9 pattern shot shaping

[ReefBoy]

Hi guys,

I am at the moment considered a high handicapper. I have finally corrected some major swing flaws and equipment issues, so it should be going down a ways fairly soon.

My question is, now that I have found a golf pro that is worth learning from I am planing on learning to shape my shots in the 9 shot pattern with regular lessons. I am also planning on upgrading my irons before Xmas with some custom fit ones but I'm not sure on brand or model yet. As I am planing on learning how to shape shots are there any types of irons I should avoid in order to be able to achieve this more easily? I would also like to not need to upgrade my irons before I hit a single digit handicap?

Christopher

[BrianW]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

You should consider something like these:

http://golf.mizunoeurope.com/irons/mp-57/local/

[ReefBoy]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

Thanks for your reply Brian. What are your thoughts on the MX-200 irons?

Christopher

[BrianW]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

Thanks for your reply Brian. What are your thoughts on the MX-200 irons?

Christopher

They are a new iron and look good, should be a little more forgiving.

The MX 950 set are also worth considering. Although not real muscle-backs they are a nice transition from shorter grain-flow forged scoring irons to matched hybrids.

[ReefBoy]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

They are a new iron and look good, should be a little more forgiving.

The MX 950 set are also worth considering. Although not real muscle-backs they are a nice transition from shorter grain-flow forged scoring irons to matched hybrids.

Am I incorrect in thinking that the MX-950 would be more difficult to shape shots with because of the wider sole of the clubs?

Christopher

[LowPost42]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

Gord and I used to go around and around on this - working shots versus not being able to.

The 'drawn conclusion' is that game improvement models are harder to work than less forgiving models. No where near impossible, but the answer we surmised was that you had to exaggerate your setup to working the ball with more forgiving irons.

Some folks say they simply have to 'think' draw, and the ball draws, but with GI irons they actually have to 'work' at drawing it. Very true, I say, as they have to exaggerate what they were doing by 'thinking' before.

So relax! I promise you that no matter what you're playing, you can work it. Rocco Mediate is playing Callaway X20's and works the ball just fine.

I promise you that if you take the most forgiving non-driver club on the planet (currently the Wishon 785HF, OEM's don't even have the tech), and leave the face wide open relative to the path, the ball will fade and/or slice for you.

The main clubhead design factor in shot shaping is the location of the head CoG - closer to the face will be easier to shape than further back. But really, it's all about face angle relative to path; open results in fades, closed results in draws. And more is more, and less is less.

In your new irons, consider your directional tendencies as well as trajectory tendencies when selecting your irons heads. If you play a fade, more offset may turn that into a draw on you, or may actually have you hooking it. Lots of sole weighting (wide soles) will increase the trajectory as it brings the CoG down.

Food for thought.

[ReefBoy]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

Thanks for the info LowPost. It is always interesting to get your take on equipment issues.

I was originally posting to see if what I wanted to do would take some clubs out of consideration. But going by what you have posted, it looks like they are all back on the table again. Cool, lots of options for my game now and later.

Christopher

[rotator]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

Am I incorrect in thinking that the MX-950 would be more difficult to shape shots with because of the wider sole of the clubs?

I have the TM R7 CGB and also the Callaway Wide Sole Fusion sets. With them both, I can shape shots quite nicely. There's not much you can do to deter physics, i.e. open or closed faces and whatever swing path will put side spin on the ball. I believe the kind of balls have more effect on the inability to shape shots.

I also don't know if the wide soles necessarily mean there is more backspin applied to the ball, although the SG may be lower. It may be that there are other design elements in the head, which counteracts excessive backspin. At least for my swing speed, i don't have ballooning.

Ted

[BrianW]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

The MX950 are progressive clubs and don't really have very wide soles. The shorter irons are narrow with shallow cavities, the mid irons have a tungsten insert in the sole that adds weight to assist with getting the ball in the air. The long irons are replaced by two hybrids that are progressively balanced so that they hit the correct distances from the irons.

You can shape shots with them OK, I have a set myself.

[AussieGolfBoy]

Re: 9 pattern shot shaping

i bought a set of Taylormade RAC OS2 about 1 1/2yrs ago when i was playing off 24.. I am still using them now, and i think more so playing the clubs better. I am down to HC 13. I was going to trade them in and buy something new, but decided against it while i'm playing so well among other things.

The Taylormade Tour Burner could be the irons for you, they are another step up from my current clubs which if you wanted something that you wouldn't have to upgrade for a while this could be another option.

the best clubs for you are the ones that feel sweatest to hit with. When i bought these i tried a few others and they all felt different or just wrong.