I'm a 16 handicap. I went to get fitted a 3 different locations. All fitted me with the new Ping i210 power spec with a KBS 120g stiff shaft and I absolutely love them. I had the Titleist AP3 in mind when I turned up for fitting, but it was great to see that when you have an Idea of the clubs you want may not be the clubs for you. The Ping i210 look great and have a great soft feel to them. I'm looking forward to dropping my handicap with these new weapons. I play in Australia, and often find myself playing in the wind, so the power is perfect. Cheers
Good to see a mid handicap player doing the testing and obviously giving his feedback. Best clubs I've played this year is what I'm using now, moved from Nike vapour flys to callaway rogues. Handicap has dropped from 18 halfway through the season to 15.3 last week. So the clubs are definitely helping.
@@JamesRobinsonGolf I seen in one of your other videos that your going for a lesson to increase driver.....I have a sneaky suspension that its with rick
James tidy vid. Asked Mark on the front end of each club initial reaction to the look. Hit 6 shots and then went back to him on the feel portion and overall impression. Did a nice summary with Mark on all clubs at the end. Makes the vid so much easier to follow and to extract meaningful information. I also liked the selection of clubs that you have chosen. Nice interesting video. Thanks
I am very much leaning towards the i500 irons myself. I just fell in love with how gorgeous they look and I seemed to hit them pretty well. Everyone is raving about the mizunos though, may have to give them a go.
Great fun! Kudos to you and Mark. I understand Ping was the winner but I wish you had posted the averages of the 4 clubs together on one page. Next up would love to see Mark test and review some golf balls - premium as well as mid-priced. He has a nice swing and hits consistently well. I think his opinion/experience would be informative.
Had 714 ap2’s. Changed to JPX forged. Hated them. Went back to the new 718 ap2/ap3 split set. Love them. Handicap came down went back up and came down with the three sets
Mark has a great looking swing and looks like he would have no problem getting down to single figures, good honest review of the clubs, can you review wedges next please as the short game is the key to lowering scores. “Let’s do it, and let’s do it now”.
Tested most of these clubs. Opted for the Ping i210. Not so cranked up loft,as in most irons these day (loft is the golfers friend). Great soft feel and higher ball flight. Lost 8 yards per club compared to my old Callaway xhot pros. But that isn't a issue. Great videos James.
really enjoyed this James... well done mark , I play off 9 so seeing mark talk about feel, and weight was brilliant, exactly what you said like to see you both hit drivers , fairway clubs and wedges together and have both points of view, putters I think our very individual thing so in my case not needed ... well done James and mark that was Brilliant 👍👍👍👍👍
Has a great swing indeed and I say the extra practice will get him single figures in no time. Helps me to get an idea of what to upgrade to next year as a new player.
Great video. Marks a natural in front of the camera and the most consistent mid handicap player I’ve seen. Looking forward to him trying the tour style clubs. What about a video match to see if he can beat you with his 13 shots given.
I played for the first time, the XXIO forged irons with stiff graphite shafts. I fell in love with these irons, I am a 7 handicapper. The ball game off these irons like butter. I would recommend you try these irons.
Great video & great job Mark! Hitting on camera would make me nervous & right as hell! Hell, I dislike it & get tense when ppl are waiting for my spot at the range & just stand there staring. 😂. Clearly, just by the number of comments alone, you can tell this was a super popular video! Mid-handicapper testing is always super useful
Good practical test. Mark has the best 13 hcp swing i have seen. He will be single figures uf he has a straight drive and tidy short game. Nice guy too
James please test Mark with the Wilson FG V6 tours. Traditional lofts with plenty of distance and buttery soft. I’m a low single digit and for me the spin rates have be more in line. 4k and 5k spin rates in 7 iron is just to low. Need to get more in mid 6 range to get that ball to drop and stop on the green. All these new hollow design irons have a tendency to lack consistent distance. One out of 10 strikes comes out like rocket going 20 yards further than you want. No way to get a consistently handicap with that. My2c
Keep the good work! Just one advice to make this kind of tests, please lets us know the lofts of each club, one or two degrees can make the difference for the good results that one or two clubs made.
Great video I’m a left handed 15 handicapper but have always played more of a players iron because I have never been able to get used to looking at the thick top line of the more forgiving irons like the callaway and Ping irons. I play Mizuno JPX 900’s and am happy with them I try different irons but always keep a set of Mizunos and always go back to them but I really like the looks of the new Titleist AP3’s thanks for including a mid handicapper in your club reviews
2008 Victory Reds Forged I recently purchased used for $110 Canadian. Was using Adams previously but could never get them to stop on the green. The reds are fun to watch float above the green and stop (just have to get used to them being shorter distances than the Adams) . The feel of the Reds is fantastic. Mishits are short but not offline. (Fat/thin) Great swing Mark , hope you enjoy the part time golf gig :) in your retirement! Liked the vid James
I play AP2 and AP3s and have just been fitted with a ping G400 driver and love it. Now thinking about i500s!! Great tips re clubs. I took out of the shed my old Taylor made R7 last week and couldn’t hit it!! Proving your point that if you improve your clubs MAY change.
