what are the pros and cons of one length golf irons

• One Length Irons Overview And Their History. The conversation surrounding single-length irons has gained in popularity thanks to DeChambeau’s antics.
• Pros Of Single Length Irons. The single shaft length helps you improve your clubhead speed and angle of attack to achieve a consistently powerful launch.
• Disadvantages Of Single Length Irons. In their test on single-length irons, Golf.com found that the longer irons delivered a low ball flight.

Full Answer

Do single length Irons really increase distance?

Advocates of single-length irons believe that iron length plays a much smaller role in distance than traditionally believed and that what role it does play can be made up for in single-length irons through properly matching club characteristics, including weighting properties, to the golfer.

What are the advantages of using different lengths of golf clubs?

Advantages Because each iron is the same length (roughly equivalent to a 7 iron) your set up position will be the same with each club in the set. You will be standing the same distance from the ball with each club. The ball position (forward or back in relation to your feet) will be the same for each club.

Are long irons harder to hit?

Long irons can be quite challenging to hit solidly. They can be intimidating for new golfers and experienced players alike. One of the reasons they are difficult to hit is the length of the shaft. This means the clubhead is far away from the center of control in the golfer’s hands. Single length irons don’t have this problem.

Are one length Irons good for short people?

Golfers that choose one length irons should make sure that they are in the recommended height range for this club. If you are taller than 6’0 and shorter than 5’6″ you should look at a custom fitting for the one length. Within this range, then you should be fine to stick with the standard one length golf clubs.

What is the downside to one length irons?

Theory Behind The One Length Irons As you move up in the set, the irons get quite a bit longer. The problem that this has caused for golfers is that the longer irons are sometimes too long and too difficult to swing. Many golfers find that as their clubs get longer, their game gets a lot less consistent.

Are single length irons a good idea?

Single-length iron sets could be a good option for beginners and high handicappers. This group would only have to use one iron setup, which could accelerate learning. And they'd likely struggle less with longer-than-standard scoring clubs than with standard-length long irons.

Will one length irons improve my game?

The reality is that mid-high handicap players don't strike their 4 and 5-irons out of the middle on a regular basis. That's where the single-length irons can really help. We've found that the strike with the single length irons in the 5 and 4-iron is much more consistent than with variable length irons.

Should all golf irons be the same length?

As for all of his irons being the same length and being legal, the PGA Tour has no jurisdiction on whether or not his clubs are too long, too short or all one length. The only governing body to make rulings about equipment would be the USGA and the R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews).

Is Bryson DeChambeau's driver the same length as his irons?

That's right. DeChambeau plays all of his irons -- all of which have unique names -- with the same 37.5-inch shaft and has been doing it since 2011, when he made the switch -- from 3-iron to 60-degree wedge -- with coach Mike Schy.

Did Bobby Jones use single length irons?

Although the concept of making each iron in a set the same length is not new (Bobby Jones used single length irons in 1930 to win the Grand Slam), never before has there been so much attention given to single length.

Which pros use single length irons?

Norman won 86 times internationally, including 20 Tour events, along with the 1986 British Open. DeChambeau is currently the only Tour player who uses single-length irons, but Norman said he thinks that could change in the future.

Are one length irons the future?

The one length irons will help you become more accurate by eliminating those inconsistencies which means golfers of all skill levels can benefit from playing these clubs. Bryson has proved these irons work well by winning five times on the PGA Tour and once Internationally by the age of 25.

What length are Bryson DeChambeau's irons?

37.5 inchesAll of his irons are seven iron length (37.5 inches to be exact) to ensure he swings the same with every club and they're fitted with extremely thick JumboMax grips (opens in new tab), the largest grips commercially available.

How do you get fitted for one length irons?

0:023:38F7 One Length Fitting Process - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply some face tape for three shots. And then what is that plotting on the face look like once you'MoreApply some face tape for three shots. And then what is that plotting on the face look like once you've completed that I like to go then to the 7-iron again and just hit three shots because.

Who makes the most forgiving golf clubs?

The Most Forgiving Irons Are:Best All Round – Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB Irons. View on Amazon. ... Budget Pick – LAZRUS Premium Golf Irons. View on Amazon. ... Premium Pick – TaylorMade P790 Irons. ... Cobra F Max Irons. ... TaylorMade M4 Irons. ... Callaway Golf Mavrik Iron Set. ... Mizuno JPX921 Forged Irons. ... TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Iron Set.

Does Bryson DeChambeau use one length wedges?

