
The "a" in A-wedge stands for either "approach" or (less commonly) "attack," and you might see a manufacturer use one of those names (approach wedge or attack wedge) instead of A-wedge.
Full Answer
What are the best irons for an average golfer?
The 3 Best Average Golfer Irons
- Cleveland Launcher
- Taylormade M4 These are one of the more complete irons on the market and that’s why they come with a steeper price tag. ...
- 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 iron is the most versatile in golf?
Reviews of the Top 7 Golf Wedges
- Mizuno S18. This mid-size, rounded profile wedge is a good competitor in the short game. ...
- Cobra King MIM. The favorite club in my bag is a Cobra Baffler 5 wood, but let’s leave that in the bag as we are talking wedges here.
- Callaway Mack Daddy 4. ...
- TaylorMade Milled Grind 2. ...
- Wilson Harmonized. ...
- Titleist Vokey SM 7. ...
- Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth. ...
What is an an iron golf club used for?
When to Use Certain Golf Clubs
- DRIVER. This will often be the first club you reach for during a round of golf. ...
- FAIRWAY WOODS. Fairway woods can be a versatile club in your golf bag. ...
- HYBRIDS. Hybrids are a blend of fairway woods and irons, bringing together the best aspects of both. ...
- IRONS. ...
- WEDGES. ...
- PUTTER. ...
How many clubs are in a golf iron set?
With the younger set you get five clubs while the 8-11-years version also includes a 3 wood and a nine iron. The only real danger is seven clubs might not be enough for many good 8-11-year-olds. There are some nice touches from the junior golf clubs made ...

What wedges were used in golf?
In earlier times, golf wedges were fewer: You had your pitching wedge and you had your sand wedge. For much of golf history — at least after the 14-club limit went into effect — those were the only wedges found in the bags of golfers, even in pros' bags.
How to identify a wedge in golf?
A golf club manufacturer might identify an A-wedge by stamping an "A" or "AW" on the sole near the toe of the club, but it's becoming more common all the time to stamp the wedge's degrees of loft there. The "a" in A-wedge stands for either "approach" or (less commonly) "attack," and you might see a manufacturer use one of those names ...
What is an A wedge?
The A-wedge is a golf club that is another name for a gap wedge, which is used for shorter and softer shots, and one of the four main types of wedges, which include (from least loft to most loft) the pitching wedge, A-wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge.
What does the A in a wedge mean?
The "a" in A-wedge stands for either "approach" or (less commonly) "attack," and you might see a manufacturer use one of those names ( approach wedge or attack wedge) instead of A-wedge. As already noted, A-wedge itself is just another name for the gap wedge, a club known by more different names than any other modern club in golf: gap wedge, ...
Why is the A wedge called the gap wedge?
The reason for the A-wedge's versatility and variety of names is because of the history of golf clubs evolving to include more specific clubs for different situations. In traditional, 8-club golf sets, the pitching wedge was the last club. If a golfer added a sand wedge to her bag, she was left with a large gap in loft between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. The A-wedge filled that gap (hence its more common name: gap wedge).
Where is the number on a golf iron?
In most cases, the number displayed on a fairway wood or iron is always in the same place. On fairway woods, this number is often on the bottom of the club so that it’s visible when the club is in your bag. Numbers stamped on irons are usually found on the bottom of the club for the same reason, but some manufacturers display this information on the rear of the club.
What are the three types of golf clubs?
The three golf club types are wood, iron, and putter. Wood – These are the long-range clubs used at the beginning of every hole when you tee off.
Why do golfers use clubhead covers?
Most golfers use clubhead covers to protect their driver and fairway woods from damage sustained in their golf bag. These covers are always marked with corresponding numbers so that even when a clubhead is covered, you can still identify the club with ease.
What are the best golf clubs for beginners?
As a guide for first-time golfers, a standard beginner golf club set would look like this: 1 Woods – 3 & 5 2 Irons – 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a pitching wedge 3 Putter – only 1 needed
What does 9.5 mean on a golf club?
