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what are long irons in golf

by Kennith Will Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The irons from 2 to 4 are typically called the "long irons"; they have the lowest lofts and the longest shafts, and are designed to hit the ball long distances (180-260 yards) with low launch angles.

Full Answer

How to hit long irons in golf?

Tips For Hitting Long Irons

  • Correct Ball Positioning. When positioning the golf ball for a long iron shot, most players make two errors: having the ball too far back or having the ball positioned too ...
  • Widen Your Arc. ...
  • Consider More Than Just the Impact. ...
  • Take Your Time. ...

What is the typical length of golf irons?

Standard Sizes of Golf Clubs

  • Driver. Your driver is technically your most important club. ...
  • Putter. Your putter isn’t much shorter than your average driver. ...
  • Irons. FIrons are shorter because they’re meant for distance, not for height. ...
  • Woods. All of your woods are likely longer than all of your irons. ...
  • Wedges. Wedges follow similar reasons that woods do. ...
  • Hybrids. ...

What are the best irons for an average golfer?

The 3 Best Average Golfer Irons

  1. Cleveland Launcher
  2. Taylormade M4 These are one of the more complete irons on the market and that’s why they come with a steeper price tag. ...
  3. Cobra F-Max These are a great set of irons for the average golfer because they won’t break the bank but they still offer all the benefits you’d want such ...

Which irons are the longest?

#4 Srixon Z585

  • Loft (25)
  • Data Gathered (Foresight Indoors)
  • Swing Speed: 94 MPH
  • Ball Speed: 132 MPH
  • Spin: 4,500 RPM
  • Carry: 205 yds

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Is a 7 iron a long iron?

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 of the long irons.

What are long irons and what are short irons?

The most significant difference between these two clubs is the length and the loft. The long irons are, in fact, longer than the short irons. When you start with a club like a pitching wedge in your hand, and you move up to the nine iron, there is an increase in the loft of the club.

Do you hit long irons the same as short irons?

There are a few main differences when it comes to hitting long irons vs. hitting short irons. The biggest difference is the ball position. The shorter and more loft on the iron, the more the ball is in the middle of your stance.

Do you hit down on long irons?

It's so far forward that they can't hit down on the ball and compress it. If you're struggling to hit the ball solid with your long irons, then by all means, play the ball in the middle of your stance or a ball or two forward of center, like you would an 8-iron.

Should I use hybrids or long irons?

Interestingly, from over 200 yards a hybrid is almost twice as effective compared to a long iron. It is still more effective between 180-200 yards, but that gap closes within 180 yards. This proves that most golfers should not be carrying irons which they can hit over 180 yards – instead, swap them for a hybrid.

Should you swing harder with long irons?

The tendency with longer irons is to put more effort into the shot than you would if you were swinging a pitching wedge. But if you swing these clubs just like your short irons, your timing will be a lot better. You'll also have a better chance of making centerface contact, which matters most when swinging these clubs.

How do you use long irons?

3:249:23(2020) How To Hit Long Irons Pure And Straight [*NEW GOLF DRILLS!]YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd just hit a few little shots feeling a good robust crack of the whip a snap of the club head butMoreAnd just hit a few little shots feeling a good robust crack of the whip a snap of the club head but stop a couple of feet right after impact right about there give or take.

Why do I hook long irons?

Probably the most common cause of a hook is the swing path. A perfect swing path would be slightly inside out. The players that hook the ball come very far inside with their path. You will notice with a golfer who has a terrible hook problem that the club may end up on an inside path directly after take away.

How do you hit long irons?

If you want to hit your long irons well, ball positioning is key and it must sit slightly forward of centre to promote a shallower attack angle. Additionally, it's crucial you dial back the tempo. Fast swings result in lost shape, so a smooth, effortless rotation will yield far better results.

How far should an average golfer hit a 7 iron?

The average golfer hits their 7 iron 145 yards, but the average distances will vary between 128 and 160 yards. Golfers in their 20s typically hit the ball the longest, and the distance tends to decrease as the golfer gets older.

How do you hit long irons off the tee?

0:202:35How to hit an iron off the tee: 5 tips for teeing off on a par-3 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo take advantage of the opportunity find a level spot then push the t all the way down in theMoreSo take advantage of the opportunity find a level spot then push the t all the way down in the ground. So it's barely. Out so the ball is just resting on the tops of the blades of grass.

Why do I hit my long irons fat?

Hitting the ball fat is often a consequence of having an angle of attack that is too steep. To prevent this, feel like you take the club back with your arms whilst rotating your shoulders around your spine.

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 ...

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.

Why are irons called irons?

The golf clubs called irons are so-called because their clubheads are made of metal.

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 ...

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 ...

Full Turn

When it comes to how to swing a golf club, making a full turn in the backswing is a must, not only to build the power but to help deliver a flatter swing. Long irons do not respond to an ' over the top ' steep and across the ball action.

