Shaft Length Gaping 1/2 inch VS 3/8 inch

[YonexMan]

Recently I purchased a full set of Wishon SL Sterling irons, which I absolutely love and have in fact improved my scoring by quite a few shots because of them. Being that the long irons are shorter than the so called standard that we have today.

My son (who plays off 5) tried them out for a few rounds as well and liked them. He usually uses a set of Mizuno MP-15 irons - 4 to PW.

Anyway after some research and talking to a few club makers, he decided to stay with variable length irons, but cut his current set of MP15's down to a 3/8 inch shaft length gap instead of the factory supplied standard of 1/2 inch.

We started with the 8 iron, leaving the PW and 9 iron as standard. Being that the 9 iron is only a 1/4 inch longer than the PW.

We then went to see a club maker who tested and re-adjusted the lie angles. Which in fact didn't need much adjustment. The MOI matching of the irons also didn't need much adjustment either. My son has found that the clubs are much easier to control and hit centre on the face now with no loss of distance - in fact a small gain from centred contact. With also a gain in consistent ball flight as well.

So was wondering if anyone else has tried the 3/8 inch length gaping with their irons shafts instead of the 1/2 gaps that the OEM throw at us.

[3Puttpete]

We started with the 8 iron, leaving the PW and 9 iron as standard. Being that the 9 iron is only a 1/4 inch longer than the PW.



Did you extend 8 or shorten 9 by 1/8?

[3oneday]

An 8th of an inch is what, a bees dick?

Doubt many would be good enough to notice.

[3Puttpete]

An 8th of an inch is what, a bees dick?

Doubt many would be good enough to notice.

They seem to notice adjusting lie angles by 1 or 2 degrees

[3oneday]

One or two degree over 35" would be significant though, whereas a tiny nip off the end to be insignificant ? I would have thought so anyway.

[Daves]

I don't get hung up on shaft length gap increments, as I focus totally on MOI matching. 1/8" isn't going to be noticeable in one club (it is about a 1% variance on the MOI front i.e. within normal unperceivable tolerances). However over a set, that would equate to 5/8" on the 4i, and 1/2" for the 5i. That would be materially different to a normal set. MOI can be matched with weight added to the head, so it would be reasonably straight forward to build that way.

[YonexMan]

Did you extend 8 or shorten 9 by 1/8?

No. Left the PW and 9 iron at standard length. Then added 3/8 inch to the length of the 9 iron and that is the length we cut the 8 iron to. Not a big difference, until you start comparing total lengths in the top end of the bag, mainly the 4, 5 and 6 irons

[3Puttpete]

One or two degree over 35" would be significant though, whereas a tiny nip off the end to be insignificant ? I would have thought so anyway.

You're right, over 35" it would be significant but it's only a couple of inches from hosel to centre face.

It's like most of these things, if we didn't know we wouldn't know

[YonexMan]

An 8th of an inch is what, a bees dick?

Doubt many would be good enough to notice.
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Sorry no. it is 3/8th inch gap. Not 1/8th

[3Puttpete]

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Sorry no. it is 3/8th inch gap. Not 1/8th

1/8 is the change

[backintheswing]

I notice 3/8" of gaping

[YonexMan]

1/8 is the change

Sorry, my miss-understanding.

Not a great deal of different in the shorter irons - but was very noticeable in the longer irons

[YonexMan]

This also provides interesting reading.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_(golf)

Being that when I first got into golf, I never had any issues with hitting 3,4,5 irons at all. Then stopped playing for a few years and then got back into the game in around 2003.

When I came back to golf, I found that even after being properly fitted, I struggled with the 3 iron - basically unusable. 4 iron was also a big struggle with anything from hooks to slices. 5 iron was usable - but still pretty bad dispersion. 6 iron was then fine.

Looking at this wiki, further down the page it provides a historical irons shaft length, loft comparison from the 1990's to the average current specs.

Which is why I changed to SL irons and am now playing the best golf I have ever played. the Sterling Wishon 4 iron is now a real weapon for me which carries around 180-184m and roll to around 186 to 190 depending on course conditions. Easily hitting greens. Whereas previous sets of clubs I have been fitted to - the 4 iron was only used for punching out from under trees as otherwise it was unreliable.

Whilst my son changed to 3/8th inch length gaps between clubs and is very happy with the change, especially with shot dispersion.

[mrbluu]

I notice 3/8" of gaping

I'm sure I've watched some documentaries about this.....:mrgreen:

[Jazz18]

No. Left the PW and 9 iron at standard length. Then added 3/8 inch to the length of the 9 iron and that is the length we cut the 8 iron to. Not a big difference, until you start comparing total lengths in the top end of the bag, mainly the 4, 5 and 6 irons

Just to clarify, if you're cutting 1/8th off the 8 iron, then you're cutting 1/4 off the 7 iron, 3/8 off the 6 iron, 1/2 off the 5 iron and 5/8 off the 4 iron, correct? In the long to mid irons, I think most would notice the difference.

[Steve57]

Just to clarify, if you're cutting 1/8th off the 8 iron, then you're cutting 1/4 off the 7 iron, 3/8 off the 6 iron, 1/2 off the 5 iron and 5/8 off the 4 iron, correct? In the long to mid irons, I think most would notice the difference.
Wouldn't that make Bluu's 1 iron two foot long?:lol:

[mrbluu]

Wouldn't that make Bluu's 1 iron two foot long?:lol:

FU bro, they banned the broomstick ages ago!!! :oops:

[3oneday]

Didn't the first post say instead of a half inch gap, he now has a three eighth inch gap?

It's all too hard now :lol:

[Steve57]

FU bro, they banned the broomstick ages ago!!! :oops::wink:

[YonexMan]

Didn't the first post say instead of a half inch gap, he now has a three eighth inch gap?

It's all too hard now :lol:

Correct.

The mizuno mp15's had a 1/2 inch difference between each club. Except for the gap from 9 iron to PW. As there is only a 1/4 inch difference in length between these two clubs. But the rest of the set had an increase of 1/2 inch between each club loft.

Now there is only 3/8 inch difference between each club.

Original lengths in inches
PW - 35 1/2
9 - 35 3/4
8 - 36 1/4
7 - 36 3/4
6 - 37 1/4
5 - 37 3/4
4 - 38 1/4

New lengths
PW - 35 1/2
9 - 35 3/4
8 - 36 1/8
7 - 36 1/2
6 - 36 7/8
5 - 37 1/4
4 - 37 5/8

[YonexMan]

So effectively..
8 iron is -1/8
7 iron is -1/4
6 iron is -3/8
5 iron is -1/2
4 iron is -5/8