Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

As you know, lofts have gotten stronger over the decades.  Shaft lengths have also gotten longer.  In the 1950's, it would not have been unusual for a 5 iron to have 32 degrees of loft and be 37 inches long, perhaps even 36.5 inches.  Now, most 5 irons are 38 inches long and lofts range from 27 degrees down to 23 degrees.  This got me to thinking:  is there an ideal shaft length for each loft?  Have shaft lengths increased in an attempt to increase the launch of stronger lofted irons?  Has it happened simply to add to distance?  If we have any club designers here, I would love to hear from you.

I am also going to ask the impossible -- please no complaining about the scourge of strong lofts.

14 of the following:

Taylormade Qi10 Max

Callaway 2023 Big Bertha 3 wood set to 17 degrees

Cobra F9 Speedback 7/8 wood set at 23.5 degrees

Callaway Epic Max 11 wood

Titleist TSR1 hybrid 26 degrees

Ping Eye 2 BeCu 2-SW

Ping G430 irons 6-50 degree

Sub 70 286 wedges 52 and 56 degrees

Hogan sand wedge 56 degree bent to 53

Ping Glide 3.0 Eye2 58 degree

Ping Glide 3.0 60 degree

Evnroll ER1v

Ping Sigma 2 Anser

Cheap Top Flite mallet putter from Dick's

TaylorMade Mini Spider

Bridgestone XS

Posted

The lofts have not gotten stronger.  How the company decides to designate each iron has changed.  The stigma of 1 & 2 irons of the past are they were un-hittable, and that is still the case for modern 3 & 4 irons of the same lofts.  

The lofts have not changed… all someone needs to do is take a modern MB 32° iron and put it up against a pastime MB 32° iron.  Sure the longer shafts have probably created more distance, but again.  The loft is the same.  Just the number on the bottom.

a 52° gap wedge of today was just a 52° pitching wedge back then.  A 56° sand wedge back then is still a 56° sand wedge now.  A 48° pitching wedge now, was simply a 48° 9 iron back then… and so on.  

 

Driver: Callway Rogue St Triple Diamond 9*

2 HY: Mizuno STZ 230 16* (set to 13.75)

2 Iron: Taylormade UDI 17*

Irons: 2019 Titleist T100S 3-PW

Wedges: Vokey SM6 54* and SM9 48* / Taylormade MG3 TW 56*

Putter: PING Anser 

Ball: Pro V1

Bag: Jones 

 

Posted
10 hours ago, Shankster said:

The lofts have not gotten stronger.  How the company decides to designate each iron has changed.  The stigma of 1 & 2 irons of the past are they were un-hittable, and that is still the case for modern 3 & 4 irons of the same lofts.  

The lofts have not changed… all someone needs to do is take a modern MB 32° iron and put it up against a pastime MB 32° iron.  Sure the longer shafts have probably created more distance, but again.  The loft is the same.  Just the number on the bottom.

a 52° gap wedge of today was just a 52° pitching wedge back then.  A 56° sand wedge back then is still a 56° sand wedge now.  A 48° pitching wedge now, was simply a 48° 9 iron back then… and so on.  

 

With modern jacked loft specs, the iron length / loft correlation is actually shorter. You now have a 4-iron shaft on what was once a 2-iron but is now a 4.

It's not a full 2-clubs shorter.  More like a club and a half as they made the length / club number correlation just a tad longer.

For my part, I wish that they had left it where it was fifty years ago,
but they didn't, so I live with it like everybody else. 

With so many people starting their numbered irons at #s 5 and 6, sometimes even 7, I don't understand the modern numbering protocols at all.

I know it's just a number and shouldn't matter, but my mind just doesn't work that way.  

 

 

Posted

I agree, it would be much easier to just have clubs go by loft degree as opposed to a generic number, but it’s not that way with irons for some reason…but they do it with wedges and drivers, so maybe the irons will come around? You could always mark them yourself, but then it’d be tougher to compare against others as they’re using the convention. Sounds like it’s mostly marketing, honestly…

Driver:  image.png.ac16a10c2b861fff646dd08647f76d1f.png 849D 9°
     Fuji ‘24 Ventus velocore+ Blue 5R
3W:  IMG_1282.jpeg.5aa87f97d80bcf4ae3205107fd0a6add.jpeg G430 MAX 15°
     Hzdrus RDX Red 5.5 60g 
3 & 5Hy:  IMG_1282.jpeg.5aa87f97d80bcf4ae3205107fd0a6add.jpeg G430 19° & 26°
     Hzdrus RDX Red 5.5 70g
5-PW:  image.png.e76c3a80e959f4571ac9d38b658506a0.png 699 v2
     Mitsu MMT 80R
Wedges:  image.png.bddbadf2cd48c1b40cf591e520848ebb.png MAX milled 50° (bent to 48°), 54°, 58°
     Mitsu Kuro Kage Black 2G S/R
Putter: IMG_0001.webp.1bb06711a891b54d87220134616250e5.webp DF3
     TPT Armlock  - purple 💜 edition!
Ball:  image.png.10667a299706a9d7d3afd32e78f27847.png Pro Soft
Bag: image.png.1645cda6e679afe5a2659ddb2ecb59d1.png  C130

 

Wine is sunlight held together by water - Galileo 

 

image.jpeg

Posted

There is no such thing as loft jacking.  It’s just number changing….

