Irons

Irons is an umbrella term for clubs in a golf set made from metal. Wood clubs are also made from metal, but we ignore this fact when it comes to golf clubs. Irons are much thinner with a smaller clubface than woods, but they are still mainly used for distance. 

There are 11 irons in total, with them making up the majority of your golf carrying bag. Most sets will come with seven to 11 irons, so irons are very commonly used in golf. Aside from the first couple shots – which will be occupied by woods and hybrids – and the final shot designated for the putter, irons will be used for the main bulk of your game. 

For this reason, it’s incredibly important that you know all about irons and what each one does. Irons are numbered from 1 to 12, but most sets will only come with irons 3 to 9. 

Driving Irons

The driving iron (1-iron) is the lowest lofted iron with a degree of 14 to 16. This iron is almost never used because it is regarded as the most difficult club to hit effectively. While you might want a driving iron in your collection, you will barely ever have a use for it. 

Long Irons

2 to 4 irons are called long irons because of the long length of their shafts. They have a low loft which allows the ball to travel far distances with little height. These irons are typically used after the driver when you want to gain a lot of distance, but not as much as wood or hybrid would offer. 

Hybrid irons are a relatively new invention that helps to improve beginners’ game on the course. These irons substitute for long irons and they can help to lower your handicap as well. Long irons can be difficult to hit thanks to their small club faces and reduced sweet spots. 

However, you can avoid feeling the wrath of this issue by opting for a high-quality iron. The Callaway Apex Iron is an excellent club that you can opt for in any iron number that you want to. These irons are premium quality and sure to benefit your game as much as possible.

Mid Irons

Mid irons are numbered 5 to 7 and they have shorter shafts than long irons. They achieve shorter distances than long irons and therefore are best suited for when you’re around the middle of your game so that you don’t overshoot your shot and travel past the target. 

Mid irons are easier to hit than long irons so they’re typically better for mid handicappers or beginners. This is because the higher loft allows the club faces to boast a higher surface area, and therefore sweet spot. 

Short Irons

The 8 and 9 irons are called short irons because they are best used when you need your ball to travel only short distances. They are easiest to hit and therefore best for high handicappers, although they cannot exclusively be used as they don’t offer as much distance as the long or mid irons. 

Short irons are also considered the most forgiving irons as they have the highest loft and largest clubface. This means that even if you don’t hit the ball perfectly centered, it is still likely to travel in the correct direction that you were aiming for. Unforgiving irons throw your ball off to the side and severely affect your score. 

Iron Sets

As there are so many irons for you to benefit from, it’s likely that you will want to opt for an iron set so that you don’t have to spend a lot of time collecting them one by one. There are plenty of iron sets out there for you to choose from, but we are partial to the Callaway X Hot Irons

This iron set can either be purchased with 4 to 9 irons with a pitching wedge and an approach wedge or 5 to 9 irons with the same wedges. Callaway is a great brand known for its high-quality clubs, so these sets are definitely a safe bet in our eyes. 

If you’re new to the world of golf and are trying to lower your handicap as much as possible, you’re not alone. In fact, the majority of golfers are attempting to do the exact same thing as you! To do this, you should know that it takes time and patience. Your handicap will often only lower itself as time goes on, but there are some ways that you can help it along. 

Game improvement irons are invaluable to many intermediate golfers as they are more forgiving than regular irons. Using these will improve your performance and your confidence so that you can impress on the course. Game improvement irons can be used by anyone looking to enhance their game, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to use them.