A driver, however, usually has a number such as 9.5 or 10.5 to indicate the loft of the club. Drivers are available in a variety of lofts. Wedges typically don’t have numbers. Instead that have letters such as P or PW ...
What does the number on a golf club mean?
Golf club numbers refer to the loft , which is the angle of the golf clubface. Adjust the loft and you change the height or distance the golf ball will travel when struck. The lower the golf club number, the lower the 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 does higher loft mean on a golf club?
The higher the golf club number, the higher the loft, the more intense the angle on the golf club face ; these means the golf ball will travel higher but for a shorter distance.
What is an iron in golf?
Irons in a golf bag. 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.
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.
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 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 does the A on a golf club stand for?
The "A" or "AW" stamped on certain golf clubs stands for "Approach" or "Approach Wedge."
Why is it important to have lofts on 9 irons?
Because you'll be taking so many full or near-full swing shots with your PW and AW, it's crucial that they have lofts that give you good distance gaps in relation to your 9-iron.
What is a gap wedge?
Clubs labeled as an Approach Wedge (AW) or Gap Wedge (GW) have more degrees of loft than a Pitching Wedge (PW). A full swing shot with an AW/GW should travel shorter than a PW, but further than a SW.
What is a driving iron?
Driving irons: also known as a 1 iron, this longer iron has an almost vertical face and is used as a substitute for a driver when accuracy or exact distance is a must; for example, Tour players may use a driving iron when fairways get too narrow or they want to hit their tee shot just a bit shorter to avoid a hazard.
Why is it important to choose irons?
It’s important to choose irons that fit your game because doing so will allow you to hit those crisp shots we all crave and advance to the next level. This leads us to Pro Tip #4 - make the golf clubs work for you, not the other way around.
What is Titleist golf?
When it comes to irons, Titleist Golf is known for their blade designs and driving irons. You will see plenty of Titliest long irons on Tour utilized as driving irons when the fairways get too narrow. Their T-Series irons are geared toward low to mid handicappers, though that doesn’t mean Titleist Golf has eliminated offerings for their higher handicap customers.
What is a SIM2 Max iron?
On the flip side, if you’re a higher handicap golfer, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max irons are designed with a larger sweet spot, which means you’ll find distance and accuracy on your iron shots despite a slight miss-hit. Turns out TaylorMade Golf’s driver technology carries over into their irons.
What is a game improvement iron?
Game improvement irons: these irons are geared towards mid to high handicappers who are looking for more forgiveness, distance and accuracy.
What is a T300 iron?
In fact, the T300 irons are some of the most advanced game improvement irons in the market today; slightly larger but packed with the same T-Series technology, the T300 irons increase your swing speed and forgiveness.
What is Callaway iron?
Callaway irons are one of the most consistently high performance golf clubs in the market. Ever since they introduced Apex technology, their irons are the perfect blend of accuracy, distance and forgiveness.
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.
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 a wood golf club?
Wood golf clubs are long-range clubs used at the beginning of every hole when you tee off. For longer courses, use wood golf clubs in the second swing. Woods have large, circular club heads with a flat front where you strike the golf ball.
What does the number mean on a golf club?
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. 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.
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 do you need to know about fitting golf clubs?
You need to know what shafts can give more height or less spin and which shafts will give a firmer or softer feel but deliver similar launch conditions.
Why is it important to choose the right golf shaft?
Choosing the proper shaft is a hugely important part of the fitting process. The shaft will greatly influence the feel of your irons, not to mention the launch, spin, landing angle, and distance of your golf shots. Also, there are no standards in ...
Do upright clubs go left or right?
Upright clubs tend to go more left…. Bending them upright might give a cleaner divot but would make his misses even further to the left. Not a good move as a fitter. Incidentally, when the face is closed, the toe is lower, the lie board was giving him a false impression of his club’s lie angle at impact.
Do you need a shaft for a golf club?
