DO NOT BUY irons until you've watched this 

For me "forgiveness" is what I need when the wife sees the credit card statement with golf equipment listed on it!

For me, the only testing that really shows forgiveness is on the course. I can stand on a flat mat and hit Miura blades all day long. But when u get in the rough, a bunker or an uneven lie, forget about it.

Average swing speed for an average golfer with the driver is about 95mph; about the same as an LPGA player. You will notice on the LPGA, most players don't go lower than 27 degree in loft. After that, they go to hybrids/utilities. Most golfers would help themselves by looking into the bags of the ladies versus the men.

My experience with blades matches yours. In the industry there's three different definitions of forgiveness. One definition is off center hits. And for me blades actually lead this category. They're the most consistent regardless of where you hit them. They don't go far, but they're consistent. They're just a solid steel bar so to me that makes sense. The second definition is launch angle. And this is where clubs like the Cleveland launcher and other hybrid style irons live. They're not super long but they launch high for slow swing speed. Then there's distance. This is where the P790, Callaway Apex, and other distance irons live. They try to maximize the spring effects of the club face for maximum distance. They also tend to use tungsten to create high launch but that's not their priority. They're the trampolines of the iron world. And if you've ever jumped on a trampoline you understand that the center jumps you high, but the sides aren't so "forgiving" and can even send you off balance. This is why these irons can produce weird side spin from off center hits. I personally find these irons the least "forgiving" because I can't trust them to go the distance they promised. One shot they go 170 and the next they fly 195 over the green. Then the next they're short. They're my least favorite type of iron but for some reason are the most popular.

First off these aren’t on opposite sides of the spectrum, Mizuno 225’s aren’t game improvement irons. The JPX hot metal is Mizuno’s game improvement iron. The 225’s are a mid forgiveness iron. Second, good players don’t “drop” irons to gap properly. Bad players can’t hit 5i’s well enough to gap properly based on contact and speed. If you need to drop a 5i and go 6I to 4i, you should stop at 6i and go straight into hybrids. It’s so much easier. Why would a mid/ handicapper play a 4i or either of thee irons anyway. Give them a JPX hot metal 6-PW/AW, 4 and 5 hybrid, 5wd, no 3wd, and Driver. Give them no hard to hit clubs. I fit for a living and I do a good job at it. It’s not as complicated as this video makes it. This video might actually get people to think they should hit blades. Top irons used on tour- 1. Titleist T100(not a blade) 2. Ping i210(about a 10-15 handicap iron) 3- tied -Titleist MB( blade) and Callaway Apex TCB( not a blade) Even the pros know hitting blades is pointless. 64% of the tour uses all cavity back irons. 20% uses only blades The rest use a mixed bag of both. It goes to 80% if they have at least 1 cavity back iron. Forgiveness is very much a thing.

Andy you absolutely nailed this video. I know from bitter experience that there is no point in me having irons with lofts of less than 25 degrees, I just cannot generate the speed and launch with lofts of less than that. So for my i210s my 5 iron has a loft of 26 degrees and then I move into a 23 degree hybrid. If I were changing irons this year, the 221s would definitely be on my list of options

Haven't had a 4 iron in the bag for 15+ years. Just recently I've noticed the smaller gap between 6 and 5 irons..a Mizuno MP18 FliHi 5 iron has pushed my carry back out to where it was. Works for me.

Great video about gapping for mid handicapper with modern day. I paid more for 0311p gen 3 (6-gw). Got a 4 hybrid. So got myself a cheaper 0211 6 iron 24 degree as my backup 5 iron to play in windy conditions

Andy, playing this crazy game for some 30+ years and now recently retired, going down the rabbit-hole of some serious researching/looking at some mid/high handicap Pings, Taylor Made, Titleist, Wilson's and now the Mizuno; 225 irons. Some good advise, Thank you!

Brilliant video thank you.You have reiterated what I've found over the years,I've tried many specs of irons and there is little or no difference in forgiveness, I know play 2019 TS100 7 to PW Ts200 5 and 6, the 5 is staying in the bag because off a tee I do get more than the 6 but off the deck I don't. If I had my time again I wouldn't go to the TS200 at all. It's all marketing hype.

