Two independent but coincidental factors have come together that are dramatically changing players' bags - 1) Launch Monitors and 2) Strokes Gained - and the Statistics generated. As young players come on tour, those providing the equipment have a vested interest in their performance - this means bladed 3&4 irons at minimum are being replaced with better launching heads, and now at the short end, bladed PWs are even being replaced with cavity backed heads because closer proximity to the hole dramatically benefits putting statistics. There are even now players changing out 5 irons (which Pros will hit 200-230) because again, Strokes Gained has highlighted this critical area of importance for making cuts and finishing higher up the leaderboard. The hardest holes relative to Par are Par3s - and Pros will face at least 2 that are 205-230 each course, nevermind 500-yard Par 4s - and they need to be playing high, soft landing fades into these flags on fast greens or the ball will not hold - hell, DJ carries a 24-degree 9-wood so he can have a 240-carry soft landing club for exactly this reason. Great video.
Great points Paul and think even for amateurs these two factors can make a massive difference. Interestingly was listening to a podcast recently talking about why Woods and Nicklaus were the best in their respective eras and how both strokes gained and launch monitors have been able quantity what the two of them worked out for themselves. Now these 2 things are available to all of them however they are all of course chasing the same thing and making the same adjustments. Thanks again for the feedback and delighted you enjoyed the video.
@@GolfingFocus 100% correct. Nicklaus & Tiger understood that distance off the tee meant shorter irons into greens, but more importantly, all the Par 5s were easily reachable. Secondly, they could hit high fades from 200-235 into greens at Augusta on those Par 5s - and that's how they won. The hardest to hit & most important for your score is that 185-225 yard range - find the clubs that help you in this area.
I used muscle backs until a year ago when I purchased a blended set of Srixon ZX7 8-PW and ZX5 5-7 and I'm using hybrids to replace 3 and 4 irons. After 1 year, my greens in regulation have improved by 10%
Thanks for sharing Brian. I'm on a mission to refresh my bag this winter and think like you I need to be considering hybrids for the low irons. Hope it has the same effect also as you have had!
Very nice video. I have been playing this game for over 40 years and I have used my experience to build a mixed set of irons just like you pointed out. Blades in PW & 9-iron, Cavity back 8 to 6 iron, Hollow body 5 to 3 iron. It makes sense to use the different designs to your advantage.
Many thanks Craig and delighted you enjoyed the video. Interesting you’ve gone hollow body for the long irons and cavity for the mid. Is your mixed set all the same brand or a mix up?
@@GolfingFocus Yes I fell in love with Titleist T-MB irons when I had a 2-iron in that model. I kept adding irons until I stopped at the 5-iron in T-MB. It gives me a nice strong flight and maintains a nice gapping. I have Titleist CB irons 6-8 and Titleist MB 9 & PW. I play mostly links golf so this mix allows me to control trajectory and play partial shots comfortably. From address they all look very similar and feel very well made. I am a convert of this style of combination but does require testing to get it right. What set do you play yourself?
@@craig3775 I'm ashamed to say I've still got an old set of blades in my bag - Mizuno MP-32's. On a fitting journey now for a long overdue upgrade now I've finally accepted I'm not as good as I think I am! 😂
I just took my old maxfli cavity backs and installed cobra r flex graphite shafts that cost me 10 bucks a peice. Shot the best round ever first time out. They felt crisp instead of the old thud dynamic golds that were in them. So accurate it was amazing. I'm 71 and hit from the white tees so I can get on all par fours in two and fives in three so that's good enough for my game. My putting is where I lose most of my strokes. I can 2 putt a four footer repeatedly.
Great video. I'm amazed how few people have watched this given how much useful information is in it. It certainly dispels the myth that the top pros use predominantly blade irons and is making me question the direction I was going in choosing my next irons. I would be interested to know where hollow backs fit into this analysis. I presume you've counted them under cavity backs, but would appreciate clarification.
Really glad you enjoyed the video Guy and many thanks for the comment. Yup you are right I included hollow backs into cavity backs. Must confess to being a bit of purest when it comes to what are real ‘blades’ and given hollow heads use an internal cavity to increase forgiveness without the need to make the club head the size of a large cavity back I didn’t think these qualified as blades. Even without that definite preference is clear amongst the top 100 for cavity backs so like you I'm re-thinking my choice of new irons this year! If you are interested in more detail also I’ve put the full detailed analysis at golfingfocus.com/what-irons-do-the-pros-use-top-100-pga-tour-player-guide-2021/.
Well, when there is livelihood on the line, players are gonna play what will help them score. People playing vanity golf, play clubs that look nice but they can't perform with them.
Great info that’s hard to find but have you thought about identifying the use of hollow in their main iron setup and hallow in the driving iron segment?
You’re absolutely right and sadly I’m still one of the not so smart people continuing to use blades. And I wonder why don’t hit my irons very well! Definite upgrade required this winter!
Is a a factor for sure Andy although know there used to be pros who used clubs made by one manufacturer but got them stamped with another who sponsored them.
@@GolfingFocus Example back in the 60's 70's and 80's pros would come to Australia and buy whatever PGF were making and then rebrand them with their club sponsor. Well that's the rumour anyway. 😀
@@floydianepic3259 I believe that for sure! Think for the modern top guys they are so valuable to the main manufacturers that their 'current' sponsor will make them whatever model of clubs they want whether they are in their current range of clubs or not.