Would like to see Mark trying out some wedges. We're the same handicap (although I would definitely struggle to match his consistency) and a really good set of wedges are a priority for me next season. Great test though, not least because it has helped me identify what irons to test myself.
Great idea to include Mark into your testing regime and he has an impressive swing (though I would like to see him hold his follow through) (posing for the camera is always good)! Would like to see you include the new Srixon Z Irons in your (Player Iron) tests, I think that they are stunning looking Irons at an incredible Price point!
Loving your content James.. I play off the same handicap as Mark and weirdly took the exact same list of clubs in a bay to try before a fitting,but with one addition... The Ping I210.. After trying them all only the Ping and the AP3 went to the fitting stage and I now own a set of shiny I210's... Won't be long before Mark gets his handicap chipped with a nice swing like that ;-)
I have had the same irons for a number of seasons now Taylormade R9. They are muscle backs in the longer irons. Great test by Mark I think he should test the next range up towards the better player irons.
Great review on clubs. That's the kind of video I could watch and think about going to look at those clubs(no offense James, I really do enjoy YOUR videos). Marks got a great looking swing and with time to work on it also helps and I am sure he will get to that single digit hdcp. I would like to see an "on course" review. Hitting off a mat is good for swing analysis, but you don't have the issue of hitting out of the rough or bunker or any of the other issues you might come across. I would like to see the other sets you would like him to hit and then have him pick out the best 2 and take a mix of them out on the course.
Really good video and good to get an insight from someone not as good as you definitely worth comparing the clubs against other handicaps james will be dropping a like!!
I currently hit the Ping G400 and prior to that G10's. In a recent fitting that included the Ping G410, Callaway Apex, Ping i500 irons and a few others, My best numbers came from the Mazuno JPX 919 Forged. It felt fantastic and seemed to have a good degree of forgiveness which is very important to me. It was close between the JPX 919 Hot Metal Pro and the Forged. I got slightly better numbers with the forged and I think they look better so that was the winner matched with a C-Taper Lite shaft. I was a 19 handicap jan 1 and I am down to a 15. I have never hit a club that felt as good as the Mazuno to be honest.
Peter Tamburro thinking of AP3. Currently playing JPX900 forged. Could I game them? Mind me asking what you off when you switched from AP1. I’m off 20 but coming down
I would love to see him hit the i210's. Currently play off 18 and loved them in testing compared to the i500's and p790's even though I wasn't hitting them as far, they were way more consistent numbers. Loving the videos keep it up.
I have just been fitted for the i500 from ping I have had ap2 & ping anser irons in the past. I have had them 4 days they are fantastic you can knock them down into the wind & play fades & draws, the long irons are very forgiving I am a 7/8 handicap hoping to get lower & I do think these i500 will help me get my handicap down lower with a little bit of shot game practice. I would recommend the i500 to Mark they are fantastic go for it get them in the bag my clubs are KBS TOUR 120 S SHAFTS NORMAL LOFTS
Ping i210 you should test with him. Although not forged, feels softer than the i500, and he could go powerloft which would keep ball flight lower and given him better distance, he definitely has a good enough swing for this club.
I think that once you get away from muscle back blades, iron designs start to help you, whether it’s perimeter weighting, hotter faces or larger club heads. I really think that the biggest factor is the shaft. The shaft weight, how and where it flexes. If you get that right, a lot of club heads will work for you.
Great video. Wedge test from 100 yards and in. Rough & bunkers, lofts and bounce would be good viewing. Best iron I've tried in 2018 - Wilson Staff C300 awesome clubs :-)
I do think I really like the idea of having a mid handicap golfer evaluate. I am looking for good hit numbers but just as important for me as a mid - high handicapper is forgiveness and how it performs on marginal hits.
Nice swing Mark. Well done you two, I find tests like this useful, much like Rob Potter's tests with Rick Shiels. 80% of club golfers will identify with this, imo. Many thanks James and Mark, enjoyed this 👍
I noticed there was a fair bit of front to back dispersion on all the sets. If I had a swing that good I'd be looking for clubs where my distances were consistent and the total distance was as close to the carry distance to help hold the green. If be surprised if Mark couldn't hit a 6I as well as he does the 7 so the odd 160 yarder creeping in is doing more damage than good. HIs last 3 shots with the mizuno, which he didn't seem to like too much were all 146 carries. That's the sort of consistency I'd be looking for.