Ball Position

Many golfers appreciate the fact that they need to get the ball forward in the stance – but go easy. I like to get club players to move it to just forward of centre. With a long-iron, the swing arc is bigger, so the movement of mass will be slightly greater, especially forward.

Weight transfer

Because it’s a long-iron, the temptation is to think, ‘I have to hit it long’, and that often means club golfers don’t complete the backswing in an anxious attempt to hit it hard.

What is a long iron and how do I hit it well?

Most people consider anything less-lofted than a 6-iron to be ‘long’, so for most golfers this would be a 4 or a 5-iron.

Why do you need a tee on a long iron?

One of the biggest fears for players hitting long irons is the interaction with the turf, so using a tee will help alleviate that pressure and stressful feeling while you work on your swing. What it will also help to do is promote an ‘upward’ strike and counteract steep swings.

How to shallow a golf swing?

For players who swing too steep, practicing sweeping the ball off a tee will help to shallow the swing.

What are the two mistakes people can make when positioning the ball for a long iron shot?

There’s two errors people can make, somewhat obvious ones, when positioning the ball for a long iron shot: having the ball too far forward or too far back in the stance.

How to pure a long iron?

To pure a long iron, your backswing should be smooth and controlled, with a slight pause at the top, not a snap, to move between backswing and downswing. The follow through should be full and free of tension, allowing the club shaft to rest on your lead shoulder after making a full turn.

Why are hybrid golf clubs good?

Hybrids are excellent clubs for promoting consistency through forgiving design, but you might find they just don’t have the same ability to work the ball or be kept low into the wind or under trees as they are built to get the ball into the air easier.

When will golfers hit the longer irons in 2021?

March 7, 2021. March 25, 2021. For many golfers, hitting the longer irons – the 3, 4 and 5-iron – well, is extremely challenging. You feel super comfortable with a 9-iron in hand and confident with a 7-iron, yet sneak a little lower in loft to a 5 iron and the anxiety sets in. The filthy chunks.

Why do you need a long iron in golf?

Overall, if you have the skills and the swing speed , it can be worth keeping both a hybrid and a long iron in your golf bag.

What is a 3 iron golf set?

The 3 iron was considered a staple in the set, and it bridged the gap between the irons and the fairway woods. More and more golfers started realizing that the 3 iron was just too difficult to hit, and the sets started being sold as 4-PW.

What About Mid To Low Handicappers – Are Pros Hitting Hybrids Or Long Irons?

Typically the better a player gets, the more likely they are to carry a long iron in their bag. Better players like the long irons because they have more control over them.

What is the best iron for handicapping?

Since lower handicappers like to play shots like fades and draws, the long irons are going to be the best choice. The hybrids don’t have quite as much versatility as the long irons.

Why are long irons being phased out?

This mostly comes down to the difficulty that golfers have of getting the ball up in the air. Long irons, when hit well, are going to feel really pure. They will allow you to go after a pin and stop the ball quickly on the green.

What irons are available in a short iron hybrid?

Some brands make hybrids available in a 6, 7, 8, 9 iron and even a pitching wedge and as part of a full hybrid set.

Why are hybrid golf clubs so popular?

Hybrids hve become very popular with beginners, average players and slow swingers because the lower center of gravity and bigger face allows for more accurate shots with a better flight trajectory. As players get really good, however, they will want greater control and feel over their clubs and gravitate towards the longer Irons.

How to hit long irons?

If you know there are a few par 3s or 4s where you may need to hit 5-iron, then take a few additional minutes during warm-ups to hit a few 5-irons. Start off by hitting several punch shots, swinging from 9 (o’clock) to 3, so that you can feel and hear the ball coming square off the center of the clubface. Nothing helps your confidence more than the feeling of a few perfectly struck irons. Then progress into some slightly longer, but compact, swings. If you hit a couple of flush 5-irons in warm-ups, it will remove that apprehension you may be experiencing on the course. Here are a few other keys to help you become more efficient at hitting the longer irons.

How to hit a ball solid with long irons?

If you’re struggling to hit the ball solid with your long irons, then by all means, play the ball in the middle of your stance or a ball or two forward of center, like you would an 8-iron. This will help you to compress it better and launch the ball high with enough spin to carry it the appropriate distance.

How many yards does a 5 iron hit?

According to statistics pulled from TOURCaddie ( www.pgatourcaddie.com ), the average 0-9 handicapper hits their 5-iron 175 yards on average, the 10-19 handicapper 168 yards, and the 20+ handicapper 149 yards. That’s quite a gap between the better player and the higher handicap golfer. Why the huge disparity? For one, most golfers simply don’t like hitting 5-iron. After all, how often do you see someone hitting a 5-iron on the range prior to their round? Probably never. You’ll see them hitting their sand or pitching wedge, and maybe a 7-iron, and then they’ll move right on up into the driver. You see, the long iron is already in their heads mentally before they tee off. So when the time comes to hit a controlled 160- to 180-yard shot on the course, how confident do you think they are standing over the ball with a 5-iron in hand?

