Golf Tips: Iron Man!

If you inherited your grandpa's old set of wood shaft golfing sticks, then maybe it is time for a much needed equipment update. Or are those price tags, composite shafts, and multi-layered faces are scaring you off? We feel your pain! So here's another article that offers you some quick tips and advice for your golf game. Remember - most of the shots you play are between the tee and the green, so choosing the right set of irons can make or break your game.

Equipment
Irons have advanced in technology to the point that in many cases they are no longer made from iron. Like the driver, the biggest changes in recent years have been the move to a larger club face and the use of composite materials in the shaft and head. However, many companies still offer a 'blade' face, which is the preferred style for tour players. Blades are less forgiving, but when you are ranked in the top 150 in the world, accuracy is more important than forgiveness. And iron play is all about accuracy. Knowing how far you hit each club is the key to a successful golf game, not just hitting it far. This article will look at three of the most popular brands of irons out there right now (Callaway, Titleist and Taylor Made), and some of the features and benefits they bring to your game. We will also let you know which (if any) tour players are using these clubs, so you can get an idea of just how good they are out in the 'real' world.

Callaway Golf
www.callawaygolf.com

Big Bertha Irons $1,000
These irons are designed similarly to the Big Bertha Drivers. The whole idea is to offer a larger 'sweet spot', in order to help reduce the negative effects of a miss hit (slice or hook), and extenuate the effects of a good hit. The club has a wider base, which is supposed to help the club cut through the rough, without lodging into to the turf. That feature combined with the balanced weighting offers a straighter shot, something we all want.

Who uses them on the SPGA & LPGA Tours?
- Kelli Kuehne
- Arnold Palmer

Steelhead X-16 $900
These irons are designed more for the tour player, offering a thinner blade shape and some serious Callaway technology. The weighting has been changed, placing more emphasis on the heel - where they have their patented 'notch.' The whole point of these features is to offer superior shot-shaping control, versus the more forgiving wider, larger heads of the Big Bertha. Pros like to shape their shots, and they have the talent to do so. This is a good set of irons if you are a low-handicapper who is serious about shooting in the seventies.

Who uses them on the SPGA & EPGA Tours?
- Eduardo Romero
- Gary Player

* All prices are in US dollars and are the manufacturer's suggested retail selling price.

TaylorMade
www.taylormadegolf.com

Forged Rac MB $900-$1,200
TaylorMade's Rac series are very popular right now - the MB stands for muscleback. These thin blades are designed with the shot-maker in mind, and come in a variety of lofts and shafts (steel or graphite), which are designated by swing speed. You need to go in and get fitted properly for these babies, and then you can get out there and start carving up some courses.

Who uses them on the PGA Tour?
- Sergio Garcia
- Reteif Goosen

Titleist
www.titleist.com

Forged Stainless 704 CB $112/iron
Titleist has its own version of the blade, and the 704 series is one of the most popular available at local sports stores and pro shops. The forging process creates a unique blend of hard and soft steel, allowing for greater distance and accuracy. A wider sole helps to avoid the dreaded chili-dip, leading to a smoother follow through.

Who uses one on the PGA Tour?
- Ben Curtis
- Brad Faxon

Forged Stainless 804 0S $112 steel; $135 graphite/iron
These irons feature a wider head than the 600 series, and are geared toward shot-makers. The wider face is more suitable for the amateur golfer, due to the ever important forgiveness factor.

Tips for selecting your irons
1. Club head speed - the speed you swing at is crucial to your club selection. There are many composite and graphite shafts available these days, which can be very whippy. Firm shafts are best for those who swing fast, while the more flexible, whippy shafts are best for players who swing more slowly.

2. Club Face - The general rule to follow is this: larger club heads/faces tend to be more forgiving since they have a larger sweet spot. A sweet spot is the spot where the ball and club face make contact at the best possible location - it is often designated by a mark, circle, or different colored material on your club face. The downside is that the larger club face is harder to control. This means that instead of landing 5 feet from the pin, you might be 25 feet from the pin. Pros prefer blades because they can get very accurate results, and they are good enough to play the excellent shots required by blades.

3. Grips - grips are often ignored when purchasing clubs, but they can make a crucial difference. You want a grip that feels natural in your hand, not oversized and awkward. It is also important to choose a material that has a nice sticky feel to it, which will come in handy on wet days.

Iron Play Tips
1. Close the face when you want to: hit out of deep rough to avoid a slice; hook a ball; hit a low shot.

2. Open the face when you want to: play a slice; play a fade; hit a high shot.

3. A slow swing speed with an iron almost always leads to a more accurate, straighter shot. Particularly when you are using blades.