Golf-FAQ.com

what do different irons do in golf

by Helen Koch Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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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.

Do different irons make a difference golf?

Also, new golf irons make a big difference because of two vital aspects: If the condition of your current set of irons is poor, a fresh set will help you improve height, reduce spin, and allow your shots to become more consistent.

How far should you hit a 7 iron?

A standard amateur golfer can hit a 7 iron from 128 yards to 158 yards. The lower range will be for women and senior golfers. To hit the ball over 150 yards in total distance with a 7 iron club, an amateur golfer will have to have a good swing and be physically fit.

What are the different types of golf irons?

Types of Irons For Golf
  • Forged 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.

What are the 7 irons for golf?

The 7-iron is often the middle club in your bag with the 8-iron, 9-iron, and pitching wedge on the shorter end and your 6-iron, 5-iron, and 4-iron on the longer end of the bag. It is also one of the most versatile clubs in your bag.Feb 17, 2022

What is a 8-iron used for?

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).

How do I choose the right irons?

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 to consider. Price also is a serious consideration.

What are the 3 types of irons?

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). Long irons are used to hit the ball further with a shorter loft, while the short irons are designed to produce a higher loft.

What are the easiest golf irons to hit?

8 Most Forgiving Irons 2022
  • Taylormade SIM2 Max OS (Best Overall)
  • Cobra F-Max Irons (Best for Moderate Swing Speeds)
  • Cleveland Launcher XL (Best for Crisp Clean Shots)
  • Cobra T-Rail Combo Set (Best for Low COG)
  • Wilson Launch Pad Irons (Best for High Launch)
  • Srixon ZX4 Irons (Best for Trajectory)
Mar 29, 2022

Are blades better than cavity backs?

Although blades are less forgiving than cavity backs, they tend to have less offset, better turf interaction, and improved workability, when compared to cavity back irons. They also force consistency from the best players in their swing which is why they are still favored by tour pros.

How far should I hit an 8 iron?

Golf Club Distance Chart
ClubMenWomen
6-iron130-150-16070-100-130
7-iron120-140-15065-90-120
8-iron110-130-14060-80-110
9-iron95-115-13055-70-95
9 more rows
Feb 12, 2020

How far does an 8 iron go?

Golf Club Distances Table
CLUBMEN'S AVERAGE DISTANCEWOMEN'S AVERAGE DISTANCE
6-iron150 yards130 yards
7-iron140 yards120 yards
8-iron130 yards110 yards
9-iron120 yards100 yards
10 more rows
6 days ago

How far does Tiger Woods hit a 7 iron?

Club Averages

His long irons (2- to 4-iron) range from 250 to 200 yards. His middle irons (5, 6, 7) range from 208 to 172 yards. His 8-iron travels 158 yards, and 9-iron flies 142.

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 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 ...

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 ...

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 golf irons?

The different golf irons can be divided into three categories: Long irons: 2, 3 and 4-irons. Used for long par threes or drives when your clubs are misbehaving. Can also be used for approach shots on long holes, but are harder to land where you want. Mid irons: 5, 6 and 7-irons.

What is the best iron for golf?

Players irons are the absolute best when it comes to golf gear, and it’s basically the stuff PGA pros are using on a daily basis. So, if you’re a skilled golfer, there’s nothing better than players irons , provided you can drive them correctly.

What are the two types of irons?

We must also mention the manufacturing process, which gives us two types of irons: forged irons and cast irons . Forged irons is built in a similar fashion to what an old-school village blacksmith used to do back in the day, i.e. you start from a rough shape, a chunk of metal if you like, which is hammered into the shape (more or less) of a golf iron. The raw forged iron, which is basically a carbon-steel alloy clubhead is then milled, ground, and polished to perfection until it looks like a modern-era golf iron.

What irons are good for high handicap golfers?

As we already told you, super game improvement i rons are the best choice for high handicap golfers and the way to go to lower your handicap.

What irons are good for par 3s?

Mid irons: 5, 6 and 7-irons. These irons have higher trajectory and more spin can be added to the shots with these. They hit shorter than the long irons and therefore they are suitable for normal par threes and approach shots on par 4 and 5’s.

What is the difference between a cavity back iron and a blade iron?

The former, cavity back irons respectively, are very popular nowadays among average-to-beginner golfers, and there’s a good reason for that: a cavity back iron has a larger sweet spot compared to a blade, and that makes it easier to hit, especially for beginners. On the other hand, muscle-back irons, also known as blade irons, ...

What is a game improvement iron?

Game improvement irons are basically a blend of nice design, larger head, great forgiveness on off-center hits, and impressive carry distance. Forgiveness and power, that’s the definition of a GII.

What are the different types of golf irons?