Thanks to Titleist AP3 I have fallen in love with the game of golf again! I’m in my mid 40’s and I don’t see myself as a better player. I broke 90 last year but will probably not break 80. My swing speed is moderate and I hit the 7 iron around 130m/140y. I chose True Temper AMT Red Regular shaft because I like it’s lightness and high ball flight. Used to play TaylorMade’s game improvement irons like RSi 1 and Burner 2.0 but I learned to hate the strong lofts, heavy weights and clumpiness of a game improvement iron. With AP3 I can even launch the 4 iron from the turf without any difficulties. With TaylorMade I couldn’t even get decent shots with my 5 iron...
I play off a very streaky 10 HC but trying to make some quite big changes in the swing. Best iron I hit this year, by far, is the Mizuno 919 Tour. I know it is not aimed at me but I tried the 7i. It just feels amazing, so easy to hit although the small head size means I had to concentrate (probably a good thing!!), went slightly further than my M1 8i which has a similar loft. I think a 5i in the 919 Tour would scare me as it is so small, but I could possibly blend with 919 Forged (or drop a 5i for a weak hybrid)
Funny thing about Mark and myself. I am gaming the AP3 since this season and had the Ping i20 in my bag thus far. Have similar swing speed and distance as he. Still 13 Hcp 😒 (went up from 12 over the last two years) but future is promising. I have 20 years till retirement though 😩
One of the very best mid handicappers reviews on YT. Just maybe next time, off grass. Pls also do same with drivers. Overall rating of this vid.., a solid 9. Thx James 🇺🇸👍
I play P790 and find distance control very consistent on varying strikes. I agree with a previous comment that anyone except a fussy Cat 1 player can play these clubs? Not sure I understand the comment 'smaller head of the i500' ; when I tested them head looked huge. Well done on giving another perspective👍
Great video and like the format using another golfer to perform the actual test with you analysing. I think some of the comments are harsh as i can see why you label a mid handicapper iron test as that’s what the manufactures class them as! Next vid for me would be exactly the same format, using the same manufacturers but using their dare I say “lower handicapper” Irons. I.e AP2, 919 tour etc. Would give a good direct comparison...
When I first started to play I bought a half set of Wilson Sam Snead irons after a while I wanted to add the rest of the set but the model had changed to one's with "oversized heads" which were the in thing then. I hated them. When finances allowed I went to change them but didn't like the club's in my price range because of the oversized heads. Lo and behold (Christmas is Coming) I spied a set of Mizuno TP 2000 blades. My son suggested I would not be able to hit them as they were blades but the guy in the shop said give them a try and they were superb. So all this handicap range for clubs is a bit of a nonsense to me - if you like them and they work use them. When I retired and got to play more I bought some Taylormade Burners with graphite shafts but was never quite happy with them and eventually went back to Mizuno with MP64s( WITH A 22 HANDICAP??) brilliant. Now, aged 70+, I treated myself to a Mizuno fitting and the best clubs from that were MP25 with stiff shafts. So my advice is get a fitting and try any club you fancy never mind the handicap label. I still have the TP2000s and they are still great.
I know you are waiting to hear from Srixon but what is taking them so long with your channel growing like it is they should be glad for you to review them Z585 please when they get around to it. Thanks Ed
James, can we do an opposite test now. Would love to see if your mid-handicapper can game the tour’s from Mizuno and the new TM p-760. As you mentioned he might be leaning towards being a single digit aspirational player. If that’s the case and I’m sure all are wondering, if a mid-handicapper can handle more advanced irons. What’s are your thoughts my man?
James can you do a high handicapper/game improver irons video? As far as I'm aware, none of the UA-cam big hitters have ever done anything for the crap golfer/late in life starter. I for one would love a little guidance... cheers
Hi from Australia. We are coming into summer now, so I will be able to play 2-3 times a week, but have to start early to beat the heat. Interesting test as I am looking for a new set of irons, and coming off a 13 month layoff due to back surgery, am interested in those irons that add a little bit of 'zing' as I have lost about 2 clubs length since returning. My handicap has gone from 7s to 11 and any help will be great. Looking forward to future vlogs.
Disagree 100% with the title of this video. I’m a 1 handicap and I play the i500. I could game any one of those clubs. I think labeling clubs by a handicap is dangerous and unfair. Every golfer is unique and different. By labeling clubs by handicap it keeps golfers from keeping an open mind and testing EVERYTHING. I played the ap2’s for the last 8 years. I had an open mind when I tested the i500 and I found nothing but added forgiveness. I think if golfers were more open minded they would be very surprised with which clubs would choose them instead of them choosing the clubs.
Haha I love your videos man! Some of my favorites! You’re a way cool dude. I just feel players need to play what looks and feels best to them regardless of skill level.
