wirehair
Life's too short to drink cheap wine.
- Apr 29, 2005
- 2,489
- 3
I bit the bullet, and am making another pass at replacing my Titty 822OS irons. Previous attempts were Bridgestone GC's, Mizuno Mx25's and Titleist AP1's. This time it's a set of Wishon 870ti's with UST V2 shafts. Rory (Indacup) put these together and at something like $550 shipped, a pretty attractive price (but I gripped them with a set of Winn W5's that I was hoarding). I've been lusting after a set of Wishons for a while now, and decided to go for it as a combination retirement, birthday, Christmas present for myself.
Out of the box, these were pretty spiffy, Wishon irons are component irons, but don't think cheap knockoffs. The quality is immediately and obviously apparent and Tom Wishon doesn't make junk. The finish is cast brushed stainless with CNC milled titanium inserts, and the style of the irons in no way suggests anything that you could consider look-a-likes. These are over sized, sorta game improvement clubs. Wider sole, low weighted, high MOI clubs, but low offset and low bounce cut them out of the typical blob-on-stick pack. At address they present a thinnish topline that seems to disguise their weighting.
This morning was a cold, wet, nasty day that followed yesterdays cold wet nasty day with a little sleet and snow. Was I going to let a little cold mud hold me back when I had shiny new clubs to hit? Not a chance, I loaded them into my carry bag and set off to walk 18 in the mud. Lower bounce left me splashing around a bit until I got the message and flattened my swing some.
The lofts on these clubs are very old school. The PW is 48*, vice 45* for other current offerings and that took a bit of adjustment. I can't really comment on distance because of the weather and wet conditions, but I was about 105 out on one hole and automatically grabbed my PW, then remembered that the lofts were stronger so went back for a 9i. Good thing since I barely carried the water filled bunker to leave me about an 8 footer for bird (I, of course, missed the putt, but that's all me.) In general, distances were comparable to my old clubs. I have fallen in love with the A wedge (52*) from 50 yards - Mama I'm home. An oldish fellow like me will generally have plenty of situations where my second is a bit short, and that wedge was schweet at that distance. Gave me several one putt par opportunities (real make-able 8-10 foot putts). I likes it!
Another plus of the stronger lofts is that with a 52* gap wedge, I can go change my current 54/58 wedge setup to a higher bounce 56, and open a slot in my bag for either a 24* hybrid or a 60* lob wedge.
There are two shots I've got solidly in my bag, one is a low 5i cut (really a slice) from 150 yards that bends right to go around the tree I'm perpetually behind, and then runs up onto the green. The other is a 7i punch under the trees that runs about 120 yards. The 5i didn't cut (slice) as much as I'd intended. The 7i got up too high too fast and hit the lower branches. I'll need to either adapt, or stay away from the trees.
One of the problems I was hoping to cure is a big Thurmon Munson (dead yank) when I wind out too much. I thought the lower offset would help. On a short par 3 I tested this, and intentionally whipped my hips around too fast. Still yanked it left, but not as much and not as long, so some assist, but ...well you guys know how it goes, a bad swing is still a bad swing.
I need to say something abouit the shafts. I spec'd UST V2 shafts to Rory and we talked a bit about my distances, ball flight and my old shafts. When I got the clubs, they were stiff rather than R-flex which is what I'd assumed I needed. Rory assured me that stiff was what I needed - Rory was right, the stiff V2's in those Wishon heads give a lively punch to the ball, that was a pleasant surprise. It helps when you're working with someone who has a clue about things. I'm really looking forward to a warm 80 degree day when shafts and balls are more lively to really get some better feel about these things.
To boil away all the BS, these are probably going to be in the bag for a while. Methinks I've got what I need. Wirehair says :thumbs up:
Out of the box, these were pretty spiffy, Wishon irons are component irons, but don't think cheap knockoffs. The quality is immediately and obviously apparent and Tom Wishon doesn't make junk. The finish is cast brushed stainless with CNC milled titanium inserts, and the style of the irons in no way suggests anything that you could consider look-a-likes. These are over sized, sorta game improvement clubs. Wider sole, low weighted, high MOI clubs, but low offset and low bounce cut them out of the typical blob-on-stick pack. At address they present a thinnish topline that seems to disguise their weighting.
This morning was a cold, wet, nasty day that followed yesterdays cold wet nasty day with a little sleet and snow. Was I going to let a little cold mud hold me back when I had shiny new clubs to hit? Not a chance, I loaded them into my carry bag and set off to walk 18 in the mud. Lower bounce left me splashing around a bit until I got the message and flattened my swing some.
The lofts on these clubs are very old school. The PW is 48*, vice 45* for other current offerings and that took a bit of adjustment. I can't really comment on distance because of the weather and wet conditions, but I was about 105 out on one hole and automatically grabbed my PW, then remembered that the lofts were stronger so went back for a 9i. Good thing since I barely carried the water filled bunker to leave me about an 8 footer for bird (I, of course, missed the putt, but that's all me.) In general, distances were comparable to my old clubs. I have fallen in love with the A wedge (52*) from 50 yards - Mama I'm home. An oldish fellow like me will generally have plenty of situations where my second is a bit short, and that wedge was schweet at that distance. Gave me several one putt par opportunities (real make-able 8-10 foot putts). I likes it!
Another plus of the stronger lofts is that with a 52* gap wedge, I can go change my current 54/58 wedge setup to a higher bounce 56, and open a slot in my bag for either a 24* hybrid or a 60* lob wedge.
There are two shots I've got solidly in my bag, one is a low 5i cut (really a slice) from 150 yards that bends right to go around the tree I'm perpetually behind, and then runs up onto the green. The other is a 7i punch under the trees that runs about 120 yards. The 5i didn't cut (slice) as much as I'd intended. The 7i got up too high too fast and hit the lower branches. I'll need to either adapt, or stay away from the trees.
One of the problems I was hoping to cure is a big Thurmon Munson (dead yank) when I wind out too much. I thought the lower offset would help. On a short par 3 I tested this, and intentionally whipped my hips around too fast. Still yanked it left, but not as much and not as long, so some assist, but ...well you guys know how it goes, a bad swing is still a bad swing.
I need to say something abouit the shafts. I spec'd UST V2 shafts to Rory and we talked a bit about my distances, ball flight and my old shafts. When I got the clubs, they were stiff rather than R-flex which is what I'd assumed I needed. Rory assured me that stiff was what I needed - Rory was right, the stiff V2's in those Wishon heads give a lively punch to the ball, that was a pleasant surprise. It helps when you're working with someone who has a clue about things. I'm really looking forward to a warm 80 degree day when shafts and balls are more lively to really get some better feel about these things.
To boil away all the BS, these are probably going to be in the bag for a while. Methinks I've got what I need. Wirehair says :thumbs up:
Great choice! Now get rid of all those putters.