I’m a mid handicapper went to TXG yesterday for an iron fitting looking at the players distance category. Came down to the P790 and the 225. I ended up in the 225 because for me launch for the 790 was too high while the 225 launched in a perfect window for my club head speed and delivery and it was better in every shaft head combo. Moral of the story go get fit we’re all different needing different solutions. I got the 225’s 5 iron to gap with Accra iSeries iTour 110 M5 shafts. Getting a little long in tooth changing to graphite to save some wear and tear. Hopefully get them before the season starts in April. TXG does it right lots of fun.

Best video i have seen on testing clubs. I have felt for a couple of years now the testing of clubs should be this. You know your club head speed, angle of attack, club path, how open the club was, lie angle and where you hit the ball. Hit 30 shots with each club and group them in several groups within reason based on the above measurements and then look at dispersion carry etc based on the grouping. In other words take the swing out of it and just show club performance.

Totally agree And! I’ve tried every club known to man and over the last few years 5 irons are redundant in my case. Thanks Andy

I wanted to thank you for your ladt videos about gap wedge set club vs specialty club, made me actually not just buy a 50 degree cleveland but actually go and hit 50 and 48 and I found just like u did the 50 degree of a set is longer due to the hot face so I ended up with a 48 cleveland to go with my zx5 and fills the gap perfect pw is 44 and gap is now 48. Thanks again

You're totally right on both counts, from my experience... - Blades or "bladed cavities" are not that unforgiving, performance wise. The only "punishment" you'll get from them compared to a GI cavity is the feel. On a cold winter morning, that bladed 5i hit on the bottom groves very close to the toe will send some nasty vibrations up your arm... But you'll often find (initially with a bit of surprise) that you've not lost that much yardage! - Long irons don't do the same as short irons, and there's a point of "massively diminishing returns"... However, it's not always in the direction you mention : in my case, my 21° "3 hybrid" is barely longer on average than my 24° "4 iron" despite the longer shaft and CG location and all... I do have club-head speed plenty enough BUT I tend to have too high a ball flight. The 4i keeps the ball a bit lower and spins it less, so it's OK, while the 3h just sends it in the stratosphere with a bit too much speed and... Tadaaam, barely 5 more yards on average. Still, I keep both since the 3h can be useful in specific situations (holding a 220 yards green, floating a ball downwind for that extra carry, punching/rolling balls on tight lies like a "juiced up putter", and so on). That might be a personal characteristic, but both are sure myths "A blade is always less forgiving than a GI" and "based on a 7I or 6I you can fit the all bag"... By the way, one of my most used club is my 4i and strangely, the 6i is the least used one... For no other reason than if I play correctly and using my strategy, on my home course, I don't have need of a 185-190 yards shot.

Got fitted for some game improvement irons a few years ago. Returned to my blades after three months since they worked better for me.

Very good video. You're really putting out some worthwhile content.

I’ve just been fitted for the 221s from 7 to pw, I’m about a 10 handicap and the I much preferred the look of the 221 and the size of the head didn’t intimidate me at all if anything it gave me more confidence because it made me feel a better golfer and a player if you like and was carrying the 7iron 165 on average which I’m happy with. I want to feel like I need to hit the ball better than rely on a club that is going to mask bad shots. Always wanted blades and I think regardless of numbers no one was going to sway me 😂

Always constructive and thought provoking, as usual this video is really on the button - thanks so much.👍🏻

Interesting video. Fitting with one club 6/7 iron is an issue. I did exactly the same thing with my current iron set. Had 3-P MB/CB irons but then built the 4 iron the length of a 5 iron to increase the gap in loft and ditched the actual 5 iron. That was only possible for me because I am confident to pull apart and rebuild clubs but wouldn’t have shown up in a fitting. Combo sets are so popular now it should be standard to fit with a short, mid and long iron

Spot on, average golfers require help that's why there are hybrids, especially at the long end. We either have swing speed ir we don't. No point torturing ourselves with 5 or even 6 irons . Hybrids make the game so much easier and enjoyable. I absolutely love them and I'm a single figure player currently playing g425 5, 6 and 7 hybrids

I was fitted a couple years ago for some mizunos and had no intention of buying blades but they ended up performing the best in the PW-7 so they are in the bag. What I'm realizing now is its all about turf interaction when gaging forgiveness in this players category. Hitting a blade off a mat is pure joy, off some soft turf is a where the forgiveness of a 223 / 225 / zx7 can save strokes.

I've stopped at 6 irons for a few year now because of crossover Move to 5 and 4 hybrids then gap to 5 wood.

