Has the irons really changed that much over the years?

[ledsvik]

Hey :)

I haven't played real golf in like 15 years but I'm kinda curious if you guys think the irons have changed much during those years? :)

I bought a Callaway X16 set in like 2006 or so :) Noticed that every year they marked irons the same way..... so are they really 15 years more "straighter" nowdays? :)

[Armand]

I keep getting told they have, but I'm still playing my mid-90s knock-offs of the TaylorMade Burner Midsize irons. I've been tempted for the last 2 years to buy new clubs, but I never seem to even look at new clubs! With the season starting just around the corner here, I might have to start looking at new clubs. (I really like the look of the TaylorMade P-790s, but I'm just a hacker, so they probably won't see my bag! ;)

[charlie]

A debatable topic, and you may get a different answer depending on whether you are referring to player clubs or game improvement clubs. The game improvement irons do provide a little more distance for the average player, but this is due in part to the stronger lofts. I played blades for years and switched to game improvement irons in my sixties as I began to lose some distance. I was surprised to learn that my 7-iron in the new clubs had the same loft as the 6-iron in my older clubs. Sometimes the shafts are marginally longer too. I would say that advances in fitting and shafts have been a significant change. A good club fitter can work with you to get the right combination for your swing. Some players (particularly as they get older) need softer shafts to retain distance .... assuming they have a reasonably sound swing. If you swing too fast and without a proper rhythm, it does not really matter what you are holding. The club will not perform as designed because the shaft does not flex as designed. But, like I say, people argue about these things. Manufacturers make lots of claims with every new release, but I tend to view most of it as sales hype.

[ledsvik]

Thanks for replies :)

Enjoyed your thoughts about it :)

Ye, when I get like 65 or so.... I'll still have my old clubs and try to beat some new ones with their fancy clubs :)