I'd be interested in your views regarding MD Superstrong Irons and Hogans CFTs.
I don't believe that spending £500 or £600 on a set of irons is going to improve my game much if at all. But I do need a new/good secondhand set of clubs.
Having read various reviews both sets have had excellent notices and at around £280 seem a good deal.
I've just dropped out of category one, am getting very long in the tooth and haven't much boodle so what do you recommend? Macgregor Tourney MT Tungsten is another 'cheaper' set that gets good reviews.
What do you reckon? Please don't suggest I check with my pro!
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Robert,
I'm happy to vouch for the Hogan CFT's, tried a set out on the course and was very much impressed with their forgiveness, length and feel plus they make a great sound off the titanium face. Have very fond memories of a pured 6-iron shot to a small green from that round. I would have bought them myself but went with Integra R1's custom fitted in the end with my choice of shaft and grip (£215).
Get ready for the recommendations for MX15 and MX20's from the Mizuno fan club which will follow shortly (Good club manufacturer don't get me wrong but there are some real Mizuno fans here on this message board).
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 The MD irons are really nice. The only reason why you don't pay the £500+ asking price for them (as with the "Big Boys") is due to the fact that they don't have to fork out for shed-loads of sponsorship money etc. The fabrication is still top notch.
I liked the CFT's, my friend didn't - so personal preference prevails yet again.
You don't mention what kind of iron you're looking for: most forgiving, forgiving, players; but if you're after a good set of forgiving and yet playable irons then John Letter's TXD irons are excellent. If you want more of a players iron then the John Letters X12 irons (no, not those Callaway *things*) could be the ones to go for (out soon). Letters irons always feel great and won't break the bank (£218 new online for the TXD's).
I currently play MacGregor V-Foil irons (which are forged) but if the MT Tungsten irons play "as well" then you couldn't really go wrong.
And yes Gary, given the current price of the MX-15's (which I personally didn't like*) and the MX-20's (which I did like) at the moment, well, you just can't rule Mizuno out.
Good luck, enjoy the hunt!
* The MX-15's are really good irons it's just that I prefer the softer feel of a forged iron is all. I can hit them well enough and 2 friends with better handicaps than me use them.
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 Robert, what irons were you using before?
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Thanks for your interesting and useful responses.
I'll have a look at Gary's choice, the Integra and Chris'suggestion re Letters.
Apparently the Macgregor MT Tungstens don't come with a stiff shaft (bit like me these days) so they're out.
I hardly dare tell you what I play with......Mizuno Widec.... not IIs butIs! I was given them a few years ago and found I could use them. The reaction of fellow players when they see what I'm playing with is great to behold but of course everytime I have a bad round (which is fairly frequent) there's a chorus of "Well what do you expect playing with crap clubs like that?"!
Incidentally a set of new MDs went on Ebay for around £200 recently so from comments here it sounds as tho I should have snapped them up.
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 My local friendly golf shop was selling CFT's at £250 but he reckons that he may have to move them up to £280.
I'm looking to change at the moment and am considering the CFT's, Progen MM3, MX15's. All available in the £200-£300 bracket. Interestingly my guy at the local shop says the shafts in the Progens are better quality than those in the MX15's and comparable to those found in the MX20's.
Had an opportunity to buy some brand new MD forged at £175 at a sale but think they were for someone with a handicap a little lower than my level of 16.
One set I really fancied was the Top-Flite Tour 2003 irons but with the problems with Spalding Golf you hardly saw them over here. Got great feedback on Golfreview though.
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Hell Ste
"Had an opportunity to buy some brand new MD forged at £175 at a sale but think they were for someone with a handicap a little lower than my level of 16."
Why do you say that? Anyway you can buy them and if you can't get on with them sell them to me and make a profit! The best price I can find at the moment is £275.
I read somwhere that the shafts in the MDs are the dogs' dicks.
What shafts have the Progens got?
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 As far as I am aware, the mx 15s are fitted with true temper 'release' shafts and the progens are fitted with the Dynamic gold lite as stock. The MX 20 & 23 are also fitted with the TT Gold Lite.
I would agree with Ste's pro, the dynamic gold lite is a better shaft IMO - if you like a lighter steel shaft.
The hogans are probably the most under rated sticks out there IMO and they look classy. Never hit the MD forged though...
Hope this helps
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Well thanks for all the advice. I've finally decided on a set of MD Superstrong Carbon Steel with Dynamic Gold shafts from a nearby club pro and he's throwing in a dozen Hogan Apex balls. All for £239. Shurely shome mishtake but it doesn't seem so!
