Jump to content

Types of irons: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m clean up following merge
Line 21: Line 21:


==Cavity back irons==
==Cavity back irons==
A '''cavity back iron''' is an [[iron (golf)|iron]] used in the sport of [[golf]] that's design differs from that of [[muscle back iron]]s and [[hybrid (golf)|hybrids]]. In a cavity-back iron, most of the weight of the clubhead is distributed around the perimeter of the head, creating a "cavity" in the center of the clubhead. This perimeter weighting increases the moment of inertia of the clubhead which minimizes twisting when the ball is struck slightly off the center of the clubhead, allowing such shots to have more distance and control than a similarly off-center shot with a muscle-back iron. Such improved forgiveness is often mislabelled as providing a larger [[sweet spot]], or center of gravity, but technically this is false as there is still an optimum point on the clubhead with which to contact the ball for best distance and straightest flight. Most golfers using a cavity back iron, however, will see no practical difference between a shot hit "dead-on" and one hit slightly off-center (where a marked difference would be seen with a muscle-back iron, and will use the term to describe the increased usable area of the hitting face. Most cavity-backs are made by [[investment casting]].
In a '''cavity-back iron''', most of the weight of the clubhead is distributed around the perimeter of the head, creating a "cavity" in the center of the clubhead. This perimeter weighting increases the moment of inertia of the clubhead which minimizes twisting when the ball is struck slightly off the center of the clubhead, allowing such shots to have more distance and control than a similarly off-center shot with a muscle-back iron. Such improved forgiveness is often mislabelled as providing a larger [[sweet spot]], or center of gravity, but technically this is false as there is still an optimum point on the clubhead with which to contact the ball for best distance and straightest flight. Most golfers using a cavity back iron, however, will see no practical difference between a shot hit "dead-on" and one hit slightly off-center (where a marked difference would be seen with a muscle-back iron, and will use the term to describe the increased usable area of the hitting face. Most cavity-backs are made by [[investment casting]].


{|class=wikitable
{|class=wikitable

Revision as of 22:04, 18 June 2009

Muscle back irons

A muscle back iron is an iron used in the sport of golf whose design differs from that of cavity back irons and hybrids. Muscle back irons produce a much longer shot if hit correctly. In a muscle-back iron, most of the weight of the clubhead is distributed quite evenly throughout the head compared to a cavity-back iron. Muscle-backs tend to make the ball go a little less far but with more accuracy than hybrids or cavity-back irons. This is because they have more feel and less brute strength. These designs are also called 'blades' for their low amounts of offset and thinner edge-on profile. This nickname has become synonymous with difficult-to-hit irons, though modern design has made them slightly easier to hit. It is often said that "if you can hit with a muscle-back iron, you can hit with any kind of iron". Despite this, muscle-back irons are preferred by players whose swing launches the ball on a higher trajectory, as the raised center of gravity lowers the flight path of the ball compared to other clubhead designs. Most muscle-backs are made by forging.

Iron 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 PW AW SW LW LW+
Loft[nb 1] 21° 24° 27° 30° 34° 38° 44° 48° 52° 56° 60° 64°
Lie[nb 2] 61.5° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64.5° 65° 65° 65° 65° 65°
Bounce[nb 3] 0-2° 0-3° 0-4° 0-5° 1-6° 2-7° 3-8° 4-9° 5-10° 6-11° 7-12° 8-13°
Clubhead mass (g)[nb 4] 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 300 300 300 300
Length (in)[nb 5] 38.75 38.25 37.75 37.25 36.75 36.25 35.75 35.5 35.5 35.25 35 35
Length (cm)[nb 5]
  1. ^ Varies slightly between models.
  2. ^ Varies between models.
  3. ^ Varies significantly, with game improvement type clubs having much more than those designed for the better player.
  4. ^ Varies between models.
  5. ^ a b Standard lengths. Golfers may have different shaft lengths to suit their game.

Cavity back irons

In a cavity-back iron, most of the weight of the clubhead is distributed around the perimeter of the head, creating a "cavity" in the center of the clubhead. This perimeter weighting increases the moment of inertia of the clubhead which minimizes twisting when the ball is struck slightly off the center of the clubhead, allowing such shots to have more distance and control than a similarly off-center shot with a muscle-back iron. Such improved forgiveness is often mislabelled as providing a larger sweet spot, or center of gravity, but technically this is false as there is still an optimum point on the clubhead with which to contact the ball for best distance and straightest flight. Most golfers using a cavity back iron, however, will see no practical difference between a shot hit "dead-on" and one hit slightly off-center (where a marked difference would be seen with a muscle-back iron, and will use the term to describe the increased usable area of the hitting face. Most cavity-backs are made by investment casting.

Iron 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 PW AW SW LW LW+
Loft[nb 1] 18° 21° 24° 27° 30° 34° 38° 44° 48° 52° 56° 60° 64°
Lie[nb 2] 61° 61.5° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64.5° 65° 65° 65° 65° 65°
Bounce[nb 3] 0-1° 0-2° 0-3° 0-4° 0-5° 1-6° 2-7° 3-8° 4-9° 5-10° 6-11° 7-12° 8-13°
Clubhead mass (g)[nb 4] 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 300 300 300 300
Length (in)[nb 5] 39.25 38.75 38.25 37.75 37.25 36.75 36.25 35.75 35.5 35.5 35.25 35 35
Length (cm)[nb 5]
  1. ^ Varies slightly between models.
  2. ^ Varies between models.
  3. ^ Varies significantly, with game improvement type clubs having much more than those designed for the better player.
  4. ^ Varies between models.
  5. ^ a b Standard lengths. Golfers may have different shaft lengths to suit their game.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Types_of_irons&oldid=297247003"