Tyler Bone, agreed. I´m mid-high handicap and have no problem with irons playing full shots, and I use AP2s (5 & 6 irons) blended with blades (7-pw) playing off a mat is easy to strike pretty much any club well, it´s on course management/approach shots/short game/bunker play, or whatever you don´t practice enough of that keeps your handicap up. However, would love a set of AP3s if I had the spare cash! they´re gorgeous :P
I would like to see Mark hit with his current irons or the ones he just got fitted for against his top two choices out on the course. Congrats on the retirement Mark!
I game the mizuno mp-58. Older set of irons but amazing feel, switched from cobra cavity backs and my game had improved giving me confidence with a more bladed iron. Love the top line and more importantly. The feel! #nothingfeelslikeamizuno
Hi James great video. I’m in a similar situation to mark in the fact I’m mid handicap and aiming to be off single figures before the end of next season. ( not early retirement I’m afraid) I play with ping g400 but considering changing should I wait and buy the g500s or buy the g425 - i210 now ( always stick with ping as when spending that kind of money I feel confident with what I’m getting )
Not really apples to apples since the lofts and lengths are different. I really like the mid-hdcp feedback on the overall look and feel. Hate splitting hairs, but the i500 is 1.5 deg stronger and 1/2” longer than the 919 Forged.
As for the mid handicap testing. Great video. Excellent content. Would be nice to see the averages side by side. Are all the 7 irons the same loft? Spin rate seems very low to me. Is this strike or loft related? Total distance reflects this too. I prefer to hit a 7iron checks up more quickly. This is why I went for Mizuno irons which have more traditional lifts. Distance isn’t an issue for me but predictability if carry and control are. Forgiveness is also a bonus so long as the irons look inviting to hit at address.
I know the standard loft for the i500 is, I think, 31 or 31.5. The JPX Forged is 32. I think the others are right around 32. Mizuno now has a variety of lofts in the 919 line. From 34 in the Tour to 30 in the Hot Metal clubs. The idea is that high ball flight and descent angle in the lower lofts can combine with lower spin to increase distance but mitigate run out. Going to hit a bunch of Mizunos in a couple of weeks. We'll see.
Great to see a mid handicap player testing the clubs and giving a great honest review 👏👏,great looking swing,he must have a pretty good coach 🤔
I'm a 16 handicap. I went to get fitted a 3 different locations. All fitted me with the new Ping i210 power spec with a KBS 120g stiff shaft and I absolutely love them. I had the Titleist AP3 in mind when I turned up for fitting, but it was great to see that when you have an Idea of the clubs you want may not be the clubs for you. The Ping i210 look great and have a great soft feel to them. I'm looking forward to dropping my handicap with these new weapons. I play in Australia, and often find myself playing in the wind, so the power is perfect. Cheers
Nice work Brett! Good luck!
Good to see a mid handicap player doing the testing and obviously giving his feedback. Best clubs I've played this year is what I'm using now, moved from Nike vapour flys to callaway rogues. Handicap has dropped from 18 halfway through the season to 15.3 last week. So the clubs are definitely helping.
JAMES for a rookie You tuber your putting out a unbelievable product,you'll be hanging out with Mark and Rick in no time at all. Best of luck to you
Thanks John! Maybe they will get to hang out with me too! 😂🤙🏼⛳️🔥🎥
@@JamesRobinsonGolf I seen in one of your other videos that your going for a lesson to increase driver.....I have a sneaky suspension that its with rick
James tidy vid. Asked Mark on the front end of each club initial reaction to the look. Hit 6 shots and then went back to him on the feel portion and overall impression. Did a nice summary with Mark on all clubs at the end. Makes the vid so much easier to follow and to extract meaningful information. I also liked the selection of clubs that you have chosen. Nice interesting video. Thanks
I am very much leaning towards the i500 irons myself. I just fell in love with how gorgeous they look and I seemed to hit them pretty well. Everyone is raving about the mizunos though, may have to give them a go.
Great fun! Kudos to you and Mark. I understand Ping was the winner but I wish you had posted the averages of the 4 clubs together on one page. Next up would love to see Mark test and review some golf balls - premium as well as mid-priced. He has a nice swing and hits consistently well. I think his opinion/experience would be informative.
Had 714 ap2’s. Changed to JPX forged. Hated them. Went back to the new 718 ap2/ap3 split set. Love them. Handicap came down went back up and came down with the three sets
Mark has a great looking swing and looks like he would have no problem getting down to single figures, good honest review of the clubs, can you review wedges next please as the short game is the key to lowering scores. “Let’s do it, and let’s do it now”.