Agree 100%. It takes a certain kind of miss to see any possible benefit for a game improvement iron. Shots hit heavy, hooked, sliced, pushed, or pulled can't be saved by a game improvement iron. Ditto for just pulling the wrong club. It's not often that you hit an iron at the green that's so far off center that you'd see an actual benefit from coming up a little less short. I went from old '84 Hogan Apex PCs to TM P7MBs and found the P7MBs to be remarkably forgiving, especially when hit a little thin. The modern iron has a lower CG and launches slightly higher according to Trackman. 35 degrees of loft for P7MB 7 iron vs 37 for Hogan. Distance was comparable as was spin. You are so right about being able to test longer irons. The golf shop I went to allows you to take out any club on display to hit on the range. You just give then your driver's license as collateral. But in the fitting bay where you are trying out shafts, it's 7-iron only.

Very true Andy. I think the option for some is stay with the weaker lofts 5-W and have your gapping at 8-10 yards per club. I’ve chosen to go with the stronger lofts 6-W and fill the top end with 2 hybrids. As we get older it’s really the best option for more consistent ball striking.

Makes sense. I tested the entire pro line and ended up with the 225's. The gapping problem for me was the 4 & 5 iron. Had to drop the 4 and added a 7 wood. The 225's were more forgiving for me especially on thin shots which had minimal carry. Thin shots w/the 225 were fine. Would love to play the 221's but not as consistent for me. Love the 225's.

I go by looks and price. I just like the blade look. Have 2 sets from the early 80's, Mizuno and George Nicoll. Total cost $400. from what I have seen getting the latest and greatest just is not going to improve my game/enjoyment that much to justify the BIG price.

The 4 iron in my set is out of the bag and has been since I bought the irons. 5 iron is in a battle with a 5 hybrid. I tend to keep both in as I can shape the 5 iron and not the hybrid, so use it when in the trees etc.

had a bag of 0311P, went and found a used set of mp4 with nippon 120 stiff shaft, took them to the course a couple times and i had a blast hitting the blades over the 0311s. the smaller head made me really focus better, with the addage of hit small aim small is true, less chance to screw up shots because the size helps make you hit the middle

I enjoy your videos - very informative - however after discussing loft and forgiveness on new clubs please discuss shaft weight, flex, etc on purchasing new clubs especially for slow speed swing and for golfers needing more distance. Thanks, Art

I mostly play Srixon Z585's with Miyazaki shafts, although I recently bought a set of Titleist 716 CB's with Aerotech steelfiber shafts. The difference is that the Titleist head is smaller and are easier to work left to right or right to left and are more accurate. Both 5-PW, hybrids and 3 Vokey wedges work quite well. Now if I could find a putter that I loved, I'd have my set.

This is a great video! I have blades in the bag 7-PW and I’ve been telling my golf buddies for a while that I don’t notice any real difference in the results from a miss hit with them vs game improvement irons. The main part to me is the way a smaller profile iron goes through the turf. I am awful with a bigger head and wider sole GI irons, just dont feel like those larger heads allow me to get down through the ball, especially in bad lies or rough. There is just more surface area to get hung up or grabbed by taller grass or getting down through the ball it if you end up in an old divot etc.. And that to me is why the smaller blade or slim CB type irons, are easier and more “forgiving” to play because of this turf interaction and how cleanly you can get them to the back of the ball. Added bonus is they look better, sound better, and feel better.

This is brilliant advice. I’m getting fitted Friday for most likely 225’s and I’m thinking about going 4 thru gap. Hoping Club Champion can accommodate what you’re recommending. Thank you!

I play 7 through GW now. Gone hybrid and utility until 4 wood. I like forgiving irons but don’t like the offset.

Forgiveness is a thing on good strikes vs great strikes. A shank is a shank no matter how “forgiving” a club is.

Good video Andy, totally agree that you can't rely on a fitting with a 7 iron. A proper fitting should include gapping your irons through the set, dropping irons if necessary combo of irons also a possibility 221 > 223 > 225 etc. And also tweaking loft in some cases. Fitter should also advise on club selection based on your ball striking. What may feel forgiving on a map can be wholly different on course, turf interaction with wider soles can aid greatly, not so much off a mat. In the ideal world, a fitting would include hitting some ball on course👍

This video describes exactly why I've gone with larger spacing/loft between each iron. I worked with TXG in Toronto and came up with the following lofts - (47, 42, 37, 32, 28, 24) for a set of 6 irons that replace a traditional set of 7 irons for PW to 4-iron lofts. I also want to say that it's important to de-loft the PW, like Tiger does, to a weaker 47-degrees because it gaps you back to your wedges.

