My perspective will be a bit focused, as I’ve recently acquired (on the indirect advice of Lee Westwood) a set of Ping i20 irons. I bid farewell to my Mizuno R32s (birth date around 2008) and a set of Ping i3s (birth date, around 2000) as well as various other sets. I settled on the Pings because my greatest success (at age 25, before children and career) came with a set of Pings (the immortal Eye2s) and I decided to revisit that possibility in my middle years.

Ping i 20 Iron

I might have opted for a Nike club (the VR series), a TaylorMade (RocketBladez) or a Titleist (AP1 or 2) and felt the same level of comfort and security. For me, it’s not the long drive that wins the day. I stand 5 feet 9 inches tall, am not  gifted with the same fast-twitch muscles as Jason Zuback or Jamie Sadlowski, and don’t expect to out drive a push mower, much less a 300-yarder. As I age through my 40s, into my 50s and 60s, I want to become a green-hitting machine. To attain this stature, I will need to drive the ball relatively well and that I can do. I can get it out there 250 each time, with a patient swing and square contact on the club face. I need to learn how to hit the irons properly, to get the ball to the dance floor in regulation.

I went to a trusted local pro for my fitting. What I learned surprised me. I learned that I can play regular shafts in my irons and stiff shafts in my hybrids and metals. My irons have metal shafts, which are naturally stiffer than composite. Since they are also shorter, they are stiffer. I’ve not yet had the opportunity to put in thrice-weekly practice sessions with the irons, but I plan to do so in 2013. I also plan to attempt to qualify for local and state amateur events, so as give myself a goal that will require some reach.

When I consider my bag of sticks, irons outnumber other types of clubs by a good margin. It makes sense that I should become most proficient at their employ if I want my game to improve.

Breaking It Down!

Contact Point: Any company website

Is It Worth The Money: I had to save up a few publication paychecks, but it should be worth it.

Would I Put It In Play: Obviously. You don’t purchase new irons and leave them in the trunk.