Awesome Stuart! Hahaha love it mate! Cheers I’ll take a look at that
Dude’s swing is buttery smooth and effortless 🏌🏼
Tested most of these clubs. Opted for the Ping i210. Not so cranked up loft,as in most irons these day (loft is the golfers friend). Great soft feel and higher ball flight. Lost 8 yards per club compared to my old Callaway xhot pros. But that isn't a issue.
Great videos James.
really enjoyed this James... well done mark , I play off 9 so seeing mark talk about feel, and weight was brilliant, exactly what you said like to see you both hit drivers , fairway clubs and wedges together and have both points of view, putters I think our very individual thing so in my case not needed ... well done James and mark that was Brilliant 👍👍👍👍👍
Has a great swing indeed and I say the extra practice will get him single figures in no time. Helps me to get an idea of what to upgrade to next year as a new player.
Great video. Marks a natural in front of the camera and the most consistent mid handicap player I’ve seen. Looking forward to him trying the tour style clubs. What about a video match to see if he can beat you with his 13 shots given.
Loved the drone camera view of marks swing.
I played for the first time, the XXIO forged irons with stiff graphite shafts. I fell in love with these irons, I am a 7 handicapper. The ball game off these irons like butter. I would recommend you try these irons.
Great video & great job Mark! Hitting on camera would make me nervous & right as hell! Hell, I dislike it & get tense when ppl are waiting for my spot at the range & just stand there staring. 😂. Clearly, just by the number of comments alone, you can tell this was a super popular video! Mid-handicapper testing is always super useful
Great swing for a mid handicap golfer. Just starting out and this is a helpful review for my first proper set
Good practical test. Mark has the best 13 hcp swing i have seen. He will be single figures uf he has a straight drive and tidy short game. Nice guy too
James please test Mark with the Wilson FG V6 tours. Traditional lofts with plenty of distance and buttery soft. I’m a low single digit and for me the spin rates have be more in line. 4k and 5k spin rates in 7 iron is just to low. Need to get more in mid 6 range to get that ball to drop and stop on the green. All these new hollow design irons have a tendency to lack consistent distance. One out of 10 strikes comes out like rocket going 20 yards further than you want. No way to get a consistently handicap with that. My2c
Great information, making me think twice on the irons I just ordered and waiting on. I’m thinking you need to do this for the women golfers as well
Great idea mate
High handicapper golfer same test would be great. You have really brought out some great videos this year pal.
Keep the good work!
Just one advice to make this kind of tests, please lets us know the lofts of each club, one or two degrees can make the difference for the good results that one or two clubs made.
Just ordered PXG players irons and they’re gorgeous! 919 forged and P790 are good too.
Awesome Andy!!!!? Enjoy mate
Great video I’m a left handed 15 handicapper but have always played more of a players iron because I have never been able to get used to looking at the thick top line of the more forgiving irons like the callaway and Ping irons. I play Mizuno JPX 900’s and am happy with them I try different irons but always keep a set of Mizunos and always go back to them but I really like the looks of the new Titleist AP3’s thanks for including a mid handicapper in your club reviews
Great vid. I like the format. Getting a different opinion for us mere mortals works. Am being fitted for Mizunos next week. Can’t wait!
Enjoyed that James,, Mark did great, good feedback😊, will be interested to see how he gets on with the perceived lower handicap irons😊
Cobra forged tech! Love the feel. And they look awesome in black!
2008 Victory Reds Forged I recently purchased used for $110 Canadian. Was using Adams previously but could never get them to stop on the green.
The reds are fun to watch float above the green and stop (just have to get used to them being shorter distances than the Adams) . The feel of the Reds is fantastic. Mishits are short but not offline. (Fat/thin)
Great swing Mark , hope you enjoy the part time golf gig :) in your retirement!
Liked the vid James
I play AP2 and AP3s and have just been fitted with a ping G400 driver and love it. Now thinking about i500s!!
Great tips re clubs.
I took out of the shed my old Taylor made R7 last week and couldn’t hit it!! Proving your point that if you improve your clubs MAY change.
Would like to see Mark trying out some wedges. We're the same handicap (although I would definitely struggle to match his consistency) and a really good set of wedges are a priority for me next season. Great test though, not least because it has helped me identify what irons to test myself.
Great idea to include Mark into your testing regime and he has an impressive swing (though I would like to see him hold his follow through) (posing for the camera is always good)!
Would like to see you include the new Srixon Z Irons in your (Player Iron) tests, I think that they are stunning looking Irons at an incredible Price point!
Loving your content James.. I play off the same handicap as Mark and weirdly took the exact same list of clubs in a bay to try before a fitting,but with one addition... The Ping I210.. After trying them all only the Ping and the AP3 went to the fitting stage and I now own a set of shiny I210's... Won't be long before Mark gets his handicap chipped with a nice swing like that ;-)
Great vlog that James , he is a good mid handicap golfer the way he hits those clubs , great testing tho
I have had the same irons for a number of seasons now Taylormade R9. They are muscle backs in the longer irons. Great test by Mark I think he should test the next range up towards the better player irons.