Forgiving irons are real! I have only started playing golf recently and started with a second hand set of Mizuno T-Zoid Pros and found if I didn’t hit them dead centre my distances were all over the place. My lovely wife bought me some Titleist T200s for my 50th and only 2 rounds in I can already see the distance consistency. Sure, they won’t stop me hitting it fat, blading it or slicing because i left the face open, but i now feel that if i hit it in or near the centre, it will be a good shot.

The video I've been waiting to see from you Andy. I went for a fitting fully expecting to be in either 225 or 223 or a combo of the two. The 221's shocked me! Like most amateurs, I hit it all over the face and the drop off was minimal. Certainly nothing that would worry me out on the course. I ordered 6-PW in 221's and I gap then with a G425 hybrid and 7 wood

Could not agree more…. I use the jpx900 tour and would like a new set of irons but when you go in and ask about trying something other than a 7 iron they just look at you like you have only just landed on earth. If you are spending over a thousand pound you should be able to pick the club you want to hit not just the 7 iron…. I would also like to see the loft on irons too, that would make it much easier to compare irons going forward.

I started using blades as a 15 handicap and now I’m a 5.5, the feedback you get forces you to hit the center of the club face. I find blades more forgiving because the distance on off center hits goes closer to the right distance and they look better at address, I tend to focus on the divot I’m trying to make and not the ball so a blade seems like a better tool for cutting turf.

Great video. Where do you go in the upper end of the bag if you have dropped out a club and have room for another? I have a 4 driving type iron and a 5 hybrid . They can go similar distances but each is useful for different situations on the course. Then have 5 wood and Driver

I both agree and don't with the take. As I am someone who tested the 225s, I found that they ended up being the third or 4th most forgiving in terms of strikes when I got fit 3 months ago. Sone manufacturers, really lean into the game improving aspect more than other brands.

Agree with the main message that longer irons will overlap at some point (I've been playing 27* 5i, then 26* 5h for 10+ years), but I'm not sure the 25 yard carry difference between 7 irons can be explained by 4 degree loft difference alone.

Too late! I have already bought my next set of irons. Well I bought them for my wife, but I can see in a few years as I pass 70 they will suit me just fine. They are hybrid-iron design Cleveland HB Launchers, seniors flex graphite shafts. So easy to hit! I did my own experiment using my son-in-laws Taylor Made players distance style iron. The results were ego deflating.

I had to drop the 5 iron and put a hybrid in instead.

Andy, one other factor in gapping. Manufacturer's tolerances. Loft and lie's can vary widely from the factory. Which effects the gapping. If your 5 iron is weak by a degree and your 6 iron strong by a degree, they may both carry nearly the same yardage. Would be interesting if you or Foregolf had a loft and lie machine to verify the specs of the clubs you test.

Great video, really useful and timely as I’m currently new iron hunting as my HCP is plummeting. Have you or any of your followers any experience with Sub 70? Looking to see them in Hereford on next few weeks. Seeing PXG next week. Had a lovely time at Srixon recently with the Zx5s and managed to squeeze a round in at Carden Park

Great review Andy something I have wondered about. For me as a super senior I would love the blades but couldn't give up 15 yards distance. I know it's the loft but to me a 7 iron is a 7 iron and would have to go with the more distance irons. I am going to be fitted this year for new irons and I wonder which iron will give me back some of distance lost over time. Keep up the great work.

This is a great video. I have 6 iron 5 hybrid and a 3 hybrid due gapping. If you have a good fitter this will help you to do this.

Nailed it once again Andy

OMG I thought it was just me, I stop at 7-iron and go to a 5 Hybrid

Part of the problem is that brands have been selling ‘ego’. Your golf partners ask you what you hit. If you say 8 and they say 6, it’s bragging rights / banter. The irons in some sets are now so strong you could probably go 7i straight to 4 hybrid. Which makes no sense at all, as you cant make the hybrids/wood any stronger. Most brands would do well to drop naming woods 3w / 5w / 3h for this very reason. I would argue most amateur golfers need more loft not less.