There are two different types of golf irons, forged and cast irons . Forged Irons: Forged irons are created from a single piece of metal that is smashed into a rough shape and then hammered into the finished design. The club head is then sent through the process of grinding, milling and polishing until the final product is produced.

Why are short irons easier to hit?

Short irons are typically easier to hit because the shaft of the club is shorter compared to the rest of the set. Learning how to hit your short irons is vital to shooting low rounds. Mid irons: Mid irons are your 6 iron and your 7 iron. These two irons should be your “mid distance” irons. Mid irons are a drop harder to hit than short irons ...

What is the difference between a cavity back iron and a blade iron?

Cavity back irons have a larger sweet spot than blades and make it easier to elevate the ball and achieve a straighter shot. Muscle back irons (also called blade irons or blades) are not the most forgiving iron style. However, they do allow you to shape your ball much easier when compared to cavity back irons.

What is the majority of a golf bag made of?

A majority of your golf bag is made up of irons. It is important that a golfer knows how each iron feels. However, finding the right set of golf irons can take a considerable amount of time and money. The main two styles of golf irons are a cavity back and a muscle back blade. Each of these irons have different subsets within them.

What is a muscle back iron?

A muscle back iron (or blade) features a full back rear of the club, while a cavity back features a hollowed-out rear end of the club. Cavity backs are used by all types of players, from beginner golfers to PGA Tour pros. Muscle back irons typically are only used by advanced players and some professional golfers.

How is cast iron made?

This type of iron is created by pouring molten metal into a mold, which then hardens as the finished process. Cast irons are created with multiple materials and feature more parameter weights. The casting process is cheaper and faster than the forged process.

What is a short iron called?

Short irons: Short irons are your 8 iron, 9 iron, and pitching wedge. These irons are also called the “scoring irons”.

Iron golf club distance chart

As we know that Iron golf clubs are categorized through different numbers. In most cases, they are available with a number from 2 to 9. Here is a little chart that will show you the expected distance you should get with a particular Iron-

What are the factors that determine the speed and distance?

Only picking up the right club is not going to deliver the appropriate distance you deserve. If you lack the skill, you cannot expect to get an explosive distance. But choosing the right club is as important as being better with your swing.

What is the loft of an iron?

Irons have angled faces (called "loft") etched with grooves that help grip the golf ball and impart spin. They are generally used on shots from the fairway, or for tee shots on short holes. As the number of an iron goes up (5-iron, 6-iron, etc.), the loft increases while the length of the shaft decreases. Meet the Hybrids.

How many different types of golf clubs are there?

There are several different types of golf clubs in a typical golfer's bag. In fact, today, there are five categories of clubs: woods (including the driver), irons, hybrids, wedges and putters.

What is wedge golf?

The wedges are the highest-lofted golf clubs. They are used for shorter approach shots into greens, for chips and pitches around greens, and for playing out of sand bunkers.

What is a clubhead in golf?

Clubheads: Clubheads can be a traditional blade; a heel-toe clubhead; or a mallet clubhead. A traditional blade is narrow and shallow, typically with the shaft entering at the heel (although sometimes center-shafted). Heel-toe putters have the same general shape as blades, but with extra weight at the heel and toe to add perimeter weighting, and with other design tricks to help make the clubs more "forgiving" on mishits. Mallet putters have large clubheads that maximize that forgiveness of poor contact. Mallets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some very large and quite unusual.

What is putter used for?

Putters are used for, well, putting . They are the clubs golfers use on the putting greens, for the last strokes played on a golf hole - for knocking the ball into the hole. There are more varieties of putters on the market than any other club. That may be because choosing a putter is a very personal process.

What is a wood golf club?

The category of golf clubs called "woods" includes the driver and the fairway woods. (They are called woods even though their clubheads are no longer made of wood.) The woods are the clubs with the largest heads (typically hollow, extending a few inches from side-to-side and a few inches from front to back, with rounded lines) ...

What is the difference between a heel toe and a mallet putter?

Heel-toe putters have the same general shape as blades , but with extra weight at the heel and toe to add perimeter weighting, and with other design tricks to help make the clubs more "forgiving" on mishits. Mallet putters have large clubheads that maximize that forgiveness of poor contact.

What are the two main styles of irons?

DIFFERENT STYLES OF IRONS. The two main styles of irons are cavity-backand muscle-backblades. The muscle-back style features a full back on the rear, while the cavity-back is made with a hollowed-out rear club head. Muscle backs are primarily used by the pros and advanced players, and the hollowed-out rear club head offers novices perimeter ...

What is a set of irons?

A set of irons is one of the biggest investments any beginner or advanced golfer makes to better their game. TGW offers all types of golf iron sets from TaylorMade and Titleist irons to Callaway, Cobra, PING, and more. As you’re searching for the perfect iron set to match your golf game, use our golf irons buying guide to help you find the right clubs. Here are five key aspects to consider about your next set of clubs:

How many degrees does a long hitter need to keep his irons separated?

