Golf Club Buying Guide - Irons

There are many different clubs in the average golfer’s golf bag, each one suitable for a particular length or height of shot. As you learn to play golf you will understand what situation calls for each club, this can either be through coaching from a golf tutor or by instinct and understanding your capabilities with each one. Buying the right clubs is vitally important as you can have the best swing and striking skill but if you have inadequate or too advanced clubs then they can really let you down.

Irons are one of the most commonly used clubs in a golfer’s bag as usually on most courses you will use an iron after your tee shot until you are on the green where you will use a putter. Making sure that you buy the right irons for your ability is important as some irons require a good level of skill due to the smaller area on the club face that is known as the “sweet spot”, beginner clubs tend to have a larger sweet spot to allow for inaccuracies but the professional grade clubs are able to hit the ball exactly where the golfer wants it to.

Head Types

Irons tend to come in two varieties (cavity backed and blades) although there is now a third type, the hybrid. The blades style are the professional variety as previously mentioned, with a solid back to the head there is a smaller sweet spot that allows the golfer to hit the ball further going straight. The cavity backed variety has a larger sweet spot due to the weight of the head being distributed evenly. These clubs are more forgiving with shots hit off-centre, the club may not hit as far as the blades but they are often used by higher-handicap golfers to help improve their game.

Shaft Types

As well as different heads golf clubs can have shafts made of different materials that can help golfers. Most iron sets have steel shafts as these have features that best benefit irons but there are some that have graphite shafts too. The steel shafts offer the same torque and flexibility throughout the range of irons from 9 through to 3, they are also cheaper to purchase too. The more expensive graphite shafts are more lightweight than steel but also offers a little more flex which can help older, junior or lady golfers hit the ball a fair distance.

Iron Buying Advice

Buying irons can be tricky, as well as knowing what types and varieties that you should choose there are also many varied designs from a wide range of makes. Each one is going to feel different and give you different results so make sure before you buy any that you test them out, many golf shops will have a test range. Some golf shops even offer custom fitting if you feel the clubs are only slightly inappropriate such as the length being too long.

Save money on your golf games with 2 for 1 golf offers and free golf lessons.