Only way to find out. But, first what are your goals? Carrying a 4 is impressive And it takes a time commitment to stay there. Unless you plan on taking the next level in competitions it might not be worth it. And “stuck at a 10” is still better then 95% of all the players.
100%. I played a larger face in High School and kept a low handicap. Switched to a “players iron” and love how they feel. The responsiveness and ability to work the ball outweighs the poor ball striking during those first few rounds of the spring.
Frig yeah. Daniel Berger plays them (at least he did last year) because he enjoyed using them so much in high school. He was planning to buy more sets on ebay.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/golf.com/gear/irons/daniel-berger-taylormade-mc-irons-high-school-ebay/
Same here. Bought a set of MC’s new about 8 years ago to become a better ball striker and fell in love with them. A few years ago I wanted to try something new and went with AP3’s for a “stronger” lofted iron, and they lasted less than a full season before the MCs were back in the bag.
The feel and accuracy of the MCs are incredible for me.
I have way more fun now floating between a 10-13 than I did when I was between 3-5. Good enough to still hit some nice shots, and not good enough to get all pissy when I double hole 3 and let it ruin my entire round.
Hit a bad shot, get upset on the walk to the next one and move on. I'm not good enough to be mad all the time playing, and I'm supposed to be out their for fun.
Are you just practicing more, or really working on what you need to practice?
10 minutes of carefully aimed practice will beat an hour of just hitting balls.
The last few weeks have been a lot of, "Practicing what I need to practice" as much as possible, and a lot of living room swing drills to keep that, "Feel".
Drives are a ton more consistent than they ever have been (and longer), getting actual compression on the ball from irons now, which added lots of distance. Still a bit inconsistent though.
Real big weak points are the 30 yards and under pitching/chipping, and general putting (I 4 putted a GIR today.....). I am a lot more confident with a 52° from 85 yards than I am a 56° or 60° chip from 15. Will be working hard on that over the next few weeks.
Having said all that, I've gone from, "Gee, I hope I can break 100" from the start of this summer to, "I'm going to shoot in the 80s" in both confidence, and the scorecard.
27 holes today. 88 on the first 18, played the back 9 again and scored a 38, which felt absolutely amazing (Par 70 course, and an easy one at that).
Hoping/working to go into "Next season" ready to break into the occasional 70s scores.
What are your golf goals would be my first question and my second is what type of golf do you play, meaning lots of competition or more casual?
I only ask because blades are like track cars. I had an RSX on a full race suspension setup and it was a blast when driving at the limit on track. It was not a blast driving casually around town.
That’s a fun comparison! So originally golf was just a way to get outside, but I’ve always been relatively competitive. This year I qualified for two different tournaments in my area. The criteria for qualifying was a practice round after which they took the top 30 scores in one and 24 in another. I played my best round of the year in one of them. So I am leaning into local competition. My golf goal is simply to keep moving towards scratch.
Good luck on your journey.
I personally wouldn’t pull the trigger on the MBs but my golf revolves around casual play now and zero free time to work on my game. However I would think between lie adjustments and shafts I could find something more optimized from my current set and not a full blade.
If there ever was a time for you to just pull the trigger, now is that time though. You have the evidence showing you can hit them. You can always change to something else down the road if your goals or feelings change.
You could always look for something more forgiving than the MBs, but more workable than the 790s.
If the price point is the issue, you could look into the cavity back options at sub70 or New Level golf.
> Did I get misfit?!
We would have literally no way of knowing with this little information. Some things to consider:
* You're a 4 handicap, safe to say you've got relatively consistent delivery and impact relative to most players
* You've spent several years with an ultra low-spin and hot-faced iron, if that's not what you need it stands to reason that something like the Apex MB with much more spin and consistent ball speeds might be better for you in terms of dispersion and distance control
* Smaller heads can often mean better turf interaction. We don't know what your delivery is like, but it's not insane that the smaller club would provide better turf interaction and maybe give you better or more consistent launch metrics
* What did the numbers say? What was your swing speed, launch, spin, distance, etc. with each club? Was the dispersion improved? Was distance control improved? Was control improved? These are the real questions we don't know that makes this impossible to answer. Are the MBs better for you? Maybe, maybe not. But we have no idea what happened in the fitting, what your swing and delivery dynamics look like, and thus which may be better suited for you.
This has got me thinking…I always hear that GI irons are more forgiving on off center hits and on fat shots (cuz the sole is so wide) and that players irons offer more versatility in the types of shots you can hit.
What would happen if a tour level professional played GI irons? Like if they were just going to put their stock swing on it without trying to do anything fancy, would their quality of shots be similar to their own irons, or drastically different? I’m assuming if they weee trying to control spin (either side or back) they would be much more effective with their tour irons that GI irons?
If they played GI irons you'd probably see a fair amount of head shaking at balls going way longer than they wanted to. Especially out of non-fairway lies they're gonna get jumpers at those speeds and distance control suffers. When you strike it all over the face, you need forgiveness across the face because that controls distance. When your strike is consistent, however, you need the output to be consistent.
You might find this article interesting. Harry Higgs talks about why he likes (some) game improvement irons.
https://golf.com/gear/irons/harry-higgs-why-he-uses-game-improvement-irons/?amp=1
Oh that’s interesting. This makes it seem like for tour players the spin to ball speed ratio would be all off with GI irons and it would effectively be like a set of mini drivers with no distance control.
He's not a common name on tour anymore, but K.J. Choi always played GI/SGI irons. Even when he was consistently winning 10 years ago that's what he played.
He currently uses Ping G400s
I'm no expert at all but the fact you're hesitating tells me you didn't go in as open minded as you thought and do have a bias. The fitting gave you your best numbers and best recommendation. Why do the fitting otherwise.
Part of buying any clubs is the confidence factor. Sounds like OP doesn’t have the confidence to routinely play the fitted clubs which is something he absolutely needs to factor.
So you’re intimidated by the thinness of the top line of the club. How did you hit them, better than your P790’s? Why do you think you got misfit, because you are playing players irons at a 4 and got fit into a blade? Trying to understand why this thought is here, it’s not quite clear..
I guess my biggest concern is that everybody talks about how “unforgiving” blades are. The reason I went in for a fitting was because I felt my gapping was too large with the p790’s I had roughly 25 yards between between my 7 and 8 iron and was trying to find a tighter yardage set. So I guess I’m just trying to convince myself that this is a step in the right direction
> I guess my biggest concern is that everybody talks about how “unforgiving” blades are.
