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Tom's Featured Tip: Q&A: Iron Set Makeup
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Q&A: Iron Set Makeup
For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.
Last week I said this: Before I get into this week's content, I wanted to mention that next week's newsletter will feature a training aid that I've been testing for a couple weeks. It's absolutely the best training aid that I've ever used for locating the bottom of your swing arc, you will absolutely love it. The review will be delayed until next week because the product inventory was depleted. The demand has been overwhelming, and the manufacturer assured me that a replenishment would be available by my next newsletter. Thanks for your patience, believe me it's worth the wait.
This week I received an inquiry from a reader in his 50's, 12 handicap. He asked me if he should get a 3 iron with a new set of game improvement type irons that he will be ordering. He said that the set makeup he had in mind was 3-PW, with a gap wedge and a 56* sand wedge from a different manufacturer than his iron set.
My reply was that he'd be better off ordering 5-PW with a hybrid or two or a hybrid and an extra wedge. In fact, I'm not even sure that a 3 iron is available in the set he wants to order.
My rationale for that advice is that the lofts have been tweaked so much in irons that a current 5 iron loft falls somewhere between an older 3 or 4 iron in it's loft. Low loft is the primary reason for not carrying a 3 iron, because most amateurs can't get it airborne with a high enough trajectory.
Below are two charts, the top chart refers to clubs manufactured in 1970, the bottom chart refers to clubs manufactured in 2020. The difference in the lofts of the irons is astounding.
As I recall, I think it was in the 80's that Cobra bragged that their 7 iron went the longest distance. That was probably true, because they decreased the loft by 2*, which should have given it about 5 more yards carry, give or take. (Don't ask - I bought them 😊)
After that the de-lofting race was on.
Because most amateur golfers hold distance as the holy grail, all manufacturers started decreasing lofts in irons until we have what we have today - lofts on clubs that aren't even close to what they were years ago. (BTW you can find the lofts of clubs by clicking on the specs tab for any irons that you are researching).
For example, with the current Callaway MAVRIK, the 5 iron loft is 21*. In an older set of clubs, the 3 iron loft would have averaged 24*. The newer 2020 game improvement 5 iron has less loft than an older model 3 iron!
The MAVRIK is considered to be a game improvement club, and they are de-lofted more than player irons, which are designed for better players.
I'm not saying that de-lofting is bad or good. I am saying be an educated consumer..
The bottom line is pay attention to the lofts of the irons that you buy when you consider your set makeup. For average players, the longest iron that I would recommend would be a 5 iron in a game improvement model. Add a hybrid or two, and make sure that your wedges have at least a 4* gap between clubs.
The old Lee Trevino quote of "if you ever find yourself in a thunderstorm, lift up your 1-iron, because not even God can hit a 1-iron." probably needs to be changed to "if you ever find yourself in a thunderstorm, lift up your 4-iron, because not even God can hit a 4-iron."
Use loft awareness as a guide for your irons set, and don't waste your money on irons that will be difficult to hit.
Comments: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,
Tom
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All the best,
Tom Tucker
Teaching Pro, Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
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Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
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"There are no substitutes in the quest for perfection!"
~ Ben Hogan