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Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

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  • Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

    Link from GolfWRX this morning...

    There has been a LOT of discussion lately about single-length iron sets. So much, in fact, that as a club builder and fitter single-length irons have become a daily topic of conversation. Most of this buzz about single-length irons has been created by reigning U.S Amateur and NCAA Division I Individual champion Bryson DeChambeau, who has been […]


    Thoughts?

  • #2
    Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

    An excellent read from a man who really knows his technology.
    In the Hamilton Golf + CC Embroidered Ping Hoofer

    Club Champion Callaway AI Smoke 11*, Aldila Ascent 40 A Flex​​
    Srixon F45 4-wood, 17*, KuroKage 606 S
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    TXG Custom Cobra Tech 5-hybrid, KBS TGI 75 R

    TXG Custom PXG 0211 6-Pw, 1* up, Recoil ESX 460 R
    PXG 0211 GW, 50*, UST Recoil Dart R
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    • #3
      Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

      Thanks for sharing that Chris.

      My take is that single length clubs aren't worth the money to have built unless your swing speed is 120 mph.


      WIT SM C130 Cart Bag:
      TM SLDR 10.5*
      TM SLDR 3W & TM V-Steel 5W
      TM Rescue 22*
      4-PW Mix of Mizuno MX-25's and TM RBZ's
      Wedges: Titleist SM 53* & 56*
      Ping Ketch
      Ball: What's on sale?

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      • #4
        Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

        The real question is will they work for me ?,well they didn't for me lol.now let's talk wedges

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

          Originally posted by Leftygolfer30 View Post
          Thanks for sharing that Chris.

          My take is that single length clubs aren't worth the money to have built unless your swing speed is 120 mph.
          Wishon has strengthened the lofts to account for the swing speed / length differential which should put most player where they hit roughly the same distances.

          I can see a lot of value for certain players who truly cannot hit mid to long irons well.

          I will be offering the Wishon's from my shop and the length will be determined through my TLT Fitting methodology. Length still needs to be fit so you remain athletic relative to the target lie angle.
          Regards
          Dan

          True Length Technology TM
          Awarded 'Best New Fitting Idea - 2007 AGCP'
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          - Developer / Owner

          Maltby Clubmaking Academy
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          • #6
            Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

            There are a lot of pluses for SL set, exact same total club weight, exact same lie, exact same length , exact same stance , exact same ball position for every iron, same flex, swingweight , same feel for every club.......

            Versus 8 different club lengths, 8 different club weights, 8 different lie angles,
            8 different postures/stances with multiple different ball positions.

            It's easy to see which set should produce better consistency once adapted to from a lifetime of using a conventional set design.

            As Dan said adjustments to lofts , clubhead design and materials used in the face and have been made to accommodate for the calculated distance differentials in the Wishon set.

            For years Many golfers have been using the same length and lie angle for their 4 wedges (LW, sw, gw, PW) because it reduces variability. Some us us have also added the 9i to that so 5 clubs.

            While I haven't gone to SL n the 8,7,6,5 ( which happen to be the most inconsistent irons in my set) go figure, i have thought about a hybrid SL set.

            4 Wedges , 9 and 8 at 36 inches 7,6,5 at 37 inches, adjust the Lofts to get both gaps tight. Hopefully , I can build this set this summer and report back.
            Last edited by Weirfan; Mar 15, 2016, 08:40 PM.
            "Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened "

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

              Originally posted by Weirfan View Post
              There are a lot of pluses for SL set, exact same club weight, exact same lie, exact same length , exact same stance , exact same ball position for every iron, same feel for every club.......

              Versus 8 different club lengths, 8 different club weights, 8 different lie angles,
              8 different postures/stances with multiple different ball positions.

              It's easy to see which set should produce better consistency once adapted to from a lifetime of using a conventional set design.

              As Dan said adjustments to lofts , clubhead design and materials used in the face and have been made to accommodate for the calculated distance differentials in the Wishon set.

