Golf-FAQ.com

when to use what irons in golf

by Uriah Kassulke Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Woods. The driver falls into the category of woods and is an indispensable part of golf. ...
  • Irons. When you are looking for more control, irons should be your absolute choice. You can use short, mid or long irons for your shots.
  • Wedges. The pitching wedge is used near the greens and 130 yards around it. The sand wedge is very specifically used to hit shots off the bunker.
  • Hybrids. Hybrids have been developed to replace long irons. Their design specification allows golfers to gain accuracy as well as distance in the fairway.
  • Putters. You can’t use the putter for any long-range shots. When you are just away from hitting a hole, putters can help you roll the ball smoothly.

Here are some guidelines around which iron to use according to Dick's Sporting Goods:
  1. 2-iron = 105 to 210 yards.
  2. 3-iron = 100 to 205 yards.
  3. 4-iron = 90 to 190 yards.
  4. 5-iron = 80 to 175 yards.
  5. 6-iron = 70 to 165 yards.
  6. 7-iron = 65 to 155 yards.
  7. 8-iron = 60 to 145 yards.
  8. 9-iron = 55 to 135 yards.
Mar 3, 2021

What are the best golf irons for beginners?

Best Beginner Irons: Wilson Staff D200 Irons. Wilson made, in my opinion, their best set of irons for beginners with the D200 series. They have large top lines (more forgiving), a low center of gravity for high shots, and feel great at impact. They are extremeley well built, lasting many golfers years and years of rounds with no problems.

How to hit Irons in golf for beginners?

Hitting Irons For Beginners: 5 Steps. Low Point Control Drill. 1 and 2 Drill. Build A Stock Shot Drill. Train For Speed. Invest In Golf Technology. To understand how these drills were decided on, we must first understand the fundamentals of golf as laid out by Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett in their Stack and Tilt book.

How to hit Irons correctly in 3 easy ways?

Proper Way to Hit Golf Irons

  • Practice. You want to practice each iron swing to get a comfortable swing. ...
  • Divot. A good iron shot may include a divot after your shot. ...
  • Full Extension. ...
  • Shape Irons. ...
  • Grip. ...
  • Posture. ...
  • Body Space. ...

What are the best Forged irons in golf?

  • Best Overall: Taylormade P790 Iron Set
  • Our Budget Pick: Cobra King Forged TEC 2020
  • Best Players Distance Forged Irons: Titleist T200 Iron Set
  • Best Players Irons: Srixon Z-Forged Iron Set
  • Best Distance Forged Irons: Mizuno JPX 921
  • Best Performing Irons: Callaway X Forged CB Iron Set
  • Most Forgiving Irons: Honma Tour World TW-X Iron Set

More items...

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How do I know which iron to use?

Irons are generally used when you are less than 200 yards away from the green. The closer you are to the green, the higher the iron you will use. A standard set of irons consists of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 irons and the pitching wedge (PW). The 3 and 4 irons are harder to hit than the higher number irons.

What golf clubs to use for what shots?

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.

When should I use which golf club?

4:0211:57Which GOLF CLUB to use and when??? [Golf Basics] - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you don't need to do anything different at all except take a nice easy swing nice chip and letMoreSo you don't need to do anything different at all except take a nice easy swing nice chip and let the club do its work when you put the club down behind the ball it looks kind of scary it looks like

What irons should an average golfer use?

Here are the 3 best irons for average golfers:Taylormade M6 (best overall iron set)Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo (most forgiving iron set)Cleveland Launcher CBX (best budget-friendly iron set)

When should I use 3 wood or 3 hybrid?

The main difference between the 3 wood and 3 hybrid is that the 3 wood is used for longer distances, where as the 3 hybrid is better for more precise shots. Fairway woods are generally referred to as woods in common terminology, and they are used for shooting from the fairway.

What club should you use on the green?

For the average golfer, chipping with a pitching or gap wedge will produce the most consistent shots around the green. Using a gap wedge will be the best place to start for standard chips, but a pitching wedge could work better if the ball is sitting up in the rough.

How far should I hit a 7 iron?

Golf Club Distance ChartClubMenWomen6-iron130-150-16070-100-1307-iron120-140-15065-90-1208-iron110-130-14060-80-1109-iron95-115-13055-70-959 more rows•Feb 12, 2020

What is the best club to use at the driving range?

The best club to use on the driving range is the 7 iron and pitching wedge. These are the clubs you will use the most and you should get very good at them.

What club should I chip with?

For a basic chip, use a 52- to 56-degree wedge. Play the ball center, and get your weight forward so your left shoulder is over your left foot.

What irons should a 20 handicap play?

What are the best irons for a 20 handicapper?TaylorMade Sim Max (Best all-round performance)Mizuno HMB (Best for forgiveness and feel)Ping G410 (Best control and performance)Wilson D7 (Best value)Callaway Mavrik (Great for distance)Mizuno JPX 921 (Great for feel)

What irons are the easiest to hit?

