Single Length Irons

Bangoman

LOL!

Release

Hobbyist at best,
And I see your point there.

Not putting anything down, I have not seen one set of S.L. golf club anytime whether I was on the golf courses or at a driving range. Our region is one of the "booming" economic body in the Nation according to the official report and I Had not seen a single set of S.L. irons on the golf course nor at the driving range. No brick and mortar retail stores have it on the showroom floor either, at this point.

I sincerely wish the new idea takes off and GROW, we need stimulation in the industry. However, I remain skeptical if the idea will survive in the long run if nothing new to improve on the basic manipulation of head weight and trim the shaft with the same spec to fit.
They need to figure out a better fitting, involving the changing the weight and the character ( flex, flex point ) of the shafts used in the same set.

Ideally ( in theory ) is to have a set of shaft made just for the S.L., not the traditional trim and fit method. Each and every shaft in the set will be made for the individual iron so the shaft in the 7 iron would be totally different than the 9 iron except for the length. Weight, weight distribution, flex point all different..... it could be made from a combination of material to achieve the harmony of feel and acceptable result of ball trajectory and distance gap.

IMHO, this will be an entirely new frontier to be explored, With the aid of the artificial intelligence for design and the ability to manipulate composite material, it should be pushed forward as fast as time and resources allowed before the flame dies down.

ZWExton

Release

Why would you need a different shaft in every club if each head is made to feel and weigh the same? I imagine it'd be extremely simple instead - fit the target iron perfectly, then match the weight in other heads and get identical shafts for each of them. One lie angle, one head weight, one shaft flex.

What am I missing?

Release

ZWExton

It depend on your standard of measuring.
Some will say, fine it's good to go with the swing weight matched. Some will demand more refinement.
Tuttleman stated this is fine for the novice for a reason and I agree with him on the current offering.

Why would a fitting shaft be interesting in the S/L irons ? Why would someone put together a set of irons with same length with the manipulation of swing weight alone and in hope the majority of the golfers will accept the change ? Anyone had been playing golf will probably not able to accept the new feel. It's as different as changing a one swing plane to a 2 swing plane.
The assumption of novice will be more suited to this concept is probably because the novice were not conditioned to the "results" produced by the traditional set of irons because they had nothing to compare to. For a seasoned golfer , they are not just looking for distance gap with a set of irons. They are looking for the familiar ball flight and the results produced by the traditional set of irons. This can not be re-produced by just swing weight the set and the gap between the irons is yet to be seen if it works for most of the golfers throughout the set, not just the PW-8 irons. Then Stevo's concept of the "2 steps" may be a quick solution, making the PW-8 iron one length and the 7 iron-4 irons the other length
Got to go for now, this could be dragged on for ever.

Bangoman

ZWExton

You hit it right on the head. In the 2 Step theory of mine I would have the 9 thru Wedges at a standard wedge weight. You really don't want to over analyze it. That maybe good just to have that knowledge for yourself but as far as passing all this on to the consumer......WHY? Even if you think it"s all BS it keeps equipment fresh! You don't buy what you like....you.buy on what the public MAY like. All new equipment is on the if come anyway so if their interested..,,..Sell it to them and KISS!

ZWExton

Swing weight match is an imperfect match for a standard iron set, but for single length... Again, what am I missing? Each head weighs the same and is played at the same length. In this case, swing weight matching would be exact, no?

I just can't figure out why you're making it seem like you'd need a complex methodology for shifting each iron. Am I not understanding how these SL irons are supposed to work? Identical head weight in each iron played at the same length. One shaft, right?

ValueGolf

ZWExton

You're not missing anything.

And nothing against Release, but I haven't seen any single length irons at my course either. That is 100% irrelevant - because it's booming outside our individual bubbles. It's the hottest thing in golf right now, magazines, WRX, places like that can't stop talking about. This combined with the fact that it works results in sales.

Golf is craving something different that works and is USGA legal and this is it right now. Bryson being on the Tour full time this year will only increase that, especially since he's turning into a polarizing figure in the game. You either love him or hate him, this isn't a Lucas Glover or Webb Simpson type that puts everyone to sleep.