              For years Many golfers have been using the same length and lie angle for their 4 wedges (LW, sw, gw, PW) because it reduces variability. Some us us have also added the 9i to that so 5 clubs.

              While I haven't gone to SL n the 8,7,6,5 ( which happen to be the most inconsistent irons in my set) go figure, i have thought about a hybrid SL set.

              4 Wedges , 9 and 8 at 36 inches 7,6,5 at 37 inches, adjust the Lofts to get both gaps tight. Hopefully , I can build this set this summer and report back.
              Then how come nobody on the PGA Tour uses single length clubs?


              WIT SM C130 Cart Bag:
              TM SLDR 10.5*
              TM SLDR 3W & TM V-Steel 5W
              TM Rescue 22*
              4-PW Mix of Mizuno MX-25's and TM RBZ's
              Wedges: Titleist SM 53* & 56*
              Ping Ketch
              Ball: What's on sale?

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

                Originally posted by Leftygolfer30 View Post
                Then how come nobody on the PGA Tour uses single length clubs?
                Bryson Dechambeau is the only one that is playing PGA events using them. He has been pretty successful , winning the NCAA and US Amateur and doing ok in his tour events. There is a Euro tour named Gareth Shaw who was experimenting with the pinhawk SL irons and according to the website is putting them in play . Outside that not sure. Of course Moe Norman didn't exactly play a true single length iron but he choked down in every iron to the same length which was the inspiration for the first SL design sets. He wasn't a bad ball striker.

                Although the concept made an appearance 30 odd years ago, and David Lake has made a very successful living with his SL design, it's really only been gaining traction in the past 2 years. Cetainly Bryson's success has had a monumental impact. All sellers of SL irons sold out of single length sets for months after his US Amateur win. value golf can't keep up to the demand for their SL irons and are sold out again until May.

                Of course your post is simply a troll post for as you should know there have been hundreds of great and successful golf club designs and companies that never made it to or big on tour. There are numerous reasons why, pros being paid insane sums of money in endorsements to play a brand is part of the reason.
                As well, Mentally, physically, it would be a major, major change . It would be difficult to convince a pro to abandon such a significant design concept, one that they have grown up playing with and have spent 20,30,40 years with.

                you also know, ( or should) that a piece of golf equipment or golf concept doesn't need to have professional tour validation in order to be good or valid. There are many golf club designs ,golf balls made by every golf company in the world have not and never will see play on the professional tour. Then again maybe pros are playing the latest wide soled shovels by callaway, offset driver, and Costco's Callaway golf balls.

                Whether we will see more tour pros make the move to SL concept , who knows, maybe it will just be Bryson and Gareth? There are however, many pros who do Have their 4 wedges the same length.

                Finally, you also know that what's good for pros is not always what is good for amateurs. Otherwise , why aren't all amateurs using blades for irons with x100 shafts and so on.

                SL has merit as a an iron design concept because it can reduces variability which leads to increased consistency, something that many amateurs can benefit from.
                Is it perfect, no design concept is. It has attracted a large customer base in the past couple years and Bryson's success has helped increase that even more, with more companies now producing SL designs.
                "Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened "

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

                  Originally posted by Weirfan View Post
                  Bryson Dechambeau is the only one that is playing PGA events using them. He has been pretty successful , winning the NCAA and US Amateur and doing ok in his tour events. There is a Euro tour named Gareth Shaw who was experimenting with the pinhawk SL irons and according to the website is putting them in play . Outside that not sure. Of course Moe Norman didn't exactly play a true single length iron but he choked down in every iron to the same length which was the inspiration for the first SL design sets. He wasn't a bad ball striker.

                  Although the concept made an appearance 30 odd years ago, and David Lake has made a very successful living with his SL design, it's really only been gaining traction in the past 2 years. Cetainly Bryson's success has had a monumental impact. All sellers of SL irons sold out of single length sets for months after his US Amateur win. value golf can't keep up to the demand for their SL irons and are sold out again until May.

