Irons are used on almost every hole and in a variety of different shot types. That being said it is important to get irons that will fit your game and needs. Check out our guide to find the irons that are perfect for you.
IRON SETS
Irons typically come in sets that include six to
eight clubs. A typical iron set consists of a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-iron and a
pitching wedge. Many players have elected to carry a hybrid in place of longer
irons like a 3- or 4-iron because of the forgiveness of the hybrids. Some iron
sets also come with an additional wedge called a "gap" or
"approach" wedge, which falls directly between the pitching wedge and
sand wedge in loft.
CLUBHEAD
Iron clubheads have a greater number and greater
depth of grooves than a fairway wood or hybrid. These grooves generate spin on
the golf ball to help you control your shot. The clubhead is also much thinner
in depth in comparison to woods or hybrids, which creates a higher MOI (Moment
of Inertia) to help improve accuracy.
LOFT
The number of the club indicates how high and
far the shot will travel. The higher number correlates to a greater angle of
loft. High loft results in the ball flying higher and traveling a shorter
distance.
TYPES OF IRONS
Two main styles for irons are cavity-back and
muscle-back (or blades). The cavity-back style offers perimeter weighting for
increased forgiveness on off-center hits. Blades are designed with more weight
directly behind the hitting area or sweet spot. These thinner irons are
typically used by pros and lower-handicap players, because they offer increased
performance and shot-shaping ability.
- Game-improvement
irons: These irons offer greater forgiveness while enhancing performance.
Often these iron sets will include a hybrid to replace the hard-to-hit
long irons (like the 3, 4 or 5-irons), and normally feature cavity-back
clubheads. These irons are perfect for a beginning to intermediate player
looking to benefit from a forgiving design. The cavity back allows for a
larger sweet spot, while the longer face length helps with off-center
strikes. They also have a lower center of gravity (COG) to enhance
trajectory.
- Players'
irons: These irons have shorter blade lengths, reduced offset, narrower
sole widths and thinner top lines. The shape allows for more experienced
golfers to play a wide variety of shots. They are typically less forgiving
on off-center hits and feature muscle-back clubheads.
LENGTH
Irons are divided into three sets: Long irons
(2, 3, 4-irons), mid-irons (5, 6, 7-irons), and short irons (8, and 9-irons +
PW). Long irons are used to hit the ball a further distance with less loft. The
short irons create a higher launch which produces more spin and allows the ball
to travel a shorter distance. When purchasing an iron set, most players opt for
clubs separated by 4 degrees of loft (increasing from the 3-iron to the PW).
Iron sets that are properly fit help a golfer achieve consistent distance
gapping throughout the set.
- Single
Length irons: Some manufacturers offer single-length iron sets. These sets
are built at 7-iron standard lengths for all clubs within the set. This
can be effective for beginner golfers learning the game because he/she can
focus on one type of address position and swing.
CUSTOM FITTING/GAPPING
Having your irons custom fit for your body and
swing type is very important. Taller golfers will play irons longer in length
and more upright in lie angle. The opposite is true for shorter golfers. Many
manufacturers offer custom set configurations with cavity-back irons in the
longer irons and blade or muscle-back irons in the shorter irons. It is also
important to be custom fit so all distance gaps are met, both on the longer
irons and wedges in your set. Your configuration will often determine what kind
of fairway wood, hybrid and wedge set you carry.
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