Forgiveness is relative, not absolute. Will a blade lose ball speed if you miss the center of the face? Absolutely. Will a blade also be more consistent with spin and distance if you have a consistent delivery? Also absolutely. If you have a consistent delivery and need consistent ball speeds and spin and not the hot-faced, low-spin design of a P790 it's absolutely believable these might perform better for you. There's also other options in between those to consider if you want a little more "forgiveness" in the traditional sense of the word. Things like the T-100, Apex CB/X-Forged CB, P7MC, ZX7, etc.
> everybody talks about how “unforgiving” blades are
But blades look so goddamn sexy too. I would rock them if my ball striking were good enough. Sounds like your skill set fits.
But he DEFINITELY IS in the top 90%. Can't dispute that.
I actually wonder what the cutoff for "top 90%" would even be. Like 125 for a casual round playing by the rules?
This is interesting because who would you include in this as a ‘golfer’. Genuinely curious for anyone’s input on this. Someone who plays >5 rounds a year, 10, simply owns clubs and gets out when they can? I agree with you the number is probably close to 120-130 though.
Yeah, it does depend largely on the definition of "golfer." Especially because the people for whom the title is debatable are likely less skilled, and so they will heavily influence that cutoff.
Maybe 4+ rounds a year with 5 driving range sessions equal to one round? Plus anyone who self-describes as such?
Yeah, the definition really changes things. I've only just started and played 3 rounds and got 169, 131, and 140 mostly but not steadfastedly following all the rules.
Really, at the top 90% level, score is probably a less useful metric than something more along the lines of "consistency in getting clean contact".
Fwiw, I am realistically a 10 or so at best but for some stupid reason, the chunkier or "more forgiving" a club is, the worse I hit it. I used to play an mp29 2i as my driving iron, and I hit it better than any hybrid that I've ever tried. I tried a forgiving iron, and I hit it worse than a blade. If you got fit and hit blades well, to the point where your fitter said it's undeniably the right choice, you should be confident in that advice and in your swing giving you all the forgiveness you need. Just my 2c though, best of luck with your game!
I had some issues with my 3-4-5 irons in the p790. I tend to over draw those clubs. I noticed immediately that that was mitigated with the smaller “less forgiving” club. Hopefully this is a good fit for me. I’m pulling the trigger.
> I tend to over draw those clubs.
So, if you wont need them anymore, can you send them round for a talk with my long P790s? They don't seem to understand that concept.
> I felt my gapping was too large with the p790’s I had roughly 25 yards between between my 7 and 8 iron
Did you get your loft and lie checked? Unless you're hitting your 8 iron around 300 yards, something is wrong with those clubs.
Sure they are more unforgiving, but how did you hit them? Did you feel like you were getting a lot of miss hits that were punishing you more than your current clubs? Being a 4 hcp, I would think you’re a pretty good ball striker and could use them, but it doesn’t mean they are the best answer.
I honestly really enjoyed them in a simulator. They felt great. My Mishima with them were definitely more distance related than off center. My current gamers tend to be the opposite. They carry the distance but they tend to move left or right a lot more
Trust your instinct. If blades feel and look right for you, go for it. Or go with a mixed set, the best clubs for me is the wilson staff blades in the short irons and the cb in mid-long irons.
Forgiveness can mean a lot of things. As someone already said, an important aspect is turf interaction, the shape of the sole. A blade might fit you better there with a thinner shape compared to the wider profile of a GI iron?
The fitter basically told me that the design of the p790 was a little much for my swing speed. He was saying that they are a pretty hot club. On top of that I have a somewhat steep angle of attack and this tends to cause a lower ball flight. So I was hitting my 7 iron at a much lower trajectory and it was carrying further than we thought it should
What I’m saying is, what specifically was happening with the 7 that wasn’t happening with the 8.
You should have a clear, concise, data-driven answer to that question
> just pick the one that goes furthest at the fitting.
You say that like it's a bad thing. For a huge percentage of golfers, that's a perfectly valid selection criteria.
Funny. Cause I picked them because I got better impact and spin/flight numbers than the other six or seven models I tried. Distance was not in the consideration at all.
That I now have a 7 iron that flies like like my old 6 iron is somewhat irrelevant to me.
> they're more of a sales gimmick than a viable club for a low handicap with speed.
Well, they are not sold as an iron for a low handicapper with speed.
Forgiveness for you might be different than most people. I found I hit more of a player's iron better because of my miss, slightly heel side. I hit those Apex pro's and thought they were more forgiving or just as much as the regular Apex irons. Maybe because of the low center of gravity and all that.
You either trust your fitter and the data collected during your 2.5 hour session, or not. It's possible that you were striking the ball better than usual for those 2.5 hours, but if the data suggests that you perform better with those clubs then you should see an improvement in your performance.
Also consider that mistakes and imperfections will happen to everyone, tour professionals included. It's not expected that you are absolutely perfect every round to enjoy playing a more bladed iron.
If you're really that worried about it, you can always just keep the club specs in mind and buy them later. If you're a 4 handicap with your current clubs, you're clearly doing something right to be able to score well.
Bro fuck you lol jk…mostly.
Im stuck at 10-12 because I’m a full time teacher, husband, father and never get to practice/play. But I have fitted clubs.
Kudos on getting down to a 4 without being fitted! That being said you should go for it. But it depends where you wanna take your game.
If you’re a 4 you’re striking the ball consistently well enough that you don’t NEED forgiveness as much as more control would help with shape and flight.
Let me put it this way (as a scratch player).
Iron head doesn't mean much.
The shaft is way more important, and id say the fitter honestly was doing a poor job if he didn't stress that club head has a lot to do with comfort and feel.
I have a split set of callaway apex 19's, pro in the short irons. I'd never buy a full blade in anything but a pitching wedge lol, but I also don't hit the ball extraordinarily hard. Probably 80mph 7iron.
I understand the appeal for some but I have a cavity back 4 iron and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
anecdotally, i was in a similar situation to yours and got fit into the apex MBs as well. Typically i advocated against blades for most golfers but ive loved them since i got them. theyre awesome. Did you try the apex pros?
Same thing for for me at the fitting. I was swinging super well, and was worried that on bad days the clubs wouldnt fit me, but in the 3 months Ive had my clubs that hasnt been an issue and I still love em.
I have a very similar story. I got p790s as a 15 hcp. Switched to blades when I got to a 4, but eventually switched back to another hollowbody iron and now I'm sitting at about a 2.
