how to pick out a set of golf irons

1. Determine which type of irons are right for your game. There are three types -- player's irons, game-improvement irons and super game-improvement irons.
2. Determine your price range. You can pay up to $1,500 or so for a set of irons (as of 2012). ...
3. Choose the right shaft flex. Shaft flexes -- the amount of bend in the club -- range from "Ladies" and "Senior" (typically, the most flexible) to "Regular," "Stiff" ...
4. Try out various irons. Feel can't be quantified, but it's a vital part of choosing the correct irons for your game.
5. Custom tailor your irons. An experienced club fitters can match you and your clubs to a tee. ...

Full Answer

Which Irons should I buy?

Player Factors in Golf Club Choice

• Average score / Skill level. In a nutshell: The more skilled you are, the less help you need from your equipment. ...
• Shot tendency. The next factor to consider is the direction and height of your typical shot. ...
• Swing speed. Another key in choosing the right equipment is your swing speed (aka clubhead speed). This is the No. ...

What is the best iron set in golf?

Titleist 718 AP2 Iron Set

• Steel shaft
• Tungsten weighting in the heel
• Righthanded orientation
• Stiff flex
• Carbon-steel face

What golf irons to buy?

The Standard Set of Golf Clubs for a Scatch Golfer:

• A Driver
• Woods (3 and 5-Wood)
• Hybrid of 17 to 18 degree or 2-Iron
• Hybrid of 21-22 degree or 3-Iron
• Irons (4,5,6,7,8 and 9)
• Wedges (PW, GW, SW, and LW)
• A Putter

How to choose the best Iron?

Here are five key aspects to consider about your next set of clubs:

• Styles of irons
• What’s in the set
• Loft, length, and distance
• Shaft and flex
• Customization

What irons should an average golfer use?

Here are the 3 best irons for average golfers:Taylormade M6 (best overall iron set)Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo (most forgiving iron set)Cleveland Launcher CBX (best budget-friendly iron set)

How do I choose the right golf clubs for me?

Key considerations to check are your height, body type and physical strength. As a general rule, taller players usually need a longer shaft to play at their best. In addition, you should also consider the shaft flex and its suitability to your swing.

What size irons do I need for my height?

Using the ratio of every 6" of height there should be a 1" change in length then there should be a 1 ½" difference between their 5-irons. For example, recommend 36.5" for the lady and 38" for the man (or 36.75" / 38.25").

How do I choose my first set of golf clubs?

The following are some of the most important things to consider before buying your first set of golf clubs.Identify your personal goals. ... Decide whether to buy used or new. ... Learn about clubfitting and shaft options. ... Use the right golf clubs to make golf easier. ... Look at a variety of stores.More items...•

What irons should a 20 handicap play?

What are the best irons for a 20 handicapper?TaylorMade Sim Max (Best all-round performance)Mizuno HMB (Best for forgiveness and feel)Ping G410 (Best control and performance)Wilson D7 (Best value)Callaway Mavrik (Great for distance)Mizuno JPX 921 (Great for feel)

How much should a set of golf clubs cost?

The Costs of Complete Sets of Golf Clubs Complete sets or packages of golf clubs aimed at the average golfer can range anywhere from around $100 to $1,200 (less than £100 to around the £1,000 mark).

How do you measure yourself for irons?

3:0615:40ARE MY CLUBS THE RIGHT LENGTH? FIND THE CORRECT GOLF ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStand in normal standing upright posture with your arms at your sides. And you're just going to takeMoreStand in normal standing upright posture with your arms at your sides. And you're just going to take a ruler just a standard yardstick. And you're going to measure.

How do you know if your golf clubs are too short?

The most common way to tell if your clubs are too short is that your back will be bent over too much, the heel of your club will be off the ground at address, and you'll often make contact towards the heel of the club.

How do you know if your golf clubs are too long?

Here's how to tell if your golf clubs are too long:Completely upright posture.Improper golf swing.Odd ball flight.Feels cumbersome and unmanageable.Shaft feels weak.Consistency hitting with the toe.The measurements are wrong.

How much should I spend on golf clubs as a beginner?

Beginner golfers should spend anywhere from $350 to $1,000 on a set of golf clubs. The more money you spend, the better the technology you will get, and the easier it will be to transition into being a great player.

Do I need a full set of irons?

The fact is that until you start getting better, start learning your yardages — until you've gotten to the point where you will actually see some difference in ball flight and distance between, say, hitting a 4-iron and hitting a 5-iron — there is really no need for a full set of clubs.

How often do you need new golf irons?

around every four to five yearsA good rule of thumb to follow is if you're a golfer with a low handicap or just a casual golfer is to replace your golf irons somewhere around every four to five years or after around three hundred rounds. This can prevent the golf clubs from wearing down to the point where it seriously impacts your golf game.

