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what are short irons in golf

by Amanda Tromp Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago
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  • Long irons have a longer shaft and can be more difficult to hit with precision.
  • Short irons are designed to allow us to hit the ball close with the right technique.
  • Long irons will generally be played more towards the front of the stance or off the left chest of the right handed golfer.
  • Short irons will be played center of stance or slightly back depending on the desired flight of the ball.
  • Some golfers like Bryson DeChambeua use single length irons to reduce the complication of learning a variation of a swing for each iron.
  • Many long irons such as the 2 or 3 iron have been replaced by hybrid clubs, which can be easier to hit higher and further.
  • Long irons can be great clubs to punch out of trees or to hit off the tee on shorter, narrow holes.

The 8 and 9 irons are commonly called the "short irons". They have the highest-mass clubheads and the shortest shafts of the numbered irons, and are used for shots requiring high loft or moderate to short distance (typically between 130 and 150 yards with a full swing).

Full Answer

What are the best golf irons for beginners?

The term "short irons" is one that most golfers apply to the 8-iron, 9-iron and pitching wedge, collectively. Those three golf clubs are grouped together as "the short irons." There is not universal agreement among all golfers everywhere that those three clubs, and only those three clubs, make up the short irons.

What is the typical length of golf irons?

Open Up On Short Irons. Part I: Before You Swing. Clap Hands For The Grip. The Short Thumb. Look High, Look Low. Aim The Clubface First. Your Feet Can Fool You. Don't Toe The ... Part II: The Long Game. Part III: The Short Game. Part IV: Bunkers And Trouble Play. Part V: Managing Yourself And Your ...

Are low spin Irons bad for golf?

Short irons are designed to allow us to hit the ball close with the right technique. Long irons will generally be played more towards the front of the stance or off the left chest of the right handed golfer. Short irons will be played center of stance or slightly back depending on the desired flight of the ball. Some golfers like Bryson DeChambeua use single length irons to reduce the …

What are all the styles of golf irons?

Long irons help you cover significant distance and achieve accuracy--placing the ball on or near the green. Your goal with short irons is precision--consistently getting the ball close to the...

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What are long irons and short irons?

Long Irons Vs 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.

Which are short irons?

The term "short irons" is one that most golfers apply to the 8-iron, 9-iron and pitching wedge, collectively. Those three golf clubs are grouped together as "the short irons." There is not universal agreement among all golfers everywhere that those three clubs, and only those three clubs, make up the short irons.

Is a 7 iron a short iron?

Long, Mid-, 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 the long irons.
Jan 6, 2020

How do you hit short irons in golf?

Part of a video titled THE BIGGEST MISTAKES MADE WITH SHORT IRONS - YouTube
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I would always want to place my club down first to make sure my leading edge is that 90 degrees toMoreI would always want to place my club down first to make sure my leading edge is that 90 degrees to my boss target line so once that is placed in there I want to fill out my stunts.

Are shorter irons better?

A shorter club technically should improve control and accuracy. A longer club technically should increase distance. A club that is properly fitted in terms of the length of the shaft will maximize accuracy and distance.

What clubs are short irons?

The 8 and 9 irons are commonly called the "short irons". They have the highest-mass clubheads and the shortest shafts of the numbered irons, and are used for shots requiring high loft or moderate to short distance (typically between 130 and 150 yards with a full swing).

Why is a 5-iron so hard to hit?

Some golfers make the mistake of playing the five iron with a ball position that is right in the middle of their stance. This will make it very difficult to even get the ball up off the ground. A proper ball position with a five iron is closer to your left foot than it is to the middle of your stance.Aug 5, 2015

How far should a 9-iron go?

Beta Program
ClubMen's Average DistanceWomen's Average Distance
8-iron130 yards110 yards
9-iron120 yards100 yards
Pitching wedge110 yards90 yards
Sand wedge90 yards80 yards
9 more rows
Mar 15, 2022

How far should a 6 iron go?

You should hit a six iron about 150 yards. The average golfer gets just over 150 yards with their six-iron. Players with faster swing speed will get closer to 165 or even 170 with a six iron.

Why do I pull short irons?

Pulling short irons is very common. Note that where the ball goes is always a combination of swing path and clubface position. When you are pulling you are swinging across the target line and with a clubface that is closed to your target line. Short irons are easier to pull for a few reasons.

How can I practice short irons?

To work on it, make some less-than-full swings with a short iron where you do the opposite of what you might have heard when it comes to using a headcover under your trail arm as a training aid. Instead of holding it under there for the swing, start with it tucked there and make sure you drop it early in the backswing.Dec 21, 2020

Why do my short irons go right?