Most Forgiving IronsTitleist T400 Irons. A hybrid-style design that offers the most forgiveness in the Titleist range. ... TaylorMade Stealth Iron. ... Cobra King LTDx Iron. ... Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Iron. ... Tour Edge Exotics E722 Iron. ... Srixon ZX4 Irons. ... Ping G425 Irons. ... Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal Irons.More items...

What irons are most forgiving?

The Most Forgiving Irons Are:Best All Round – Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB Irons.Budget Pick – LAZRUS Premium Golf Irons.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.

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 ...

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 ...

How many clubs are in a set of irons?

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 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 is a shorter shaft better?

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.

What is the best wedge for a golf shot?

Pitching wedge: This is the wedge with the lowest loft angle, allowing for more distance. It is a good choice for shots approaching the green. You can use the pitching wedge for shots from 50 to 120 yards. Gap wedge: This wedge has a little more loft than a pitching wedge and is used in many of the same situations.

What is the first club you reach for in golf?

DRIVER. This will often be the first club you reach for during a round of golf. Drivers are specifically designed to give you distance off the tee. They are typically the longest clubs in your bag and will have the lowest loft angle – the tilt of your club face that affects distance and trajectory – of all of your clubs.

What is hybrid golf?

Hybrids are a blend of fairway woods and irons, bringing together the best aspects of both. Hybrids are used to replace some of the harder-to-hit long irons and can replicate the distance of those clubs. Hybrids can also help increase control without taking away distance or trajectory.

How far can you use a fairway wood?

Some golfers will use a fairway wood off the tee if they struggle with a driver. When reaching for a fairway wood, here is the average distance you can expect to achieve: 3-wood = 125 to 240 yards.

What wedge to use to get the ball out of a bunker?

Sand wedge: This will be your go-to when trying to get the ball out of a bunker. Lob wedge: This wedge is usually the highest-lofted wedge in your golf bag. It creates a very steep angle of ascent and descent. This can help you get the ball into the air quickly in situations like getting over a tree.

Why is it important to find the right putter?

Once you’re on the green, your putter is there to help send the ball home. It is important to find the right putter to avoid adding strokes to your score. Choosing the right clubhead, features and length can help you find the bottom of the cup when you reach the green.

Can you pull an iron out of your bag?

If you’re looking for a club that can help with your approach or help you play out of trouble , you’ll want to pull an iron out of your bag. Irons can help give you control. The following is the average distance you can expect from your irons. Again, this will all depend on experience, skill and club head speeds:

Why don't golf sets come with a 3 iron?

With the emergence of utility woods the long irons have become less and less popular. The 3-iron suffers from the fact that it is still quite hard to hit well consistently, for the inexperienced golfer. That is also why a lot of golf sets don’t come with a 3-iron, it is something that you need to request specifically.

What are the small numbers on a golf iron?

The small numbers are the long irons, and they will be used for tee shots or long approach shots. The middle numbers are obviously the mid irons, and they will be used on shorter par three holes and approach-shots that are not too long and require more accuracy. Mid irons are easier to hit than long irons. Then there are the high numbers, and those ...

What is the first wedge in a set after the 9 iron?

The first wedge in a set after the 9-iron is the pitching wedge. It got its name from the task that it accomplishes to well – the pitch. A short shot, often with a quarter or half swing, with a high trajectory will be perfect for the pitching wedge. It enables the golfer to land and stop the ball at a short distance.

How many slots are there in a driver putter?

If you’re looking to carry a driver, a 3- and a 5-wood and (of course) a putter you will have 10 slots left for the irons and wedges. Then you can carry a set of irons from 3-9 along with a pitching wedge, a sand wedge and a lob wedge. But if you’re looking to add a hybrid, a 7-wood or even a 2-iron, then the compromise will start.

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

Mid irons are easier to hit than long irons. Then there are the high numbers, and those will be used for the shortest approach shots and some very short par threes. The short irons are the easiest to hit. Lastly there are a vast selection of wedges to choose from. These can be utilized for many shots around the green and in and around hazards.

What is the back roll of an 8 iron?

When you play more and more, you will most likely develop the ability to put a little bit of spin on the ball. Spin with an 8-iron will most likely be one of the first irons where you’ll be able to achieve a back-roll. This is where the ball rolls further back towards you, from the point where it landed.

What is the name of the shot Tiger Woods used to make his 2 irons?

The 2-iron was made “famous” by Tiger Woods when he emerged in the golf world and gave name to a special kind of shot – the stinger. It is a low-flying, penetrating shot that will make a good alternative if you’re having an off-day with the driver.

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.

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 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 names of old golf clubs?

Names of Old Golf Clubs. Golf clubs have changed quite a bit over the long history of the sport. There used to be clubs with names like mashie and niblick and jigger and spoon.

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.

How many irons do you need to gain distance in golf?

