[kneexyFreedly]

Haven't posted in a few days because business has intervened in my real pursuit of golf perfection.

I hope to get out to the driving range today and work on getting my swing plane and set up better for the new TM's. Having had time to cool down from my embarrassment at my last performance, I am ready to admit to myself that it is me more than the clubs. I am determined to learn how to hit them consistently because of the advantages they can give me. The additional length and the higher spin rate from the new faces can really give me an advantage once I learn to aim them properly.

The shots I do hit well land at the planned distance and check up quickly. That is a worthwhile weapon to have. I have made up my mind to keep at them until I master them period.

[kneexyFreedly]

JB wanted my feedback on the new Burner Irons I was fortunate enough to win. I thought a journal covering my first week or two of playing them and getting used to them might be illuminating.

Day One: I got the chance today to play my new clubs for the first time. I hadn't even made one practice swing with them. Circumstances drug me to the course just in time to tee off.

My first iron was a 9 from about 125. I hit it clean with a little draw since the hole was located on the right back of the green. This course has very small greens and I stuck the green. My partner was a lot closer than me and he said it bounced once and checked up.

I have to admit that I was a bit put off by the large size of the head and the thicker topline. I had some trouble getting my set up roght because of the progressive offset. I have played blades with almost no offset and very small, thin heads for at least 5 years.

My play with them was promising enough that I will play them again tomorrow. In the morning, I will have time enough to warm up. Hopefully, that will help me with my set up and alignment.

The feel of these clubs at impact is very solid. They have a very pleasing sound and the ball goes straight. They appear to be at least one club longer than my previous set. Being able to drop down a club had huge advantages today with the small greens on this course. It was easier to stick a more lofted iron.

I did notice that when I missed my set up and hit an unexpected draw, it really flew longer than I anticipated.

More learning tomorrow. I'll post again after my next experience.

[standaman]

C-Tech, I switched from Titleist 690MB's to Tour Burners early summer of '08. I had played blades for 20 years. Took a bit of getting used to, I think yours may have a bit more offset, but I'm telling you, at my age I'm not sure why I was torturing myself. It's just easier to hit the ball. Keep your thoughts coming, I like this idea for a thread.

Kevin

[Q0KmoR8K]

Good start C-T. Look forward to seeing your progress.

[quorceopporce]

Great idea CT. Helps everybody understand the switch and good luck to you. I look forward to reading more.

[TheBestCheapestOEM]

great thread

I'm considering a similar change from a forged combo set to the burners also

[Britiobby]

Great thread CT. I have a new set of Burner irons sitting here waiting on the snow to melt. Like you, I'm used to more of a blade style iron with very small heads and thiner top line. My old set had a small cavity, but still very different to hit.

This should be very insightful.

[elapicearpisp]

I know I'm looking forward to your thoughts. I've had my eye on these for awhile. Cool photos, they really shine.

[Grainiary]

C-Tech, I switched from Titleist 690MB's to Tour Burners early summer of '08. I had played blades for 20 years. Took a bit of getting used to, I think yours may have a bit more offset, but I'm telling you, at my age I'm not sure why I was torturing myself. It's just easier to hit the ball. Keep your thoughts coming, I like this idea for a thread.

Kevin

I had the opposite problem, Kevin. I've never had much success with GIs or SGIs so I recently purchased as set of player's irons. I hit the ball much better now (of course, maybe my swing is better). :-)

[Hmwmzian]

Great thread C-Tech, good luck with your new irons.

[kneexyFreedly]

2nd outing with the Burners.

I played a course today that I generally score well on. It fits my eye as they say. I have had two sub 80's rounds there in the last month.

I got a chance to warm up with a large bucket of balls. I know it is best not to "work" on anything while warming up, but I needed to figure out where to set up the clubhead with these irons. The warm up really helped. I managed an 83 today but it wasn't a problem with the irons, my driver went temporarily insane on the front nine and cost me a lot of strokes. If not for the burners, it might have been worse.

When I got a chance to hit from the fairway, I was able to hit the green. This is an improvement for me. Normally, I won't hit every green from a fairway lie. I am still having problems setting the clubhead in the proper place, but I am gaining a feel for them. I think this will take a few more rounds.

