My only friend I listen to for club advice is my pro with a Trackman. No bias or personal experience to share. If I EVER give a recommendation, I always include it is only a starting point and seek professional advice.

When you change from a forged to a cavity back there will be a break in period, especially going from a stiff to a regular. First question, did you go get a fitting from a certified fitter to back up these recommendations? I had some issues going from an AP2 to an AP1 and went to see a pro and he worked out the kinks in my game. Big brick and mortar is a retailer and their goal is to sell. For a fitting go to a shop that specializes in fittings or Titleist Thursdays which are free. With respect, never purchase clubs without a proper fitting using trackman by a CERTIFIED FITTER. As helpful as friends try to be, when it comes to choosing clubs, leave to the professionals.

Nothing wrong with friends making suggestions but actually spending money without a fitter or your local P.G.A. pro's advice might not be the best approach.

Sounds like you need new friends LOL!

Hopefully a lot of people will learn your lesson, how much good a fitting can do for you instead of just buying clubs off the rack. I'm 6'7" tall, so people might mention my use of extra long clubs, (my irons are 1.5" longer), but they don't usually get further into a conversation about my specs than that.

Your comments about using regular or stiff shafts really hits home. First of all, there is no industry standard for shaft stiffness. What one company uses and calls stiff, regular, senior, ladies or whatever, might not be all that close to what some other company uses. For example, I've always heard png shafts are slightly more flexible in any given designation.

My situation is similar to yours. I hit the ball farther with senior shafts in my miz JPX900 Hot Metal irons, but I'm more accurate with the old Titleist DCI irons I got with regular flex shafts. Iron to iron, they can't be compared due to the big difference in lofts, but loft to loft, I'm happy to accept the slight distance loss because I prefer the accuracy.

Like one of my college professors always told us... The solution to every problem starts with "THINK"...

Dang, that sucks. As Don mentioned...my only friend I listen to is Trackman also usually accompanied with a certified Titleist fitter!

interesting no doubt. I've thought about moving from AP1 to AP2. I think the lesson here is to just go talk to a professional and get fitted vs listening to a freind

If my swing professional doesn't say it, I don't hear it. He knows my swing now going on 8 years. I can mention things and he'll either tell me what might be happening or he'll tell me to come in and get on the monitor. Simple as that. I went from a 12 to a 18 and still cannot get it back down to 12 but mostly because I have been saddled with more non-golf things. But my clubs fit me perfectly....

DM

I go to Titleist he is my friend every time I want new irons, I always get properly fitted.
Everyone’s swing is different.

Reminds me of all the drivel that you hear on the range by the "Experts" from everything from swings to equipment. Remember the two great sayings, "A little bit of knowledge is dangerous" and "The worst advice is free advice".

Best advice is always get fitted, try them in the store, then decide.

Tried my friends AP2s and knew right away they were great. Went in to a local store to try different shafts and other irons... Nope. AP2 all the way - but that's just me.

Our course does not have a Trackman, small club and does not have the money for that because very few people take lessons. In order for me to get access to a Trackman, I would have to find a club in Kelowna (4 hours away) that has one to arrange a fitting session that fits in with my schedule and if they allow non-members access to it.

I went to a pro, he took a bunch of measurements and watched my swing for 3-4 large baskets. I was borderline stiff/regular shafts and he left it up to me as to which club felt the best. I tried the AP3 and non-Titleist clubs, did not like the feel of them.

Definitely lesson learned about succumbing to "advice". Upside is that my 718 AP2's are fantastic!