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Guys, I have a question on bending the lie of irons...

I was "diagnosed" to have a flat swing and I need to bend my irons 3 degrees, or even a little bit more...

is it okay to bend it 3 or more degrees?
is this unheard of?

my clubmaker suggested to just bend it 2 degrees first and see....

Should I go with the 3* bend instead of the 2*?

What will happen if I don't bend it to my specs?

Thanks Guys!

3* is pretty severe...you might want to think about some lessons and working on your swing plane before doing it...

The reason I say this is twofold...one, 3* is right on the edge of most manufacturer's bending limits, and could weaken the club signifigantly...the other is that when I first went for a fitting I was measured to be 2* flat in standard length and with the shafts +1/2" the lie that was standard for the set was perfect...anyway, I wanted to play standard length (who needs an extra 1/2" when you are not hitting any of the irons well as I was at the time!) as the fitter said that I was borderline and could go either way, and I left the lies as they were, took lessons, got better, and began to swing more upright and on plane, making better contact, getting more distance and feeling more comfortable with my swing...once my swing makeover had taken hold, I found out that on my next lie board reading that I no longer needed 2* flat...it is a little backwards perhaps, but the truth of the matter was that my swing wasn't where I wanted it to be, and as I had the commitment and the time to work on my swing I decided to wait to bend the clubs until I was happy with how I was swinging it rather than fit clubs to a swing that I wasn't happy with...I don't know you or your swing, but if you aren't satisfied, it might be something to consider waiting on...

The other thing you might consider is that as the lie requirements change with the length of the shaft for a given individual, if you are on the tall side, think about a longer shaft and the amount of lie adjustment will be reduced considerably...

I agree with b-n-r. Most clubs it is safe to go 2*. But, more than that will depend on the make and model of your clubs. You better check with the manufacturer to make sure that you don't run the risk of breaking them. Some can be bent up to 4* safely. It just depends on what clubs you have.

I do like the advice of bending them 2*, then seeing how that works for you.

Just saw my clubfitter and he is bending mine 2º upgright, see how it goes than add another degree if necessary. IMHO go wtih what your clubfitter recommends.

Actually, I tried the 2* out and it seems to be okay for me... I can feel the "buttery" feel again when hitting forged irons, this I did not feel when it was still not bent, and I didn't realize that 2* adjustment could give that much difference in feel and I guess performance and overall confidence...

This analysis of mine came from just a few range sessions after bending, I will see how it is on the course.

So many little "adjustments" we make with our swings and equipment make such a big difference... IMO, it's in our heads most of the time, me included.

Getting your lie fit will help eliminate (in your case) sticking the hosel in the ground and pull or pull hooking the ball. That might help feel a little bit.

Yeah, I know what you mean, before I had them bent 2* flat I was really pulling the ball, I was thinking, there might be something wrong with my swing?

Now my pulls are nearly gone....but I still see some markings on the heel when I hit, that's why I was asking if it is okay to bend to 3*...my irons are forged not casted....if 2 degrees helped so much, in terms of feel and flight, it might be worth bending another degree?

Cast clubs can break if they are bent more than 2 degrees. Forged clubs are much more flexable. Try 2 degrees and hit with indicatory labels on the bottom of the club and see if it fixes the issue.
To be 3 degrees flat you must be reaching out quite a bit. You may want to shorten the shafts 1/2 in so you are more upright. This could indicate you are swinging around your body rather than taking a downward swing.
Again adjust them a little and then see if it helps you.

Bob, yes I think you are right, these have been my flaws ever since, I've tried to improve and change them but they just keep creeping back in....swinging around the body, reaching out too far, and maybe bending too much (at the waist and at the knees)