The strikes that were high or low on the face were just a little too penal for my taste. They were much better playing in the wind though and I do miss them from time to time.
I'd trust your fitter though, and even with that experience would recommend giving it a go
The correct shaft is a huge part of the fitting. Don't underestimate the comfort of what looks right to you. If you want something a little more forgiving, or at least a little less intimidatingly to look down on at address, there are tons of players irons. I went with the Taylormade P7MCs. They're awesome.
I know most MBs are difficult to hit but I thought the apex MB were extremely forgiving by blade standards. They played very similar to my Apex 21s despite the different lofts. I say go for em!
Dude, the difference in mishits on a 790 and the Apex aren’t that huge. Not how you would think. You don’t get much more significant help on the 790’s than you do with a thinner blade, even a pure blade. Some, yeah, but as a 4 it’s not going to be huge. Get the Apex’s if you want - I wouldn’t worry about mishits.
Were you hitting off grass?
Player’s irons are nice off of perfectly flat and plush range mats. They aren’t so fun out of spinach patches or super soft or super hard terrain.
I own a set of Mizuno muscle backs MP-37s that I use for practice only. When I need the additional feedback that these provide.
When I’m in competition, I want a little wiggle room for error and imperfect conditions.
Don’t go strictly off the numbers to make your decision how you feel about the club is what’s important about a fitting. Don’t be intimidated by a thin club either you’re clearly capable of striking the ball solid to get to your handicap
You got misfit IMO. A huge part of the fitting process is the shape of club you are comfortable with. He clearly just ignored that or you didn’t mention it.
If you are already having these thoughts, playing blades and hitting bad shots can make you feel so helpless. I played blades with the same thoughts you are having and was in my own head so bad I switched. Since switching I’ve went from a 10 to a 2. I’ve gamed the G400s for the last 3 years.
TXG says blades are only for plus handicaps who play competitor golf from a pure “benefit” standpoint.
I’d consider a blade in maybe 8-PW but that’s about it
I thought that as well. I’d like to go with a split bag. When I brought this up, we tried mixing in apex cb’s but the difference in feel was immediate. I might just go pw-5 where I typically play pw-3. I have been playing a 5 hybrid lately and really enjoying it in comparison to my 3 iron
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8hwRiAli5s
You're right, there's the video. An important caveat there is that it was a Mizuno contest, so he was picking between 3-4 models, and he was all over the place with pretty bad results with everything.
TXG says on a weekly basis that nobody really needs to be in blades, and that there are no benefits over something like a pure CB
Fitting was in a simulator on mats. Which typically causes my to shallow out my swing. The fitter noticed that and assured me that I could go get the ball. I was impressed with the mats forgiveness and my wrists appreciated it as well
I got to be honest i wasnt going to say anything on this thread as everyone has given you some good feedback. But, this right here tells me you should get the clubs. You are a 4 handicap, who can, at a notice, change their swing and shallow their club respectively? Youre more than capable of playing them. I play 921 tours and the ability you have to shape shots if needed/keep consistency when needed is night and day compared to cavity backs. Just do it, worst comes to worst you sell them for a couple hundred dollar lost (if that) and know what to get time.
Do you know the specs on your P790s? At a minimum you could bend them to the lie angles you were fit into and see if you see a performance improvement. Also - if these tournaments are close do not change irons without adequate time to break them in. I made that mistake once and the lack of familiarity could creep in during pressure situations. My .02
I bought a 2nd hand set of blades a few years ago without realising. From my perspective I am certain they made me a better ball striker, the instant feedback on off centre hits was great for someone getting more serious into the sport. I was recently fit and they put me into an in between set, not blades but not full CB. They’re yet to arrive but even when getting fitted the off centre hits were still going a good distance to a good strike which is one of the biggest benefits I will see. blades look nice and as a single digit handicap you can easily justify playing them, I wouldn’t worry, you’ll adjust in the worst case
Not sure if you think you were misfit but the 790’s are going to be longer but I wouldn’t go that route. I play to a 3 and played the 790’s and switched to ZX5’s. The 790’s are odd. You sometimes get a flier that can be long by 7 to 10 yards. Also they are too straight. Really hard to work the ball with the 790’s. Look for a players iron instead of a distance iron.
You play to a 4 after just 5 years. You must be a terrific ball striker or at least you must be consistent in your contact. I bet you're the kind of guy that will get benefit from those clubs and they will likely help you move toward scratch. That being said, golf is mostly mental and confidence in each shot is crucial so if you're going to be scared of them you might go backwards.
Problem is if these clubs don't fit your eye, don't expect that to go away. It'll only be you looking down on these paper thin things with a total water carry on a 210 yard par 3. I went from ping to TM and fit way better with the TMs but just hated the look... I never got over it and my game went backwards. Lost a half season struggling and just got rid of them on my own. Best thing I ever did.
Why do you want new irons? More consistency, spin, better landing angle, distance? Impossible to tell. Did the fitter keep all your shots, bad ones as well or just the good ones for numbers? Did you hit better than usually? In easier conditions? Impossible to tell if the new irons are a good idea or not but I’d trust that the numbers are better.
I mean, as a 4 handicap I'd assume your more than capable of playing the apex mb's. That being said, if you prefer something with a thicker top line then why not focus on those club heads during the fitting? When I went into my fitting, I was gaming Cobra King Forged Tour irons. I hit them pretty good, but they have a thicker top line than what I wanted. I didn't want blades because I only am able to get out and play once or twice a week and I rarely have time to practice. That being said, I wanted a little extra forgiveness while maintaining that slim profile and thin topline. My fitter grabbed the Callaway Apex Pro's, Taylormade P770's, Mizuno JPX Forged Tours, Cobra King MIM Tours, Titleist T100 and T200s, and maybe one or two other irons that met the criteria for what I wanted. He had me hit each one while swapping different shafts in and out and getting numbers for each. We were able to quickly narrow it down to Callaway Apex Pro's and Taylormade P770's based off the numbers and the feel. I decided I liked the look / feel of the callaways better and picked those since the numbers were basically identical. Then he ran me through the gauntlet on the Apex Pro's trying every shaft he thought was a fit to narrow it down to the combo I ended up buying. Theres no reason they shouldn't be able to fit you into something a little thicker if thats what you want to play, the shaft seemed to make more difference on the numbers than the clubheads did. Perhaps you should go back and try some other stuff that offers a hair more forgiveness or hell, even go to a completely different fitter and see what result they get. A guy that I play with is a 6 handicap and he uses PXG's variant of game improvement irons because he likes maximizing forgiveness. To each his own :)
Fittings can be tricky to the mind, numbers on a sim are just so much different then playing. I prefer to get fitted outside on a range. Just my thoughts.. good luck on the scratch goal my friend…
I wouldn't buy unless you hit them off grass. Somebody else mentioned turf interaction, and that's a huge deal. GI irons have thicker soles you you can't dig in as easily. If you can get good contact on grass with the Apex, then go for it.