Also, there are no standards in the golf industry for shafts. One company might call one shaft “stiff,” and another might call the same shaft “regular.” It’s literally the wild west out there. Don’t assume if you have X swing speed; you need a certain shaft. There is a lot more nuance to it, which is why you should work with a qualified clubfitter if you can. Getting the weight, flex, and profile right is crucial.
Is iron shaft better for tempo?
Obviously, we want the clubs we fit you for to be suitable for the hard or soft shots you’ll undoubtedly face, but I want to hedge the fit towards your specific tendencies. Some iron shafts are better suited for quick tempo players (usually players who like to hit it hard), and some perform better with smoother deliveries. The answer to this question can help steer us into the best bend profile for the client.
What is the longest iron in golf?
Irons are designed for use on the fairway when golfers get closer to the green. The 4-iron, the longest iron used by many golfers, has a long shaft and a low loft of approximately 25 degrees. A typical man will hit a 4-iron 170 yards. Women’s clubs may have slightly more loft, and women will typically hit the ball shorter for each club.
Why is a 2 iron used?
Because the 2-iron has such a low loft at below 20 degrees, it is seldom used. Many golfers from beginners to the pros are starting to replace long irons with hybrids, which are easier to hit and are designed for distance and accuracy.
What is a sand wedge?
The sand wedge is used to get out of sand traps or bunkers around the green. The gap wedge is purchased separately, and is lofted at 50 degrees or more. The key is to purchase a gap wedge that has a loft in between that of the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. Advanced players sometimes carry a lob wedge, which may have a very high loft ...
What is the loft angle of a 5 iron?
Middle Irons. A typical loft angle for the 5-iron is 28 degrees, while the 6-iron is 31 degrees and the 7-iron weighs in at 34 degrees. These irons achieve distances of 160, 150 and 140 yards respectively for typical men, and 110, 100 and 90 yards for women, making them useful clubs on the fairway. Some players who are having trouble hitting ...
How many degrees of loft is a 7 iron?
To complicate matters, in recent years some golf club companies have changed the loft of their irons, so that the 7-iron, for example, may have had somewhere around 38 degrees of loft in years past, ...
How many yards does an 8 iron get?
The 8-iron will get around 130 yards, 80 for women, and is usually lofted at around 37 degrees. The shorter 9-iron will achieve 120 yards, 70 for women, and it typically has a loft of 41 degrees. These clubs can also be used for pitch shots and chip shots such as the “bump and run.”.
What temperature is a 2-iron?
The 2-, 3-, and 4-iron traditionally ranged from 20 degrees to 27 degrees.
When addressing the golf ball with your iron, is it important to recognize?
Again it’s very important to recognize when addressing the golf ball with your iron.
How to measure a golf club?
Enlist the help of a friend for a simple measure . Once you have the club head in this flat to the ground and slightly toed up position. Have your friend slide a piece of paper under the toe of the club. The paper should slide under the toe of the clubhead slightly. The paper should be stopped just before it reaches the middle of the clubhead.
What happens when paper is slid under the toe of the golf club?
When the paper is slid under the toe of the club and it easily slides clearly through to the heel of the club, the golf club position is too flat. The grip end of the golf club should be lifted which will lower the toe of the club closer to the ground surface.
How to impact a golf ball?
The result of this is the club shaft has a slight press forward look. This press forward affect will carry forward into our swings and impact position. When you’re impacting the golf ball the clubhead impacts the golf ball then enters the ground to take a small divot.
What is the best way to position a golf club on the grass?
When you sole your club on the grass you want the bottom of the club to sit flat to the surface of the grass then ever so slightly toed up.
Why is there a club shaft on a plane?
Clubshaft on plane as a result of good clubhead position.
What happens if a golf club scuffs too close to the toe?
If the scuff is too close to the toe, the golf club needs to be positioned more flat. The grip end needs to be lowered in the set-up.

Overview
Design and manufacture
Components
Types of irons
See also
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. Irons are used in a wide variety of situations, typically from the teeing ground on shorter holes, from the fairway or r…
External links
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. …