What happens if you hit a couple of flush 5 irons in warm ups?

If you hit a couple of flush 5-irons in warm-ups, it will remove that apprehension you may be experiencing on the course. Here are a few other keys to help you become more efficient at hitting the longer irons.

What is the difference between short irons and long irons?

To start off, it makes sense to understand the difference between short irons and long irons. The most significant difference between these two clubs is the length and the loft. The long irons are, in fact, longer than the short irons. When you start with a club like a pitching wedge in your hand, and you move up to the nine iron, ...

Why Can I Hit Short Irons But Not Long Irons?

Each time you put the seven or eight iron in your hands, you feel as though you can do whatever is necessary with the club to get it near the pin.

Can Single Length Irons Help?

Single length irons make it much easier for golfers to set up to the golf ball.

What happens when you start with a golf club like a pitching wedge in your hand?

When you start with a club like a pitching wedge in your hand, and you move up to the nine iron, there is an increase in the loft of the club. This increase in length continues its way up the entire set of golf clubs. The longest iron in your bag will be considerably longer than the wedges in your golf bag.

How much less loft is a 7 iron?

Each club is about three or four degrees less loft than the club before them. This means that your seven iron is going to have considerably less loft than your four iron. The longer a golf club is and the more loft that it has, the more difficult it is to hit. As you can see, as you move from the nine iron up to the four iron, ...

How to get better at four irons?

If you struggle with your four iron, take it to the range and start tweaking a few things in your setup, ball position, stance, and even swing length . See if there are slight chances you can make to start hitting the ball better.

Why are my long irons not hitting?

Chances are you are struggling with your long irons because your swing speed is not quite fast enough to be able to hit them properly.

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Set Composition

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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 an…
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Loft, Length, and Distance

  • As you go through the set, from the 3-iron to the pitching wedge, each iron has a little more loft than the previous, and a little shorter shaft length than the previous, so each club (going from 3-iron to PW) hits the golf ball a little less distance than the previous. That is, a 5-iron has more loft, a shorter shaft, and produces shorter shots than the 4-iron; the 4-iron has more loft, a shorter sh…
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Long, Mid-, and Short 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 of t...
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Distances

  • Learning your distances—how far you hit each club—is much more important than trying to hit each club to some predetermined "correct" yardage. There is no "right" distance for each club, there is only your distance. That said, a typical male recreational golfer might hit a 4-, 5-, or 6- iron from 150 yards, while a typical female might use a 3-wood, 5-wood, or 3-iron from that distance. …
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Hitting

  • Irons can be played from the teeing ground, using a golf tee, and it is often appropriate to do so. On a par-3 hole, for example, you will probably use an iron on your tee shot. Or you might use an iron off any (or even every) tee in order to have better control over the shot. But most of your iron shots will come from the fairway. Irons are designed with divots in mind. That's why they have a …
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'Loose' Arms

  • I encourage my students to remove the tension... think of ‘loose arms’ at address. Not only can this help fight that tension and anxiety, but it’ll also encourage you to complete the backswing and produce a smooth action. When we talk about the perfect grip- we often focus on how the hands need to be positioned on the club but your grip tension is just as important, especially when you …
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Full Turn

  • When it comes to how to swing a golf club, making a full turn in the backswing is a must, not only to build the power but to help deliver a flatter swing. Long irons do not respond to an 'over the top' steep and across the ball action. I also think club golfers get carried away with the idea that a big stance is a powerful stance. If it's too wide it will restrict your ability to turn and inhibit the free fl…
See more on golfmonthly.com

Ball Position

  • Many golfers appreciate the fact that they need to get the ball forward in the stance – but go easy. I like to get club players to move it to just forward of centre. With a long-iron, the swing arc is bigger, so the movement of mass will be slightly greater, especially forward. Having the ball positionjust left of centre helps accommodate this. Too...
See more on golfmonthly.com

Weight Transfer

  • Because it’s a long-iron, the temptation is to think, ‘I have to hit it long’, and that often means club golfers don’t complete the backswing in an anxious attempt to hit it hard. It’s a long arc, so you have to finish your backswing, which means going to the maximum of your turn – whatever that is for you – but, crucially, without swaying, just turning your torso. This weight distribution in the g…
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'Collect' The Ball

  • The ball is a point on the swing arc and is just collected along the way. Of course, you're committed to hitting it, but not at it. Sweep it away with a smooth action. The flow of the golf swing is essential and with the harder clubs to hit this can be more difficult to produce. If you have in mind to keep things fluid, you should be able to improve the way you hit your long irons.
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