
What are the numbers on a golf ball for?
The small numbers are the long irons, and they will be used for tee shots or long approach shots. The middle numbers are obviously the mid irons, and they will be used on shorter par three holes and approach-shots that are not too long and require more accuracy. Mid irons are easier to hit than long irons.
How many irons are in a set of golf clubs?
Irons are the most common type of club; a standard set of 14 golf clubs will usually contain between 7 and 11 irons, including wedges.
What is an iron in golf?
An iron is a type of club used in the sport of golf to propel the ball towards the hole. Irons typically have shorter shafts and smaller clubheads than woods, the head is made of solid iron or steel, and the head's primary feature is a large, flat, angled face, usually scored with grooves.
What class is a 5 iron on a golf club?
The 5-iron sits on the cusp between "long" and "mid" irons, and can be thought of as belonging to either class depending on the set and the player's preference; it is used more often and replaced with a hybrid less often than the 2-4, but is still commonly replaced with a hybrid club, especially in ladies' sets.
Why are wedges important?
Why do lower irons work?
How are irons numbered?
What is a 10 iron wedge?
What is a driver in golf?
What is hook in golf?
Why do lower irons go farther than wedges?
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About this website
Is there a 10-iron in golf?
Actually, a 10-iron has a special place in golf history. Charles Coody used one during his 1971 Masters win, and the club is enshrined in Augusta National's trophy room. But still, this is a rare one.
Is a 10-iron a wedge?
Technically speaking, a 10-iron is one club shorter than a 9-iron. The 10-iron has the same lof as a pitching wedge. But the pitching wedge is a bit heavier and has a more pronounced bounce angle which makes it more versatile than the 10-iron and is why the 10-iron has all but disappeared.
What is a 9-iron called?
NiblickNiblick: Along with the mashie (and mashie-niblick), the best-known among the old clubs because of its distinctive name. It was a higher-lofted iron such as a modern 9-iron. Some golf manufacturers still break out the "niblick" name for wedges and chippers, when they want to try to capitalize on club nostalgia.
What are the names of golf irons?
They were:Driving iron: 1 Iron.Mid-iron: 2 Iron.Mid-mashie: 3 Iron.Mashie iron: 4 Iron.Mashie: 5 Iron.Spade mashie: 6 Iron.Mashie-niblick: 7 Iron.Pitching niblick: 8 Iron.More items...
What is a ten iron?
An iron with the same loft angle as a pitching wedge, but the same bounce angle and swing weight of a nine-iron. In the days when a golfer could carry more than 14 clubs, the ten iron was more popular.
What is the best iron for pitching?
For this approach shot you would normally hit a full pitching wedge, but in these conditions you will need a lower trajectory and more distance. The 9 iron is the better choice here as it will guarantee enough distance without creating spin which will call the golf ball to balloon and come up short.
What is an 11 iron golf club?
The 8 through 11 irons (in Honma's nomenclature, the 10-iron is a pitching wedge and the 11-iron is a gap wedge) are designed for optimum spin to control the ball when it lands on the green by increasing contact time with the grooves while maintaining forgiveness, Suzuki says.
What is a 8 iron used for?
The 8 iron is a great club for chipping to a middle pin. Grip down and use it in place of a 9 iron or wedge and swing easy for a better chance to get close to the pin. Ball Position and Stance: Position your golf ball in the center of your stance and adjust your hands forward, just left of the center of your body.
What is a 2 wood in golf called?
Brassie is the old traditional name for a wood No. 2 golf club. Brassies have a loft that is higher than that of a driver, but less than a 3 wood.
What are the 3 most used golf clubs?
The 3 most vital clubs are the driver, putter, and wedge, in that order. If you were to look at pro golfers then I'd probably say that order is right.
What golf club is called a mashie?
Mashie – this is an old name for a golf club used for approach shots. The modern equivalent of this would be the 5-iron club.
What are each golf iron used for?