Great video Andy absolutely spot on in my opinion I’ve always thought the same 👍

I went to a fitter and knew I would try all those irons, Ping G425, Callaway Forged Game Improvement, Mizuno 921 etc. None of them clicked with me, then my fitter gave me Srixon ZX-5, hit them and it felt like "butter", farther distance, tighter pattern of shots. I prefer forged clubs for the feel.

For most average golfers (especially those that are older and have lost club head speed) there should be a wake up call that you are hurting your game if you are not using hybrids / utility clubs and 7 w in the bag. Personally I decided to use a custom PW and hybrids to cover anything stronger than my 7 iron. This also saves $ when I get the urge to try new iron technology ( 7i, 8i and 9i) especially when it comes to sound, feel and forgiveness. If I really get along with them I may add a 6i later but keep the hybrid then I choose based on the shot, lie and conditions.

Good video as always and very much agree. What about comparison on grass? Does more forgiving 225 work better on wet winter grass? I play off 13 and I switched from Ping G410 to Ping i210 irons. G410 more forgiving, less accurate, i210 more accurate less forgiving. So I prefer the feel of knowing where the ball’s going and sacrificing the odd stray shot.

This is one of the best video's ever. It is spot on! I purchased new irons last July and it turned into a four day process over two weeks where I hit literally 17 different irons. My findings were very similar to what you described in terms of forgiveness. I ended up with 6 iron through AW. Then hybrids at the long end of the bag. You mentioned the difference in loft between the "players" vs. "game improvement " irons. The GI irons have strong lofts, in my set the 7 iron is 27.5 degrees vs the players iron, same manufacture 7 iron is 30 degrees. Therefore the 7 iron fly's farther in my set due to loft. I went with the game improvement irons. One reason was short shaft length with stronger loft. It's easier to control shorter clubs. The feel and the forgiveness were basically the same, the strong lofts allow me to play the 7 where with the players set I might be playing the 5 or 6 iron. Again spectacular video and spot on!!!

Love your channel. This was another excellent video.

No mention of feedback. The most under discussed topic amongst average golfers and one of the most important topics by good golfers and pros. If there is forgiveness you will always need it because with forgiveness, you get little to no feedback. So you will be all over the face as long as you play those. With solid forged clubs, you will get instant feedback and know exactly where you hit on the face and that even means if you are just off center. You will never learn to put a dime size wear mark in the center with G.I. irons. Solid irons are frustrating because coming off G.I. you will be hitting them all over the face for a good while. You won't even know what you are feeling except that it feels horrible. But you start to feel and know and make adjustments. THe longer you play them the better you get at feeling where you hit on the face. And it teaches you to become a consistent ball striker. And when you do start hitting them in the middle of the face, you are rewarded with a feel that is amazing. I always played G.I. irons for 15 years. I got old but got much better when I went with solid cavity backs. I could use the help in distance, but then there is a sacrifice with distance too. It's called spin. Even at the same loft, you lose spin with G.I. irons. So you finally reach a green with a 6 iron only to watch it kick forward 20 feet or more and that can put you over the green. Where as with a blade it is sitting there next to the ball mark or within a few feet. When you learn to nut it, you actually get good distance with a blade. You get good launch angles, decent angles and spin that bites. You can work the ball left and right much easier. You can flight them down much easier. I wish I learned on blades. Because now I know why all the best players in the world use them.

I've always played best with forged cavity types (Srixon ZX7 et al), regardless of how well I am playing overall. They set up best to my eye... GI offset throws me off, pure blades too skinny...

Although I play more traditional lofts, 6 iron is my longest iron. It’s hybrids and a 7 wood after that. Forget being macho and used the tech.

Same here, my 5 Iron goes further than my 4. So I am looking at a Utility to fill the void.

Well done! Love it

Brilliant clip, wish I had seen this when I was upgrading my clubs. I now find myself using my hybrids (have 3 to 7), than my longer irons (so much easier to hit). Longest iron in the bag is the 7!

Couple questions would someone with higher club head speed be different when it comes to none center hits? Would a club be a little more forgiving with slower swing speed, and less forgiving with more swing speed? Last question did you find center face more with the 225 (bigger head) than you did with the 221 (smaller head) during testing? Just curious if the “more forgiving” club helped you find center more. Thanks love the channel!

Interesting, it almost seems like the mb's actually have less dispersion from best strike to worst strike. I would not have guessed that.

