How To Select Irons
Buying new golf clubs can be difficult. There are so many different ones to choose from made form different things, shaped differently and at different prices. Even someone with a lot of knowledge can find it all confusing. It is important to match the irons to your game and so you need to consider the composition, club head design and shaft flex.
There are two types of iron to look out for. There are the bladed style and the cavity back ones as well as many which now have hybrid options. The hybrid ones tend to be a combination of iron and wood and that means that they have the control of an iron and the feel of a wood. They tend to be used to replace the 3 or 4 irons.
A cavity back club is designed so that the weight it at the bottom of the club head. This means that it is easier to get the ball up in to the air and if it is off centre, it does not travel so off course. It can be a good way to avoid a slice shot. It is best for those with a high handicap or a medium one.
A bladed iron has a full back which means that there is no particular weight distribution. It does mean that it is easier to make miss hits with this type of club and so it is good for skilled players. The advantage of it is that it is easier to control and can be more accurate when the shot is played well.
Comparing forged irons and cast is something worth doing. The cavity back is normally cast and stainless steel and the method of making them is cheaper. They are moulded, but tend to not give the player as much feel of the ball and so are better for those players who are not so skilled. Some blades are forged, where a lump of metal is beaten into shape. This is more expensive, because of the labour involved and the fact that they are made from carbon steel which is dearer. However, the performance is much better and so for players with a high skill, who want to be extremely accurate, these are ideal.
Clubs can also change in the way they are designed. There are different sizes, mainly standard and oversize. The oversized clubs tend to be better for those players that are not quite as good as they do not tend to send the ball so far off track, but the standard ones are easier to control and so better for a player with higher skills.
The space between the leading edge of the blade and the centre of the shaft is called the offset distance and this can vary between clubs. Ones with an offset tend to help reduce the slice and the ball flies higher and so better for those players who have a higher handicap.
The shaft on a club can vary as well and it is important to choose one which is suitable for you. Some have stainless steel shafts and these are strong and cost effective. However, graphite shafts are more expensive but they are lighter and so can help a golfer get more distance because they can exert more power. The amount of bend of flex in the shaft can be crucial too. A more flexible shaft tends to be effective for newer players or those with a slow swing speed.