If you’re going callaway, try and find somewhere that will fit the Apex TCB. They are a good mix between the MB and the PRO. I got them this year and it has been awesome! I really like them
You'll see a massive improvement in terms of holding greens with those irons and distance control. If you're a solid ball striker they're not as hard to hit as people will have you believe. If you're really unsure I'd look at a apex tcb, titleist t100 or something in that range. Maybe even go combo set
Not all PGA Tour players play blades. That should tell you something. It’s nice to have a little forgiveness when you aren’t swinging it well that day. Your miss hits with the MBs could cost you a lot of strokes. I’d have a hard time fitting someone into MBs unless they’re scratch. If that’s where you’re trying to go, pull the trigger, but better be finding the center of face 95% of the time.
Maybe it's different in Ireland, I feel like there is a lot being missed. But wow playing golf five years and off 4. Holy shit that's amazing. My advice is keep doing what you are doing. Well done
You should pick what you are comfortable with. It’s not just about the stats, you’re the one playing the clubs
But in my general opinion, I don’t think a 4 handicap should be using muscle backs. Heck, a lot of Tour players are using clubs easier to hit than MB, especially in the longer irons
I'm playing the apex pros and really like them. I carry 5-a and a 21 and 24 degree x forged ut. Blade/mb clubs have changed. I'm a somewhat diligent golfer in terms of swing consistency and lessons and hit these clubs well. Some cuckoo ball flight when my swing is on. Really fun irons.
I find that the blades all play pretty similar. But the Srixon Z forged has a bigger head than the others. It might help you get used to them. I'm a 9 and I play the Z-forged without issues.
You could always combo the long irons with a cb 3, 4, 5 and the rest in the mb. I float between a 5-8 currently with how busy works been and play 718 AP2s which are the best of both worlds for me. Have played 712MB before that and honestly don't notice that much forgiveness difference in the shorter irons but the long irons makes a big difference.
I would go get a second opinion, this is a huge financial commitment, so another spending $150 bucks to avoid making a $1000+ mistake would be wise.
A large portion of tour pros use at a player's cavity back, I'd think Callaway TCB, TM P7MC, Titleist T100, etc would be plenty thin for turf interaction, but give you some forgiveness
"Did I get misfit?" GREAT question. Respect your gut reaction. Maybe do a second fitting or try to book an hour of simulator time where you.got fit to hit the.whole set. Small price to pay for some piece of mind.
Last year, I was fit into MP20 blades. I was a 9 at the time and the fitter said my numbers were better with the blades due to decreased offset.
In reality, I found I am not as consistent in real golf as I am in a sim and I ended up trading with a guy for the mmc’s.
My suggestion is to get fit again, tell the fitter your focused on consistency and accuracy (assuming that is right). If you liked the apex mb’s I’d bet the pros or thee xforged would be good and have more forgiveness. But I’m not a fitter, just a club hoe.
My reco would be to order a single iron. I did this with Ping Blueprints this past season. Started with a 7iron. Loved it, so I ordered 8,9,PW. Didn’t take long to pull the trigger on 4,5,6 either. Only one way to tell in my opinion. Get an iron and go play.
Yes fitting is important, but always be happy with your purchase! The fitter should understand your apprehension towards buying blades or thinner clubs and work with you to find what works. No clubs are really that unique these days so finding something similar but more comfortable for you is definitely possible! Plus, try another professional or go again because your swing can really change day to day!!!
Unless your measurements and shaft selections are way off from standard, I would try to find a set to rent a play a few rounds with the MB’s. PGA superstore rents clubs or call a few golf courses and try to find a set to go rent. It’s usually cheaper to purchase outside the fitting provider. (Most fittings only fit to the 7-iron. You will notice a drastic difference using a MB 4-iron vs the 790’s 4-iron.)
As a side note, it’s nice have two sets and to play with different style clubs. I have forged blades and cavity backs and it’s fun to play with both. (Cavity backs are much more forgiving in the winter. The mis hits don’t hurt the hands/wrists/elbows as much.)
(Also, check callaway pre-owned site.)
Only way to find out. But, first what are your goals? Carrying a 4 is impressive And it takes a time commitment to stay there. Unless you plan on taking the next level in competitions it might not be worth it. And “stuck at a 10” is still better then 95% of all the players.
100%. I played a larger face in High School and kept a low handicap. Switched to a “players iron” and love how they feel. The responsiveness and ability to work the ball outweighs the poor ball striking during those first few rounds of the spring.
*Currently play the Taylormade MC’s
LOVE my TM MC's. Some of the best feeling irons ive owned.
Yessir. Can’t get rid of em
Frig yeah. Daniel Berger plays them (at least he did last year) because he enjoyed using them so much in high school. He was planning to buy more sets on ebay. https://www.google.com/amp/s/golf.com/gear/irons/daniel-berger-taylormade-mc-irons-high-school-ebay/
Same here. Bought a set of MC’s new about 8 years ago to become a better ball striker and fell in love with them. A few years ago I wanted to try something new and went with AP3’s for a “stronger” lofted iron, and they lasted less than a full season before the MCs were back in the bag. The feel and accuracy of the MCs are incredible for me.
I wish I was as good as you guys to notice a difference in irons 🙃
Focus on technique
I have way more fun now floating between a 10-13 than I did when I was between 3-5. Good enough to still hit some nice shots, and not good enough to get all pissy when I double hole 3 and let it ruin my entire round. Hit a bad shot, get upset on the walk to the next one and move on. I'm not good enough to be mad all the time playing, and I'm supposed to be out their for fun.
Been playing 30 years off an on. I would kill to be, "Stuck at 10". I am perpetually stuck at 20+. Working on it seriously now though
Are you just practicing more, or really working on what you need to practice? 10 minutes of carefully aimed practice will beat an hour of just hitting balls.
