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Many thanks Oliver. Much appreciated 👍

Agreed Justin and definitely interesting to discuss what you can take from these decisions. Looking at the changes since we last did this analysis a few years back and they definitely seem less willing to change irons than drivers especially. Also seen quotes from some players, even sponsored ones who won’t change unless the launch monitor numbers show them a clear benefits. As for the graphite shafts really wonder whether LPGA pros use of them will persuade more amateurs to use them.

I recall reading somewhere that it is PING

Have had a number of requests for this and looking to see what we can pull together 👍

That’s great. Delighted you’ve found a set of shafts that work well 👍

Many thanks for the feedback Ron. Is much appreciated 👍

I’m sure Fujikura are hopeful they can translate their dominance with wood shafts into irons but for the moment it seems True Temper have a big strangle hold on the iron shafts of the top pros. Nippon shafts definitely finding some favour too though albeit well behind True Temper.

It’s an interesting one. We’ve done videos in the past breaking the iron categories down more - blades, players irons, Players distance irons etc - but feedback was to keep the breakdown to cavity backs in it’s widest sense vs blades. Something we can look at again though for future editions 👍

Many thanks and delighted you found the video interesting. And yup the players tinker with varying amounts of tape wraps under the grip to create a size that matches their specific requirements. For some pros a midsize grip is too large for their liking but a standard size grip is too small. So they will add extra wraps of tape underneath in order to get that grip size absolutely spot on.

Many thanks. 👍

Many thanks Matt and delighted you enjoyed the video. Love the experimentation you've been doing to find the right set up and sounds like your iron distances are still well up there. Would take a 7-iron 155 carry distance myself any day 👍

I'm with you on the blades Bruce and can't give up my MP-32s myself even though I certainly should I suspect especially around the 4-iron, 5-iron mark. The sponsorship question is an interesting one and like you are many of our viewers who think there is nothing to be learned from any sponsored pro when it comes to clubs. I think there's no doubt it affects what they play but still think there's lots we can learn from all of their set ups particularly on the LPGA Tour. However for many there's no doubt its a big issue when it comes to potentially following what the top pros use.

Those are great yardages for sure and especially with the irons 👍 All the best playing your old course and would be great to hear how you got on!

I play Steelfiber, just an incredibly stable unfussy shaft for someone around LPGA tour average swing speeds

Upcoming video due on that very subject soon 👍

Recoil is the best graphite iron shaft in golf! Especially for their swing speeds!

For sure. Don't think the Tee it Forward campaign is having much of an impact unfortunately !

Yep. I see it every time I play golf.

The sponsorships one is a tricky one for sure and I agree that there's still loads to be learned from their set ups and choices despite this. Thinking of having an interview with an expert club fitter though to get their thoughts on the best aspects of a pros clubs regular players can learn from is that would be of interest? And delighted you enjoyed the club fitting 👍

Glad you enjoyed the video.

Thanks for the feedback. It is much appreciated. 👍

Nippon iron shafts certainly do seem to get well used across all the Tours. True Temper obviously dominate a bit more on the men’s tours but Nippon certainly seem to have a lot of pro users

Many thanks for the feedback and the issue of sponsorship is a really interesting one for sure when it comes to what us regular players can take from the clubs the pros play. Has been a recent GolfWrx article on what free agents are playing in the PGA Tour but not found anything comparable yet on the LPGA side. Will keep digging though. Also think there’s still lots to learn from their set ups even taking account of the sponsorship point. Wondering whether an interview with an expert club maker would be of value on this point specifically if it was of Interest?

I don't think any LPGA player in the top 100 spends money on clubs. At that level, you get whatever you ask for. Sponsors do skew the data but looking at all the players still playing Ping i210, I think there's a lot of freedom but also a lot social norming. That's just how women work biologically. Ping i210, Callaway Apex, Titleist T100, Srixon ZX7 are the most popular irons, NS Pro and Steelfiber are the most popular shafts.

I wonder how far down the ranks we need to go before reaching players that are primarily self-funded (college? High school? Haha!). Also, these days, I have swing speeds more like the LPGA than PGA players so I'm very interested in those players.

