Golf Club Iron Lofts

[Grunt]

In my research for new clubs of late. I have found the lofts are way stronger at the bottom end of the set. For instance most sets have a standard 30* loft on the 6 iron, but the PW's are now 45*, the TM Burner PW is 44*. I was hoping to keep my 52.56.60 wedges with the new set, I am not sure that will be possible now.

Wasn't 48 the standard loft for a PW not that long ago?

[PeteyD]

Lower the loft, put the old number on it and the punters hit it further, so think they are getting better. Part of the mine is bigger culture.

[goonie]

Blades and most players clubs are still 47-48*, but this decrease in loft has been going on for years and years. The club makers say they have lowered the loft because the clubs are launching the ball so much higher. Go back far enough and I think you will find that a PW was around 50* or more.

I think the biggest joke is that nearly all modern sets have a PW with around 45* of loft and a SW with 55-56*, thats a huge 10+ gap to have in a set. most offer gap wedges but very few are included as standard. And if you buy a set of irons in the US most sets are 3-PW and you have to order other wedges extra. Sounds like a lot of people may use specialist wedges.

[Scottt]

I have an old encyclopaedia of golf that lists the standard loft for a PW c. late 80s as 50 degrees.

The higher launch argument holds a bit of water I guess, but it does play havoc with uniform distances between clubs.

I carry a 52 deg wedge, but I can't say I use it that much...

[leighthebee]

likewise. i used to have 54 and 60 for years.

then came up with the brilliant idea that I'd go 52 56 60. started getting to the point where I wasn't confident on a shot because one either way "might" have been the better option.

now I'm back to 54 60 and much happier.

[SupaSubi]

my set at the lower end goes: PW 47 - GW 52 - LW 58

i use the gappy all the time. go to wedge from 90 - 50m

[PeteyD]

I went the 52/56/60 and have found I use the 56 about once every 3 rounds, so am now thinking of going back to a 2 wedge set up.

[3oneday]

I have a gappy with my set, it is 50°. I am about to throw in a 56 and 62.

[goonie]

I used to use the 52/56/60 setup, but like leigh I have changed to a 52*/58* setup, This setup gives me 13 normal clubs in my bag, so I can add or test other clubs or combos without going over the 14 club limit (eg jaybam's CG14 on the weekend). Until I find that magic 14th club that is.

[markTHEblake]

Wasn't 48 the standard loft for a PW not that long ago?

and all that not long before that - 50 deg. I think the Ping Eye 2 was a 50+ deg wedge.

The manufacturers have scammed us on two counts, the 3 irons are pretty much the same loft as years ago, but they have narrowed the gaps between the long irons to make us think the club goes further, creating the bigger gap between PW and SW, so they tell use we need any an extra club, more profit to them.

Like most people around the time I started playing, I only had 13 clubs. It was only the freaks that carried a 2 iron :-) - and I dont remember ever thinking that there was a club that I needed to fill a gap.
The standard set on the shelf was 1W, 3W, 5W, 3-W, SW

Now most of us probably have 15 or even 16 and we struggle to decide which ones to interchange :roll:

One day I am gunna get a texta and go to Golfworld and put the right numbers on all their irons.

[Toolish]

One day I am gunna get a texta and go to Golfworld and put the right numbers on all their irons.

I would love to see that!

Standard iron set now should really start at a 4 iron and include a gap wedge.

Is there any reason for the smaller loft gap in long irons other than marketing?

[virge666]

Standard iron set now should really start at a 4 iron and include a gap wedge.


i don't know what you guys are talking about - all the club lofts are exactly the same as what they were in the 60's. All they have done is change the numbers on the bottom.

:)

But in reality - The ball has changed, the shafts have changed and the head designs have changed. To make an optimum club - they had to change the lofts to match the design. Hence the reason my Mizzy's are still 47-48 and Callaway X20's are 44-45.

Also - from a punter point of view - it is easier to hit a 36" 40 degree club than a 37" 40 degree club, especally with soft light shafts,

[Dazza]

I've got a 50/55/64 set at home. Haven't used them much, but I need to work on using the right wedge for the right situation. :roll:
I seem to use the 64 for some shots, when I should really be using the 50/55. :smt013

Give it time...

[virge666]

I seem to use the 64 for some shots, when I should really be using the 50/55. :smt013

Give it time...

You have to be one hell of a golfer to use a 64 degree wedge properly, otherwise the distance control is just too hard.