They still look like an anvil on a stick to me, but they sure do feel sweet at contact. I am definitely backing down one club with these. They are one club longer for sure. On the longest par 3, we had 205 to the center and I hit a 3-iron that I intended to cut into the pin. I overcooked the cut and missed left but it flew 10 yards past the pin. I probably could have hit a cut 4 or straight 5 and gotten on the green. That is longer!

On two of the other par 3's, I got closest to the pin by hitting one less club.

I wouldn't say I am struggling as much as I anticipated with the change. I still have a way to go, but both days I have progressed and I am getting more comfortable with their looks.

I am having a bit more trouble making clean contact from hardpan. Normally, I play pretty well from packed lies with my blades, but the more rounded sole on these tend to bounce the club. I think I can adjust my angle of attack and correct this. I need some practice time with them.

[quorceopporce]

This ongoing journal is truly awesome CT. I actually wish I kept one when I made my switch to see the peak and valleys that I went through. The hardest part for me was looking at setup, so it seems we are similar in that aspect. Once it clicks, I hope it gets you where you want to be.

Thanks for the entries, they are great.

[Britiobby]

Great job CT. The part about the anvil on a stick cracked me up and then worried me, what will I find, lol. But, the part about the rounded sole and bounce really has me wondering what I've done. I sure wish I could get away right now. A quick drive to my sisters in Texas would really be nice about now.

[standaman]

Great post, C-Tech. You're seeing exactly some of the same things I did. I have one thing I found after five or six rounds when I switched away from blades. I'm interested to see if you post an observation similar to it after a few more times with the Burners in your hands.

Kevin

[kneexyFreedly]

3rd Outing with the Burners.

I have to say I walked away disappointed today. I shot an 84 that should probably have been mid-70's. The irons really hurt me today. I just am having trouble setting up to get aimed correctly. I was hitting the driver better than I ever have, I missed one fairway, but I couldn't find a green. My short game and putter kept my score down.

I am not giving up on them, but the bounce on these clubs and the offset are really playing havoc with my mind. I am going to the driving range at noon tomorrow and work nothing but irons. Hopefully, I can figure out how to make these work. I walked away very frustrated this afternoon from one of my favorite courses.

[Q0KmoR8K]

One bad day out of three with brand new clubs isn't bad. Hope the issues work themselves out.

[Phighicle]

Thanks CT for an in depth breakdown of your expieriences with the new irons.I've had the same kind of problems with setup and aim when changing irons that have quite different offsets.Hopefully the break in woes will disappear because it's nice to be able to get a bump in distance like you describe.Hopefully the teething period is about over and you start getting better results.
Hey if you don't you'll be able to sell them for more than you have in them .
Anyway thanks for an informative thread.

[TheBestCheapestOEM]

thanks for the update

I've had similar issues with aim when using irons with signifigantly different offset

I would like to ask what your thoughts are on the PW situation with those irons, did you get 4-GW and have the new GW go about as far as your old PW? I'm wondering if the added length with these irons causes a distance gap in the range of your old PW

[kneexyFreedly]

thanks for the update

I've had similar issues with aim when using irons with signifigantly different offset

I would like to ask what your thoughts are on the PW situation with those irons, did you get 4-GW and have the new GW go about as far as your old PW? I'm wondering if the added length with these irons causes a distance gap in the range of your old PW

The set TM sent was 3-PW, but I have noticed that the clubs are about 1 longer. I get my old 9I distance with the PW. Also, the 9 and PW are easier for me to aim. The offset in the longer irons is where I am experiencing the most trouble with aim. Bounce is giving me more trouble in the short irons.

[Broker15015]

3rd Outing with the Burners.

I have to say I walked away disappointed today. I shot an 84 that should probably have been mid-70's. The irons really hurt me today. I just am having trouble setting up to get aimed correctly. I was hitting the driver better than I ever have, I missed one fairway, but I couldn't find a green. My short game and putter kept my score down.

I am not giving up on them, but the bounce on these clubs and the offset are really playing havoc with my mind. I am going to the driving range at noon tomorrow and work nothing but irons. Hopefully, I can figure out how to make these work. I walked away very frustrated this afternoon from one of my favorite courses.

My problem with the sgi and gi irons are those two things...that and I can't aim them to save my life; I cant' tell where the leading edge is going to hit or where the face is aimed...I wish I could; those that can say they're easier to hit; they just aren't for me...


Thanks for the journal...keep at it...I change my grips and it takes 3 rounds to get used to it...new irons even in a style that I was comfortable with would take at least 3 months and you know how much I play...good luck!