A two-part guest post from Zach Lambeck — GolfTEC Coach, Houston, TX — discussing blended iron sets. Check back shortly for part 2.
Part 1:
The problem
At first it doesn’t seem like there is a problem. In fact, it seems like a perfect day on the links. You have your game figured out today. You’re throwing darts with the short irons. That 3-hybrid you just added to the bag this week is the greatest purchase you ever made. So what is the problem? There is an all-carry 4-iron coming up. A little off the toe, maybe a little thin, and all of the sudden you’re in the drink, dropping with a penalty stroke. Another great round turned mediocre. Then it happens once more with that 6-iron you never hit well—chalk another round lost to the Golf Gods.
How it all starts
The majority of my students do not hit mid-irons well, and for many of them, it is the weakest part of their game. Short irons offer a good chance at center-faced hits thanks to their shorter length, providing more control over the swing. When it comes to the longer clubs in the bag, equipment has evolved: Drivers, fairway woods and hybrids provide the maximum amount of forgiveness possible — giving golfers a great opportunity to hit a good shot, even if the ball isn’t hit perfectly in the center of the club.
When we look at the 4-7 irons, however, there is potential for significant improvement. Two questions about your current iron set:
- Do you love your short irons but struggle with mid-irons, as even a minor miss-hit sends the ball off the target line?
- Does your 6-iron ever go the same distance as your 8-iron?
If you answered yes to either of those questions — or you just don’t feel quite as confident with your mid-irons as you do with your short irons — you should consider playing a blended set of irons.
So why should you care about blended sets?
Because of the larger sweet spot and increased forgiveness, that’s why.
Imagine if you hit a few extra approach shots per round on or next to the green. Imagine if you had confidence that your 5-iron would clear the water (most of the time). Imagine if you had equal confidence with your 4-iron and 9-iron!
That wraps up part 1 of our look at blended iron sets. Check back in a few days to read part 2 — where we’ll take a closer look at blended sets and how you should go about building one.