The ball position being too far back essentially causes the golf club to hit the ball too soon. When this happens, the club face is usually slightly open, resulting in a push to the right. This is one of the best reasons you could have for pushing your irons because it is a simple and quick fix.

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 ...

Which is easier to hit, a short iron or a long iron?

For most amateurs, the short irons are easier to hit than the mid-irons, which are easier to hit than the long irons. Without getting too technical, the reason is that as loft increases and shaft length decreases, a club becomes easier to master.

Why are irons called irons?

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

Who wrote Meet the Irons?

Meet the Irons: An Intro for Golf Beginners. Written by. Brent Kelley. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. Tripsavvy's Editorial Guidelines.

Which has more loft, a shorter shaft, and produces shorter shots?

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 shaft, and produces shorter shots than the 3-iron. The pitching wedge has the most loft, the shortest shaft, and the shortest distance in the traditional 3-PW iron set.

Which wedge has the shortest shaft?

The pitching wedge has the most loft, the shortest shaft, and the shortest distance in the traditional 3-PW iron set. 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.

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.

How to set up short irons?

Standard set up with short irons is with the ball in the middle of your stance and your feet shoulder width apart. The first step is to assess your lie. If the lie is poor, in taller grass, or presenting limited access to the back of the ball, you want to choke down on the club and push the ball an inch or two back in your stance.

What is the focus of short iron play?

In summary, the focus on short iron play is absolute precision – controlling not only direction but the distance of each shot. Take the same athletic posture and stance suitable for maintaining balance throughout your swing.

What is a short iron?

Short irons are designed to allow us to hit the ball close with the right technique. Long irons will generally be played more towards the front of the stance or off the left chest of the right handed golfer. Short irons will be played center of stance or slightly back depending on the desired flight of the ball.

Why do golfers use single length irons?

Some golfers like Bryson DeChambeua use single length irons to reduce the complication of learning a variation of a swing for each iron. Many long irons such as the 2 or 3 iron have been replaced by hybrid clubs, which can be easier to hit higher and further.

What is the difference between a long iron and a short iron?

Some quick difference between long irons vs short irons in the game of golf include the following: Long irons have a longer shaft and can be more difficult to hit with precision. Short irons are designed to allow us to hit the ball close with the right technique.

Which is harder, a long iron or a short iron?

Long irons have a longer shaft and can be more difficult to hit with precision. Short irons are designed to allow us to hit the ball close with the right technique. Long irons will generally be played more towards the front of the stance or off the left chest of the right handed golfer.

Where to play long irons?

Long irons will generally be played more towards the front of the stance or off the left chest of the right handed golfer. Short irons will be played center of stance or slightly back depending on the desired flight of the ball.

What is a stock shot in golf?

The best golfers have a “stock shot,” this is a shot that is their go to pattern on their shot. For example, I utilize a stock draw shot that I know will start right of my target line and curve back towards the target.

Can you hit a draw if your swing path is right of the club face?

You can still hit a draw if your swing path is right of the club face. Here is a quick primer on the ball flight laws: If you understand the ball flight laws you can start to become your own swing instructor and make corrections on the range or the course by reading the flight of your golf ball.

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, ...

Is it better to hit a long iron or a short iron?

Long irons are considerably harder to hit than short irons, and it is good to have a general understanding of this concept. The more prepared you are to take on these long iron shots, the better your chance for success. Here is everything you need to know to start hitting your long irons properly again.

Is a long iron longer than a short iron?

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. 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 ...

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, ...

Is a seven iron harder to hit than a four iron?

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, the clubs just keep becoming more and more challenging to hit.

Can you hit a long iron?

As hard as it is to be able to hit a long iron well, it is possible. There are plenty of great players that have learned to adapt to hitting long irons, and they know how to enjoy their time on the course by using a long iron to benefit them. However, this probably came with a little practice and tweaking to the game.

STEP 1: STOP PRESSING

The loft on your 8- and 9-irons is already enough to produce towering approach shots. But many players still feel the need to press their hands too far forward at address, which delofts the clubface. Instead, try this: Play the ball in the middle of a narrow stance and set your hands about an inch ahead of the ball.

STEP 2: SHIFT AND TURN

The best players rotate their hips and shoulders as much with their short irons as they do with their driver. Start your downswing by shifting your lower body toward the target, then turn your hips through (above). You may feel the clubhead lagging, but that’s the feeling you want.

STEP 3: SWIVEL TO THE FINISH

Don’t try to steer the club into the ball. Instead, concentrate on swinging the clubhead toward the target. You should also allow your head to swivel forward to encourage momentum down the target line. Your torso and hips should point just left of the target at the finish, and your weight should be over your front foot.

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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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