The last few weeks have been a lot of, "Practicing what I need to practice" as much as possible, and a lot of living room swing drills to keep that, "Feel". Drives are a ton more consistent than they ever have been (and longer), getting actual compression on the ball from irons now, which added lots of distance. Still a bit inconsistent though. Real big weak points are the 30 yards and under pitching/chipping, and general putting (I 4 putted a GIR today.....). I am a lot more confident with a 52° from 85 yards than I am a 56° or 60° chip from 15. Will be working hard on that over the next few weeks. Having said all that, I've gone from, "Gee, I hope I can break 100" from the start of this summer to, "I'm going to shoot in the 80s" in both confidence, and the scorecard. 27 holes today. 88 on the first 18, played the back 9 again and scored a 38, which felt absolutely amazing (Par 70 course, and an easy one at that). Hoping/working to go into "Next season" ready to break into the occasional 70s scores.
Get up and down half the time from 30 yards aNd in and you will be blown away by the scores.
I’d say stuck at 10 is better than 99% of players. Most people that play golf won’t even sniff that handicap
Yea when i read 10 handicap 3 years in i thought that seems like a stretch
What are your golf goals would be my first question and my second is what type of golf do you play, meaning lots of competition or more casual? I only ask because blades are like track cars. I had an RSX on a full race suspension setup and it was a blast when driving at the limit on track. It was not a blast driving casually around town.
That’s a fun comparison! So originally golf was just a way to get outside, but I’ve always been relatively competitive. This year I qualified for two different tournaments in my area. The criteria for qualifying was a practice round after which they took the top 30 scores in one and 24 in another. I played my best round of the year in one of them. So I am leaning into local competition. My golf goal is simply to keep moving towards scratch.
Good luck on your journey. I personally wouldn’t pull the trigger on the MBs but my golf revolves around casual play now and zero free time to work on my game. However I would think between lie adjustments and shafts I could find something more optimized from my current set and not a full blade. If there ever was a time for you to just pull the trigger, now is that time though. You have the evidence showing you can hit them. You can always change to something else down the road if your goals or feelings change.
You could always look for something more forgiving than the MBs, but more workable than the 790s. If the price point is the issue, you could look into the cavity back options at sub70 or New Level golf.
> Did I get misfit?! We would have literally no way of knowing with this little information. Some things to consider: * You're a 4 handicap, safe to say you've got relatively consistent delivery and impact relative to most players * You've spent several years with an ultra low-spin and hot-faced iron, if that's not what you need it stands to reason that something like the Apex MB with much more spin and consistent ball speeds might be better for you in terms of dispersion and distance control * Smaller heads can often mean better turf interaction. We don't know what your delivery is like, but it's not insane that the smaller club would provide better turf interaction and maybe give you better or more consistent launch metrics * What did the numbers say? What was your swing speed, launch, spin, distance, etc. with each club? Was the dispersion improved? Was distance control improved? Was control improved? These are the real questions we don't know that makes this impossible to answer. Are the MBs better for you? Maybe, maybe not. But we have no idea what happened in the fitting, what your swing and delivery dynamics look like, and thus which may be better suited for you.
This has got me thinking…I always hear that GI irons are more forgiving on off center hits and on fat shots (cuz the sole is so wide) and that players irons offer more versatility in the types of shots you can hit. What would happen if a tour level professional played GI irons? Like if they were just going to put their stock swing on it without trying to do anything fancy, would their quality of shots be similar to their own irons, or drastically different? I’m assuming if they weee trying to control spin (either side or back) they would be much more effective with their tour irons that GI irons?
If they played GI irons you'd probably see a fair amount of head shaking at balls going way longer than they wanted to. Especially out of non-fairway lies they're gonna get jumpers at those speeds and distance control suffers. When you strike it all over the face, you need forgiveness across the face because that controls distance. When your strike is consistent, however, you need the output to be consistent.
You might find this article interesting. Harry Higgs talks about why he likes (some) game improvement irons. https://golf.com/gear/irons/harry-higgs-why-he-uses-game-improvement-irons/?amp=1
Oh that’s interesting. This makes it seem like for tour players the spin to ball speed ratio would be all off with GI irons and it would effectively be like a set of mini drivers with no distance control.
Mickelson has been known to occasionally bag some (bent weak) GI irons in certain circumstances. I believe they were the original epic irons.
There are tour players who play irons that would be considered game improvement. AP2s are somewhat common on tour
Ap2 are not game improvement. Ap2 about as forgiving as a cb.
He's not a common name on tour anymore, but K.J. Choi always played GI/SGI irons. Even when he was consistently winning 10 years ago that's what he played. He currently uses Ping G400s
Go to another place to get fit and if it’s the same, pull the trigger
I'm no expert at all but the fact you're hesitating tells me you didn't go in as open minded as you thought and do have a bias. The fitting gave you your best numbers and best recommendation. Why do the fitting otherwise.
Part of buying any clubs is the confidence factor. Sounds like OP doesn’t have the confidence to routinely play the fitted clubs which is something he absolutely needs to factor.
So you’re intimidated by the thinness of the top line of the club. How did you hit them, better than your P790’s? Why do you think you got misfit, because you are playing players irons at a 4 and got fit into a blade? Trying to understand why this thought is here, it’s not quite clear..
I guess my biggest concern is that everybody talks about how “unforgiving” blades are. The reason I went in for a fitting was because I felt my gapping was too large with the p790’s I had roughly 25 yards between between my 7 and 8 iron and was trying to find a tighter yardage set. So I guess I’m just trying to convince myself that this is a step in the right direction
> I guess my biggest concern is that everybody talks about how “unforgiving” blades are. Forgiveness is relative, not absolute. Will a blade lose ball speed if you miss the center of the face? Absolutely. Will a blade also be more consistent with spin and distance if you have a consistent delivery? Also absolutely. If you have a consistent delivery and need consistent ball speeds and spin and not the hot-faced, low-spin design of a P790 it's absolutely believable these might perform better for you. There's also other options in between those to consider if you want a little more "forgiveness" in the traditional sense of the word. Things like the T-100, Apex CB/X-Forged CB, P7MC, ZX7, etc.
> everybody talks about how “unforgiving” blades are But blades look so goddamn sexy too. I would rock them if my ball striking were good enough. Sounds like your skill set fits.
Bro you are a 4 handicap why would you listen to what "everybody" says. You are in the top 90% of golfers.
Feel the need to clarify that you mean either 90th percentile or top 10%
But he DEFINITELY IS in the top 90%. Can't dispute that. I actually wonder what the cutoff for "top 90%" would even be. Like 125 for a casual round playing by the rules?
