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Types of Irons
Cast irons have a cavity back construction, also known as perimeter weighted irons, most of the club head weight is on the outside of the head. They tend to have a larger sweet spot because it puts more weight on the edges of the club face. Cavity back/perimeter weighted irons on the whole tend to favor high handicap golfers due to there more forgiving design. This is an example of a cavity back iron.
Forged Irons have no special weight distribution on the back of the club head. The center of gravity is in the center of the club head, most forged irons also have the weight higher in the face, allowing the advanced player to better control trajectory. Forged irons are less forgiving than cavity back irons and are therefore recommended only for more experienced players. Today these clubs are more commonly known today as blades. These tend to favour Lower handicap golfers as they have a smaller sweet spot and give the golfer more control of the shot. Here is an example of a forged back golf club.
Different Clubhead Sizes
Standard
Similar to the smaller sizes of traditional clubs, however they are better suited to a more advanced player as the size of the sweet-spot is smaller, therefore Standard size clubs will be less forgiving on off centre hits.
Midsize
Midsize are a combination of traditional and oversized irons, they offer a bigger sweet-spot than standard clubs so they are more forgiving for the mid-high handicap golfer. They are easier to handle than the oversize clubs.
Oversized
Oversized club heads have an even larger sweet-spot than the midsize clubs. Oversized irons are more difficult to control for a low handicap player.
Different Clubhead Material
Stainless Steel and Titanium
Most cavity-back irons are cast iron, which makes them good for less-advanced players looking for durability and consistency. Although many of today's cast golf clubs can offer similar, if not better playability than forged. Forged irons are made of a softer steel, which provides better feel to more advanced players.
Titanium tends to be a lot lighter than Cast iron and Steel, therefore heads are made larger than traditional standard which in turn provides more forgiveness on miss-hits, the draw back is that Titanium is more expensive than steel.
Types of Shafts
Steel Shafts
Steel shafts are stronger, more durable and generally less expensive than graphite. They have greater consistency from shaft to shaft because they go through a more advanced manufacturing process.Steel shafts offer more control, but require a faster swing speed to generate the same distance as graphite. Below is an example of a steel shaft.
Graphite
Lighter than steel, and can be made in many more variations, making it easier to select a shaft best suited to your game. They are generally more expensive than steel and less durable. Lighter weight provides greater swing speed for more power, but it sacrifices control due to the flex generated during the swing.
Flex
Flex refers to the amount of "bend" in the club shaft, your shaft flex needs to match the speed of your golf swing.
As the shaft flexes throughout the swing, the position of the clubhead changes. And the face of the club must be square (perfectly straight) at impact. If you have clubs with a shaft flex that is not stiff enough, the clubhead will be tend to be closed at impact, sending the ball out to the left (for right-handed players). If the flex of your clubs is too stiff, the clubface will tend to be open, sending the ball out to the right. The degree of flex in your club shafts is something you control. You can choose to buy stiffer shafts, or softer shafts, depending on your needs.
Flex General guidelines:
Cast irons have a cavity back construction, also known as perimeter weighted irons, most of the club head weight is on the outside of the head. They tend to have a larger sweet spot because it puts more weight on the edges of the club face. Cavity back/perimeter weighted irons on the whole tend to favor high handicap golfers due to there more forgiving design. This is an example of a cavity back iron.
Forged Irons have no special weight distribution on the back of the club head. The center of gravity is in the center of the club head, most forged irons also have the weight higher in the face, allowing the advanced player to better control trajectory. Forged irons are less forgiving than cavity back irons and are therefore recommended only for more experienced players. Today these clubs are more commonly known today as blades. These tend to favour Lower handicap golfers as they have a smaller sweet spot and give the golfer more control of the shot. Here is an example of a forged back golf club.
Different Clubhead Sizes
Standard
Similar to the smaller sizes of traditional clubs, however they are better suited to a more advanced player as the size of the sweet-spot is smaller, therefore Standard size clubs will be less forgiving on off centre hits.
Midsize
Midsize are a combination of traditional and oversized irons, they offer a bigger sweet-spot than standard clubs so they are more forgiving for the mid-high handicap golfer. They are easier to handle than the oversize clubs.
Oversized
Oversized club heads have an even larger sweet-spot than the midsize clubs. Oversized irons are more difficult to control for a low handicap player.
Different Clubhead Material
Stainless Steel and Titanium
Most cavity-back irons are cast iron, which makes them good for less-advanced players looking for durability and consistency. Although many of today's cast golf clubs can offer similar, if not better playability than forged. Forged irons are made of a softer steel, which provides better feel to more advanced players.
Titanium tends to be a lot lighter than Cast iron and Steel, therefore heads are made larger than traditional standard which in turn provides more forgiveness on miss-hits, the draw back is that Titanium is more expensive than steel.
Types of Shafts
Steel Shafts
Steel shafts are stronger, more durable and generally less expensive than graphite. They have greater consistency from shaft to shaft because they go through a more advanced manufacturing process.Steel shafts offer more control, but require a faster swing speed to generate the same distance as graphite. Below is an example of a steel shaft.
Graphite
Lighter than steel, and can be made in many more variations, making it easier to select a shaft best suited to your game. They are generally more expensive than steel and less durable. Lighter weight provides greater swing speed for more power, but it sacrifices control due to the flex generated during the swing.
Flex
Flex refers to the amount of "bend" in the club shaft, your shaft flex needs to match the speed of your golf swing.
- Beginners and players with less powerful swings will benefit from a more flexible shaft.
- An average player has a swing speed of 75-90 mph, and should look for a regular shaft
- Players with powerful swings - in the 90-110 mph range - should purchase a stiff or firm shaft. This will provide a stiffer club for more control.
As the shaft flexes throughout the swing, the position of the clubhead changes. And the face of the club must be square (perfectly straight) at impact. If you have clubs with a shaft flex that is not stiff enough, the clubhead will be tend to be closed at impact, sending the ball out to the left (for right-handed players). If the flex of your clubs is too stiff, the clubface will tend to be open, sending the ball out to the right. The degree of flex in your club shafts is something you control. You can choose to buy stiffer shafts, or softer shafts, depending on your needs.
Flex General guidelines:
- Take a look at the distance you hit your driver. This is a good, but very general, indicator. If you carry you driver 250 yards or more, go with Stiff; 230-250 yards, Regular; 200-230 yards, Senior; less than 200 yards, Ladies. Only the biggest of the big hitters is going to need Extra Stiff. For most of us, Extra Stiff isn't even in the picture.
- If you have a very smooth swing, you might benefit from a softer flex even if you swing very fast. A swing that gets jerky at the top - when transitioning into the downswing - will probably need a stiffer shaft.
- If your drives go left, you might benefit from a stiffer flex; if your drives go right, you might benefit from a softer flex.
Guide created: 09/07/06 (updated 10/15/09)
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