What clubs should the average golfer carry?

Most amateur golfers carry the same standard 12 clubs in their bag which are:(1) driver;(2) 3-wood.(3) 5-wood.(4-11) 3-iron through 9-iron.(12) putter.

What size golf clubs do I need?

Here's how to go about it to get the correct golf club length for your height…...1. Measure Your Overall Height (i.e. “static” fitting)OVERALL HEIGHTGOLF CLUB LENGTH ADJUSTMENTS5'7″ to 6'1″standard length in inches6'1″ to 6'2″plus 1/4″6'2″ to 6'4″plus 1/2″6'4″ to 6'6″plus 1″7 more rows

How much should a beginner spend on golf clubs?

Beginner golfers should spend anywhere from $350 to $1,000 on a set of golf clubs. The more money you spend, the better the technology you will get, and the easier it will be to transition into being a great player.

What are the biggest mistakes you can make when buying irons?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to buy expensive irons that are wrong for your game and swing. The right set will fit your game and swing as snugly as a bespoke suit. Choosing the best irons depends on a number of factors other than just your playing ability. The size, shape, flex, material and feel of the clubs are key elements ...

How to choose a golf club shaft?

Choose the right shaft flex. Shaft flexes -- the amount of bend in the club -- range from "Ladies" and "Senior" (typically, the most flexible) to "Regular," "Stiff" and "Extra Stiff." Some club manufacturers offer several different flexes for women. In general, the faster your swing speed, the stiffer the shaft should be. If you swing slowly and try to hit a stiff shaft, it will feel like you're swinging a telephone pole, and you'll likely leave the shot right (for a right-handed golfer). If you swing fast and use a flexible shaft, you'll have trouble controlling the direction of your shots -- they could go left or right.

What does it feel like to hit a stiff shaft?

If you swing slowly and try to hit a stiff shaft, it will feel like you're swinging a telephone pole, and you'll likely leave the shot right (for a right-handed golfer).

What is a player's iron?

Player's irons are targeted to players with the highest ability level and produce the best response when struck correctly. Game-improvement irons are for mid-level golfers. These irons are designed to produce better results -- straighter and longer shots -- when you miss contacting the ball in center of the clubface.

What are the key elements to consider when buying a golf club?

The size, shape, flex, material and feel of the clubs are key elements to consider. Price also is a serious consideration.

Can a club fitter match you?

An experienced club fitters can match you and your clubs to a tee. As "Wall Street Journal" writer John Paul Newport put it, clubs that fit properly "will make your subsequent golf less frustrating because well-fit clubs promote a more efficient swing.". Golfweeks' Adam Woodard breaks down the results from the match.

What to do if you have gaps in your long irons?

If you discover that you have improper gaps in your long irons, it may be time to consider adding another Rescue club to get some extra height and distance to make a seamless transition between your longest iron and your shortest wood. ". In the end, you need to find a set of irons that best suits your game and your eye.

Who is the product manager for Taylormade irons?

To help you find the best set of golf irons for your game, we asked TaylorMade's Product Creation Manager, Chandler Carr, a few frequently asked questions from the perspective of a potential buyer.

Can you combine irons in a split set?

If you're sticking within the "True Players Irons" listed above, you can combo those pretty seamlessly. But if you're going, say, from P770 to P790, it would be important to really take a close look at the lofts and test your distances with each set, so that you don't give yourself a massive gap within your split set (in terms of yardages)."

Do lofts vary with long irons?

However, it's important to keep in mind that the lofts will vary from set to set... the further you go toward the game improvement irons, the more of a distance gap you will see between each set.

Can you play a 5-iron with a 4-iron?

If you struggle hitting a 4-iron or a 5-iron, it can definitely help to go with a more forgiving iron model for your long irons. For example, if you're playing P790, you could keep PW through 6-iron and move your 5-iron and 4-iron to M3.

Do irons have a longer tenure?

Unlike wedges, drivers, or even putters, a set of irons tends to have a much longer tenure in the golf bag, often leading to a familiarity and attachment to the clubs themselves. Most golfers can swap in a new driver or try out a friend's wedge for a round without any issues... but try to force an unfamiliar set of irons into a golfer's hands? Forget it.

What Is In A Set Of Golf Irons?

A set of irons can vary depending on the type of club and the options that the manufacturer offers. Most iron sets will include the following:

How tall should a golf iron be?

Golf irons will come standard length unless you order them custom. Generally speaking for men, if you are taller than 6’1″ and shorter than 5’5″ you should be looking into custom golf clubs. The majority of golfers inside this range will be fine with a standard length golf club.

Is It Best To Buy Used Or New Golf Irons?