We have a newer version of this video that's more up-to-date and more helpful ⬇
👉Watch it now: ua-cam.com/video/l078ZUICNTM/v-deo.html
Two independent but coincidental factors have come together that are dramatically changing players' bags - 1) Launch Monitors and 2) Strokes Gained - and the Statistics generated. As young players come on tour, those providing the equipment have a vested interest in their performance - this means bladed 3&4 irons at minimum are being replaced with better launching heads, and now at the short end, bladed PWs are even being replaced with cavity backed heads because closer proximity to the hole dramatically benefits putting statistics. There are even now players changing out 5 irons (which Pros will hit 200-230) because again, Strokes Gained has highlighted this critical area of importance for making cuts and finishing higher up the leaderboard. The hardest holes relative to Par are Par3s - and Pros will face at least 2 that are 205-230 each course, nevermind 500-yard Par 4s - and they need to be playing high, soft landing fades into these flags on fast greens or the ball will not hold - hell, DJ carries a 24-degree 9-wood so he can have a 240-carry soft landing club for exactly this reason. Great video.
Great points Paul and think even for amateurs these two factors can make a massive difference. Interestingly was listening to a podcast recently talking about why Woods and Nicklaus were the best in their respective eras and how both strokes gained and launch monitors have been able quantity what the two of them worked out for themselves. Now these 2 things are available to all of them however they are all of course chasing the same thing and making the same adjustments. Thanks again for the feedback and delighted you enjoyed the video.
@@GolfingFocus 100% correct. Nicklaus & Tiger understood that distance off the tee meant shorter irons into greens, but more importantly, all the Par 5s were easily reachable. Secondly, they could hit high fades from 200-235 into greens at Augusta on those Par 5s - and that's how they won. The hardest to hit & most important for your score is that 185-225 yard range - find the clubs that help you in this area.
I used muscle backs until a year ago when I purchased a blended set of Srixon ZX7 8-PW and ZX5 5-7 and I'm using hybrids to replace 3 and 4 irons. After 1 year, my greens in regulation have improved by 10%
Thanks for sharing Brian. I'm on a mission to refresh my bag this winter and think like you I need to be considering hybrids for the low irons. Hope it has the same effect also as you have had!
Very nice video. I have been playing this game for over 40 years and I have used my experience to build a mixed set of irons just like you pointed out. Blades in PW & 9-iron, Cavity back 8 to 6 iron, Hollow body 5 to 3 iron. It makes sense to use the different designs to your advantage.
Many thanks Craig and delighted you enjoyed the video. Interesting you’ve gone hollow body for the long irons and cavity for the mid. Is your mixed set all the same brand or a mix up?
@@GolfingFocus Yes I fell in love with Titleist T-MB irons when I had a 2-iron in that model. I kept adding irons until I stopped at the 5-iron in T-MB. It gives me a nice strong flight and maintains a nice gapping. I have Titleist CB irons 6-8 and Titleist MB 9 & PW. I play mostly links golf so this mix allows me to control trajectory and play partial shots comfortably. From address they all look very similar and feel very well made. I am a convert of this style of combination but does require testing to get it right. What set do you play yourself?
@@craig3775 I'm ashamed to say I've still got an old set of blades in my bag - Mizuno MP-32's. On a fitting journey now for a long overdue upgrade now I've finally accepted I'm not as good as I think I am! 😂
I just took my old maxfli cavity backs and installed cobra r flex graphite shafts that cost me 10 bucks a peice. Shot the best round ever first time out. They felt crisp instead of the old thud dynamic golds that were in them. So accurate it was amazing. I'm 71 and hit from the white tees so I can get on all par fours in two and fives in three so that's good enough for my game. My putting is where I lose most of my strokes. I can 2 putt a four footer repeatedly.
Great video. I'm amazed how few people have watched this given how much useful information is in it. It certainly dispels the myth that the top pros use predominantly blade irons and is making me question the direction I was going in choosing my next irons. I would be interested to know where hollow backs fit into this analysis. I presume you've counted them under cavity backs, but would appreciate clarification.
Really glad you enjoyed the video Guy and many thanks for the comment. Yup you are right I included hollow backs into cavity backs. Must confess to being a bit of purest when it comes to what are real ‘blades’ and given hollow heads use an internal cavity to increase forgiveness without the need to make the club head the size of a large cavity back I didn’t think these qualified as blades. Even without that definite preference is clear amongst the top 100 for cavity backs so like you I'm re-thinking my choice of new irons this year! If you are interested in more detail also I’ve put the full detailed analysis at golfingfocus.com/what-irons-do-the-pros-use-top-100-pga-tour-player-guide-2021/.
Well, when there is livelihood on the line, players are gonna play what will help them score. People playing vanity golf, play clubs that look nice but they can't perform with them.
Great info that’s hard to find but have you thought about identifying the use of hollow in their main iron setup and hallow in the driving iron segment?
I think the callaway apex pro rogue is hallow?
Great job 👏🏽
Thank you and delighted you enjoyed the video. 👍
Modern tour Cavity Backs V Blades.
More forgiving V Ego.
I know what I would choose.
You’re absolutely right and sadly I’m still one of the not so smart people continuing to use blades. And I wonder why don’t hit my irons very well! Definite upgrade required this winter!
Great stats! Very interesting.
Delighted you enjoyed it!
But what would they use if they werent paid ?
Is a a factor for sure Andy although know there used to be pros who used clubs made by one manufacturer but got them stamped with another who sponsored them.
@@GolfingFocus Example back in the 60's 70's and 80's pros would come to Australia and buy whatever PGF were making and then rebrand them with their club sponsor. Well that's the rumour anyway. 😀
@@floydianepic3259 I believe that for sure! Think for the modern top guys they are so valuable to the main manufacturers that their 'current' sponsor will make them whatever model of clubs they want whether they are in their current range of clubs or not.