Golf-FAQ.com

what is the difference between forged golf clubs and others

by Caroline Klein Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

  • Feel: in general, forged irons feel/sound better at impact. ...
  • Distance: the process of making the iron (cast vs. ...
  • Durability/maintenance: forged clubs typically require more maintenance (just checking lofts and lies to make sure nothing has shifted). ...
  • Distance control: The different club head manufacturing processes (forged vs. ...

More items...

A forged golf iron is a club that is made out of one solid block of metal. The irons are carved and shaped, and they are one solid piece of material. A cast iron is an iron that is made from a mold. Hot metal is poured in the mold into the desired shape, and the result is a cast iron golf club.

Full Answer

Are forged golf clubs any good?

In fact, golf club forging in the early days was even done by manufacturers who sidelined as specialty blacksmiths. Forged golf clubs are often preferred over cast clubs because they provide players a better “feel”— a quality caused by the higher carbon content forged iron or steel has.

What is the difference between cast iron and forged clubs?

Forged clubs are made of more tightly compacted metal, which will lead to better distance control. Let’s be clear though, these differences are small. Plus, if you are not hitting it close to the center of the face on a forged club, your distance control will be less consistent than hitting it on the center of the face of a cast iron.

What is the process of forging golf clubs?

And in the process of forging a golf club, the grain structure ­— the internal structure of the metal — is further condensed. … [Forging is] really the most time-consuming and expensive way to manufacture golf clubs … with cast, you’re taking something liquid, pouring it into a mold, and then it’s cooling in that mold.” 2.

Why do some forged golf clubs have a cavity back?

With cavity back cast clubs requiring less in terms of handling, thus allowing many novice players to reach reasonable distances even with mis-hits, some manufacturers like Mizuno, Cobra, and MacGregor decided to incorporate the cavity back design in their forged clubs.

image

Is a forged golf club better?

As you might imagine, forging is a more expensive process, but most golfers agree it leads to a better product. Typically, forged and cast irons are separated along the lines of a player's skill, as better players tend to lean toward forged while beginners and high handicappers stick to cast irons.

Are forged irons really better?

Forged clubs make it easier to shape ball flight It's often said a golfer can feel the ball “stay on the face longer” with forged irons, and that this “sticking” to the face provides more shot control and workability (the ability to curve the ball and adjust trajectory).

What is the difference between forged and cast golf clubs?

The main difference in the two methods is this: in a cast process, there can be small air bubbles that are created in the process and when cool turn into tiny voids, whereas in forged clubs this does not occur, the metal is solid throughout.

What is the advantage of forged irons?

The clubhead of a forged iron has additional weight in the center. This higher and smaller sweet spot teaches you to hit more consistently. The construction is more consistent and refined than on cast irons. Forged irons also offer the option of cavity back for more forgiveness.

Do all pros use forged irons?

By the mid-1990s, only about half the players on the PGA Tour were using forged irons. In the 21st century, however, many forged irons incorporate design ideas made popular by cast-iron clubs. Even some cavity-back clubs, formerly the sole province of cast-iron manufacturers, are now being forged.

Can a high handicapper play forged irons?

One common question that golf professionals get is can higher handicappers use forged irons. The answer to this is that a high handicapper can use any club that appeals to them.

Do forged irons wear out faster?

Problem, as you say, forged clubs do tend to wear a little quicker than cast. I use my previous R7 irons as an example. When I sold them there was hardly any wear for a club I'd had and used 3-4 times a week for 12 months. I practice quite often, around 3 times a week, plus 18 holes in a Saturday.

Which is better forged or cast?

Forged steel is generally stronger and more reliable than castings and plate steel due to the fact that the grain flows of the steel are altered, conforming to the shape of the part. The advantages of forging include: Generally tougher than alternatives.

Do forged irons last longer?

Forged irons use softer steel than cast irons, but unless you're playing golf multiple times per week, the average player won't notice much different in terms of longevity. While both are manufactured to be high quality, forged irons are purer than cast irons and, in theory, should last longer.

Are forged irons more forgiving?

Considering that blades or players' distance irons are commonly crafted using the forged method, these irons are best suited to low handicappers and professionals. The heads of forged irons are often compact, the sweet spot sits directly behind the center of the face, and they are the least forgiving of the irons.

Do forged irons go further than cavity back irons?

There will be no difference in distance. The fact that a club is forged doesn't make any difference to the ball speed, launch angle or spin. If you hit a blade (usually forged) on the sweet spot and all else is equal, at impact the cavity-back club (usually cast) will not produce any different results.

Are forged irons the same as blades?

What Exactly Are Forged, Irons? As the name suggests, these irons are forged from a single piece of metal to create a compact blade head. Forged irons are not a type of club but rather the manufacturing process which irons undergo.

What is cavity back iron?

The cavity back irons are considered game improvement irons. They are much easier to launch, and they are more forgiving than the forged irons. Without the cast irons, many middle handicappers would still be high handicappers. The process of producing a cast iron is quite a bit easier and cheaper than that of a forged.