                  Of course your post is simply a troll post for as you should know there have been hundreds of great and successful golf club designs and companies that never made it to or big on tour. There are numerous reasons why, pros being paid insane sums of money in endorsements to play a brand is part of the reason.
                  As well, Mentally, physically, it would be a major, major change . It would be difficult to convince a pro to abandon such a significant design concept, one that they have grown up playing with and have spent 20,30,40 years with.

                  you also know, ( or should) that a piece of golf equipment or golf concept doesn't need to have professional tour validation in order to be good or valid. There are many golf club designs ,golf balls made by every golf company in the world have not and never will see play on the professional tour. Then again maybe pros are playing the latest wide soled shovels by callaway, offset driver, and Costco's Callaway golf balls.

                  Whether we will see more tour pros make the move to SL concept , who knows, maybe it will just be Bryson and Gareth? There are however, many pros who do Have their 4 wedges the same length.

                  Finally, you also know that what's good for pros is not always what is good for amateurs. Otherwise , why aren't all amateurs using blades for irons with x100 shafts and so on.

                  SL has merit as a an iron design concept because it can reduces variability which leads to increased consistency, something that many amateurs can benefit from.
                  Is it perfect, no design concept is. It has attracted a large customer base in the past couple years and Bryson's success has helped increase that even more, with more companies now producing SL designs.
                  Get off your high horse for once and answer the question without being a know it all and accusing me of being a troll.

                  One pro, that was given as an example in the article, with a swing speed 120 mph is hardly a good example of a building method appropriate for the vast majority of amateur golfers.

                  "there have been hundreds of great and successful golf club designs and companies that never made it to or big on tour." "Hundreds", really??? Please name 100, never mind hundreds.


                  WIT SM C130 Cart Bag:
                  TM SLDR 10.5*
                  TM SLDR 3W & TM V-Steel 5W
                  TM Rescue 22*
                  4-PW Mix of Mizuno MX-25's and TM RBZ's
                  Wedges: Titleist SM 53* & 56*
                  Ping Ketch
                  Ball: What's on sale?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

                    Originally posted by Weirfan View Post
                    Bryson Dechambeau is the only one that is playing PGA events using them. He has been pretty successful , winning the NCAA and US Amateur and doing ok in his tour events. There is a Euro tour named Gareth Shaw who was experimenting with the pinhawk SL irons and according to the website is putting them in play . Outside that not sure. Of course Moe Norman didn't exactly play a true single length iron but he choked down in every iron to the same length which was the inspiration for the first SL design sets. He wasn't a bad ball striker.

                    Although the concept made an appearance 30 odd years ago, and David Lake has made a very successful living with his SL design, it's really only been gaining traction in the past 2 years. Cetainly Bryson's success has had a monumental impact. All sellers of SL irons sold out of single length sets for months after his US Amateur win. value golf can't keep up to the demand for their SL irons and are sold out again until May.

                    Of course your post is simply a troll post for as you should know there have been hundreds of great and successful golf club designs and companies that never made it to or big on tour. There are numerous reasons why, pros being paid insane sums of money in endorsements to play a brand is part of the reason.
                    As well, Mentally, physically, it would be a major, major change . It would be difficult to convince a pro to abandon such a significant design concept, one that they have grown up playing with and have spent 20,30,40 years with.

                    you also know, ( or should) that a piece of golf equipment or golf concept doesn't need to have professional tour validation in order to be good or valid. There are many golf club designs ,golf balls made by every golf company in the world have not and never will see play on the professional tour. Then again maybe pros are playing the latest wide soled shovels by callaway, offset driver, and Costco's Callaway golf balls.

                    Whether we will see more tour pros make the move to SL concept , who knows, maybe it will just be Bryson and Gareth? There are however, many pros who do Have their 4 wedges the same length.

                    Finally, you also know that what's good for pros is not always what is good for amateurs. Otherwise , why aren't all amateurs using blades for irons with x100 shafts and so on.