If you didn't know already, DeChambeau uses one length clubs which basically means he has a shaft the length of a 7-iron in each of his clubs (irons and wedges) for a more consistent swing plane across the set.

What pros use one length irons?

Norman won 86 times internationally, including 20 Tour events, along with the 1986 British Open. DeChambeau is currently the only Tour player who uses single-length irons, but Norman said he thinks that could change in the future.

Do pros use cavity back irons?

According to Titleist, 70% of tour players use cavity backs while 30% use blades. Cavity back irons provide increased forgiveness while blades offer more control and a better feel. This is why a lot of tour players have both cavity backs and blade irons in their bags.

What length are Bryson DeChambeau's irons?

37.5 inchesAll of his irons are seven iron length (37.5 inches to be exact) to ensure he swings the same with every club and they're fitted with extremely thick JumboMax grips (opens in new tab), the largest grips commercially available.

Does Bryson DeChambeau use one length wedges?

If you didn't know already, DeChambeau uses one length clubs which basically means he has a shaft the length of a 7-iron in each of his clubs (irons and wedges) for a more consistent swing plane across the set.

Why are long irons so hard to hit?

They can be intimidating for new golfers and experienced players alike. One of the reasons they are difficult to hit is the length of the shaft. This means the clubhead is far away from the center of control in the golfer’s hands .

Is it easy to learn golf?

One of the things that people have to learn is the different setup and stance for every club. If they have single length irons, the game will be that much easier for them to learn.

Is there a single length iron?

The Selection of Single Length Irons is Still Limited. As single length irons have only appeared on the golfing scene fairly recently, the selection available is fairly limited. Most of the major manufacturers do not offer a set of single length irons.

Is a single length iron easier to hit?

Single length irons don’t have this problem. All of the shafts are the length of a mid-iron, often a 6-iron or 7-iron. Thus, the long irons in a single length iron set are much easier to hit.

Is golf a traditional sport?

As you probably already know, golf is a very traditional sport, and this tradition and history is one of the reasons the sport is so special. However, it can make purists a little suspicious of new developments like single length irons. To learn more about the pros and cons of these clubs, read on.

Can you play with single length irons longer?

However, it is the reality for playing with single length irons now.

What are the different lengths of golf irons?

A standard set of golf irons has clubs of all different lengths. The shorter irons are the wedges, nine iron, and 8 iron. Then you have mid-length irons and then finally long irons like the five, four, and three iron. As you move up in the set, the irons get quite a bit longer. The problem that this has caused for golfers is ...

Why do golfers put long irons in the bag?

For most amateur golfers, the long irons sit in the bag because they are afraid to use them. If that describes you, then distance should not be a concern when switching to the one length irons.

How tall should a golf iron be?

Golfers that choose one length irons should make sure that they are in the recommended height range for this club. If you are taller than 6’0 and shorter than 5’6″ you should look at a custom fitting for the one length. Within this range, then you should be fine to stick with the standard one length golf clubs.

What is a one length iron?

The One Length iron concept is a reasonably new idea in the world of golf. One-length irons have become very popular very quickly. Some golfers will try and have golf clubs cut to length and adjusted to make them a one length set. The technology behind the one length irons is unique and exciting.

What length iron is the most popular?

What Length Are One Length Irons. Most one length irons are going to be the same length as the seven iron. Some sets are made with all clubs the same length as the eight or six iron, but the seven iron is the most popular.

Who makes the single length iron?

Cobra is the most well-known manufacturer of the single length iron set. These are the clubs that Bryson helped contribute to and explain to Cobra why these irons would make such a difference in the lives of the amateur golfers.

Can you cut irons to be the same length?

This is not very easy to do. When you try and cut your irons all to be the same length, you are going to throw off the lie angles, and the lofts could be off as well. The best way to get a set of one length irons is to order them directly from a manufacturer.

Ease Of Use – Especially For Beginners

One great benefit to one length irons is their benefit to beginner golfers or those getting back into golf. Say you were to take any beginner to the range and have them hit a four iron followed by a sand wedge. You will quickly notice how difficult it is for beginners to come to terms with differing club lenghts.

Bryson Dechambeau – The Proof Is In The Pudding

You might be wondering how Bryson Dechambeau is a “pro” for single length irons. The answer is quite simple, Bryson proved to the world that these irons can be used at an elite level.

Long Irons Are Much Easier

Another great benefit of these one length irons is the ease with which you can hit your lower irons. There is an old joke that talks about a golfer holding his 3 iron in the middle of a lightning storm. The other golfers look at him and ask what he is doing. He laughs and says don’t worry not even god can hit this.