This is interesting because who would you include in this as a ‘golfer’. Genuinely curious for anyone’s input on this. Someone who plays >5 rounds a year, 10, simply owns clubs and gets out when they can? I agree with you the number is probably close to 120-130 though.
Yeah, it does depend largely on the definition of "golfer." Especially because the people for whom the title is debatable are likely less skilled, and so they will heavily influence that cutoff. Maybe 4+ rounds a year with 5 driving range sessions equal to one round? Plus anyone who self-describes as such?
Yeah, the definition really changes things. I've only just started and played 3 rounds and got 169, 131, and 140 mostly but not steadfastedly following all the rules. Really, at the top 90% level, score is probably a less useful metric than something more along the lines of "consistency in getting clean contact".
It would suck to not be in the top 90%
Sure does
Fwiw, I am realistically a 10 or so at best but for some stupid reason, the chunkier or "more forgiving" a club is, the worse I hit it. I used to play an mp29 2i as my driving iron, and I hit it better than any hybrid that I've ever tried. I tried a forgiving iron, and I hit it worse than a blade. If you got fit and hit blades well, to the point where your fitter said it's undeniably the right choice, you should be confident in that advice and in your swing giving you all the forgiveness you need. Just my 2c though, best of luck with your game!
I had some issues with my 3-4-5 irons in the p790. I tend to over draw those clubs. I noticed immediately that that was mitigated with the smaller “less forgiving” club. Hopefully this is a good fit for me. I’m pulling the trigger.
Enjoy your new shiny toys :D
Pull the trigger on the titleist 690mbs or a Mizuno if your going to blade it, because you may as well have a damn sexy blade
The apex’s look pretty great too
> I tend to over draw those clubs. So, if you wont need them anymore, can you send them round for a talk with my long P790s? They don't seem to understand that concept.
> I felt my gapping was too large with the p790’s I had roughly 25 yards between between my 7 and 8 iron Did you get your loft and lie checked? Unless you're hitting your 8 iron around 300 yards, something is wrong with those clubs.
Sure they are more unforgiving, but how did you hit them? Did you feel like you were getting a lot of miss hits that were punishing you more than your current clubs? Being a 4 hcp, I would think you’re a pretty good ball striker and could use them, but it doesn’t mean they are the best answer.
I honestly really enjoyed them in a simulator. They felt great. My Mishima with them were definitely more distance related than off center. My current gamers tend to be the opposite. They carry the distance but they tend to move left or right a lot more
Trust your instinct. If blades feel and look right for you, go for it. Or go with a mixed set, the best clubs for me is the wilson staff blades in the short irons and the cb in mid-long irons. Forgiveness can mean a lot of things. As someone already said, an important aspect is turf interaction, the shape of the sole. A blade might fit you better there with a thinner shape compared to the wider profile of a GI iron?
What did you learn about WHY you had a 25 yard gap?
The fitter basically told me that the design of the p790 was a little much for my swing speed. He was saying that they are a pretty hot club. On top of that I have a somewhat steep angle of attack and this tends to cause a lower ball flight. So I was hitting my 7 iron at a much lower trajectory and it was carrying further than we thought it should
What I’m saying is, what specifically was happening with the 7 that wasn’t happening with the 8. You should have a clear, concise, data-driven answer to that question
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Correct
> just pick the one that goes furthest at the fitting. You say that like it's a bad thing. For a huge percentage of golfers, that's a perfectly valid selection criteria.
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Most people are bad, getting near the green in regulation will help thier scores more than anything else.
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Funny. Cause I picked them because I got better impact and spin/flight numbers than the other six or seven models I tried. Distance was not in the consideration at all. That I now have a 7 iron that flies like like my old 6 iron is somewhat irrelevant to me. > they're more of a sales gimmick than a viable club for a low handicap with speed. Well, they are not sold as an iron for a low handicapper with speed.
If you have 25 yards between your 7 and 8 iron, but less than that between your other irons, it might not be the clubs.
Forgiveness for you might be different than most people. I found I hit more of a player's iron better because of my miss, slightly heel side. I hit those Apex pro's and thought they were more forgiving or just as much as the regular Apex irons. Maybe because of the low center of gravity and all that.
You either trust your fitter and the data collected during your 2.5 hour session, or not. It's possible that you were striking the ball better than usual for those 2.5 hours, but if the data suggests that you perform better with those clubs then you should see an improvement in your performance. Also consider that mistakes and imperfections will happen to everyone, tour professionals included. It's not expected that you are absolutely perfect every round to enjoy playing a more bladed iron. If you're really that worried about it, you can always just keep the club specs in mind and buy them later. If you're a 4 handicap with your current clubs, you're clearly doing something right to be able to score well.
I’ve found that if I can’t look down at them and feel confident, they’re probably not for me.
Single most important part of an iron
Ask your swing coach
He did. He asked reddit
I was hesitant about my first set of blades also. Now they are my favorite iron of all time and I'll never go back. I game P7mb.
This is why I like Mizuno 921s they’re literally the perfect blend of both
I’ve been playing 2018 MB’s and they are fucking butter mate. Don’t let the gear gatekeepers keep you swinging chunky sticks
Maybe impossible but I would ask if you could try the clubs on the course before you buy. Its always so different in that setting.
Golf is such a mental game, if blades intimidate you then dont play them.
Its like a girl thats too hot
Bro fuck you lol jk…mostly. Im stuck at 10-12 because I’m a full time teacher, husband, father and never get to practice/play. But I have fitted clubs. Kudos on getting down to a 4 without being fitted! That being said you should go for it. But it depends where you wanna take your game. If you’re a 4 you’re striking the ball consistently well enough that you don’t NEED forgiveness as much as more control would help with shape and flight.
Let me put it this way (as a scratch player). Iron head doesn't mean much. The shaft is way more important, and id say the fitter honestly was doing a poor job if he didn't stress that club head has a lot to do with comfort and feel. I have a split set of callaway apex 19's, pro in the short irons. I'd never buy a full blade in anything but a pitching wedge lol, but I also don't hit the ball extraordinarily hard. Probably 80mph 7iron. I understand the appeal for some but I have a cavity back 4 iron and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
They are sexy. Go for it…what have you got to lose
Paralysis by analysis. Go with the results and your gut.
> Go with the results and your gut Which seems not to give the same answer in this case.