Release

ZWExton

You are not missing anything from the static numbers.

It is very different comparing to the traditional set of irons. Plus the golfers with slower swing speed will not be able to gap the lower lofted irons properly , just as in the traditional irons. Don't see any improvement beside for the golfer whom could not make solid contact to the golf balls. It fits those whom would love to leave the practice out and pick up the clubs anytime be decent about it. So I'll nickname the S/L irons the lazy man's golf club ( busy man's golf club )

If you don't understand why it is so different than the traditional set of irons or why it's not mushroomed up like some of the other golf equipment when they were introduced, I can't argue with numbers to back up. I'm saying I don;t even see this concept being used even as the ugly square headed driver when it came out.

Those in the business would know or at least understand unless they were in the business by accident.

It is a good concept, but it will not fly just like all the previous attempts, simply because the current offering is not innovative to be called different than all the previous ones.

I could very well be wrong, like I didn't like the 100% battery powered motor vehicles at current level. Don't believe it's a good alternative until we discovered a new way for fuel, in other words, the current lithium battery is not able to hold more energy and recharge at a reasonable rate and not 100% stable. On top of all these, it's not safe to dispose of it after it's lifespan is over. BUT, seemingly those $130K Tesla ( rated the worst initial quality by consumer report ) and other makes of the 100% electric vehicles were everywhere ( at least around here ). Practical ? no ! Expensive for what it is ? Yes ! It's selling regardless.

So, there is a segment of the current golf community will test drive the S/L irons, not certain how many will stay with it, because it's not the best thing since sliced bread so to speak.

An engineered to fit shaft, to get as close to what the golfers "expect"; promotes the longevity of this concept. It needs to be so because the concept is not duplicating the traditional result with just swing weight it with current method.

Need to get back to the kitchen to help now....

DC300

I agree with Steve in the two step idea. I may get off my azz and build a set this winter. I'm tempted to go with the Wishon design for the ease of weight manipulation. I would prefer to set 8-W to a traditional 9 iron and the 7-4 at 7 (maybe 8) iron specs, I feel like that gets me the ideal benefit of everything I want.

I think the Pinhawks are the nicest design at the reasonable price point, so I may just go there and tinker. Decisions decisions.

accufitgolf

As said earlier:

On a lark I tried a mixed set. My original 3-4-5 hybrids. My original 5-6-7 iron and 8 to AW single length. It worked out well. Had one minor issue in that I was then carrying 15 club so I dropped the 5 iron which worked out well for me.

Now 1-3-5 wood (mixed Cobra), 3-4-5 hybrid (old Cleveland), 6-7 standard iron (Adams New Idea), 8-AW single length (Diamond Tour) My SW is an old Ping Eye II and it always wins its way back into the bag.

UPDATE

I got bored today and decided to try something. I lengthened my Adams 8-9-PW-AW to the Adams 7 iron length. Swingweight will be a bit heavy but should make for an interesting experiment. I can alway undo them. I will give them a go in the next few days and report back.

sdandrea1

accufitgolf My SW is an old Ping Eye II and it always wins its way back into the bag.

Threadjack - best sand wedge ever made.

rsvman

sdandrea1 I'm gaming this thing, too. It's the only Ping club in my bag. But it's truly a magical sand wedge.

sdandrea1

rsvman

I have two. I have a modern replica that PING made a few years ago called a Gorge, and I have an original. The Gorge is 56* and has modern grooves, but the head casting is identical to the original. Magic poon.

kelco9

Bangoman Or you could call it "Simpleton Golf." Not because I think this is a good name (in fact, quite the opposite), but because this guy did something similar quite some time ago: http://www.simpletonsgolf.com. His website is as bad as his product name.

Typhoon

Talked to a buddy of mine today who works at "Golf Galaxysmith" and he said they have sold only one set of the new Cobra single length

sdandrea1

I saw/held a set of Cobra SL in our pro-shop today...................meh. They're pretty, but just meh.

Threadjack - our local shop in VA just picked up the PXG line. Those irons are fucking beautiful at address. A little busy looking in the cavity but OMG eye candy at address.