@@mdwags99 They don't exist. Vast majority of unsponsored college and grade school golfers are funded by parents. We need to stop with this pure individualism as a virtue nonsense. Individualism and authenticity culture have failed.

@@mdwags99 More videos coming up on the club types of the LPGA Tour pros 👍

Indeed. A lot of people suggesting they would be much higher or on top if there was no sponsorships involved but difficult to tell for sure of course.

Not connaissor… sponsored!

Mizuno doesn't sponsor near as many players as the other brands. I know that they are among the most popular clubs among unsponsored players on the PGA Tour, I'm not sure if that is true on the LPGA Tour as well, but I wouldn't be surprised.

@@Trivi10 I'm with you on Mizuno and I've still got my old set of MP-32s which I absolutely love. Not sure on the free agent point though on the PGA Tour. GolfWRX just did a recent survey on 14 free agents in the top 100 world rankings and only one was found to be using Mizuno irons.

Thanks for the feedback Mary and that’s v interesting regarding your bag set up. All this LPGA info is definitely making me re-think my bag also and question the top end especially. Bit of my ego tied up in their too I suspect which doesn’t help 😂

Many thanks Matthew. Much appreciated 👍

But what if your swing means a lot of dynamic loft is added on top of the static loft? Wouldn’t 12 degrees then mean you hit the ball far too high?!

Great stuff. Delighted you've found a set up that works well for you. You're missing a few clubs out there though aren't you? Do you have more hybrids in there beyond the 4?

there must be quite the gap between your 6 iron and your 4 hybrid

@@inflatablemooseadventures 6 iron (cobra radspeed one-length) with a game-improvement modern loft of about 24 degrees , 4 iron (mizuno fli hi) designed not to be a distance hybrid but simply a 4 iron replacement (similar spin characteristics). The gap isn’t consistent but I would estimate the average about a 20 yard gap. It’s reaching the top end of my bag so the next gap to 3 wood is about the same, and then between 3 wood and driver is about the same. It’s just how I’m delivering the club. The gaps between my irons are about 15 yards each.

Delighted you enjoyed it 👍

Many thanks. Delighted you enjoyed the video 👍 And best of luck with the hybrid testing further up the bag!

Absolutely agree and no doubt the change in the ball in the last 1990s / early 2000s was huge for the game. Suspect like me you remember the balata days which just wouldn’t allow the top players to hit it like they do now. Think you’re spot on also with your bag changes and more should be following you 👍

@@GolfingFocus Yes indeed mate - I played a balata ball -a few times. It was great to chip and putt - but with the driver I only hit the fairway 2-3 times. I loved how east it was to hit over a high tree - but I hated how much spin with driver. A fade became a big slice - but a draw became a hook and was way worse.

@@AussieBob999 And a bad shot let you with a ball with a big smile on its face! 😂

Interesting. You don’t think the Titleist sponsorship with them being the biggest means they’re played more than they otherwise would be?

Thanks for the feedback. Something we can consider for the future for sure 👍

Interesting. What’s the price differential? And how long ago did you switch?

@@GolfingFocus Identical price as Pro V. About a year now….

@@jamiesloan7259thanks for sharing. And what was it about the Pro V’s performance that you thought it needed a switch away from?

@@GolfingFocus A buddy of mine gave me a sleeve of the Staff Models to try, or I would have never switched, to be honest. As soon as I saw the distance difference, and watched one 2 hop, and stop, on a long chip, I was sold. My only complaint about the ball is the clicky sound.

It’s been a surprise for sure given Tiger’s success more pros haven’t tried using this ball. Maybe the money from Titleist is just too good?

It will be interesting for sure to see if there’s a lot of take up of this ball compared to the standard premium offerings out there.

Yup, it's a confusing one especially when you think of that Masters chip at the 16th in 2005. But Tiger's Nike balls were made by Bridgestone. Here's a clip we found of the man himself talking about it - twitter.com/MyGolfSpy/status/1087688553486864386

Yup lots of people saying the same thing Stephen. Do you think there’s anything to be learned from the pros set ups though even in spite of the endorsement deals?

@GolfingFocus sure that every club manufacturer can make anything with precise detail. The brand doesn't matter, it is the match of the golfer swing to the correct specification aka fitting.