Here's my situation, any advice is welcome.

I currently play some Callaway X18's which are about 7 years old now. I bought them when I was a 20+ handicap and didn't play much, but now I play much more often and have been hovering in the 12-13 range, and I would really like to get into the single-digits. Seems like it's time for a new set, right?

I've been looking around, and naturally I have gravitated towards Ping and Callaway. The new Ping i25's seem like my most likely choice. I have played with my buddy's i20's and really liked them. The i25's are a bit of a player's iron, but from what I've heard, there seems to be no reason that a mid-capper couldn't play them well. Also, the forged Callaway Apex's seem like a really special, but forgiving club that I would love to try out. Anyone have thoughts on these, or other sets?

Last comes the dilemma of being fitted. I've been told by various people that being fitted is 100% worth it. Seems nice, but I'm skeptical because even though my game is really improving, I still don't feel like my swing is super consistent. Maybe I'm just over-critical of my own game, but I don't want to show up to be fit and not give the pro anything to work with.

Again, any and all advice is appreciated.

[This message has been edited by The Muskrat (edited 4/1/2014 12:37p).]

My feeling has been similar to yours in that why should I get fitted if I have yet to develop a fundamentally sound, repeatable swing? If for instance I had an over the top move I'm trying to cure, would I be swinging OTT at the fitting and thus be fitted for a lie that accomodates that move? I don't know, thus I would definitely get a second, third and fourth opinion, preferably from a pro or expert you trust to give you a straight answer.

As for the clubs themselves, in your situation if you're trying to build a good swing I'd choose a club head that looks best to you at address and promotes the easiest takeaway...whether it's a player's iron or a game improvement club.

I also believe that too much emphasis is placed on forgiving club heads and not near enough on forgiving shafts. I think if you get the right shaft for your swing you can hit just about anything. Of course, doing that may require a fitting.

I was fitted for a set of i20's in December. IMO I wouldn't buy another set off the shelf, I love the way the new ones feel, but I was coming off the Lynx Black Cats that I swung in high school, which was 13 years ago.

You can adjust the lie angle much easier in forged clubs than cast. Might be something to consider if you feel like your swing is constantly changing.

I'd also recommend hitting clubs you may not think you'll like right off. When I was looking for new irons I was thinking I would get Callaway or Taylor Made (this was before I swore off Taylor Made forever) and after hitting two sets of Callaway, 3 sets of Taylor Made, Ping I20, Titleist AP1, Mizuno, and Cobra I had narrowed it down to Ping, Mizuno, and Cobra. I eventually ended up with Mizuno and couldnt be happier, but they were definitely not on the top of my list when I walked in.

Get fitted......period

Had some x-18's as well went and got fitted for my mizzys and I'll never by clubs without getting fitted again!

I know the cast clubs can be adjusted, but not as much and not as often

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I was fitted for a set of i20's in December. IMO I wouldn't buy another set off the shelf, I love the way the new ones feel, but I was coming off the Lynx Black Cats that I swung in high school, which was 13 years ago.

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I still have my Lynx Black Cats that I bought in the very early 80s. Every once in a while I'll go play a round with them. Truth is....I play almost as well with them as I do with my Cobra carbon cb blades. Almost.

I would highly recommend at least trying out some Mizunos. 88-90 is a very solid round for me and I love my MP-59's. Much more than my old Ping G10's. I hit them better and the feel and sound is amazing to me. I didn't get fitted, just bought a slightly used set that had been extended 1/2" and put new grips on them. Don't listen to people who say you will have a hard time hitting irons like these.

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You can adjust the lie angle much easier in forged clubs than cast

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Huh?

Any clubmaker worth their salt can adjust either sets in less than 30 minutes.

If you're talking about the not having hosel crinkles in a cast club not named PING, then that's a different story (cast PING wont crinkle).

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Cast clubs do tend to "rebound" back to their original casting after a year or so...unless you send them back to the manufacturer for a professional "heat bending"

Normal bending on a Maltbe machine will tend to rebound.

Get fit and let a good neutral fitter help ID clubs. A contributing factor to not having a consistent swing is compensating for poor fit - lie, shaft, length. All contribute to poor habits.

I am a 9 handicap and I just got the new Titleist AP1s. Wow. Awesome clubs. Forgiving , but still look and feel classic. Highly reccomend.