Am I kidding myself I can use the AP2 714?

If you aren't concerned with working the ball, and you like the feel of the AP1 5 iron you are hitting, then I would say "yes", you -should- swap out your set and go all AP1.  The increased (on-course) consistency will absolutely help your handicap head back towards 9. 

I know others will say this to you, so I'll get this out of the way right now... "See a Titleist fitter".

I would suggest you keep the AP2's. Trading them in or selling them privately, will never give you a good return on the money you have already spent. The AP2's are too nice an iron to toss aside. But, if this was my problem, I think I might be inclined to spend some time at a local golf store, hit a few clubs, and see if I actually like the AP1's.

If you do, maybe having both sets isn't such a bad idea. This way, you lose nothing, but you stand to gain the option to switch out clubs as you see fit for years to come. I would also suggest keeping all your irons within the 714 family. Hope this helps in some way.

It's hard to know why you are having the problem with the AP2s, what irons did you play before them. The reason I ask if you are coming from a super game improvement iron it can be a pretty big transition.  I went from a GI to a forged club and found that even though I struck the new clubs pretty well my scores went up for while until I got used to the clubs.  Once I got used to them my handicap dropped.  Also I hope you got fitted, I would not suggest anyone get AP2s without being properly fitted unless you are a scratch golfer and can hit anything.

Jeff

I have the AP1 714 and I am quite happy with them.

They are very forgiving I find

I can't give you an answer but you could always move the loft around a bit to close the yardage gap so it's not a problem.  I think a mixed set of AP1 and AP2 would be a good set. 2 Time Major Champion, Zach Johnson, has an AP1 in the bag along with his AP2's.

I'm actually thinking of changing out my 5i for an AP1 or even the T-MB.  Do what works best for you.

I would say if you are feeling uncomfortable with your irons after 13 months it's time to move onto a set that will be more forgiving and help you execute shots on the course. The AP2 714 irons are set up with an advanced CG height progression through the set to provide more forgiveness in the longer irons but with this process that thins the face of the longer irons condensing the sweet spot. The AP1 is Titleist's most forgiving, player friendly set available and from what it sounds like you have already had some success with the 5 iron. I was able to demo both the new 716 AP1 and AP2, I was really impressed with the AP1. The club at address is very attractive being slimmer with more of an AP2 714 look to it and the had the best feel between the two of them. I suggest either switching to the AP1's across the board and trading in your AP2's or as a cost effective choice switching out your long irons until your 8 iron with the AP1's. The short irons for the AP2's have a thicker face and would have a more similar feeling to the AP1's. Hope that helps you with your decision, best of luck!

Hey Mike,

First question, did you get fitted for the AP2s?   I would highly recommend getting fitted for new irons.  I"m currently a 10 HCP and playing with the 714 AP1s.  I love them, very forgiving and easy to hit.   I've never tried hitting the 714 AP2s and I didn't want to only b/c i've read online that's their known to be "players" club.  Well, i'm not a player that can shape shots, etc.  

I'll add this, a long time ago I was gaming the PNG S56.   BIGGEST MISTAKE I ever made.  Like you, my HCP went through the roof.  If i didn't hit the sweet spot (which was hard to do, for me at least) god knows where that ball went.  I couldn't take it anymore.  Sold the clubs on eBay and got a set of used 710 AP1s to make sure I liked them.   Well I sure did.  I got the 712 and then the 714s.   Couldn't be happier! 

If it were me, I would go AP1s across the board.  No sense of struggling on the course when there's something out there that can help improve your game.   Just my opinion.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Keep the AP2s and get fitted for the AP1s.  You may be able to find your swing and go back to the AP1s....

I got fitted by Titleist hoping to get the AP2s, but got the AP1s... but could not be happier.  I've knocked down my handicap form 10.0 to 8.9 since I started playing with the AP1s.  

Good luck!

You can also get the 6 & 7 in AP1 and have the lofts bent, on either side, (7 or 8), a degree or so to close that distance gap.  I had a set with the 7 bent a degree stronger and 6 half a degree weaker to give me a 12 yard (usually) gap between the two.