What is a SIM Max iron?

Interestingly enough, the TaylorMade SIM Max irons are designed to be as close to a forged iron as a cavity back can be. TaylorMade has always been a leader when it comes to ball speed and forgiveness. Where they wanted to change things on the SIM Max was they wanted to make them feel much better.

What is a forged iron?

A forged golf iron is a club that is made out of one solid block of metal. The irons are carved and shaped, and they are one solid piece of material. A cast iron is an iron that is made from a mold. Hot metal is poured in the mold into the desired shape, and the result is a cast iron golf club. The cast golf irons are mostly known as being cavity ...

What is a Cobra King iron?

However, true players know that the Cobra forged irons are some of the best feeling clubs in the game of golf.

What is cast wedge?

Cast Wedges. For some players, they are going to want forged clubs throughout their entire bag, and this will include the wedges. Forged wedges are quite popular among the lower handicap players. Many people don’t realize that some of the best wedges are a cast design.

What happens if you miss a shot with a cast iron?

If they miss a shot slightly with a cavity back or cast iron, then they still have a chance of a decent result. If you miss a ball with forged iron, you will likely see some ugly golf shots. Some like to argue that this forces a high handicapper to get better at golf.

What is a P790 iron?

The P790 is a forged iron with a hollow body construction. The P790 has been a great mix of both forgiveness and distance for the players that have switched to them. The only problem with the P790 (and most forged golf clubs) is going to be the high price.

What Is The Benefit Of Forged Irons?

A major benefit of forged irons is their appearance. Hand Forging gives clubs a cleaner, more distinct appearance than casting does – whether they are machine-made or not.

What Handicap Should Use Forged Irons?

A golfer with a handicap of 10-20 should use forged irons. They are typically more expensive than cast clubs, but they also provide many benefits that can improve your game dramatically. Golfers who don’t hit shots very far may find that they lose distance (and thus score) by using these clubs.

Are Forged Irons For Pros?

Since better players typically get maximum distance from every club in their bag, Forged Irons are typically not necessary for golfers with a handicap of 10 or less.

Can High Handicappers Use Forged Irons?

Yes. High handicappers can benefit from Forged Irons in a number of ways. They’re more precise than cast clubs, which allows golfers to get better distance and accuracy even when shots are slightly off-center.

Who Makes The Best Forged Irons?

That’s a hard question to answer. Each company has its own unique history of forging clubs and methods for creating them, which means that some clubs are better suited for certain golfers than others.

How are golf irons made?

Golf irons are made one of two ways: by casting or by forging. Golfers shopping for new irons may encounter advertising touting "forged irons" or see others referred to as "cast irons.".

What happens when you forge a golf iron?

The forging process: When a golf iron is forged, the solid metal of the clubhead is literally pounded or compressed until it takes the desired shape.

What is a forged iron?

The first thing to know is that "cast" and "forged" are nothing more than terms describing the manufacturing process of an iron or set of irons. The casting process: When a golf iron is cast, the metal used to make the iron is heated to its melting point, becoming a liquid. It is then poured into molds of the iron heads.

Do forged irons feel softer than cast irons?

That is, that forged irons have a noticeably softer feel at impact with the golf ball than do cast irons. But it that true?

Do forged irons wear out?

However, it’s worth noting that you are not going to wear out forged irons so quickly that you don’t feel like you get your money’s worth. Forged irons get discolored (they form “impact spots”) quicker and more drastically than cast irons, but that doesn’t mean that the grooves are worn out.

What is cast iron?

Cast irons. Starts as a liquid metal form. Poured into a mold. results in the ability to add more components (extra weighting, more creative cavities) typically results in a less pleasant, louder sounding vibration (less feel) most iron sets are cast (~90%) typically used in a game improvement iron.

Do cast irons feel good?

It is very hard to quantify feel. On average, yes, cast irons don’t feel as good as forged irons. However, many cast irons feel better than the average forged iron.

Is a forged 6 iron the same as a cast 5 iron?

That means that a forged 6 iron might be the same loft of a cast 5 iron. This all depends on the manufacturer and the specs associated with the irons. A 40 degree lofted cast iron will go the same distance as a 40 degree lofted forged iron, no matter what number is stamped on the bottom of the clubs.

Do low handicap golfers use forged irons?

There are plenty of low handicap players playing with forged clubs, and (most of them) are aware that they are not great golfers. On that same note, many great players are using cast irons, fully aware of the fact that forged irons are typically touted for their better distance control and feel.

What are the advantages of forged irons?

Forged irons have always been regarded as more advanced clubs due to their less forgiving nature; these clubs have a smaller sweet spot that ultimately requires better aim and a steadier swing.

What is the most commonly used method for making golf irons?

Although casting became the most commonly used method in making golf irons (a distinction which it holds to this day), forging continued to be used to some extent in manufacture to cater to the preferences of more discerning players. However, the earlier part of this century saw a noticeable resurgence in the production of forged iron clubs, ...

How is a forged golf club made?