Used golf clubs are completely fine for a beginner golfer. The problem with used clubs is when a beginner buys themselves a set of used muscle backs or blades. Because they are harder to play you might get discouraged too soon to be able to enjoy the awesome game of golf.

What Golf Shaft To Choose?

If you don’t have the right golf shaft, the game is going to be much more difficult to learn. Here are some tips about which shaft a beginner golfer should be choosing for their clubs.

What are the two main categories of golf irons?

Golf irons are made by many manufacturers in several different styles. However, the majority of golf irons can be divided into two main categories, cavity back and muscle back or so-called blades.

What are the different types of golf irons?

However, the majority of golf irons can be divided into two main categories, cavity back and muscle back or so-called blades.

What is a cavity back iron?

A cavity back iron is a perimeter weighted club that is designed to help players get increased distance, launch, and forgiveness. Any time you hear about a game improvement club or a beginners club, it is likely a cavity back iron.

What happens if you play golf with clubs that don't suit your swing?

If you end up playing with clubs that don't suit your swing, you're not going to get most out of them - worse, you can end up adapting your swing and developing bad habits.

What happens if you don't play golf clubs?

If you end up playing with clubs that don’t suit your swing, you’re not going to get most out of them – worse, you can end up adapting your swing and developing bad habits. By building the right 14-club set for your swing, you’ll shoot lower scores and get more enjoyment from the game.

Why do you need to be honest with where you are in the game?

You need to be honest with where you are in the game, because most golf clubs are designed with a certain skill level category in mind.

Do you need high handicap drivers for iron play?

You might need the best high handicap drivers, or your iron play may lack consistency .

Is the custom fitting fee waived?

That peace of mind is well worth the custom fitting fee, which is often waived when you make a purchase in any case.

What to Look for in a Beginner Set of Golf Clubs?

In a beginner golf club set you should look for a good mix of drivers, woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and a putter.

Why are irons important in golf?

Irons are important for scoring well in golf. Golf course’s design most greens to be quite small and with various ridges and slopes. This makes it tough for a golf ball to stay on the green if you hit a line drive with a wood or driver, for example.

What is loft in golf?

Clubheads are designed for launching the golf ball into the air when they make contact with the ball. Loft is ultimately what controls your ball’s flight trajectory. Different components of the clubhead can be summed up in this image of this driver but they also apply to woods, hybrids, and irons.

Why do irons hold the ball on the greens?

Irons are able to hold the ball on greens by producing lots of backspin on the golf ball thanks to the grooves on the club face. If backspin is over done, your golf ball can also spin back off the front of the green since most greens slope from back to front but this is a more common problem for professional golfers who generate higher spin rates than the average player.

Why use wedges in golf?

Wedges are designed for improving your scoring as you get close to the green. They are created with higher loft that produces more accuracy and higher spin to help you get more control over the golf balls distance. Bounce is another factor to consider when picking out wedges in your club set.

How many clubs are in a golf set?

Golf club sets are composed of 14 clubs which is the maximum legal amount allowed by the USGA. In a beginner golf club set you should look for a good mix of drivers, woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and a putter. Most importantly, you want the golf clubs to cover your distance gaps.

What is the flex of a golf club shaft?

Another component of shafts is the flex. When a club is swung at fast speeds, the shaft flexes from the wind resistance and when the golf club head strikes the golf ball, the shaft flexes as well creating a whipping effect to generate speed into the ball. Your swing speed will usually determine the level of flex stiffness needed which can very ...

What is custom fitting golf club?

A golf club custom fitting ensures the equipment you buy work in unison with key factors such as height, swing speed, and technique.

How many clubs can you put in a golf bag?

You’re allowed a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag [Tom Miles] As for the type of clubs themselves, the best golf club sets for beginners will offer plenty of forgiveness and help to get the ball airborne. This applies to the driver, fairway woods, hybrids and irons, which tend to have larger faces and larger sweetspots.

Why are beginner sets good?

Which is why beginner sets offer plenty of forgiveness; they're manufactured in a way that means even when you don't strike the ball perfectly, they can still get the ball up in the air and shift it a good distance.

Is golf an expensive sport?

Golf can be an expensive sport to take up, and if you’re a beginner, there’s a fair chance you won’t want to spend a large amount of money, especially if you’re not 100 per cent sure you’re going to stick at it, or play regularly enough to justify the expense.

Do high street golf stores have PGA professionals?

Many of the big high street golf stores have qualified PGA professionals on hand to advise on this and help you get fitted with the right clubs.

Is golf hard to play?

Golf is hard, especially when you're starting out. You may well have seen the pros on the television seemingly control that little white ball on a piece of string.

Is custom fitting a huge expense?

It's not a huge expense, either, and often there's no cost at all, with the custom fitting price being waived when you buy the set of clubs.