Jpx 900 hot metal is the one that is best for me. Playing my best golf and having fun. My first Mizunos and loving them.
Great review on clubs. That's the kind of video I could watch and think about going to look at those clubs(no offense James, I really do enjoy YOUR videos). Marks got a great looking swing and with time to work on it also helps and I am sure he will get to that single digit hdcp. I would like to see an "on course" review. Hitting off a mat is good for swing analysis, but you don't have the issue of hitting out of the rough or bunker or any of the other issues you might come across. I would like to see the other sets you would like him to hit and then have him pick out the best 2 and take a mix of them out on the course.
Really good video and good to get an insight from someone not as good as you definitely worth comparing the clubs against other handicaps james will be dropping a like!!
Great vid. Wonderful swing for a guy with a “13 handicap.” Wish you had included the Srixon Z585. Great work!
Purchased ping G400 irons in April, have helped me improve from 22 to 18, roll on next year
Excellent review very honest and all clubs are not for everyone! I would like to see him try the Srixon Z585 irons
This guy must 4 put on every green cause his swing looks good
😂😂😂😂
I currently hit the Ping G400 and prior to that G10's. In a recent fitting that included the Ping G410, Callaway Apex, Ping i500 irons and a few others, My best numbers came from the Mazuno JPX 919 Forged. It felt fantastic and seemed to have a good degree of forgiveness which is very important to me. It was close between the JPX 919 Hot Metal Pro and the Forged. I got slightly better numbers with the forged and I think they look better so that was the winner matched with a C-Taper Lite shaft. I was a 19 handicap jan 1 and I am down to a 15. I have never hit a club that felt as good as the Mazuno to be honest.
Nice video James and Mark... swing looking great and some great comments. looking forward to winter league together 💪🏻
I was recently fitted for the AP3. Love them. Coming from AP1
Peter Tamburro thinking of AP3. Currently playing JPX900 forged. Could I game them? Mind me asking what you off when you switched from AP1. I’m off 20 but coming down
My favorite irons I have hit this year are the Srixon Z765. Definitely need to try the 785s to see how they compare.
I would love to see him hit the i210's. Currently play off 18 and loved them in testing compared to the i500's and p790's even though I wasn't hitting them as far, they were way more consistent numbers. Loving the videos keep it up.
Great video James. And well done to Mark he hit some great numbers. Get Mark hitting some blades please
Like the club testing great channel, how about tips for playing better winter golf ⛳️
Leave it with me Shaun!
I have just been fitted for the i500 from ping I have had ap2 & ping anser irons in the past. I have had them 4 days they are fantastic you can knock them down into the wind & play fades & draws, the long irons are very forgiving I am a 7/8 handicap hoping to get lower & I do think these i500 will help me get my handicap down lower with a little bit of shot game practice. I would recommend the i500 to Mark they are fantastic go for it get them in the bag my clubs are KBS TOUR 120 S SHAFTS NORMAL LOFTS
Nice looking fellow this Mark. Great team.
Ping i210 you should test with him. Although not forged, feels softer than the i500, and he could go powerloft which would keep ball flight lower and given him better distance, he definitely has a good enough swing for this club.
I AGREE THEY ARE SUPER CLUBS BUT NOT AS FORGIVING AS THE i500
Another great video James 👍
Great 13 handicap golf swing, you can see Mark getting to single figure with out a bother
Thanks Gerard! Me too!
I think that once you get away from muscle back blades, iron designs start to help you, whether it’s perimeter weighting, hotter faces or larger club heads. I really think that the biggest factor is the shaft. The shaft weight, how and where it flexes. If you get that right, a lot of club heads will work for you.
Great job James! Yea I’m thinking the ping i210s, ap2s or p760s may be better for him.
Good piece , no way Mark is gona stay a 13 handicaper !!! Look forward to a high handicap (like my self 🤗) tester 👍
I play the overlooked and underrated Wilson Staff V6 Tour irons with DG AMT S300 shafts.
P790, fell in love and just bought me a set last week!
Mark well done mate lovely swing be a single figure soon with that swing as well.... nice rest id take the ap3 or pings best looking to me 👍👍
Great video. Wedge test from 100 yards and in. Rough & bunkers, lofts and bounce would be good viewing.
Best iron I've tried in 2018 - Wilson Staff C300 awesome clubs :-)
Maltby Sti OS irons from the Golfworks her in the states. Awesome GI club for the mid to high handicapper!
I do think I really like the idea of having a mid handicap golfer evaluate. I am looking for good hit numbers but just as important for me as a mid - high handicapper is forgiveness and how it performs on marginal hits.
