Ho'd me some new irons...

[chemboy2]

Okay, there was absolutely nothing wrong with my Mizuno MX-20 irons other than I had been playing them for two years. I was basically looking for change for the sake of change (a true ho, no?).

Anyway, my lessons have really improved my ball striking so I was looking for less offset as well as a combo set; I wanted MB short irons I didn't care if I had to piece a combo set together or if they came that way.

So I tried to keep an open mind but I was fairly decided on Bridgestone, KZG, or Mizuno. I looked at Miura's but they were just too damn expensive! The other night in the shop I was hitting 6 irons and decided to give a Nike Pro Combo Forged a try. I was actually quite impressed with the weight and feel of the club but the contrast shiny/flat striping in the cavity of the long and mid irons didn't appeal to me. I started looking up on the used rack and found the Pro Combo Tour irons that have a very spartan appearnce, just a black swoosh and that's it. Full CB for the 3 and 4 (these will look great in the garage), CB/MB hybrid in the 5-7, and full MB 8-PW.

So, they look great but how do they feel? The answer is they feel great! I did a little shopping around as I figured I could get a pretty damn good price since Nike is replacing this model. As it turns out, I found a great price on a brand (in plastic) set from a small local shop (paid less than what I paid for my used MX-20s two years ago). Like a true ho I jumped in with both feet! My Mizzeis fit me pretty well and the Nike's were about 1/4" shorter and a 1/2* upright but I figured I would get lie's checked and adjust if necessary. After two range sessions I found my striking to be solid and very consistant on every club but the 6 iron (I was kind of all over the place). Took them in last night and the 6 did need adjusting a whole degree upgright but now it is in line with the others.

These irons feel superb and the switch from the Dynalite Golds to the Dynamic Golds has brought my flight down (this is a good thing). The lofts are a degree weaker but I'm finding that I'm, at most, a half club shorter. I'm not too concerned as the contact and flight is more consistent so I can live with ~5 less yards per club.

I'll be playing my first round with them tomorrow so I'm anxious to see how they go on course. Photos will accompany the on course follow-up!

side note - this is crazy as I never thought I would be buying Nike clubs but, in a spand of less than two months, Nike has become the dominant brand in my bag. The best part is that my game is better because of it!

[warbirdlover]

Cool pick up. Hope they work out for you. Nike is making some great stuff now (less the SQ squared)...

[SplooGe]

My buddy got some for Xmas and loves them. Dropped 3 off his handicap in the ast month with them...Hopefully them workout as well for you...

[LyleG]

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by LyleG

I know, I know! I'll try to get some uploaded tonight!

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

Cool pick up. Hope they work out for you. Nike is making some great stuff now (less the SQ squared)...

I think it can be hit and miss (no pun intended). I've seen the new non-forged CCI demo iron where the plastic graphics glued in the cavity is falling off. This set was their co-flagship set for '06 along with the straight blades. I'm trusting that their top tier forged iron has better qc than their bottom price point cast club...

For the record, I'm still LOVIN' my SQ Tour!

Originally Posted by SplooGe

My buddy got some for Xmas and loves them. Dropped 3 off his handicap in the ast month with them...Hopefully them workout as well for you...

All signs point to a very prosperous relationship. After two range sessions where the 9 iron probably saw about a dozen balls, the face looked like I had only hit one (that's how tight the contact pattern was on it). The 7 and 8 were just about as tight. The PW was a little more spread but I was also trying a lot of different shot types because, at 47* (MX20 was 46*), I fear I may have some overlap with the 50* GW.

[MCDavis]

A 52º wedge would fit well between your PW and the Vokey.

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by MCDavis

A 52º wedge would fit well between your PW and the Vokey.

Funny, I sold my 52 in order to go to the 50/54 set-up. It looks like the overlap won't be an issue though and I still prefer full shots to partial swings so I'll stick with it to see how it goes. The top end of my bag is set so it's not like I'm looking to create space. With that being said, I'm looking to possibly replace the 19* Md...

[chemboy2]

Okay, I suck at taking photos but here goes...

this fuzzy little bastard is the PW (8-PW are MB)
PW Back - shottalk.JPG

The nice thin topline of the 9 iron...
9i address - shottalk.JPG

The 7 (5-7 are this CB/MB combo)
7i Back - shottalk.JPG

the 7 at address...
7i address - shottalk.JPG

[extremeVFT03]

nice pickup

[JamesR]

Nice Irons!!

[footballking732]

me gusta...

i have never seen a nike iron set that looks that good... thumbs up for the nice purchase...

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by chemboy2

Okay, I suck at taking photos but here goes...
http://www.shottalk.com/forum/attach...s-shottalk.jpg

I like the addition of the ballmark on the sweetspot. Wouldn't have been nearly as nice had it been on the toe or the hosel. You're about 2mm off center, maybe you should change your swing

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by footballking732

me gusta...

i have never seen a nike iron set that looks that good... thumbs up for the nice purchase...

These completely caught me by surprise as every other Nike iron I've seen has been pretty gaughty imho (sans blades).

[chemboy2]

Originally Posted by Pa Jayhawk

I like the addition of the ballmark on the sweetspot. Wouldn't have been nearly as nice had it been on the toe or the hosel. You're about 2mm off center, maybe you should change your swing

The 7 iron had a little dispersion in and around the center. While the 9 iron was ever so slightly off, that tight pattern that looks like two balls at the most was actually more like a dozen over two range sessions...