New irons?

[ash5584]

Background
Just got back to golf early last year after a 9yr hiatus.
HCP when i stopped was around 13-14, blew out to 19 by sept last year (with some horrendous golf!), but have managed to drop down to 9 as of Jan this year.

I am still using my first set of irons that I purchased... Nike Forged Pro Combo (full cavity at the top and blades at the bottom!), traditional lofts.
They are in fantastic condition, considering their age, grooves are fine... and they still feel and perform very well.
I did a fitting with TM mid last year, was 'fit' for the p770's... there was about 3-5m increase in distance found... which for me at the time didn't seem worth the price.
As my handicap has dropped, I have been thinking more and more of whether new technology irons (Titleist T100, TM p770/p7cb, or similar) would be helpful with minimising the penalty for mishits.
Distance on good hits are not an issue for me... 7i carry is usually 145-148m... I don't think i need more distance per se.
I have noticed that a toe hit on my 3 iron will result in a drop of 30m sometimes (190m average, down to 160ish)... i tend to use 3iron off the tee on many holes due to my home course layout.

Thoughts on newer tech? Should i just continue to 'get better' with my current set... or am I leaving good technology on the table in terms of consistency and mishit management.

[AndyP]

Technology definitely helps. I got new irons within the last couple of years and it has helped with those off centre hits.

[LeftyHoges]

Background
Just got back to golf early last year after a 9yr hiatus.
HCP when i stopped was around 13-14, blew out to 19 by sept last year (with some horrendous golf!), but have managed to drop down to 9 as of Jan this year.

I am still using my first set of irons that I purchased... Nike Forged Pro Combo (full cavity at the top and blades at the bottom!), traditional lofts.
They are in fantastic condition, considering their age, grooves are fine... and they still feel and perform very well.
I did a fitting with TM mid last year, was 'fit' for the p770's... there was about 3-5m increase in distance found... which for me at the time didn't seem worth the price.
As my handicap has dropped, I have been thinking more and more of whether new technology irons (Titleist T100, TM p770/p7cb, or similar) would be helpful with minimising the penalty for mishits.
Distance on good hits are not an issue for me... 7i carry is usually 145-148m... I don't think i need more distance per se.
I have noticed that a toe hit on my 3 iron will result in a drop of 30m sometimes (190m average, down to 160ish)... i tend to use 3iron off the tee on many holes due to my home course layout.

Thoughts on newer tech? Should i just continue to 'get better' with my current set... or am I leaving good technology on the table in terms of consistency and mishit management.

How long is a piece of string?

Technology in irons hasn't improved THAT much unless you're really trying to drop multiple strokes off your 'cap, and then you're paying $2K+ to do it. So it really depends on your desire to get lower.

What I'd be looking at first is a reshaft, from memory the Pro Combo's were released late 2000's? Find a set of pulls of whatever you were fitted to in the P770's and get them in there. At worst you're out $3-400 bucks, and if that doesn't really help you've still got good condition irons with basically brand new shafts to sell. Sell those for what you paid for the "pull" shafts and use that to fund your new iron set purchase.

Just my $0.02 anyway...

[goonie]

Firstly if you are considering new irons I would do a new fit since your handicap has dropped.
Secondly why are you using a 3 iron 😳,
If your short and mid irons are fine you could look at more forgiving long irons, demo some driving/utility irons for the top of the bag.

If you like one piece forged style irons you won’t see a massive improvement in newer similar style irons, if you want more distance than something like hollow body iron like the P770 could help, but keep in mind the increase in ball speed will lower your spin and possible control.

[Courty]

FWIW the P770s will be slightly longer because their lofts a a tad stronger, so it's a bit of a false economy.

[dM.]

Also the new 770s aren't built around distance, pretty sure the new ones are shorter than the previous version but are way more consistent. Cool clubs YouTube channel has some fantastic videos showing the overall dispersion based on different face strikes via robot testing. Biggest things is being honest about what you need to make you better, to follow up what others have mentioned, sounds like the 3 iron could get dropped for something more forgiving hybrid/7W etc.

[TheNuclearOne]

Demo, demo, demo. Maybe go to a couple of manufacturers fitting days. Iron advancements aren't exactly overwhelming. It will basically come down to something that fits your forgiveness needs, suits your eye, feels how you want it to feel and gives you the turf interaction you are looking for. It sounds like a lot but it's not when you start demoing. Looks and feel while being forgiving enough is basically it really. There's a lot of shafts out there now so narrowing that down might take time. More likely you will stumble on one you like pretty fast. Demoing on course is where it's probably at.

[ash5584]

Thanks for the ideas.
Have been demoing when I have the time (t200's on the rack at the proshop), haven't noticed a massive difference (allowing for loft changes). I think I'll stick with my ancient set for a little while longer... and sign up for a few brand fittings over the year to try everything out.
3i vs hybrid/7w -> I tend to hit my 3i relatively well. It's my safety club off the tee, good for about 185-205m on the fairway (most important part!)... I bought a TM stealth 3H last year and find I am much more inconsistent with it (overdraw/hook it with the miss), although I do tend to get about 20m further with the hybrid.

[petethepilot]

If you are looking at new irons, you absolutely should look at the Srixon ZX5 mk2’s (or ZX7 mk2’s if you are a low marker). They have a new model out (ZXi) but the older model performs great at distance, feel and forgiveness. You should b able to buy them well atm. They topped Mygolfspy’s best iron last year!

Plenty of reviews out there.
Long term members know I buy top of the line gear but these outperform far more expensive clubs!

[3Puttpete]

They’re even cheaper if you don’t buy the even numbered irons