Generally speaking, a 3-wood is used for a shot in the range of 210 yards, while a 3-iron is used for a shot in the range of 180 yards. A 5-wood is used for a shot of about 180 yards, while a 5-iron is used for a shot of about 160 yards.
What different types of irons are there?
Types of Irons For GolfForged Irons. Forging a club is very similar to what the village blacksmith used to do. ... Cast Irons. The alternative to forged irons is the cast iron. ... Blade Irons. ... Cavity Back Irons.Sets Of Irons. ... Hybrid Sets Of Irons. ... Steel Shafts. ... Graphite Shafts.More items...
What are all the golf clubs called?
In fact, today, there are five categories of clubs: woods (including the driver), irons, hybrids, wedges and putters.
How many types of irons are there?
Irons are divided into three sets; long irons (2, 3 and 4-irons), mid-irons (5, 6 and 7-irons) and short irons (8 and 9-irons, plus the pitching wedge).
How many irons are there in golf?
A modern set of golf clubs typically consists of three woods (the 1-driver, 3, and 5), at least 1 hybrid (3H) seven irons (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and PW), and a putter. This gives you a total of twelve clubs.
Why are long irons so difficult to hit?
Long irons are traditionally regarded as the most difficult to hit, because their low loft gives them a very small striking face and "sweet spot" compared to higher-lofted irons. As such, they are less commonly seen in players' bags, usually replaced with higher-lofted fairway woods like the 5 and 7, or with hybrid clubs that have similar overall performance but are easier to hit. The 2-iron, like the driving iron, is virtually never seen in modern sets, due to both its difficulty and to a "de-lofting" of modern cavity-backed irons which increases the average distance of shorter irons. If the long irons are used, they are often seen with graphite shafts to add additional clubhead speed to the average golfer's swing by storing energy from the downswing and releasing it at impact. Hybrid clubs that replace these irons also often have graphite shafts for the same reason.
Why are graphite irons better than long irons?
These irons often have graphite shafts in newer sets, even when shorter irons have steel; the graphite will give better distance for the average golfer at the cost of some loss of consistency due to shaft torquing.
Why does the shaft length of an iron decrease as the iron's number increases?
This reduced length means that a clubhead of the same mass traveling at the same angular velocity (degrees per second , as swung by a golfer) has lower momentum because the clubhead's speed is slower. To combat this, higher-numbered iron clubheads are heavier than lower-numbered iron heads; there is generally a 1⁄4 -ounce (7 g) increase in mass between one clubhead and the next higher number.
How are irons made?
Although most irons are now produced by investment casting , many high end iron sets are still produced by forging, as the resulting clubhead is easier to adjust by bending to adapt the set to a player's specific needs. The resulting club is also generally thought to have an improved "feel" due to the softer consistency of the forged metal as opposed to cast.
How many clubs can you have with a driver and two fairway irons?
This usually comes at the cost of having to remove other clubs, often the long irons, from the bag in order to meet the 14-club limit; with a driver and two fairway irons or hybrids, for a player to have four wedges, they must start their numbered irons at the four-iron instead of the three.
What is a wedge iron called?
Irons with higher loft than the numbered irons are called wedges, which are typically marked with a letter indicating their name, and are used for a variety of "utility" shots requiring short distances or high launch angles. Prior to about 1940, irons were given names rather than numbers.
What is a cavity back iron?
Cavity back, or perimeter weighted, irons are usually made by investment casting, which creates a harder metal allowing thinner surfaces while retaining durability, and also allows for more precise placement of metal than forging techniques. Cavity backs are so called because of the cavity created in the rear of the clubhead due to the removal of metal from the center of the clubhead's back, which is then redistributed, most of it very low and towards the toe and heel of the clubhead. This has the general effect of lowering the clubhead's center of mass, placing it underneath that of the ball allowing for a higher launch angle for a given loft. The perimeter weighting also increases the moment of inertia, making the clubhead more resistant to twisting on impact with the ball. The end result is a clubhead with a larger "sweet spot" that is more forgiving of slight mis-hits.