With the increase of loft, the ball trajectory also increases with a low rate of ball roll when it lands on the ground. Experienced golfers use short irons and 4,5 irons to gain higher distance.

What irons are best for a short shot?

The approach shorts are short shots needed every time to land the ball on the greens. Irons are best for these shots. More specifically 8 or 9 irons can do the job perfectly.

How to choose a golf club?

Choosing Golf Clubs Based on Length 1 Golfers shorter than 5 feet 5-inch should use a half-inch shorter than standard length. 2 Golfers from 5 feet 5-inch to 6 feet 1-inch should use standard length. 3 Golfers exceeding 6 feet 1-inch height should use longer than standard length club.

Why are hybrid golf clubs used?

Their design specification allows golfers to gain accuracy as well as distance in the fairway. The higher spin rate of these clubs provides accuracy as the ball rolls less on landing.

How many wedges for 3 spots left?

We will keep two wedges for the 3 spots left. Whatever wedge you choose, you must keep in mind that there is no large gap between the yardage of those two wedges.

How many clubs can you carry in a golf bag?

In golf, you can have only 14 clubs in your bag. Yes, that’s a rule and penalty for carrying an extra golf club will be two strokes per hole. You don’t want that. So, you need to plan ahead on what clubs to you need to have in your bag so that you can cover maximum shots with efficiency.

What happens when you shift from 2 to 9 irons?

When you shift from 2 to 9 irons, the lofts of the clubs become higher. Mid and long irons are good for high handicappers as the loft is higher in them. The pitch shots and chips shots in the greens can be effectively played with mid and long irons.

How many irons are in a golf putter?

Most golfers carry several woods -- although they're actually made of metal -- and the rest of the 14 are irons plus a putter. As a golfer becomes more skilled, he learns how to use these clubs to improve his accuracy, play more strategically, get down in two more often from off the green, and lower his scores.

What happens if you take a 5 iron?

By taking a 5-iron, as called for by the distance, the golfer runs the risk of getting the club tangled in the rough and not making solid contact with the ball.

What is a golf club?

Golf clubs can be employed creatively in situations that may seem quite different from their intended uses. A fairway wood or a hybrid club can be an effective tool to chip the ball from the fringe instead of the iron you might normally use, allowing you to take a lower, smoother swing and have better contact with the ball.

How many clubs can you carry in a golf bag?

Advice on What Iron or Wood Golf Club to Use. A golfer may carry up to 14 clubs in his golf bag under the official Rules of Golf. There's no rule he has to carry that many, though, and within the 14-club limit there are many variations in the types of clubs he can carry. Some golfers prefer to carry three or more wedges, for example, ...

What is the common mistake when hitting a golf ball out of the rough?

When confronted with a lengthy shot to the green out of the rough, a common mistake is to try to hit the iron that matches the distance to the green instead of considering the effect of the ball laying deep in the grass.

Is it better to use a 7 iron or a long iron?

Most golfers are more accurate with their irons than with their woods. And short irons -- those from the 7-iron on down -- are easier to use than long irons. On a par-4 with an extremely narrow fairway or trouble such as water on one side, a golfer may elect to tee off with an iron to be more certain she can hit the ball in the fairway.

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.

Which irons are easier to hit?

The more lofted irons such as the 6, 7, 8 and 9 irons are easier to hit for the high handicap golfer. These clubs can be used as you get closer to the green for pitch shots and chip shots. In general, the higher the loft of the club, the higher the trajectory of the ball, and the less roll you will get when the ball hits the ground.

How to choose the correct golf club?

In order to choose the correct club, you need to take factors into consideration other than distance from the ball to the pin. If you notice a hazard or obstacle on your target line, you may decide to “lay up” and hit short to avoid trouble.

What is a set of golf clubs?

A set of clubs typically includes a driver, a couple of fairway woods, irons, a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. Specific clubs are designed for different situations. The driver, or the 1 wood, has a very low loft compared to other clubs and is designed for when you need to achieve long distance off the tee.

What is the loft angle of a golf club?

The loft angle should be from 10.5 degrees to 12 degrees or higher to help launch the ball into the air. New golfers should use a more flexible shaft.

How many clubs can a beginner golfer carry?

USGA rules allow the golfer to carry 14 clubs. For beginners, selecting the right club from this collection can be intimidating. There are some general guidelines that you can follow, although your experience may tell you to try something different. Even the pros sometimes have to take an educated guess when choosing between clubs and hope for ...

Where to use a pitching wedge?

The pitching wedge is used close to the green , and the sand wedge is used out of a bunker near the green. A lob or gap wedge will provide a high trajectory to hit up and over a sand trap or other hazard near the green.

What is a hybrid golf club?

For the high handicap golfer, a 3 and 5 hybrid can replace the 3, 4 and even 5 iron. A hybrid places the weight to the back and bottom of the club, allowing for a higher launch angle.

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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 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 design...
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