Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from Popeye64 who has been a blade player all his life but was seduced by distance irons which came at a price. Here’s what Popeye64 had to say on his experience switching to distance irons:

“I have been a career blade style player with pretty close to traditional lofts. I had some KBS 105s shafts in my MMBs, and I just didn’t like the combo. Maltby came out with the TS-2 irons, and I was definitely smitten with the clubs. Feel, ease of playing and wow…did they go far. I played a full season with them and had an excellent GIR last year but wasn’t so close to the hole.

GW was 120y. PW was 140 y, 9i was 158 yards… The issue was I was having to go less than full swing on a lot of holes or step on an iron to get it into a distance window. I am long enough off the tee that most of my second shots are inside 150.  So having a set of MMB heads laying around I shafted them up with some Paderson Ts shafts. Love them by the way. 

Putting them back in play and being traditionally lofted I now am at 58° 70 Y.. 54° 95 Y.. GW 105.. PW 120.. 9 135.. 8 150.  I have been bombing the flag again with the much tighter gaps with the irons. But I’m still using the TS-2 5 and 6 iron. But I am also using MMB 6 iron. There is a 4° gap between the 6 irons, and it’s a nice fit. 

So yes I was sucked in on the distance iron craze, but it wound up being a comprise in my game. How many of you guys have gone back to old school lofts?”

Here are a few posts from the thread in response to Popeye64, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

• PowderedToastMan: “I think there are flaws in old school and new lofts. Lofts with the longer clubs have always tended to be too close together. I think a 22 degree 4 iron and a 48 degree PW with equal gaps in between would be the perfect set of irons (set of 7) and a nice blend of traditional and current loft setups.”
• disco111: “Being a senior, actually a super senior, I have delved into the jacked lofts equation. What I have determined is that if you don’t have enough swing speed, the loft on the club is inconsequential.”
• MaxRylie222: “Playing my 4th year, I used to fall for distance irons, had the m4 irons hitting 7 iron around 170-180 but switched to ap2 718 this year and my love for distance goes out the window as the 718 has traditional loft, now hitting 7 irons around 150-155 and very happy.”
• FormerBigDaddy: “This is one of the reasons why I have a hard time giving up my Taylormade 2005 TP CB’s. Traditional lofts just make gapping so much easier for me: 48 degree PW and 22 degree 3 iron. The guy I play with has an older set of pings, and I think they play close to mine. He just ordered the new TW irons in the weaker lofts as well. I don’t think I’m losing much with my CB’s and I’m constantly lurking on eBay for replacement irons that are in good shape. Not looking to go stronger in lofts anytime soon. Couldn’t care less what iron I’m hitting around guys with distance irons when I’m smoking my driver 20 yds by them!”

Entire Thread: “What happened when distance irons seduced me…”