Golf Irons Tips
Golf Irons Tips
Not all irons are made the same and neither should your shots. Short irons should be hit differently than mid irons which should be hit differently than long irons. We’ve provided some explanations below as to the why that is. We hope that understanding the nuances of each iron category will help you make good, solid iron shots every time.
Blade Style vs. Cavity Back Irons
The blade style iron, sometimes called the muscle back, has a solid back on the rear of the club head. This style of iron is used mainly by experienced golfers who, as the nickname suggests, are able to apply some serious strength to their shots. The blade style iron has most of the club weighting at the center of the clubface. This means that each iron shot must come into contact with the ball at the center of the clubface to be effective. For most amateur golfers, a cavity back iron is a wise choice.
The cavity back iron is hollowed out at the rear of the club. This works to expand the “sweet spot” on the clubface. This expansion is known as perimeter weighting and assists less experienced golfers in making decent shots even if they don’t hit the ball perfectly. Beginner and recreational golfers would be wise to use the more forgiving cavity back irons.
Thanks to Peter Finch Golf
Mastering Your Irons
There are three categories of irons:
• Short Irons are the 8 and 9 clubs and the wedges.
• Mid Irons are the 5, 6, 7 clubs.
• Long Irons range from 1 to 4 irons.
Many golfers try to hit all of their iron shots the same. This will result in many missed shots. A common refrain from many of these golfers is “I can’t hit my long irons but I’m deadly with my short game.” The reason for this is that they aren’t taking the physics of the swing and applying it to their shots. Before you roll your eyes and escape out of here I want to make clear that I’m not going to go into an in-depth physics lesson.
The reason the short irons are easier to hit is due to the fact that as the loft of the club increases the more the shaft length of the club decreases. When using a pitching wedge you must position yourself closer to the ball resulting in a more controlled swing plane. The shorter shaft is also easier to control.
The mid irons are also relatively easier to hit properly than the long irons for the reasons stated above. The medium loft and shaft length allow for better control in most golfers.
The long irons are the golf clubs that many golfers have trouble with for different reasons. Many golfers use their long irons like their fairway woods taking a hard, low-control swing to try and get some distance. Sorry, we’re going to have to go back to some simple physics to explain this. Long irons have less loft and a longer shaft. This positions you further from the ball than your mid and short irons. The longer shaft produces a wider arc on the downswing generating increased club head speed due to centripetal force.
So, position yourself the proper distance from the ball and use an easy, forceful swing (about 80% of your max) and let physics perform its magic. You’ll find your shots becoming cleaner and farther.
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