Short Irons Are More Difficult

One con you may come across with one length irons is that the shorter irons may be more difficult. The reason for this is because the shafts of these irons are going to be noticeably longer with a single length iron set.

Smaller Club Selection

Another factor that you want to consider about one length irons is the smaller selection. As you likely already know varying length irons are much more popular.

Potential Loss Of Distance

One argument against one length irons is that they will reduce your distance. This is because the length of the shaft is a factor in the clubhead speed. The speed of the clubhead affects the distance the ball will travel.

Concluding Thoughts

All in all, single length irons are an interesting spin on golf equipment and something we believe every golfer should try out once. Though they might not be the answer to all your problems these clubs may be your key to consistency.

What is a three iron wedge?

The term is used to describe a set of irons, usually from three-iron to pitching wedge, that have the same length of shaft which is usually the length of a seven-iron. Of late they have been popularised by Cobra.

When did Chris Evans switch to Cobra irons?

He switched into Cobra one-length irons at the start of 2019 and has tracked his performance throughout the year. As we reach the end of 2019, he highlights both the good and the bad points of using one-length irons.

Who is the editor of Well Golf Monthly?

Well Golf Monthly Editor Michael Harris used one length irons for a year and in the video below, he gives his thoughts/.

Does Mike Arccos have iron play?

Well thanks to the one-length technology, and the shot-tracking analysis by Arccos, Mike felt that his iron play, which usually is one of the weakest parts of his game, definitely improved over the year.

Can you swing the same way regardless of what club you have in your hand?

Essentially you can swing the same way regardless of what club you have in your hand. Bryson has coupled this with a single plane swing to “create a swing that’s consistent from club to club, that doesn’t have a lot of moving parts to mess up.”.

When were single length irons invented?

The idea for single-length irons goes back at least to the 1930s, probably much earlier. An antecedent can be found in a set of irons Bobby Jones designed for Spalding, in which every two clubs were the same length (3- and 4-iron were the same length, 5- and 6-iron, and so on). Probably the first true, mass-produced single-length set was ...

What is a 5-iron set?

In a traditional iron set - what some have started referring to as "variable-length irons" - each iron in the set is a different length. The irons get shorter as the number gets higher. A 5-iron is shorter than a 4-iron; a 6-iron is shorter than a 5-iron; and so on.

What is the difference between lie angles and clubheads?

The clubheads are all identical weights; the lie angles are all identical and about 10-degrees more upright than typical . The point, DeChambeau says, is to "create a swing that's consistent from club to club, that doesn't have a lot of moving parts to mess up.". And it works for him.

When did DeChambeau start making his own irons?

When he was 17 years old, under the influence of his instructor at that time plus the instructional book The Golfing Machine (by Homer Kelley, published originally in 1979 ), DeChambeau fashioned his own set of single-length irons (they were all the length of a traditional 6-iron).

Who is the only golfer to win the NCAA Championship?

And it works for him. In 2015, DeChambeau joined Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, and Ryan Moore as the only golfers to win the NCAA Championship and U.S. Amateur Championship in the same year. In 2016, DeChambeau won his first pro tournament, the Web.com Tour 's DAP Championship. And in 2017, DeChambeau became ...

Is single length iron new?

Single-Length Irons Are Not New. There are new technologies in golf all the time, but there aren't a lot of new ideas. So it's not unusual for old ideas to get recycled, expanded upon, tweaked, improved on, especially once the technology catches up to the idea. The idea for single-length irons goes back at least to the 1930s, probably much earlier.

Do you have to move the golf ball forward or back?

No need to move the golf ball forward or back in your stance depending on the club used; no resetting to adjust to a club's length; no swinging more or less upright, no more one-plane or two-plane to adjust to club length. This is the major selling point and should benefit golfers of all skill levels.

What are the pros and cons of golf?

On-course: PROS AND CONS 1 Tee shot on par-3: The 4- and 5-irons in the single-length set were much easier to hit consistently and accurately, with tighter dispersion on the greens. 2 Tee shot on par-4: Same as above. High handicaps took a liking to single-length 4- and 5-irons and found them a comfortable fit. Initially, single-length long irons felt strange to the better players, but they adjusted and hit these irons better, too. 3 Long-iron approach to elevated green: Ball flight with single-length 4- and 5-irons was much lower, which hurt stopping power on greens. Slower head speeds and shorter shafts (7-iron length) can make it more difficult to hit shots as high and far. 4 150-yard approach from the fairway with short irons: In both sets, the 8-PW performed similarly, although the single-length model felt a bit more powerful at impact. 5 140-yard approach from fairway bunker with short irons (8-PW): Testers tended to hit shots heavy with the single-length 9-iron and PW. But solid shots carried up to five yards farther with the single-length model. 6 Chip shot: Though better players needed a little time to adjust to the single-length wedge, it positioned the hands more forward and produced more spin, so shots stopped quicker. Even so, the standard-length wedge had more consistent dispersion.

