Understanding Golf Irons

Golf Equipment

Irons are called that because the their head is made of metal. These clubs are the ones usually used within 200 yards of the pin and the closer you are the higher the lie on the iron you will use. The standard or normal set of irons will consist of the numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The lower the number the harder the iron is to hit well. The length of the irons gets shorter as the number gets higher as well. The lower the number of the iron, the farther will be the drive, including the roll of the ball. Irons are actually categorized into Long Irons [1,2,3,4], Mid-Irons [5,6,7] and Short Irons [8,9, pitching wedge] as well. Most players will find the 3 and 4 irons very hard to hit and control. This is due to the fact they are have the longest shaft length and lower loft. A shorter club is much easier to control for a beginner and the higher loft makes it easier to get the ball in the air as well.

The face of the head is usually grooved faces but the back can come in two variations - the muscleback and the cavity back.  

The muscleback iron is usually made of forged steel and they have a "full" back. This construction gives a better feel but also demands a high degree of control on striking the ball consistantly dead center. This is the type of club the better player uses most often.

The cavity back iron is usually "carved" out in the back of the head to redistribute the weight in a uniform manner to assist the player. This redistribution of weight creates a moment of inertia [MOI] above the center so they will twist far less than the muscleback style. This makes the cavity back more forgiving on an off center strike of the ball.

More than anything else, you need to learn the distance each club will give you with your swing. DON'T read the pamphlets that say how far each iron should travel and DON'T look at how far Tiger Woods or Tom Kite can hit theirs. You need to know your game and how each club reacts in your hands.

And don't feel that you always have to hit a driver off the tee. If you can get good distance and better control using an iron, then do so. You will benefit in the long run and really be pleased when your score drops beacuse you aren't always trying to get out of the rough because you hit long drives without control of the shot. Remember that the object of the game is to get the lowest score possible, not the longest drives accumulated off the tees!

Cavity back iron on left and  muscleback on right