Nice swing Mark. Well done you two, I find tests like this useful, much like Rob Potter's tests with Rick Shiels. 80% of club golfers will identify with this, imo. Many thanks James and Mark, enjoyed this 👍
I noticed there was a fair bit of front to back dispersion on all the sets. If I had a swing that good I'd be looking for clubs where my distances were consistent and the total distance was as close to the carry distance to help hold the green. If be surprised if Mark couldn't hit a 6I as well as he does the 7 so the odd 160 yarder creeping in is doing more damage than good. HIs last 3 shots with the mizuno, which he didn't seem to like too much were all 146 carries. That's the sort of consistency I'd be looking for.
Thanks to Titleist AP3 I have fallen in love with the game of golf again!
I’m in my mid 40’s and I don’t see myself as a better player. I broke 90 last year but will probably not break 80.
My swing speed is moderate and I hit the 7 iron around 130m/140y. I chose True Temper AMT Red Regular shaft because I like it’s lightness and high ball flight. Used to play TaylorMade’s game improvement irons like RSi 1 and Burner 2.0 but I learned to hate the strong lofts, heavy weights and clumpiness of a game improvement iron. With AP3 I can even launch the 4 iron from the turf without any difficulties. With TaylorMade I couldn’t even get decent shots with my 5 iron...
I play off a very streaky 10 HC but trying to make some quite big changes in the swing.
Best iron I hit this year, by far, is the Mizuno 919 Tour. I know it is not aimed at me but I tried the 7i. It just feels amazing, so easy to hit although the small head size means I had to concentrate (probably a good thing!!), went slightly further than my M1 8i which has a similar loft. I think a 5i in the 919 Tour would scare me as it is so small, but I could possibly blend with 919 Forged (or drop a 5i for a weak hybrid)
I tried 3 of those clubs and ended up with the Rogue Pro. Picked up 5-PW. Mizuno was my second pick. I also felt like the Mizuno felt light.
Funny thing about Mark and myself. I am gaming the AP3 since this season and had the Ping i20 in my bag thus far. Have similar swing speed and distance as he. Still 13 Hcp 😒 (went up from 12 over the last two years) but future is promising. I have 20 years till retirement though 😩
One of the very best mid handicappers reviews on YT.
Just maybe next time, off grass. Pls also do same with drivers. Overall rating of this vid.., a solid 9. Thx James 🇺🇸👍
I play P790 and find distance control very consistent on varying strikes. I agree with a previous comment that anyone except a fussy Cat 1 player can play these clubs? Not sure I understand the comment 'smaller head of the i500' ; when I tested them head looked huge. Well done on giving another perspective👍
Great content James. Love the channel.
Great video and like the format using another golfer to perform the actual test with you analysing. I think some of the comments are harsh as i can see why you label a mid handicapper iron test as that’s what the manufactures class them as! Next vid for me would be exactly the same format, using the same manufacturers but using their dare I say “lower handicapper” Irons. I.e AP2, 919 tour etc. Would give a good direct comparison...
Good video James. Think would be better if you normalised the n7mbers to take out effect of wind, cold etc
When I first started to play I bought a half set of Wilson Sam Snead irons after a while I wanted to add the rest of the set but the model had changed to one's with "oversized heads" which were the in thing then. I hated them. When finances allowed I went to change them but didn't like the club's in my price range because of the oversized heads. Lo and behold (Christmas is Coming) I spied a set of Mizuno TP 2000 blades. My son suggested I would not be able to hit them as they were blades but the guy in the shop said give them a try and they were superb. So all this handicap range for clubs is a bit of a nonsense to me - if you like them and they work use them. When I retired and got to play more I bought some Taylormade Burners with graphite shafts but was never quite happy with them and eventually went back to Mizuno with MP64s( WITH A 22 HANDICAP??) brilliant. Now, aged 70+, I treated myself to a Mizuno fitting and the best clubs from that were MP25 with stiff shafts. So my advice is get a fitting and try any club you fancy never mind the handicap label. I still have the TP2000s and they are still great.
I know you are waiting to hear from Srixon but what is taking them so long with your channel growing like it is they should be glad for you to review them Z585 please when they get around to it. Thanks Ed
James, can we do an opposite test now. Would love to see if your mid-handicapper can game the tour’s from Mizuno and the new TM p-760. As you mentioned he might be leaning towards being a single digit aspirational player. If that’s the case and I’m sure all are wondering, if a mid-handicapper can handle more advanced irons. What’s are your thoughts my man?
Good video , really enjoyed marks feedback
Nice one Mark. Swing looking single figure handicap bound.
