Acer XV Pro and Tour Blade
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DonM
Don,
I found a set of senior flex graphite shafts that I had forgotten about late last summer, so I went to a components
store at a nearby golf course and hit the XV/HT (high trajectory) vs. the XV Pro and XV Tours. At my age (74), I
couldn't do much with the XV Tours, and a little better with the XV Pros (I don't think they had a demo club with
the XV Standard, or I would have tried that), but the HT was as easy to hit as it gets! The offset is more with the
HT's and of course the sole is wider for a little friendlier weight distribution. Great look at address, IMO, and plenty of forgiveness. The trajectory is slightly higher, but not overly so.
I originally put 75 gram Apollo Shadow shafts in them, but during the COVID quarantine this spring,
I changed them to a 60 gram shaft, and have started hitting them even better than before. My last two rounds with them have been 77 and 78, hitting 8 and 11 greens in regulation. I think if I had it to do over again I would go with
just the standard Acer XV head for a slightly lower trajectory; and, at their price point, I may still build myself
another set, but I will demo them first!
IMO, you can't go wrong with the Acers, assuming you get the head/shaft combination right for your game. I'll
be interested to hear your results.
I played a set of the Pro in steel a few years back. Great heads. Nice compact look, good feel for cast. Short irons launch high, but not too high. I'd do a set in graphite if I wasn't addicted to forged heads.
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sdandrea1
You should look at the XV Tour Blade. Maybe try a 7 iron. I'm saying this without having seen any other than the gap wedge, and looking at the photos and specs. It seems to be a very friendly blade design, with a lot of weight in the toe. It feels very nice.
I should take my own advice and buy sample of each.
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scotts33
Well, yes. 
I'm re-committed to playing irons I've built myself. Not that I wouldn't like to play the PXGs or any other OEM if I thought they were right, or if I could rebuild them to my preferences.
My big thing lately is that I'm into weaker lofts. I think they help me. I'd rather my 37.5" club be 35 degrees than 24 or 28 degrees. The extra speed and extra flexing of the longer shaft both seem to help me a lot. I'm getting more launch and spin than I ever have. The XV line still has decently weak lofts, and I would bend them a degree or two weaker besides.
The other contender is the Maltby PTM. I don't mind the price because if I like the irons, they'll be fully amortized by the time I get done with them. But they are a 32 degree 7 iron, so somewhat marginal in my book.
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Don---Ask Rex where the store that has Swing Science is at in your area. Look at FC-One iron. 3.5* gaps which I am not in love with but I adjust loft. http://www.swingscience.net/products/irons/ " The use of “Vertical CG Weighting” makes long irons easier to get airborne while the ball flight gets progressively lower as you move into the short irons." <---That maybe what you are seeking.
And he's had decent clubs before as I had built other sets for him.
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DonM My big thing lately is that I'm into weaker lofts. I think they help me. I'd rather my 37.5" club be 35 degrees than 24 or 28 degrees.
Yep. It's been helping my game. I happened upon these Snake Eyes and Pursuit forgings and found that old school lofts are much better suited to my age and ability. High, soft landing shots. Plus, I built 'em! My 31 degree club is a hybrid, so I built the irons 7 to W and then 52 and 56 on the wedges. Old school.
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scotts33
Interestingly to me, those look super similar to the Jeff Sheets Golfsmith design that's been in my bag for the past many years.
I'm wanting to try a bit less offset while retaining GI properties, and a medium sole, some bounce, with a friendly leading edge. What can you tell me about the FC One Pro Forged?
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DonM Interestingly to me, those look super similar to the Jeff Sheets Golfsmith design that's been in my bag for the past many years.
They are a Jeff Sheets design Don. I play FC-One irons on FC-One Ion graphite 50g shafts. TLT Series #7 2660 kg-cm ^ 2 target number toe down MoI heft match.
DonM I'm wanting to try a bit less offset while retaining GI properties, and a medium sole, some bounce, with a friendly leading edge. What can you tell me about the FC One Pro Forged?
Smaller-medium players CB. Narrow sole pretty forgiving. The top line is slightly more than some forged heads.
Adding 3 pics of a FC-One 5i for Don.
That is a good looking stick. Does not look as if it has too much offset and the sole is not too wide.
They are so close to what I play now that I wouldn’t change for them.
As it is, I woke up this morning with another idea. 