New Thomas Golf  AT-602 Irons

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BLADES VS GAME IMPROVEMENT CLUBS

This week I had the opportunity to spend a morning testing clubs

on a launch monitor (a GolfAchiever by Focaltron). Because of

some early snow, testing clubs on a launch monitor is our only

practical option for the next few months. I tested two offerings

from Thomas Golf. Thomas Golf has had their popular 505 cavity

back game improvement irons out for a while now. They are a very

solid club that I'd highly recommend. They have just introduced

their new 602 irons. These "players" clubs are more blade-like

with a smaller sized head. Lower handicap players tend to like

the "workability" of this style club. I warmed up hitting a

number of shots with each club not looking at "the numbers" but

just experiencing "the feel" of each club. Note: While my

handicap hovers around single digits I've been playing "game

improvement clubs for 20 years since the early "Ping" days.

Then I put each club through it's paces. I liked the feel of the

505's a bit better but that may have been the graphite shaft

versus the steel shaft in the 602's. When hitting the clubs I

was pretty sure I was more solid with the 505's and I thought I

hit them a bit longer. However, then I stopped and looked that

the numbers. The numbers were amazingly close. I hit them both

the same distance and the dispersions were almost identical.

It may be that clubs are getting better so the differences

between types (or brands) of club are getting smaller. The

bottom line was that I "liked" the 505's better but my reasons

for liking them better may be fairly subjective. I liked the

size and look of the head and the way it aligned to the ball a

bit better.

A number of readers have written in to say very nice things

about the Thomas clubs and the company. I've joined their

affiliate program and had a number of nice conversations with

the president of the company. I think they're a company that is

really going in the right direction. I'd definitely recommend

the Thomas clubs over a set of knockoffs or 2nd tier clubs. They

cost lot less than the big names. And I think you'll be a lot

happier with the Thomas clubs than any clones and most

importantly you can make sure the clubs fit right which will

help you play better golf.

Before you buy any golf clubs it's obviously much better if you

can actually hit them. Thomas make this easy because you can

order just one club. Hit it and make sure your like it, make

sure it fits you and then you can order the rest of the set. You

can buy just the clubs you want. For most golfers I'd recommend

forgetting the 2,3 and probably 4 irons. Replace those clubs

with a 7 and 9 wood (maybe an 11 wood) and you'll be much

happier. If Arnold Palmer,Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player can

carry 7 and 9 woods so can you. Thomas golf will even do a free,

no obligation club fitting for you and email you the results.