                    SL has merit as a an iron design concept because it can reduces variability which leads to increased consistency, something that many amateurs can benefit from.
                    Is it perfect, no design concept is. It has attracted a large customer base in the past couple years and Bryson's success has helped increase that even more, with more companies now producing SL designs.
                    That was not trolling as he asked you a legitimate question.

                    Where is this "large customer base", the word customer implying they have SL clubs? I've seen thousands of clubs come into GT over the last 13 years for regripping and have not seen one SL club including the ill fated Armour EQL design. Nor have I seen one on the course even though I play over 100 rounds per year in Canada and the USA.
                    In the Hamilton Golf + CC Embroidered Ping Hoofer

                    Club Champion Callaway AI Smoke 11*, Aldila Ascent 40 A Flex​​
                    Srixon F45 4-wood, 17*, KuroKage 606 S
                    TXG Custom T. Made SIM Max 21* 7-wood, Accra FX 140 2.0 M2
                    TXG Custom Cobra Tech 5-hybrid, KBS TGI 75 R

                    TXG Custom PXG 0211 6-Pw, 1* up, Recoil ESX 460 R
                    PXG 0211 GW, 50*, UST Recoil Dart R
                    TXG Custom Cleveland CBX 54*, Tour Issue DG Spinner 115

                    Ping Glide 4.0, 58* TS/6, Nippon 115 S
                    Tour Velvet Midsize Grips, Custom TXG Signature Putter Grip
                    TXG Custom King Cobra Nova, 25 gram weights, KBS CT Tour Shaft

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

                      Originally posted by Weirfan View Post
                      Bryson Dechambeau is the only one that is playing PGA events using them. He has been pretty successful , winning the NCAA and US Amateur and doing ok in his tour events. There is a Euro tour named Gareth Shaw who was experimenting with the pinhawk SL irons and according to the website is putting them in play . Outside that not sure. Of course Moe Norman didn't exactly play a true single length iron but he choked down in every iron to the same length which was the inspiration for the first SL design sets. He wasn't a bad ball striker.

                      Although the concept made an appearance 30 odd years ago, and David Lake has made a very successful living with his SL design, it's really only been gaining traction in the past 2 years. Cetainly Bryson's success has had a monumental impact. All sellers of SL irons sold out of single length sets for months after his US Amateur win. value golf can't keep up to the demand for their SL irons and are sold out again until May.

                      Of course your post is simply a troll post for as you should know there have been hundreds of great and successful golf club designs and companies that never made it to or big on tour. There are numerous reasons why, pros being paid insane sums of money in endorsements to play a brand is part of the reason.
                      As well, Mentally, physically, it would be a major, major change . It would be difficult to convince a pro to abandon such a significant design concept, one that they have grown up playing with and have spent 20,30,40 years with.

                      you also know, ( or should) that a piece of golf equipment or golf concept doesn't need to have professional tour validation in order to be good or valid. There are many golf club designs ,golf balls made by every golf company in the world have not and never will see play on the professional tour. Then again maybe pros are playing the latest wide soled shovels by callaway, offset driver, and Costco's Callaway golf balls.

                      Whether we will see more tour pros make the move to SL concept , who knows, maybe it will just be Bryson and Gareth? There are however, many pros who do Have their 4 wedges the same length.

                      Finally, you also know that what's good for pros is not always what is good for amateurs. Otherwise , why aren't all amateurs using blades for irons with x100 shafts and so on.

                      SL has merit as a an iron design concept because it can reduces variability which leads to increased consistency, something that many amateurs can benefit from.
                      Is it perfect, no design concept is. It has attracted a large customer base in the past couple years and Bryson's success has helped increase that even more, with more companies now producing SL designs.
                      I don't think he was being a troll at all. It's a legitimate fact, if it worked so well, why don't more tour pros adopt this strategy? Surely even pros who get endorsement contracts from the big companies could get a set of SL clubs built with no questions asked. If Phil, Jordan, Rory, or Tiger of 10 years ago asked for a set of SL clubs, they would be at their doorstep made perfectly to spec by the following morning. Tour Vans are incredibly talented club builders that can make wonders happen. I question the guy who makes garbage component clubs (like actually low-end components, not components in general) for his buddies and family, charges them a stupid amount of money for literal junk and in the same breath claims they have found the secret to building golf clubs that somehow every other professional club builder has missed. Even the ones tour pros entrust their clubs, and by extension, their careers on these guys, so why is some random club-hobbiest with an ego suddenly more of an expert? It's asinine.