Long hitters often keep irons separated by 3 degrees, while short hitters can use a 5-degree difference to ensure proper gapping.  TYPES OF SHAFT AND FLEX. The type of shaft and flex you choose affects the feel of the club, the distance it produces and your swing speed.

How many sets 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). Long irons are used to hit the ball further with a shorter loft, while the short irons are designed to produce a higher loft.

How many clubs are in an 8 club iron set?

Typical iron sets include seven or eight clubs: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 irons, as well as a pitching wedge and sometimes a gap wedge. Now, 8-club sets generally come with a gap wedge instead of a 3-iron. Hybrid iron sets replace the harder to hit long irons with hybrid clubs that are easier to launch with more forgiveness.

What is hybrid golf club?

Hybrid clubs, also known as rescue clubs, are designed with a larger profile and sweet spot that makes it easier to quickly elevate the ball to achieve a straighter shot with its more forgiving club face.

What is a wedge golf?

Wedges. Wedges are short-shafted, specially designed irons with heavy bottoms and a lot of loft--as much as 64 degrees. When you want to hit a short shot that lands quickly or have missed a green and need to chip or pitch the ball only a few yards to the hole, you usually want a wedge.

How many golf clubs can you carry?

Although you are limited to carry no more than 14, each club is designed for different distances and heights.

How much loft does a putter have?

The putter has a very straight face, with typically with no more than 5 degrees of loft (about half that of a driver). Some players prefer putters with longer shafts, ranging from "belly putters" to the longest "long putters” or, occasionally, "broomsticks.".

How many putters do golfers carry?

Golfers generally carry only one putter. Its purpose is simple--hit the ball into the hole after it lands on the green. Putters are sometimes used from just off the green when the grass is not too tall. The putter has a very straight face, with typically with no more than 5 degrees of loft (about half that of a driver). Some players prefer putters with longer shafts, ranging from "belly putters" to the longest "long putters” or, occasionally, "broomsticks."

What are the different types of wedges?

Typical wedges (from least to most loft) are pitching, gap, sand and lob ; most players carry at least the pitching and sand wedges. The lob wedge is often the third wedge added, and some players add a gap wedge if it suits their style of play.

What is a hybrid golf club?

While the typical hybrid has a flat face like an iron, some have the slightly curved face of a fairway wood; these are generally labeled "rescue clubs."

What is the longest club in golf?

Woods. Woods, which are now almost exclusively made of metal or composite materials, are the longest clubs in the bag. They are designed to the ball the farthest and generally result in the ball rolling quite a way after it lands. The club head of a wood is large and hollow and has a curved face.

What is the role of the shaft in golf?

The golf shaft connects the clubhead to your hands and it plays a very important role in terms of feel, distance, ball flight, and accuracy with both your irons and woods. More often than not golfers overlook the importance of playing with the correct shaft in their irons and woods.

What is the tip of a golf shaft?

The tip of the golf shaft refers to the bottom part of the shaft that attaches the shaft to the clubhead and the butt refers to the top part of the shaft. Iron shafts don’t have specific tips but driver, hybrid, and fairway wood shafts do. These specialized tips ensure that woods and hybrids can be adjusted according to the adjustability ...

What is shaft weight?

Shaft weight is the actual weight of the shaft in ounces or grams and swing weight refers to how heavy the clubhead feels when you swing the club . Swing weight will differ based on the relationship between the shaft and clubhead weight. Swing weight is measured using a swing weight scale.

What is the difference between graphite and steel shafts?

Steel and graphite shafts differ in a variety of different ways but with that being said both of these shaft types are great for many unique reasons. Steel shafts feature durable designs, they are affordable and they provide feedback on off-center strikes. On the other end of the spectrum, graphite shafts are available in a wide variety ...

Why is torque important in graphite wood?

Torque is very important when looking at graphite wood shafts but when we look at steel iron shafts torque becomes less relevant based on the construction difference of these two shaft types. Torque directly impacts accuracy and the importance of torque is amplified as swing speed/force applied increases.

Why is a low kick point important?

Kick point is very important since it had a direct impact on both the accuracy and trajectory of your shots. Low kick point shafts promote a higher ball flight and high kick points a lower trajectory . Additionally, low kick shafts promote a draw bias and high kick points a fade biased ball flight.

Can you use a L flex shaft for a senior?

A and L flex shafts are most commonly used by senior and female golfers but there are no rules that require ladies to play with L flex shafts for instance. Female players with above-average swing speeds will be best-suited to play with an R flex shaft instead.

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Set Composition

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 th...
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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 the long irons. We still classify it as a mid-iron…
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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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