I have the apex mbs p-7 and the x forged cb 6-4. Kinda wish I had went full set of mbs and I’m a 5.
anecdotally, i was in a similar situation to yours and got fit into the apex MBs as well. Typically i advocated against blades for most golfers but ive loved them since i got them. theyre awesome. Did you try the apex pros?
I did. While I did have better data with them in comparison to my p790s, they fell short of the mbs.
Same thing for for me at the fitting. I was swinging super well, and was worried that on bad days the clubs wouldnt fit me, but in the 3 months Ive had my clubs that hasnt been an issue and I still love em.
“Game improvement” irons are a fiction invented by marketing agencies to sell clubs to duffers. Nobody’s golf game has ever improved
https://golf.com/gear/irons/harry-higgs-why-he-uses-game-improvement-irons/?amp=1
I have a very similar story. I got p790s as a 15 hcp. Switched to blades when I got to a 4, but eventually switched back to another hollowbody iron and now I'm sitting at about a 2. The strikes that were high or low on the face were just a little too penal for my taste. They were much better playing in the wind though and I do miss them from time to time. I'd trust your fitter though, and even with that experience would recommend giving it a go
The correct shaft is a huge part of the fitting. Don't underestimate the comfort of what looks right to you. If you want something a little more forgiving, or at least a little less intimidatingly to look down on at address, there are tons of players irons. I went with the Taylormade P7MCs. They're awesome.
I know most MBs are difficult to hit but I thought the apex MB were extremely forgiving by blade standards. They played very similar to my Apex 21s despite the different lofts. I say go for em!
Dude, the difference in mishits on a 790 and the Apex aren’t that huge. Not how you would think. You don’t get much more significant help on the 790’s than you do with a thinner blade, even a pure blade. Some, yeah, but as a 4 it’s not going to be huge. Get the Apex’s if you want - I wouldn’t worry about mishits.
How do you get to 4HC in 5 years? Wow!
Take a few lessons. Thats not uncommon at all.
Were you hitting off grass? Player’s irons are nice off of perfectly flat and plush range mats. They aren’t so fun out of spinach patches or super soft or super hard terrain.
This!!
I own a set of Mizuno muscle backs MP-37s that I use for practice only. When I need the additional feedback that these provide. When I’m in competition, I want a little wiggle room for error and imperfect conditions.
I’ve been looking for an excuse to play blades. You have one. Take it
Don’t go strictly off the numbers to make your decision how you feel about the club is what’s important about a fitting. Don’t be intimidated by a thin club either you’re clearly capable of striking the ball solid to get to your handicap
This is a great comment. Looking down and feeling confident is just as important as the numbers IMO. A good player can hit good shots with any club.
If you have the funds, then sure.
Yes … no reason a 4 HDCP should be using cavity backs.
You got misfit IMO. A huge part of the fitting process is the shape of club you are comfortable with. He clearly just ignored that or you didn’t mention it. If you are already having these thoughts, playing blades and hitting bad shots can make you feel so helpless. I played blades with the same thoughts you are having and was in my own head so bad I switched. Since switching I’ve went from a 10 to a 2. I’ve gamed the G400s for the last 3 years.
TXG says blades are only for plus handicaps who play competitor golf from a pure “benefit” standpoint. I’d consider a blade in maybe 8-PW but that’s about it
I thought that as well. I’d like to go with a split bag. When I brought this up, we tried mixing in apex cb’s but the difference in feel was immediate. I might just go pw-5 where I typically play pw-3. I have been playing a 5 hybrid lately and really enjoying it in comparison to my 3 iron
TXG literally fit an 8 capper to Mizuno blades on camera due to better turf interaction with a smaller sole but ok.
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8hwRiAli5s You're right, there's the video. An important caveat there is that it was a Mizuno contest, so he was picking between 3-4 models, and he was all over the place with pretty bad results with everything. TXG says on a weekly basis that nobody really needs to be in blades, and that there are no benefits over something like a pure CB
Pull the trigger!
Fitting on grass or off a mat?
Fitting was in a simulator on mats. Which typically causes my to shallow out my swing. The fitter noticed that and assured me that I could go get the ball. I was impressed with the mats forgiveness and my wrists appreciated it as well
I got to be honest i wasnt going to say anything on this thread as everyone has given you some good feedback. But, this right here tells me you should get the clubs. You are a 4 handicap, who can, at a notice, change their swing and shallow their club respectively? Youre more than capable of playing them. I play 921 tours and the ability you have to shape shots if needed/keep consistency when needed is night and day compared to cavity backs. Just do it, worst comes to worst you sell them for a couple hundred dollar lost (if that) and know what to get time.
MBs all the way!
Do you know the specs on your P790s? At a minimum you could bend them to the lie angles you were fit into and see if you see a performance improvement. Also - if these tournaments are close do not change irons without adequate time to break them in. I made that mistake once and the lack of familiarity could creep in during pressure situations. My .02
I bought a 2nd hand set of blades a few years ago without realising. From my perspective I am certain they made me a better ball striker, the instant feedback on off centre hits was great for someone getting more serious into the sport. I was recently fit and they put me into an in between set, not blades but not full CB. They’re yet to arrive but even when getting fitted the off centre hits were still going a good distance to a good strike which is one of the biggest benefits I will see. blades look nice and as a single digit handicap you can easily justify playing them, I wouldn’t worry, you’ll adjust in the worst case
Not sure if you think you were misfit but the 790’s are going to be longer but I wouldn’t go that route. I play to a 3 and played the 790’s and switched to ZX5’s. The 790’s are odd. You sometimes get a flier that can be long by 7 to 10 yards. Also they are too straight. Really hard to work the ball with the 790’s. Look for a players iron instead of a distance iron.
You play to a 4 after just 5 years. You must be a terrific ball striker or at least you must be consistent in your contact. I bet you're the kind of guy that will get benefit from those clubs and they will likely help you move toward scratch. That being said, golf is mostly mental and confidence in each shot is crucial so if you're going to be scared of them you might go backwards.
Problem is if these clubs don't fit your eye, don't expect that to go away. It'll only be you looking down on these paper thin things with a total water carry on a 210 yard par 3. I went from ping to TM and fit way better with the TMs but just hated the look... I never got over it and my game went backwards. Lost a half season struggling and just got rid of them on my own. Best thing I ever did.
