From: "James F. Tims" <p00168@psilink.com>
Subject: Re: The Feel of Forged (was: high end iron selection)
Organization: Semper Excelsior
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 16:34:55 GMT
X-Mailer: PSILink (3.2)

>DATE:   9 Nov 1992 06:37:41 GMT
>FROM:   Michael Beeching <mjb@mulka.ph.unimelb.edu.au>
>
>	Very interesting discussion about forged clubs, but
>could someone please tell me what the RESULTS (I know about feel)
>are like, when a forged club is hit off centre, as opposed to
>other types of clubs! Is the only difference in the feel, or
>does the shot match the discomfort?
>
>Michael

I read the test results that seem, at first, to establish that there is no
difference between forged and cast, and that the "feel" issue is a
total myth.  Michael's question reveals the nature of the difference
nicely.  I think the myth is that the feel of forged is "softer" or
more "ideal" or some such, in line the with the Hogan commercial where
the redoubtable Ben Hogan, himself, says that you can't feel the beauty
of the game with a cast club.  (I'm not convinced, Ben.)

I have set or tied three course records in my 38 years at the game, and
am considered by my peers to be an exceptional ballstriker but not much
of a putter.  So much for my credentials.  I suspect the main factor is
the size of the "sweet spot."  Most forged have a small sweet spot,
so that off-center hits cause greater twist and vibration.  It is
this "beauty by comparison" that gives forged the illusion that they
feel softer at impact.  The spread between the sting and zing is more
pronounced than with forged.  I doubt that I could tell the difference
between a cast and forged club until I had played with it for a while.
My TPSs feel absolutely "crunchy" when I hit them, as do my Hogan
Apex IIs, but I have yet to hit a "stinger" with the TPSs, even in
35 degree weather, but the Hogans give me some very uncomfortable
shots from time to time. 

The second question relates to the first, so the answer is yes.  There
is undoubtedly a feedback loop, and the gradations are harder to 
discern and learn from with cast clubs, hence the frequent reports
of games collapsing after initial success with cast irons. When you
make a mistake with a most forged clubs, you know it.  You learn to
feel which way the ball went.  This is much harder to do with cast.

I say "cast" and "forged" as being almost synonymous with large and 
small sweet spots, respectively.  This is not necessarily
the case, since it is club design and weight distribution that
determine the size of the sweet spot, not the materials from which
the irons are made.  Hogan Edges, although I haven't played them,
I'd bet would be like other cavity backs, providing a large sweet
spot and little feedback.  I don't know of one right off hand,
but I would not be surprised to find a cast "blade" on the
market which is almnost impossible to hit. 8^) 

I have found that I get the greatest benefit from practicing with
the Hogans, and playing with TPSs. I also play the 9 iron from the
Hogan set instead of the TPS 9 iron.  I find too little gradation
between the TPS 8 and 9, and the Hogan 9 fits a little better between
the 8 and p-wedge.  And my TPSs feel every bit as good, if not better,
than the Apex IIs when I really flush it.

-- 
jim tims 
"And if you're a miner, when you're too tired and old and sick and stupid
to do your job properly, you have to go, whereas just the opposite applies
with the judges."  Beyond the Fringe

Newsgroups: rec.sport.golf