Simply put, the process of making a forged golf club basically involves the molding and beating of a soft piece of steel into place by heat exposure. The high temperature to which the metal is exposed makes the metal easier to handle and a lot more malleable.

What is the process of making iron golf clubs?

In earlier years, the main method that was used in making iron golf clubs was the forging of metals. However, later technologies, particularly those that were introduced in the 1960s, resulted in the adoption of casting—a process which involves pouring molten metal into a mold to produce a golf club head—as a manufacturing method.

What is a polishing barrel?

A polishing barrel does the final polishing; it is capable of producing any sort of finish required by a variety of techniques. Plating is then applied by using either Nickel Chrome or W Nickel to meet a satin finish, making the forged golf club a work of art ready for the public’s eyes.

What does it mean to feel a golf club?

Players often refer to the “feel” as the ability to tell when they strike a ball off-center. Forged golf clubs usually prove appealing to professionals and capable amateurs who value their superior feel and ability to shape shots.

How hot is a forged iron club?

To produce the forged club’s head, the cylinder is first heated to a temperature of about 1200°C (about 1575.15°F). This process preserves the iron’s chemical integrity or its resistance to releasing toxins.

What is a Mizuno JPX921?

Mizuno Golf JPX921 Forged irons are highly rated in the premium class and suitable for the better player requiring some distance and forgiveness in their iron. In addition to the JPX921 forged irons, Mizuno offers a Tour option.

What are the disadvantages of a forged iron?

Disadvantages of a forged iron. As mentioned earlier the manufacturing process used for forged irons is more expensive thus making the clubs more expensive. However, the feel and workability available on forged irons make it worthwhile.

Why are forged irons better than cavity backed irons?

The soft feel and feedback provided by forged irons enable you to exercise more control and achieve more accuracy from your irons. Forged irons tend to be thinner than cavity-backed irons, have a more compact shape behind the clubface, and have a smaller clubhead.

What is the best forged iron?

Callaway has perennially produced quality irons that have found their way onto many professional tours. The Callaway Apex 19 is a set of irons that broke with the traditional way and set a new standard in the construction of forged irons and is generally accepted as the best forged irons available.

What is a P790 iron?

The P790 is designed for better golfers that appreciate quality, looks, and high performance. A Well-rounded design provides everything you want in a forged iron, and some more. The P790 was designed to offer the look, feel, and feedback of a true blade iron.

Can Srixon Z-Forged irons be forgiven?

You can expect quality from the Srixon Z-forged with little forgiveness. After all these clubs are meant for the better ball strikers. Any mishits will immediately show in the distance and trajectory of the ball. As with most other blades, you can expect to generate more spin with the Z-forged irons.

Is Srixon a good iron?

Not for golfers that do not strike the ball pure. Srixon is renowned for creating some of the most strikingly beautiful, forged irons that promote confidence in players of all levels. This combined with exceptional feel and impressive performance makes it ideal for good ball strikers that want added workability.

The real difference between blade and cavity back irons

It is one of the most commonly debated topics in golf: “What are the real advantages/disadvantages between a set of blade and cavity-back irons?” It goes even further when we start comparing traditionally lofted clubs to those with stronger lofts and faster club faces.

The proof is in the data

If you are curious to see the real difference in performance between blades, cavity backs, and then faster-faced irons, check out the video below featuring Titleist Master Fitter Glenn Mahler going through the results of a fitting with Titleist 620MB, 620CB, T100, and T200 irons.

TOUR REPORT: This dominant PGA pro is using hybrids (and irons) from 11 years ago

The Florida swing is officially underway this week as the PGA Tour moved to Palm Beach Gardens for the 2022 Honda Classic at PGA National. As you may or may not know, a slew of Tour players live in the nearby area, so this week is a home game for a lot of them. That has to be nice for guys who spend most weeks on the road.

image

'Cast' and 'Forged' Refer to The Manufacturing Process

  • The first thing to know is that "cast" and "forged" are nothing more than terms describing the manufacturing process of an iron or set of irons. 1. The casting process: When a golf iron is cast, the metal used to make the iron is heated to its melting point, becoming a liquid. It is then poured into molds of the iron heads. When it cools and hardens, voila, you have golf irons. 2. The forgin…
See more on liveabout.com

Do The Processes Produce A Different Feel?

  • Is there any practical effect of the different manufacturing processes in cast vs. forged irons? Do forged irons reallyfeel softer than cast irons at impact? We posed that question to Tom Wishon, a golf equipment expert and designer and owner of Tom Wishon Golf Technology, which designs and manufacturers clubs, including irons. And Wishon says that for all but a tiny number of golfe…
See more on liveabout.com

It's The Design Differences in Cast vs. Forged That Matters

  • In other words, it's not the fact that this iron is cast and that iron is forged that makes them feel different hitting golf balls, but rather the otherdesign elements. Forged irons are typically more expensive than cast, and so are aimed at better golfers, and that can mean less or perhaps no cavityback, less perimeter weighting, and so on. The ca...
See more on liveabout.com

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9