I think there are many myths in this wonderful game. Try this one: i am at best a mid handicap player and i play the Taylormade 7MCs better than the P790s

this was interesting but most of my misses, and I suspect the misses of most amateurs, are toe side. Could you do the same test with toe side hits.

Andy, you speak of the newest forgiving irons, have you tested the Takomo 201 irons yet?

I've been curious if the marketing is real or perception. I just bought PXG irons for the forgiveness so I'll see if I see any difference this weekend.

I bought my irons 0211 2021 on your recommendation

Forgiveness in irons, NO. Most people are going with stronger lofted irons for distance. Personally, I play a MB for power, control, and predictable ball flight.

I really enjoy your channel Andy. Just curious in England the average HCP is 17 what do you play off? I’m 18 HCP and I would say you swing and putt around around the 9 -10 HCP mark.

Very interesting. I agree with your comments about the problem with the longer irons. I am playing with an older set with a 7 iron at 33 degrees and a 5 iron at 27 degrees, and it worries me that my next set might have a 7 iron that is nearly as strong as my current 5 iron. It would have been nice to see the dispersion comparisons, and the peak height and descent angles.

I play the MP20's they are great. Its all in the mind, I've always played a bladed iron, i have tried a couple of more so called forgiving clubs, but they are harder to control. 6 IRON up is MP, lower down i use a hmb 5 iron (Sometimes a 26 degree hybrid), then hybrid 4 iron, , a hmb 3 iron, and the 5 wood and driver

Interestingly...I game Mizuno JPX 900 forged but bought a nice set of Mizuno MP 64's to practice with. My thought process was if I used the blades to force myself to strike the ball better it should make playing the 900's easier. I ended up playing so well with them they stayed in the bag all season and my handicap came down.

I've probably watched hundreds of club reviews over the years & I've said from the beginning that forgiveness is a total myth. In fact, anecdotally I'd say that the more blade like clubs are actually more consistent when you take total dispersion into account.

Great Video!!! ….you nailed it! ….in modern times the „average Golfer“ should rethink the bag-setup! …it all comes down to the mindset „what tool does the job“. …and this is the real Club-Fitting!

Great advice! I suspect my 5 i and 5 h are very similar is performance, and I always pull the 5 h as I know it's easier to hit, so the 5 i sits in the bag rarely used. They are the same length (as my irons are 1 inch over length) and they are identical loft.

🤪 I got fitted for a set of Mizunos 921 forged and found the different materials used between the 5,6,7 and 8.9,pw created a gapping issue > the Mizuno rep gave me 1 club to try which felt fantastic on the range but the set did not work on the golf ⛳️ course > sold them 😬 and went back to my old set of 2012 Adam’s forged irons ✅ I am so glad I kept my old set in the garage instead of selling them.

I like the testing of longer clubs, however I do think that the blade vs game improvement iron comparison on indoor data only tells you a partial story. I do believe that hitting a blade out of ruff is where the real difference come into play.

This was a great revelation…confirms my own experience. I played blades when I was younger because I learned on a set of Chi Chi Rodriguez blades and got used to them…I’ve since gone more towards the player game distance irons which are supposed to be more forgiving, but I find I hit blades better!! What would be a nice comparison for this would be the equivalent lofts, e.g., the 5 iron for the 221s with the 6 iron of the 225s. I have found when blending clubs, sometimes instead of skipping an iron, you need two of one! If you look at the 221s blended with the 225, you can get two 7 irons and they will cover the gap…in my current bag (Titlelist T200s) my 6 and 7 iron cover the same distance…

I think feel is more important than minor differences in forgiveness today. I bought some distance irons a few months ago and have already sold them on. They felt harsh, sounded harsg and gave almost no feedback as far as strike. Went back to my old Mizuno forged and just purchased the PXG Gen 3 irons for a bit of the new club excitement. They feel very similar have to say.

I really don’t understand the “forgiving” Irons I’ve had and tried a lot, and gone back to my old Callaway X20 because some simply I hit the cleaner and more accurately. I just cannot hit a wide soled club, no idea why, it’s just a fact. Is it all hype? 18hc golf

Went for a fitting for i59/i525. Long time ping user, from i5 to I blade, i210, i500. Bought tm p7cb mb combo. Shocked at how much better they were, the blades shocked me how easy they were, I'm 60 159 ave carry distance with a blade with 6000 spin, better figures than the p770

Great video and scenario on the gapping issue... I found this be true some times with the 8 and 9 iron and some times 6 to 5 irons...Not much improvement....Both of these clubs, 221 & 225 are winners...as for which ones would be better...I think that would be a factor as to your players ability...Scratch golfer go with the 221 but 6 to 15 handicap...lean more toward the 225....playing the 225's will get you to the scratch level but hitting the 221 might get you into a black hole voit and get your game and swing in a quondam loop and not much fun getting lost there.....

