Kevin, Assuming the clubs will bend that much, and I think they will, you can use any loft that works for you. However, I'm not sure you'll get what you're looking for here. You obviously hit a higher shot. Using 6.5 shafts you must hit it very hard as well. In addition to trajectory, spin makes even more difference in how the wind affects the ball. (You see how a flyer cuts through the wind and over the green because it has less spin). My guess is you're hitting a pretty spinny iron shot. If I were you, before I changed my lofts I'd get on a launch monitor and see if your shafts are the best for your swing. I love the project X shafts myself but right now I'm hitting TT Dyanmic Gold tours. They give me a high ball flight with less spin the lets me fly it long and land soft on hard greens. My wedges are less likely to spin too much. I'm guessing your wedges spin back a lot on soft greens and that can be hard to control. While you're getting fit, try the AP2 or the CB irons. They may give you a lower ball flight with your swing. But if you prefer to try the loft changes, I see no real problem with it. A lot of "game improvement" irons made by other manufacturers have the super strong lofts you suggest. In the case of these irons a lot of it is marketing so that a novice or an ad writer will see the ball going farther and think the club is better/longer. --Jerry

Hi,

Yes, I am clearly a high spin player. High trajectory, lots of back spin. 

First cause - my swing - which is not likely to change.

Second - my shafts? I don't think PX 6.5's are high spin shafts (from what I read), though there are certainly lower launch spin shafts out there (DG X100 or KBS C-taper). Just not sure these other shafts are different enough to warrant the change.

Third - the AP1 is meant to launch high and easy, with lots of back spin. Considering that's what the cavity and perimeter weighting are meant to do. It works!

Changing the lofts may not do it. I'd just try it, but since the AP1 is cast I can only change the loft so many times before I could damage the club. So, that's why I am asking around before I start bending...

Switching to the CB is probably the answer (my Vokeys have the perfect trajectory and spin for me, so that leads me to believe something more blade-like is the real answer). But, my AP1's are almost new so I'm reluctant to give up on them just yet...plus, I do love the incredibly forgiving feel at impact of the AP1 - nothing else quite like it...

Still love to hear more opinions before I throw my irons onto the bending machine...

 

 

Thanks!!

Kevin

I believe what you are trying to do is take out the design features of the club. I don't think you will be happy with the results.

You may have picked the AP1's because of hcp, according to what most people say that is a correct choice, it seems you have found out different.

From your problems, I'm guessing you have a good down and thru swing, "Game Improvement" Irons don't match that swing.

The number 1 game improvement feature is a low center of gravity, which helps you get the ball up, if you have a downward swing then the low cg is not a game improvement feature, you will hit the ball too high.

Don't think of irons as being for a particular hcp, but for a particular swing.

Matching the club to your swing will be the biggest game improvement iron you can get.

Hi Quintin,

You're correct - I did choose the AP1 because I am a 14 handicap and I thought the forgiveness of the clubs would make my life easier. I read the AP1 had little side spin, so I thought a straight shot would save my game. In fact, the high trajectory and inability to shape shots may be costing me strokes...

I'm a 14 only because of my erratic driving. I'm a true 280-300 driver, but I often get into trouble off the tee, and scrambling has always been my strength. Being able to vary my trajectory and shape my shots has generally saved me strokes. The AP1 is giving me a straight, high shot - it's no fault of theirs that I can't cash in on that. 

My thought I hadn't mentioned is that reducing the loft may also increase side-spin, so I can shape better. But, like lowering the trajectory, maybe I'm just asking the club to do something other than what it was designed for.

I'm off to the golf store to swing some AP2's and CB's tomorrow. I'll end up choosing which between the two which has the softest feel - I do love that forgiving feel of the AP1! Shaft may play a big part in that...

 

 

Thanks, Kevin

Hey Kevin

Let us know.

And be sure to test using your  shaft. If Project X is anything like Rifle then it would be a good shaft. I have always been a DG user, but if it was a cast head it had to have sensicore or else my elbows wouldn't last. Then I got these 990B's with Rifle 6.5, no sensicore, no elbow problems, more control, of course the control could be the head.

Hi,

Sadly, there is not a great selection of clubs I can test in our stores here on Maui.

I was able to hit the AP2 710 irons - with KBS Tour shafts (stiff). This confirmed what I already knew - I launch these shafts way too high with tons of backspin (5000+ every time). These shafts will do nothing to lower my trajectory.

However, it did give me the chance to at least feel an AP2 head at impact. Crisper, harder and less forgiving than my AP1's. But, I didn't seem to have any trouble making solid impact. 

No CB's to hit. Bummer! 

I did hit Project X 6.0 (in MP-62's) and S300 (in VR Pro Combo). Spin numbers were comparable (3800-4500, depending how I was swinging...I was getting a bit quick at times, always do in the store). I definitely preferred the Project X - they may not be lighter, but they certainly feel lighter and livelier than the S300. I am clearly a Project X until something better comes along.

So, the search continues for a set of CB's and/or AP2's to hit with better shafts. May take a while here on Maui...

Which means I am off to the custom club guy to try changing my AP1 lofts. I am starting off back at factory spec (I started there, but went weaker to stop balls on the greens better), then I'll strengthen there if I feel I can lower the trajectory without increasing roll-out to where it's detrimental. May prove a fun experiment...

I'll report back with progress...if anyone is interested...

Thanks!

Hi,

OK, verdict is in...

I strengthened all lofts to +1* more than factory spec (except 4 iron, which is now 21* or +2*). This is a 2* strengthening from where I was before.

Clearly a lower, longer trajectory - great improvement from before. Shots seem far less effected by wind. I was going to attribute this to the stronger lofts reducing sidespin, but that isn't correct (I'm sure the Titleist tech crew would agree), so it is just the lower boring trajectory showing less effect from the wind. Very big improvement!

I thought this would come at a cost - loss of backspin - but, if it has reduced backspin it's a small amount, at least for me and my high spin swing. I still stuck a 4 iron from 200+ yards on the green - 1 yard rollout only. Stuck an 8 iron - 2 inch rollout - from 160. 

More distance (gained 5+ yds per club). Lower trajectory. More accurate shots with less effect from windage. Still all the backspin needed to stick to the greens. No question that I highly recommend the stronger loft with the Project X 6.5 shaft for the AP1. Awesome!

That said, in my quest for the perfect shot, I ordered some CB 710's last week, too. What can I say - I'm a club 'ho'. Will report back on the difference once I've tested head-to-head. But, the CB better rock, because these AP1's are now the best club I've ever hit by a landslide...

 

 

Thanks, Kevin