I just hope I get on with them!
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 Robert, did you fitted for the clubs? might be worth checking that they offer that service as well.
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Sounds the b*ll*cks mate!
Let us know how you get on.
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No fitting I'm afraid. I phoned the pro's shop at about 4 and asked him to give me a quote.
He said that he'd ring back in five minutes, which he did. He asked what he'd got to beat and I said £270 (having seen them on at £279 with letsbuygolfkit.com) and he came up with the offer.
I asked what happened if I couldn't get on with them and he said that if I returned them and had another set he would guarantee that I wouldn't lose money on the deal.
Sounds pretty fair. This was with The Herefordshire GC.
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Total and utter disaster.
They were far too heavy.
I couldn't get much loft.
There was no feel whatsoever.
Probably my own fault tho - I'm no chicken, I've played with graphite regulars for the past n years.
I'm now trying a set of second-hand Taylor Made X-03s graphites with regular flex.
Initial impression is 'superb'.
I see that there are several sets on eBay but few sites seem to stock them.
Are they a very old series?
Apparently the original RRP was very high.
Any info/views?
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Robert,
Taylor Made XR-03 irons where out here last year, in Japan the year before that I believe. Latest technology (multi-metals - Titanium head) in a club head that has lots of help to get the ball up and soaring along way. Not really a traditionalists club I found them very forgiving and powerful (ultimately too expensive for me).
Where originally £1000 for Graphite and £800 for steel (RRP), settled down at about £800 for graphite and £699 for Steel.
Second-hand they seem to have a variety of prices, depending upon condition. Golfbidder.co.uk seems sometimes to have some in stock, might give you a price to cpmare against.
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Hi Gary,
Thanks for that. I've found 3 new sets on eBay. One didn't get a bid at £400 and the others are still on at £300 and £330. It seems a hellava deal to me because I found them, as you said, very forgiving and plenty of loft and feel.
My problem is the pro is still deciding on a price for the 2ndhand set he lent me to try. And of course he took back the MD Superstrongs without a murmer so I feel I ought ought to go for a deal with him if possible.
If these clubs were originally so expensive why are they failing to fetch £400 new now?
Robert
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 What a shame about the MD irons. i have posted about this elsewhere, but if the pro orders the clubs from MD they will do a good range of fittings for you.
i must say that i love my forged MD's (got me from 17 to 13 so far...along with the pro of course ;-) )
with fitting, my superstrongs cost 290 new.
as for the alternatives, arent the Mizuno MX20s being replaced at the moment, hence cheap ?
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 Robert,
Of your two choices I would go for the MD's.
I've hit both these and the CFT's and there's no comparison between them.
For me the CFT's are an ugly club (others may think they're beautiful it's all subjective isn't it!?)
Chris is correct that MD aren't paying shed loads out in sponsorship, they don't need to. The clubs speak for themselves! Nice heads, good shafts and grips and £200 a set. These are one of the best kept secrets in golf.
However, if you've been Cat1 with Widecs why change? What does it matter what you use :-) Take the enjoyment out of guys dissing you for your sticks then 'offer' to sell them to them when you take their money ;-)
A set you may like to consider that are going for little money second hand (if you can find them) Maxfli Rev Blacks. Sorry to throw something else in the mix :-D
Later
Kent
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 While throwing in suggestions, MD have brought out a MuscleBack version of the superstrong. Blades 9 - SI, progressive cavity 8 - 3. I have em. I love em.
I agree with Dan, Its a shame you did not get on with the MD's. For they rate highly in both price and quality. As kent says, good shafts (make the club) good grips (the only bit you hold/feel) and nice looking heads.
I have a set of mizuno XV's on e-bay, if you'd like the link.
:o)
Ian
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Ooops! Sorry for the typo, Kent. Missed the shift key. (to many Glenlivets already)
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Hi Kent & Ian,
Thanks for your advice but I really could not get on with the MD - for the reasons given earlier in the thread.
I'm now stuck waiting for the pro to give me a price on these secondhand Taylor Made XR-03 irons regular graphite.
I've been following the three sets on eBay and the 2nd set, brand new, have just gone for £339/99. But why so cheap - surely there must something wrong somewhere? see Gary's comments re price earlier
"Were originally £1000 for Graphite and £800 for steel (RRP), settled down at about £800 for graphite and £699 for Steel."
So I'm hoping for a deal of how much? Any ideas for a year old set of XR-03s? I'm saying nothing I expect the pro's in here!
Yes send the link to your Mizunos Ian, please.
Robert
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