Why are irons called irons?
The golf clubs called irons are so-called because their clubheads are made of metal.
Why are golf clubs called irons?
The golf clubs called irons are so-called because their clubheads are made of metal. Of course, "woods" are now also made of metal, but that's a relatively recent development. Irons have featured metal clubheads (steel, these days) for centuries. The clubheads of irons are thin from front to back, and the clubfaces are grooved to impart spin on ...
What is the difference between a blade and a muscleback iron?
The difference is that a blade-style features a full back on the rear ...
Why are short irons easier to hit than long irons?
Without getting too technical, the reason is that as loft increases and shaft length decreases, a club becomes easier to master. A shorter shaft makes a club easier to control in the swing (think of baseball where a batter will "choke up" on the bat—essentially, shorten the bat—when he's simply trying to make contact rather than swing for the fences). More loft helps get the ball airborne and adds a little more control to the shot.
How many clubs are in a golf club?
A typical, off-the-shelf set of irons will include a 3-iron through pitching wedge (advertised as "3-PW"), 8 clubs total. The clubs are identified by a number (3, 4, 5, etc.) on the sole of each club, except for the pitching wedge which will have a "PW" or "P." Other irons may be available for purchase separately, including a 2-iron and additional wedges ( gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge). None of the additional clubs are necessary for beginners, and especially not the 2-iron. 1-irons used to be available, too, but are now virtually extinct.
How many yards is a 3-iron?
The yardage gap between irons is generally 10-15 yards. Your 3-iron, in other words, should produce shots that are 10-15 yards longer than your 4-iron. The specifics of this gap depend on the player, but the gap should be consistent from club to club.
What are the different types of irons?
Irons are generally categorized as long irons, mid-irons , and short irons. Long irons are the 2-, 3- ,and 4-irons; mid-irons, the 5-, 6-, and 7-irons; short irons, the 8- and 9-irons and pitching wedge. (Two-irons are becoming obsolete and are exceedingly rare for recreational golfers. Because of this, some sources now count the 5-iron as one ...
What Do the Numbers Mean on a Golf Club?
Now that you are more familiar with the types of golf clubs, what about the golf club numbers? Golf club numbers refer to the loft, which is the angle of the golf club face. When you adjust the loft, you are changing the height and distance the golf ball will travel when struck.
What does it mean when you adjust the loft of a golf club?
When you adjust the loft, you are changing the height and distance the golf ball will travel when struck. The lower the golf club number, the less loft, the less intense the angle on the golf club face; this means the golf ball will travel more distance at a lower height.
What are the different types of golf clubs?
The three common types of golf clubs are wood, iron and putter. You can find these types of golf clubs at our golf pro shop in South Florida.
What is the difference between a wood and an iron club?
The difference between a wood and iron club refers to the material the club is made out of. A 3-wood and 3-iron will have the same loft angle, as would a 5-iron and 5-wood, though made of different materials, which means they are better suited for different shots.
Why are putters so easy to remember?
Putter Golf Clubs. Putters are easy to remember because they have short shafts and smaller club heads. You may recognize this club from the last time you played mini-golf, but, hopefully, your putter is much better than those!
Is it hard to learn golf?
Golf can seem a little complicated to newcomers and first-timers, and understandably so. Learning to play golf can be difficult due to its steep learning curve, rules and regulations, and equipment specifications that accompany the game. A common question newcomers to the sport ask is the meaning behind the various golf club numbers. Thankfully, our South Florida golf course experts at Deer Creek Golf Club are here to share some insight into the golf club numbering system. We will break down what the numbers mean and which numbered club you should use for particular shots.
What Is In A Set Of Golf Irons?
Normally a set of irons will consist of 4-9 along with a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. Sometimes golfers will add in a 3-iron if they are skilled in hitting the longer irons. And sometimes a gap or lob wedge is added for the utility.
What wedges are used in golf?
Traditionally the only wedges you would find in a golf set was the pitching wedge and the sand wedge.