That was interesting. 100% agree on the ‘better player’ pigeon hole. Play what you want IMO and I believe more traditional lofts can be really helpful.

So damn true 👏👏 I had to adjust lofts of 4-6 to create some distance gaps with 7. But fitters don’t keep a 4 or 5 ; the ones that have become more difficult with increased age.

Very interesting. I went back to my Titliest AP3 last summer. Went in for a fitting in January and assumed I was walking out with the T200. I left with the T100s. My toe hits with both clubs generated the same 'loss' potential between the two clubs. At the end of the day - I picked the T100s because it blended with my other clubs in terms of gapping. (the T100 simply wasn't strong enough due to loft - and would have thrown my gapping off at the top of the bag). Iron technology has come so far in the last 20 years! Thanks Andy!

I have run the exact same test Mizuno MP 29s against PXGs Gen 3, and agree with your findings. Sometimes the blades are actually more foregiving.

My set are gapped exactly in 10 yard increments, but I never hit my 3, because I'm crap with it.

Great video Andy. As your mechanics are good,, I think the real test for forgiveness is with someone that doesn't have a consistent clubhead path. Someone with an out to in swing path would definitely show the difference between the two. 🙂

I don't really see these two irons being on opposite ends of the spectrum. Yes these two look different to be sure, but not that much....IMO. To me real game improvement irons have a more distinct look which is normally a cavity back, larger club face, thicker top line, etc. I think putting say a Cleveland Halo up against the Mizuno 221 would have been a lot more telling when it comes to off center strikes. Still appreciate the video though.

Yes, the numbers are important…but I have to be IN LOVE with the club I’m looking at…I’ll be getting fit for everything in my bag this spring, and this was a phenomenal resource to be shown to me by the algorithm…THANK YOU! This video could save my students THOUSANDS of dollars over the next 5-10 years…for lifetime players, tens of thousands saved isn’t out of the question. I hope this video makes you more money than you could ever imagine! Liked & subsribed🥂

As a high handicapper I find it difficult to hit anything stronger lofted than my 6 iron with any sort of consistency, I carry a 4 and 5 hybrid in place of the long irons these are much easier to hit and fill the gaps between my woods and irons perfectly for me

Slightly off topic ... The number on the club is somewhat irrelevant these days. My clubs are close to traditional - my 7 iron is 34 degrees so, at 23 degrees I can still hit a 4 iron and have reasonable gapping at that end of the bag. But I hit my 17.5 degree driving iron (when I actually hit it well) just 6 yards longer so is out of the bag now, replaced by a hybrid. If I was playing a stronger-lofted set, say a 31 degree 7 iron, I'd probably stop at a 23 degree 5 iron and if my 7 iron was only 28 degrees (like some of the recent GI sets), I'd definitely stop at a 20 degree 5 iron (and maybe even a 24 degree 6 iron) and then look at hybrids and higher-lofted fairway woods to get good gapping to the driver. In the 'old days' my ego was fed by out-hitting (club for club) all my mates. Now it is fed by a lower handicap and better scores.

Been playing about 8months….handicap is coming down fairly fast. Averaging low 90’s. If money was not a consideration …what irons would you recommend? Driver swing around 110…irons low 80’s. Thanks

I play old Nike half blades and 9,8 iron as blades until I had hcp 31. Didn't play tournament for 2 years and I am at hcp 21 now. I like the size of them, the feel and the look. So I play them 🤷‍♂️. At the end of a day I will have fun on the cours and that's it.

Wonder just how many golfers try several iron brands all being fitted with the 7 iron, make a decision, then go BACK to the fitter to check on gapping, loft , lie adjustments throught the bag and in dismay realize that their new 4, 5 and 6 irons all go the same distance! ???? If one's swing speed can't support the longer irons, why buy them? Resell value for a full set? Seems like a waste of money especially if they are going to collect dust in the basement. Fully how many long irons are for sale without a scratch on them on eBay, and second hand golf outlets.