Types of irons: Difference between revisions
Schierbecker (talk | contribs) m clean up following merge |
Schierbecker (talk | contribs) →Cavity back irons: more cleanup |
||
Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
==Cavity back irons== |
==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]]. |
|||
{|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] |
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] |