How many slots are there in a driver putter?
If you’re looking to carry a driver, a 3- and a 5-wood and (of course) a putter you will have 10 slots left for the irons and wedges. Then you can carry a set of irons from 3-9 along with a pitching wedge, a sand wedge and a lob wedge. But if you’re looking to add a hybrid, a 7-wood or even a 2-iron, then the compromise will start.
Why is the Sand Wedge my friend?
Personally, the sand wedge (SW) has always been my friend. Maybe because I like those short, high trajectory shots around the green.
Which is easier to hit, a short iron or a mid iron?
Mid irons are easier to hit than long irons. Then there are the high numbers, and those will be used for the shortest approach shots and some very short par threes. The short irons are the easiest to hit. Lastly there are a vast selection of wedges to choose from. These can be utilized for many shots around the green and in and around hazards.
Why don't golf sets come with a 3 iron?
With the emergence of utility woods the long irons have become less and less popular. The 3-iron suffers from the fact that it is still quite hard to hit well consistently, for the inexperienced golfer. That is also why a lot of golf sets don’t come with a 3-iron, it is something that you need to request specifically.
What are the small numbers on a golf iron?
The small numbers are the long irons, and they will be used for tee shots or long approach shots. The middle numbers are obviously the mid irons, and they will be used on shorter par three holes and approach-shots that are not too long and require more accuracy. Mid irons are easier to hit than long irons. Then there are the high numbers, and those ...
Why are wedges important?
Wedges are an important part of your game. They are the scoring irons and make sure you get close to the pin.
Why do lower irons work?
This is because the error gets magnified in proportion to the distance the ball travels. One has, therefore, to be careful and skillful in hitting the ball very accurately with lower irons and - unless you are a professional - this is not easy.
How are irons numbered?
In a standard set, irons are numbered in order based upon the amount of loft. For example, my set of 3 thru PW are as follows.
What is a 10 iron wedge?
The “10-iron” is more commonly called the “pitching wedge”, which represents the transition between “short irons” and “wedges”. The pitching wedge usually follows the loft progression of numbered irons and is included in matched sets much more often than other wedges, including the Gap/Utility, Sand, and Loft wedges.
What is a driver in golf?
A driver is a longer club and takes you longer to get it around to the ball. So if you are actively using your hands to close the clubface then you are getting the clubface closed (to the path) by the time the driver gets to the ball and not doing so with the shorter clubs.
What is hook in golf?
A hook is the opposite. It occurs when the clubface is closed compared to the path.
Why do lower irons go farther than wedges?
There are three basic reasons for this. Firstly, the lower irons, are intended to send the ball farther than wedges. From simple geometrical considerations , even a slight error in the hit direction (or spin) results in a fairly large error of the landing spot of the ball when it travels a longer distance.

Overview
Types of irons
Most irons in a player's bag are labelled with a number indicating their loft; the higher the number, the higher the loft. A matched set of irons will have a regular, progressive increase in loft through the irons, which may differ from set to set due to other design considerations that can affect launch angle and distance. Irons have been seen ranging in number from 0 through 12, but the most common number range in the modern iron set is 3 to 9.
Design and manufacture
Historically all irons were forged from a flat piece of metal, which produced a thin clubhead that resembled a blade. Modern investment casting processes enabled manufacturers to easily mass-produce clubs with consistent properties. This manufacturing process was first used by Ping, and also made it possible to take weight out of the back of the clubhead and distribute it around the perimeter. …
Components
Investment casting, while allowing for a greater range of design options, produces a very stiff and inflexible head that can be difficult to adjust for a player's desired lie and loft. Forged irons, while they allow for easier and a greater range of adjustments, are limited in the designs that may be achieved.
The shaft length of an iron decreases as the iron's number increases; therefore the iron number i…
See also
• Obsolete golf clubs
External links
• Public patent information on muscle-back iron
• Public patent information on cavity-back iron
• Public patent information on hybrid iron