                      To also comment about the pros using equipment that us mortals can't play, I think is a bit of stretch too. Take Spieth for example. World #1 right now, and he plays clubs that even a decent 8-10 handicap could manage without shooting a million each round. Sure, his shafts may be stiffer, and the driving iron 3 iron is maybe a bit of stretch, but my point still stands. AP2's are not that impossible to hit. Titleist drivers and fairways again are not exactly known for their impossibility. In fact, the D2 driver may be one of the most forgiving drivers on the market right now because of how much spin it produces to help hit it straighter. Would an amateur use a 6.5 Project X? Probably not. But that isn't a fair comparison. They can very easily use that shaft, if the proper flex is applied. To stretch the analogy, it's basically saying the same thing as skinny people can't wear the exact same make of pants as somebody who has a size 42 waist. Sure they can, and vice versa. It's made from the same material, looks the same, and has the same performance benefits (i.e. keeping you warm, dry, and so you don't accidentally show off your goods to passersby) it just needs to be tailored and fit correctly to work. So yes, many, many amateurs play the same clubs that tour players do, with very good success. There are also some who play clubs and shafts that are out of their league but they enjoy what they play. So what? If we only sold golf clubs based solely on ability, 40-50% of the golf market would be gone. Titleist and Mizuno would not even make golf clubs, Nike probably wouldn't be either since they started out making blades and tiny forged CBs. If this scenario were also true, every other person you played with would be using Ping G-Max irons or Callaway XR OS. The average golfing population still needs more help than these clubs offer, but frankly I don't think the companies can make a golf club forgiving enough for the average person...they just don't put enough practice and are not skilled enough to make anything work.

                      To come back to your other points, I do agree single lengths have taken off a bit in the wedges. I don't think it is quite the revolution you are making it out to be, but you may have more inside information than I do...because I have absolutely none except for maybe the odd second hand input I hear from here or WRX. I personally did it for this coming season. I haven't used them yet so I can't say whether or not it has helped me or hurt. All of my wedges are 36", and play to the same length as my PW. I can definitely give a little more insight after I've played a few rounds with them. Having said all of this, I am still unsure of this further buying craze you are talking about. But again, it is outside of my market, being an employee at GT, we just don't carry that type of stuff. But I will agree with RGK5 in saying I cannot for the life of me remember ever having one person in the 11 years I've been there actually use single length clubs. Sure, we have the odd retiree bring it up from time to time because their God Moe Norman did it or some pseudo-version of it. Why do they put so much stock in one great ball striker? Hogan was a fantastic ball striker, Sergio, Henrik, etc are too....but they all used progressive lengths.

                      I don't think there is a cut and dry answer. Nor will there ever be, it'll always be a case of mine is better because of X and the other side will say well mine is better because of Y. And they will never meet in the middle because they don't want to. As Ryan summed up in the article, it could work for you, it may not, but make sure if you do do it, it is done properly. Based on his data, he seemed to have a little bit better distance gapping with the SL clubs, but that was about it. He was consistently shorter and more erratic with them that with the progressive lengths. So why would someone want a club that they hit shorter and more crooked? Further, why would I want a set of irons that the only thing is helping me hit it further is the loft. That means if I mis-hit my 5 iron a touch, I'm going to hit it significantly shorter than if I mis-hit my progressive length 5 iron. It doesn't make sense.