James can you do a high handicapper/game improver irons video? As far as I'm aware, none of the UA-cam big hitters have ever done anything for the crap golfer/late in life starter. I for one would love a little guidance... cheers
Great review.great swing mark😊
Hi from Australia. We are coming into summer now, so I will be able to play 2-3 times a week, but have to start early to beat the heat. Interesting test as I am looking for a new set of irons, and coming off a 13 month layoff due to back surgery, am interested in those irons that add a little bit of 'zing' as I have lost about 2 clubs length since returning. My handicap has gone from 7s to 11 and any help will be great. Looking forward to future vlogs.
Try the Ping i500 they are unbelievable they will help you with your distance & are super forgiving
Great video I still play the ping i25s but looking to change in 2019
Can u please do more iron test and golf game content for higher handicap golfers? Thank you!
Disagree 100% with the title of this video. I’m a 1 handicap and I play the i500. I could game any one of those clubs. I think labeling clubs by a handicap is dangerous and unfair. Every golfer is unique and different. By labeling clubs by handicap it keeps golfers from keeping an open mind and testing EVERYTHING. I played the ap2’s for the last 8 years. I had an open mind when I tested the i500 and I found nothing but added forgiveness. I think if golfers were more open minded they would be very surprised with which clubs would choose them instead of them choosing the clubs.
Good for you Tyler! How’d you find it apart from the title
Haha I love your videos man! Some of my favorites! You’re a way cool dude. I just feel players need to play what looks and feels best to them regardless of skill level.
Tyler Bone couldn’t agree more with you mate to be fair. I did a video last night challenging the conceptions of named clubs... you’ll like it :)
Tyler Bone, agreed. I´m mid-high handicap and have no problem with irons playing full shots, and I use AP2s (5 & 6 irons) blended with blades (7-pw) playing off a mat is easy to strike pretty much any club well, it´s on course management/approach shots/short game/bunker play, or whatever you don´t practice enough of that keeps your handicap up. However, would love a set of AP3s if I had the spare cash! they´re gorgeous :P
I can't agree more -- I'm 15 and shoot low 70 from the back tees and still use ap2 forged
I would like to see Mark hit with his current irons or the ones he just got fitted for against his top two choices out on the course. Congrats on the retirement Mark!
In relation to my last post what is a mid handicapper to me it is 23 great vid keep up the good work
Very well done. Go through the bag
Would like to see i210, i500 and AP 2 and 3 compared. Esp for distance control and dispersion
12 handicap, I'll take the Callaway Rogue Irons. Can't get enough forgiveness for me!
I game the mizuno mp-58. Older set of irons but amazing feel, switched from cobra cavity backs and my game had improved giving me confidence with a more bladed iron. Love the top line and more importantly. The feel! #nothingfeelslikeamizuno
Great video. I just ordered srixon 765 105g accra graphite shafts have you tried them.. 😃😃😃
Hi James great video. I’m in a similar situation to mark in the fact I’m mid handicap and aiming to be off single figures before the end of next season. ( not early retirement I’m afraid) I play with ping g400 but considering changing should I wait and buy the g500s or buy the g425 - i210 now ( always stick with ping as when spending that kind of money I feel confident with what I’m getting )
I’m in a combo set at the moment, AP2 / AP3 and playing off 17. Tried every set in the shop and just couldn’t hit anything else like the set I’ve got
Not really apples to apples since the lofts and lengths are different. I really like the mid-hdcp feedback on the overall look and feel. Hate splitting hairs, but the i500 is 1.5 deg stronger and 1/2” longer than the 919 Forged.
7 iron loft: i500 (30.5), P790( 30.5), AP3 (31), JPX (34)
Have you put Mark behind the Cobra F8 One-Length irons, would like to see that James ??
If you need more spin from the Ping i500, get it with the retro lofts.
Mark won’t be off 13 very long with that swing. Really good vid James
Yes Marks swing doesnt look like at 13 handicap that will be coming down pretty quickly
Good content. Would like to see the ball flights.
Won't be long before Mark gets into single figures, great swing.
As for the mid handicap testing. Great video. Excellent content.
Would be nice to see the averages side by side.
Are all the 7 irons the same loft?
Spin rate seems very low to me. Is this strike or loft related?
Total distance reflects this too. I prefer to hit a 7iron checks up more quickly. This is why I went for Mizuno irons which have more traditional lifts. Distance isn’t an issue for me but predictability if carry and control are. Forgiveness is also a bonus so long as the irons look inviting to hit at address.
I know the standard loft for the i500 is, I think, 31 or 31.5. The JPX Forged is 32. I think the others are right around 32. Mizuno now has a variety of lofts in the 919 line. From 34 in the Tour to 30 in the Hot Metal clubs. The idea is that high ball flight and descent angle in the lower lofts can combine with lower spin to increase distance but mitigate run out. Going to hit a bunch of Mizunos in a couple of weeks. We'll see.