving than j33cb's for those that have hit both and for everyone else, just give me your .02 cents.

... Well here's my requested 2 cents. Having played the j33cb's for 2 years, I switched to the 701 tours. I'd certainly say the j33cb's were more forgiving, although it was not a night and day difference. Imo, the 701 tours are more comparable to the new J36 cb's. Both are real players cb's, and it would most likely boil down to a personal preference. I think they are more like forgiving blades in cb's clothing. The deciding factor for me was the ability to add J36 pc's in my long irons. The pc's are still capable of knock down shots, although not to the same degree as the cb's. Chicago gets silly windy as well and the pc's are maneuverable enough for my game, especially the 5-3 irons. In contrast to bradkv, I find the Bridgestone's to be softer feeling. With the 701 tours comprised of 1025 carbon steel compared to the 1020 carbon steel used in the Bridgestone's, you can see why.

... Comin from J33's, the J36's felt like comin back home to me. The bottom line is they are both awesome irons, and if you are gettin a full set of cb's, I don't think you can make a wrong choice.

flugelwood · May 16, 2008

I'm curious did any of you try the regular 701's as well...what is their forgiveness and playability level comapred to the tours?

titleistpro2 · May 16, 2008

Thanks Chisag...good info there. Are those bridgestone pc's prone to ballooning like the ap2's (question for anyone, I suppose).

The 701 tours just look so nice behind a ball. I have had such good luck with the j33cb's insomuch as they are very consistent and accurate. I don't have a lot of luck curving the ball with these, but that's fine in my book. I wouldn't mind a little help in the long irons, I just can't have anything balloon. I know someone will bring up just putting the right shaft in, but I had the same shaft in my ap2's as my J33's, and those irons ballooned like no other on me. That's why I'm wondering if the j36pc's might do a little better on that end as far as not ballooning.

Definately interested in the 701 tours, but like everyone else, I probably need a little help in the longer irons. Are the regular 701's hideous to look at?

vwgolfer · May 16, 2008

I have both J33 Cb and a combo set of 701/701 tours. First off the regular 701's look good, I can hardly tell the difference at address. The feel is a little different between the 701/701tours. The tours feel less clicky. the tours are awesome. I like these irons very much, keepers. To me the J33cbs are a little more demanding and a little easier to hit a knock down shot, if that makes sense, maybe it is the lofts. I like both sets but would have to choose the 701's because they are easier to hit and when you flush it the ball just rockets off the face, a very cool and weird sensation.

titleistpro2 · May 16, 2008

So...does anyone have some to send my way in a PX 6.5 or possible x100????

I know, I know, I'm going to get yelled at, but...I NEED TO HIT THEM!!!

P.Lay · May 16, 2008

Are the regular 701's hideous to look at?

No, not at all. I play a combo set and while the tours are noticeably smaller, it works very well. I believe Henrik Stenson plays the regular i701s.

zed · May 17, 2008

I've had my regular 701's with Nippons for about 4 weeks now and shot my two lowest scores ever. Very forgiving and you can still work them ok if you need to. Another benefit of the Srixon is that they are hammered up to 6 times in the forging process which seems to give them a bit of resilliance against bag chatter and marking that forged irons (particularly Mizuno) seem to suffer from. They remain very soft at impact. One bonus that I got from these irons that surprised me was the feel for the chip and run shot with the 8 iron and 7 iron and even the pitch shot with the PW. Being a type of pocket cavity, I thought that they would lack feel for these shots, but I reguarly reach for these irons now in preference to my CG 10 and Spin Milled and get up and down a lot. Something about the spring face feel just seems to work for me with the short shots as well.

The 701's are far from hideous to look at.

chisag · May 17, 2008

Thanks Chisag...good info there. Are those bridgestone pc's prone to ballooning like the ap2's.
The 701 tours just look so nice behind a ball. I have had such good luck with the j33cb's insomuch as they are very consistent and accurate. I don't have a lot of luck curving the ball with these, but that's fine in my book. I wouldn't mind a little help in the long irons, I just can't have anything balloon. I know someone will bring up just putting the right shaft in, but I had the same shaft in my ap2's as my J33's, and those irons ballooned like no other on me. That's why I'm wondering if the j36pc's might do a little better on that end as far as not ballooning. Definately interested in the 701 tours, but like everyone else, I probably need a little help in the longer irons. Are the regular 701's hideous to look at?

... This is my opinion, and should be treated as just that. I originally ordered the 701's from pictures only and was very disappointed. I didn't even hit them. The topline was too thick for my tastes and the head was much larger than I am comfortable with and I found the offset excessive. Clearly I am not their target market. Not learning my lesson... sigh, I again ordered the 701 tours from pics and recommendation from DanSrixon. BUT... for me at least, the 701t's were everything the 701 were not. I loved them. They were in my bag headin down to the PGA Show. I only owned the pw-5 irons and augmented the set with Adams Pro hybrid 4/3's. I was interested in the new Titleist irons, the new MacGregor irons and the new J36's, but felt they would have to be something very special to kick the 701t's out of my bag.

... I have to say I was blown away by the J36's and it was love at first site. I had only been playin the 701t's for a couple of months, so they were still new to me. But looking at the J36 line-up in the Show racks. I was very impressed that someone had finally got it right. 3 different irons that looked identical at address!!! The transition from the pw to 9i to 8i is a masterpiece. The only blemish that stops me from calling them perfect is the pw is a little too high in the heel giving it a little of that bloated Japanese look. Not anywhere near as bad as others, but it's there. Then the 9i is a little slimmer in the heel, and the 8i is slimmer still providing a perfect bridge between short and mid irons, a transition many do poorly imo. The pocket cavities have no additional weight in the sole. The weight is positioned around the entire perimeter, and the forgiveness comes in the form of a bigger sweet spot, with just a hint of additional trajectory. I found myself going back again and again to the hitting bay at the PGA Show and hitting all 3 of the j36 offerings but splitting my time hitting knock downs and full swing with the pc long iron's, and the same type shots with the cb/blade short irons.

... I will do a full follow up review of the J36's which not only won my Best of Show... Irons, but best New Product as well. The 701t's are awesome, but again the ability to fine tune the set make-up, puts the j36's ahead of all others imo.

ickgolfer · May 17, 2008

i have a picture on my phone of the 701t, the 701 and my os2 all next to each other but i cannot get my bluetooth to work right now.

ive hit the 701, the 701t and the j33cb and i love both 701's. im in the market for some new irons and the srixon clubs are at the tope of my list. another club i have found pretty impressive is the nike cci forged. if i can get that pic working ill get it up here.