Irons Buying Guide

By Henrik Stenson

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT 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:

• Styles of irons
• What’s in the set
• Loft, length, and distance
• Shaft and flex
• Customization

DIFFERENT STYLES OF IRONS

The two main styles of irons are cavity-back and muscle-back blades.

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 weighting for increased forgiveness on off-center hits. Meanwhile, muscle-backs are more difficult to use because they offer increased performance and shot-shaping ability.

Hybrid clubs have become extremely popular for beginners and average golfers, at times replacing 3, 4 and 5-irons. 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.

CAVITY BACK IRONS

MUSCLE BACK IRONS

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE 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. Some golfers choose to purchase other clubs separately, like lob and gap wedges, or a specialty club like a 2-iron.

TRADITIONAL FULL SET

HYBRID SET

THE LOFT, LENGTH, AND DISTANCE

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. The higher loft results in a steeper ball launch angle from the initial elevation to the final drop. Refer to the chart for a visual understanding of the difference in lofts between short, mid and long irons.

As you’re piecing together your irons for your set of clubs, it’s recommended that each of your clubs is separated by 4 degrees of loft, increasing from the 3-iron to the pitching wedge. This gives you about 12 to 14 yards difference between each club, offering better flexibility and control for your shots. 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. If increasing your swing speed is your goal, choose the lighter graphite material to generate a faster swing. If you’re satisfied with your swing speed but would like more control over the club head, the heavier steel shaft will provide the balance you want.

Flex is how the shaft twists and turns during the swing and it largely depends on your style of play, as well as how far you hit the ball. Shaft flex is divided into five categories: Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff based on swing speed, skill level, and range of motion. Refer to the chart to learn what type of flex is right for you.

To take a deeper dive into the world of golf club shafts and learn more about picking the right golf shaft for you, read our Golf Shaft Buying Guide.

  CREATING A CUSTOM SHAFT

Custom clubs are often used by low-handicappers, but they can greatly benefit any golfer’s game by matching their unique measurements to each club.

tgw.com has a unique club-fitting tool that allows you to either enter your specifications or follow a step-by-step club-fitting process to create a set of irons tailored to your level of play and body measurements.