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Time to get my daughter new irons. She is a plus one and plays for a major Div I University Team. She currently has Callaway X Forged and previously had Mizuno MP-32s. Both with SL Gold S300. I like the TP MB Smoke just because they are similar to what she has used for years, allow you to work the ball and hit the ball consistent distances. She is thinking of the Tour Preferred to take advantage of some of the modern technology. My concern is that they might, on occasion, hit it too far by 5 to 10 yards and their overall distance dispersion might not be as consistent as the more traditional blades. She hits it long so help with hitting it far is irrelevant. Anyone out there have experience with both models and have opinions?? She will once again have SL Gold S300s all bent and cut to her personal specs. Thanks.

Had both and the blades are just that much better the consistency and spin believe it or not. Go with the smokes I have them currently and they are just amazing.

76; IF your daugther is that GOOD, I'd recommend SHE DEMO both sets of irons and get what SHE likes the best. That' pretty simple, And if she is playing for a college team, you might want to ask TM about a sponsorship FREE SET of irons for her. I'd be a little surprised if you can't find at least one OEM willing to provide her with a set of irons, if not a full bag of clubs. Not too many college girls can play to a plus one handicap, so getting free set of irons should be possible.

I could be wrong, but I don't think sponsorship is attainable for D-1 athletes. Its the equivalent of hiring an agent for other D-1 sports. I do second the demo suggestion. It will allow her to find a set that suits her and will likely last her longer. Most shops will let you take a set on a range or course for an afternoon given the circumstances. I'd be surprised if the university didn't have a preferred dealer nearby.

You could be right about no sponsorships but I'm thinking as long as it's equipment only, and not money or cars or such, it's okay. Could be wrong of course. Do you know any reason an OEM couldn't DONATE a set of irons to the golf department of the school, and let the school LOAN them to the girl?

Not definitively, but it wouldn't surprise me if the NCAA had restrictions on donated equipment and such. I'm sure there are collegiate golfers that aren't able to pay for clubs. I'm not sure how that works...

Do any D1 athletes pay for equipment used in their sport? They're all sponsored by someone aren't they?

Where does she go to school?

Schools can be sponsored...that's a deal done by the AD; she'd know if she were...


Personally I think that you're selling yourselves short by not looking at other manufacturers other than TM UNLESS there is a specific reason for looking at TM...

If money were no object, there exist some TM buner B heads here and in Japan they've released something that looks remarkably similar in terms of head size and offset (no news on the soft cast tech that makes cast play and feel like forged) as Burner TP irons...I'd personally go the MB route, but again that's personal...

Lots of great clubmakers out there; worth taking a look unless you're bound for a reason to the other brand are, in no paticular order:

Mizuno
Cobra mb's
titleist
Bridgestone
Adams forged
Callaway forged

There are literally slews of others...I personally think you're selling yourself short if you don't take a look at the mizuno and bridgestone lines...

Golf is different from what I understand. For typical sports, the university covers equipment, but NCAA regulations require that the athletes not take equipment post graduation. The only exception is if the equipment is sold at an event open to the public where non-athletes have the same opportunity to purchase the equipment as the student-athletes do. In terms of golf, since clubs are quite personal, universities typically don't purchase the clubs for the athletes considering it is illegal for the athlete to take them post graduation.

Disclaimer - this information is from an extended family member who coaches women's golf at a small D-1 school. It may have been taken out of context in terms of the initial question at hand.

Schools can be, athletes can't. If the golf program is sponsored by, say Taylormade, all that allows is discounted prices for program affiliates. They cannot receive free equipment. I'm still a bit fuzzy on who ultimately would benefit from the discounted prices.