                      I am truthfully not trying to antagonistic, I am just not sure what any of the benefits of SL clubs are, apart from MAYBE tighter distance gapping with each club. But even in that regard, if you go through a gapping analysis with a fitter who is halfway decent, they would be able to give you even, consistent gapping with any clubs, SL or progressive.
                      Last edited by Phatchrisrules; Mar 16, 2016, 07:44 AM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

                        Thank you both for the expanded explanations. They were both very helpful and answered the question I was asking.


                        WIT SM C130 Cart Bag:
                        TM SLDR 10.5*
                        TM SLDR 3W & TM V-Steel 5W
                        TM Rescue 22*
                        4-PW Mix of Mizuno MX-25's and TM RBZ's
                        Wedges: Titleist SM 53* & 56*
                        Ping Ketch
                        Ball: What's on sale?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

                          DeChambeau's mind > his athletic ability...

                          Touring pro's mind < athletic ability..

                          Not saying touring pro's aren't smart, but what got there is the ability to adjust to each club and excel. That's their livelihood. I wouldn't mess around to much here if I was in their shoes.

                          DeChambeau used physics which solved a problem to him. He fully understands his logic behind it, as do others. It works for him, and most likely for others who are willing to try.

                          This might be a fad, but it has brought about this discussion which in turn might bring further enjoyment for others and their golfing.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

                            Originally posted by rgk5 View Post
                            That was not trolling as he asked you a legitimate question.

                            Where is this "large customer base", the word customer implying they have SL clubs? I've seen thousands of clubs come into GT over the last 13 years for regripping and have not seen one SL club including the ill fated Armour EQL design. Nor have I seen one on the course even though I play over 100 rounds per year in Canada and the USA.
                            Perhaps not irons but back when Accuform was in its heyday I asked if they would make up a set of - Driver -2wood -- 4wood and 5 wood at all 5 wood length- played them for 15 years --- and have played with a few people over the last 40 years with woods at the same length
                            Driver - Cleveland Classic 290 - 10.5- Miyazaki Stiff -- Taylor Made Burner 3 and 5 wood
                            23* and 26* Adams Idea Tech hybrids both with Fubuki 65HY S
                            6 - W - Srixon Z 745 - Dynamic Gold S300
                            52* - 56* Cobra Tour Trusty
                            Scotty Cameron GoLo #7 --- Kia Ma Imola 8

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Single Length Irons? Interesting Read

                              My take on it:

                              It's easier to build SL club sets. Figuring out the new weights and lofts to create a properly gapped set is simple math and physics. Once done and tested, it's done. Easy. Peasy.

                              It's easier to build SL club sets. One shaft length. E.P.

                              Easier to build means cheaper QA: fewer differences => tighter tolerances for the same cost/effort. E. Peasy.

                              Easier/cheaper to build means a huge market opportunity. Same (or better) performance than your competitors at a lower price or higher margin (or both). A business's wet dream.

                              SL sets are easier to hit. Same posture, same stance, same swing with every club. The pro who adopts this will beat his peers and make a lot of money. The am who does this will score better, beat his friends, have more fun.

                              So.... with hundreds of millions of dollars available to OEMs and pros, none of them is choosing to do it?

                              CEO of Ping says "no thanks, I wouldn't know what to do with a much bigger bonus. Not for me. Thanks".

                              Rory, Jason, Bubba, Rickie, Jordan and Adam were each approached with this idea. They all had the exact same reply: "I'm comfortable hovering slightly below world #1 most of the time, thanks. That's all I was really interested in. No thanks".

                              Maybe.

                              Or maybe it's not all that good a solution for the majority. It's working for Deschambeau, some other guy on the Euro tour. That's nice. For them.

                              DCBABY says: "Not saying touring pro's aren't smart, but what got there is the ability to adjust to each club and excel."

                              If pros can adjust to each club, surely they can adjust to SL.

                              Because of the size and colours in the dispersion chart I wasn't sure I was reading it properly, but it looked to me like the MP25s performed way better than the SL set. Is that right?
                              "Confusion" will be my epitaph
                              ...Iggy

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