Golf irons are some of the most-used clubs on the golf course, with the short irons often taking centre stage.
Ideal for catching shorter-range shots sweetly and accurately with plenty of distance control, they’re some of the most favoured clubs in the game. But are too many players reaching for them too often?
You should always play with the club that suits the occasion, and the one you feel more comfortable with. But the 8 iron and 9 iron (and sometimes the 7 iron and pitching wedge) are often chosen when one of the longer irons or fairway woods would’ve been far more appropriate. It’s a bad habit to fall into.
With this in mind, here are a few reasons why you might be tempted to reach for irons that are on the shorter side, why it's not always the best idea, and when is the best time to use them in play.
Why do golfers love hitting short irons so much?
Higher lofted clubs are easier to hit
The closer you are to your work, the easier it is to do, and you won’t get much closer to your work when playing golf than when hitting shots with short irons. It’s how they got their name!
Because their shafts are so short, and their faces are so lofted, the short irons are some of the easiest clubs to swing and bring the club head back in line with the target, for consistent straight-firing ball striking.
They might not be the farthest-reaching clubs in your bag, but what you sacrifice in distance you’ll more than make up for in accuracy.
This isn’t necessarily a good thing, though, as countless players forego their longer, more intimidating clubs - like the long irons and fairway woods - because they’re more concerned with hitting the ball straight, as opposed to reaching the yardage they need.
The best ball strikers should be aiming for both. So if you’re one of the players who is nervous about reaching for a more ‘scary’ club, sacrificing them in favour of short iron shots, don’t be! The sooner you master them, taking plenty of practice swings if you need to, the sooner you’ll be able to lower your scores and make your clubs work for you.
They can reach decent distances
Even though they’re not built to reach the longest distances in the game, with a lie angle that'll help lift the ball off the deck and into the air, the short irons are still able to reach valuable distances on the way to the pin.
On average, players tend to hit balls somewhere between 130 and 155 yards with the short irons, which can be ideal if you’ve smashed the golf ball off the tee with an awesome drive and are looking to close the gap between the ball and the green on your second shot. Depending on the conditions and the course, these shots can roll considerable distances, too, with lengths closer to the 200-yard mark not entirely out of reach.
Having said that, given their reliability and familiarity, some players will choose to reach for the short irons even when the yards left to the hole are above and beyond these figures. Then, they’ll try to inject some extra power into the shot, in the hopes the short iron will mimic the distance offered by a more senior club.
This doesn’t always end well and can result in throwing the clubface out of alignment due to the added force and swing speed.
When should you use your short irons?
In short, you should use your short irons when the situation calls for it! Trust your gut when examining the lie and the distance (check out the distances listed above if you have to) and don’t be scared away from using some of the more difficult-to-handle clubs in your bag. The easiest option isn’t always the right one but it'll help you with your game improvement.
Those clubs are there for a reason and, once you’ve nailed down a good technique with them, they’ll begin to offer your game the advantages you’ve been missing for a long time.
Find the best golf irons for sale at Clarkes Golf
If you’re in need of a golf iron upgrade, you'll find the perfect new iron set or individual irons for sale at Clarkes Golf.
As an approved stockist of clubs by some of the leading brands in golf today - including TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist and more - we’ll always have the golf clubs and golf iron sets you need to keep lowering your scores and enjoying the game you love.
Whether you prefer forged irons or cast irons, irons with steel shafts or graphite shafts, an extra stiff shaft or a shaft material that offers greater shaft flex, we'll have something to meet your needs.
Check out our selection of new golf irons using the links above. But don’t forget, our price match promise means if you find the same golf clubs we stock listed for a lower price elsewhere, let us know and we’ll match the price!
Alternatively, get in touch with Clarkes Golf today if you need a hand.