Loft doesn't necessarily dictate the number on an iron

ManinBlack

ManinBlack

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Being a golfing dinosaur I have found myself recently losing more & more length. I looked for the most forgiving irons I could find & settled on the current set (see signature). My previous Srixon ZX5s were very much game improvement clubs but the current ones are something else. They are 1½ to 2 clubs longer and are taking a bit of getting used to. Yes, the lofts are strong, the 7 iron is 28.5° & the pitching wedge 43°. However they launch as high as traditionally lofted irons and are therefore so easy to hit. With my old set I found that the 4, 5 & 6 irons were all carrying about the same distance because I had trouble getting them airborne. These, with the lightweight senior shafts, are effortless.

I am going to have an indoor session to discover exactly how far the current clubs are carrying, although I've already got a good idea. Some people might complain about cranked lofts & manufacturers kidding customers but, really, these clubs launch so easily they wouldn't work with traditional lofts. I love them.
 
I have 3 sets of Ping irons.

1986 - Ping Eye2 - 7-iron 36° (2 wedges when I play this set)
2007 - Ping i10 - 7-iron 34° (3 wedges when I play this set)
2025 - Ping i530 - 7-iron 29° (4 wedges when I play this set)

The range of lofts of the irons in each set is very similar. Around 21° to 58°.

I am tending to the ignoring of the number on the sole of my newest set. I am finding that a 30° iron from 40 years ago is very similar to a 30° iron of today.

The lofts are the same. The numbering has changed.
I am living with it.
I have found the best way, for me, is to ignore the numbers.

I did try, for one round only, putting 9 iron covers (3-SW) on my new irons (5-iron 22° to 58°W)
It was fun, but made no difference - it was still a matter of selecting the correctly lofted club for the shot to be played.
The number on the sole (or on the iron cover!) is arbitrary.

I have ceased to believe in "cranked lofts", "stronger lofts" etc. No such thing in my mind now.
Lofts are unchanging. They are what they are.
 
I think that the general golfer is still fixated on iron number rather than lofts. I say this even though I don't excatly know the lofts on my i20's, but I know they arent as strong as most of the newe clubs. I choose a club not on it's number (or even loft if I knew it) but on how far I know it carries for what shot I am going to play. So in that regard, the iron number is just an easy to read graduation when selecting the club for the shot.
 
Backache said:
Personally I have no idea what the lofts of any of my irons are and it worries me not a jot I care about how far each club goes and its trajectory on a well struck shot.
Click to expand...

Only becomes an issue if changing a set or borrowing some.

Couple of years ago I hired some TMs on holiday and was shocked about the difference in distance, with the same number iron. When lofts were Googled, all became clear 😉
 
Bunkermagnet said:
I think that the general golfer is still fixated on iron number rather than lofts. I say this even though I don't excatly know the lofts on my i20's, but I know they arent as strong as most of the newe clubs. I choose a club not on it's number (or even loft if I knew it) but on how far I know it carries for what shot I am going to play. So in that regard, the iron number is just an easy to read graduation when selecting the club for the shot.
Click to expand...
Exactly what I do.
I know how far I hit a 30° iron. I know how far I hit a 50° iron.
I select the iron for the shot I am about to play based on how far that I know I hit each club.
Not bothered about the number on the club, merely how far I know I hit it.
 
I try to match any existing club lofts. So my Mizuno set is matched to the Ping i15 set I have. I am thinking though I will just tape my yardages on the shafts to make life easier .. I just haven’t got round to it.
 
Crow said:
Can you quote the rule number?
Click to expand...
Potentially equipment Rules, 2.1a(iv). Write the number on the back of the head with a Sharpie.
www.randa.org

The R&A

The R&A seeks to engage in and support activities for the benefit of the sport of golf from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
www.randa.org
 
rulie said:
Potentially equipment Rules, 2.1a(iv). Write the number on the back of the head with a Sharpie.
www.randa.org

The R&A

The R&A seeks to engage in and support activities for the benefit of the sport of golf from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
www.randa.org
Click to expand...

I'd read that as being permissable, ie no performance gain is made and it's for identification.
 
harpo_72 said:
I try to match any existing club lofts. So my Mizuno set is matched to the Ping i15 set I have. I am thinking though I will just tape my yardages on the shafts to make life easier .. I just haven’t got round to it.
Click to expand...

My mate just had a chart affixed to the top of his trolley.
 
Haven't a clue what my carry distances are. Even my total distance for the club tends to be a variable feast according to the conditions and how well I'm swinging but I can usually get it reasonably accurately at least for my shorter irons and wedges. Longer clubs it is so much condition based that I reassess as the round progresses.
 
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