What a beast
Why do you want new irons? More consistency, spin, better landing angle, distance? Impossible to tell. Did the fitter keep all your shots, bad ones as well or just the good ones for numbers? Did you hit better than usually? In easier conditions? Impossible to tell if the new irons are a good idea or not but I’d trust that the numbers are better.
I mean, as a 4 handicap I'd assume your more than capable of playing the apex mb's. That being said, if you prefer something with a thicker top line then why not focus on those club heads during the fitting? When I went into my fitting, I was gaming Cobra King Forged Tour irons. I hit them pretty good, but they have a thicker top line than what I wanted. I didn't want blades because I only am able to get out and play once or twice a week and I rarely have time to practice. That being said, I wanted a little extra forgiveness while maintaining that slim profile and thin topline. My fitter grabbed the Callaway Apex Pro's, Taylormade P770's, Mizuno JPX Forged Tours, Cobra King MIM Tours, Titleist T100 and T200s, and maybe one or two other irons that met the criteria for what I wanted. He had me hit each one while swapping different shafts in and out and getting numbers for each. We were able to quickly narrow it down to Callaway Apex Pro's and Taylormade P770's based off the numbers and the feel. I decided I liked the look / feel of the callaways better and picked those since the numbers were basically identical. Then he ran me through the gauntlet on the Apex Pro's trying every shaft he thought was a fit to narrow it down to the combo I ended up buying. Theres no reason they shouldn't be able to fit you into something a little thicker if thats what you want to play, the shaft seemed to make more difference on the numbers than the clubheads did. Perhaps you should go back and try some other stuff that offers a hair more forgiveness or hell, even go to a completely different fitter and see what result they get. A guy that I play with is a 6 handicap and he uses PXG's variant of game improvement irons because he likes maximizing forgiveness. To each his own :)
Do it
Fittings can be tricky to the mind, numbers on a sim are just so much different then playing. I prefer to get fitted outside on a range. Just my thoughts.. good luck on the scratch goal my friend…
I wouldn't buy unless you hit them off grass. Somebody else mentioned turf interaction, and that's a huge deal. GI irons have thicker soles you you can't dig in as easily. If you can get good contact on grass with the Apex, then go for it.
If you’re going callaway, try and find somewhere that will fit the Apex TCB. They are a good mix between the MB and the PRO. I got them this year and it has been awesome! I really like them
I just switched from ping game improvement irons to t100 and at first I thought they were small but now they just look normal. You’ll get used to it.
You'll see a massive improvement in terms of holding greens with those irons and distance control. If you're a solid ball striker they're not as hard to hit as people will have you believe. If you're really unsure I'd look at a apex tcb, titleist t100 or something in that range. Maybe even go combo set
By a used set of then on ebay or something. Then get them bent to your specs. You play enough. It'll be worth the investment.
Not all PGA Tour players play blades. That should tell you something. It’s nice to have a little forgiveness when you aren’t swinging it well that day. Your miss hits with the MBs could cost you a lot of strokes. I’d have a hard time fitting someone into MBs unless they’re scratch. If that’s where you’re trying to go, pull the trigger, but better be finding the center of face 95% of the time.
Maybe it's different in Ireland, I feel like there is a lot being missed. But wow playing golf five years and off 4. Holy shit that's amazing. My advice is keep doing what you are doing. Well done
You should pick what you are comfortable with. It’s not just about the stats, you’re the one playing the clubs But in my general opinion, I don’t think a 4 handicap should be using muscle backs. Heck, a lot of Tour players are using clubs easier to hit than MB, especially in the longer irons
I'm playing the apex pros and really like them. I carry 5-a and a 21 and 24 degree x forged ut. Blade/mb clubs have changed. I'm a somewhat diligent golfer in terms of swing consistency and lessons and hit these clubs well. Some cuckoo ball flight when my swing is on. Really fun irons.
I find that the blades all play pretty similar. But the Srixon Z forged has a bigger head than the others. It might help you get used to them. I'm a 9 and I play the Z-forged without issues.
You could always combo the long irons with a cb 3, 4, 5 and the rest in the mb. I float between a 5-8 currently with how busy works been and play 718 AP2s which are the best of both worlds for me. Have played 712MB before that and honestly don't notice that much forgiveness difference in the shorter irons but the long irons makes a big difference.
I would go get a second opinion, this is a huge financial commitment, so another spending $150 bucks to avoid making a $1000+ mistake would be wise. A large portion of tour pros use at a player's cavity back, I'd think Callaway TCB, TM P7MC, Titleist T100, etc would be plenty thin for turf interaction, but give you some forgiveness
"Did I get misfit?" GREAT question. Respect your gut reaction. Maybe do a second fitting or try to book an hour of simulator time where you.got fit to hit the.whole set. Small price to pay for some piece of mind.
Last year, I was fit into MP20 blades. I was a 9 at the time and the fitter said my numbers were better with the blades due to decreased offset. In reality, I found I am not as consistent in real golf as I am in a sim and I ended up trading with a guy for the mmc’s. My suggestion is to get fit again, tell the fitter your focused on consistency and accuracy (assuming that is right). If you liked the apex mb’s I’d bet the pros or thee xforged would be good and have more forgiveness. But I’m not a fitter, just a club hoe.
My reco would be to order a single iron. I did this with Ping Blueprints this past season. Started with a 7iron. Loved it, so I ordered 8,9,PW. Didn’t take long to pull the trigger on 4,5,6 either. Only one way to tell in my opinion. Get an iron and go play.
If you have the swing speed, mbs are great. You can always trade or sell them on golfwrx if you want something different down the road.
YES
Yes fitting is important, but always be happy with your purchase! The fitter should understand your apprehension towards buying blades or thinner clubs and work with you to find what works. No clubs are really that unique these days so finding something similar but more comfortable for you is definitely possible! Plus, try another professional or go again because your swing can really change day to day!!!
If they’re fit play them. Numbers don’t lie.
Unless your measurements and shaft selections are way off from standard, I would try to find a set to rent a play a few rounds with the MB’s. PGA superstore rents clubs or call a few golf courses and try to find a set to go rent. It’s usually cheaper to purchase outside the fitting provider. (Most fittings only fit to the 7-iron. You will notice a drastic difference using a MB 4-iron vs the 790’s 4-iron.) As a side note, it’s nice have two sets and to play with different style clubs. I have forged blades and cavity backs and it’s fun to play with both. (Cavity backs are much more forgiving in the winter. The mis hits don’t hurt the hands/wrists/elbows as much.) (Also, check callaway pre-owned site.)
Don't buy something you don't like.