How many yards between irons for practice tee?

How the sets fared on the practice tee: Manufacturers (and fitters) often say you want to have 10-yard gaps between irons. None of the panelists had the “appropriate” gapping with either test set. Consider checking your yardages on a launch monitor. The findings could make you re-think your set makeup.

What are the benefits of EQL irons?

The benefit of these irons, proponents say, is simplicity (you have the same posture, and hence the same swing, every time), which leads to more consistent contact. This is hardly a new idea. In 1989, Tommy Armour Golf debuted a similar concept, EQL irons, but sales were poor, and the idea never took off.

Who is the only golf pro to use a single plane swing?

Bryson DeChambeau thinks outside the (tee) box. The former U.S. Amateur champ is the only Tour pro who uses a single-plane swing while playing irons that are all one length (nearly identical to a 7-iron). Is DeChambeau merely an eccentric outlier, or is there something to single-length irons?

Is single length iron good?

Single-length iron sets could be a good option for beginners and high handicappers. This group would only have to use one iron setup, which could accelerate learning. And they’d likely struggle less with longer-than-standard scoring clubs than with standard-length long irons.

Are One-Length Irons Any Good?

In theory, one length irons help with club speed and the consistency of strike. The reason it’s worth trying these specialist clubs is that you can swing each club in the same way, meaning you don’t have to make adjustments when you take different clubs out of your bag.

What Manufacturers Make One Length Irons?

The best brand to turn to if you’re looking for one length irons is Cobra, thanks to the company’s partnership with Bryson Dechambeau. Bryson doesn’t just play Cobra; he is actively involved in the R&D process and influences the way that their clubs are made.

Do Any Pros Use One Length Irons?

American superstar Bryson Dechambeau is the most famous PGA player to use one-length irons. Known as “the Scientist,” Bryson is famous for his analytical approach to the game and has long used data and technology to his significant advantage when preparing clubs for his bag.

Do You Lose Distance with One Length Irons?

Most players find that the difference in distance between one length irons and standard irons is negligible and shouldn’t influence your decision a great deal. The overarching reason why you should switch to single-length irons is control rather than distance.

Can High Handicappers Use Single Length Irons?

Beginner golfers and high-handicappers can certainly benefit from adjusting the length of their irons. This is because beginner golfers have not yet made the necessary adjustments to their setup when addressing the ball with different irons.

Does Bryson Dechambeau Still Use One Length Irons?

Yes, Bryson Dechambeau still uses one length irons. Bryson initially made the switch to single length irons to accommodate his one-plane swing. His theory was that if he could keep as many aspects of his setup and swing consistent, he would be less likely to hit errant shots.

Did Bobby Jones Use Single-Length Irons?

Yes, in the 1930s, Bobby Jones used single-length irons. As the only player to win four majors in one year, Bobby Jones is regarded as one of the finest golfers of all time.

What Is A One Length Iron?

A set of one length irons will have all of the irons in the set manufactured to be the same length as a seven iron. This simple change will impact the way the club performs from a ball flight, workability, and even a distance perspective. The single length irons make it easy for golfers to keep their setup and stance the same on almost any swing.

Best One Length Irons – Reviews

It should come as no surprise that the newest release from Cobra takes over the top spot as the best single length irons on the market. On almost every iron set Cobra releases, they will include a one length option to appeal to players. The new Radspped is 37.5 inches long and comes with matching hybrids and wedges as well.

Buyers Guide: Choosing The Best Single Length Irons

As you can see from our list of the best one length irons in the game of golf, Cobra is quite well known for its presence in this industry. Cobra worked with Bryson Dechambeau to develop the original one length golf clubs that Bryson had already been playing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you have a better idea as to what one length irons you should purchase, it’s a good idea to ask a few questions about these clubs and ensure they are the proper fit for your game.

Conclusion

We hope that you now have a better understanding of the best one length irons on the market. The Cobra Radspeed one length irons stand out as the best overall choice as they are the newest and most advanced technology. The weighting on these clubs is impressive and allows for some of the fastest ball speeds we have seen from the Cobra brand.