Driver: Callway Rogue St Triple Diamond 9*

2 HY: Mizuno STZ 230 16* (set to 13.75)

2 Iron: Taylormade UDI 17*

Irons: 2019 Titleist T100S 3-PW

Wedges: Vokey SM6 54* and SM9 48* / Taylormade MG3 TW 56*

Putter: PING Anser 

Ball: Pro V1

Bag: Jones 

 

Posted (edited)
39 minutes ago, Shankster said:

There is no such thing as loft jacking.  It’s just number changing….

Totally true. A loft measurement is a loft measurement. But it would be nice if they didn’t change numbers around so you could easily discern between various clubs…or just dump the numbering system all together and go to lofts like a lot of wedges are labeled. 

Edited by RyanGi

Driver:  image.png.ac16a10c2b861fff646dd08647f76d1f.png 849D 9°
     Fuji ‘24 Ventus velocore+ Blue 5R
3W:  IMG_1282.jpeg.5aa87f97d80bcf4ae3205107fd0a6add.jpeg G430 MAX 15°
     Hzdrus RDX Red 5.5 60g 
3 & 5Hy:  IMG_1282.jpeg.5aa87f97d80bcf4ae3205107fd0a6add.jpeg G430 19° & 26°
     Hzdrus RDX Red 5.5 70g
5-PW:  image.png.e76c3a80e959f4571ac9d38b658506a0.png 699 v2
     Mitsu MMT 80R
Wedges:  image.png.bddbadf2cd48c1b40cf591e520848ebb.png MAX milled 50° (bent to 48°), 54°, 58°
     Mitsu Kuro Kage Black 2G S/R
Putter: IMG_0001.webp.1bb06711a891b54d87220134616250e5.webp DF3
     TPT Armlock  - purple 💜 edition!
Ball:  image.png.10667a299706a9d7d3afd32e78f27847.png Pro Soft
Bag: image.png.1645cda6e679afe5a2659ddb2ecb59d1.png  C130

 

Wine is sunlight held together by water - Galileo 

 

image.jpeg

Posted
14 minutes ago, RyanGi said:

Totally true. A loft measurement is a loft measurement. But it would be nice if they didn’t change numbers around so you could easily discern between various clubs…or just dump the numbering system all together and go to lofts like a lot of wedges are labeled. 

Hogan tried that, they now have numbers. When I purchase something, I want to know more about it than the person trying to sell it to me.  I know that my “3” iron is 19°, I also know that my “9” iron is 40°, and so on.  

But it really doesn’t matter at all, zero, zip, zilch… sometimes my 3 iron has 15° of loft, and sometimes it has 24°.  My 54° is a 64° sometimes and a 48° other times, and my 9 iron is a 50° club on one shot and a 32° club on the next.

Know your equipment and whatever they put on the bottom is irrelevant.  Just think of it as a batting order.  1 being the longest hitter and wedged being the shortest hitter.

Driver: Callway Rogue St Triple Diamond 9*

2 HY: Mizuno STZ 230 16* (set to 13.75)

2 Iron: Taylormade UDI 17*

Irons: 2019 Titleist T100S 3-PW

Wedges: Vokey SM6 54* and SM9 48* / Taylormade MG3 TW 56*

Putter: PING Anser 

Ball: Pro V1

Bag: Jones 

 

Posted

Tommy Armour did numbering with its original 845s Silver Scot irons….they likewise abandoned it later in the series’ production.  The lofts then were 44* 9i, 40* 8i, 36* 7i, etc.  They were and still are some solid irons and the ones I gauge all others by.  Right now my current 9i is 41*, 8i 36*, 7i 32* - in essence one club “stronger”.  Shaft lengths match up (the new 8i is about the same length as my old 7i)….all this to say, I tend to play with the mentality that a 32* iron goes x distance no matter the number on the bottom. 

WITB?:ping-small:  G400 SFT w/Aldila NXT GEN NVS 55 Aflex ; :ping-small: G410 3w; :ping-small: G400 3h(19), 4h(22), 5h(26) - stock Ping Alta CB R-Flex; :edel-golf-1:SMS 6i, 7i - KBS TourLIte 95 R-Flex; Maltby TS1 8i-9i-PW w/Apollo Acculite 85 R flex; INDI FLX-S wedges (50, 54, 58) w/Recoil graphite shafts -R-Flex and :odyssey-small: AI-One 7T BD Milled (aka Millie), ball choice tends to be Pro-V1 or simliar 3pc urethane balls. 

Posted

I just prefer accuracy…seems like clubs are like woman’s clothing sizes. Inconsistent from one to another and tweaked for marketing purposes…

Driver:  image.png.ac16a10c2b861fff646dd08647f76d1f.png 849D 9°
     Fuji ‘24 Ventus velocore+ Blue 5R
3W:  IMG_1282.jpeg.5aa87f97d80bcf4ae3205107fd0a6add.jpeg G430 MAX 15°
     Hzdrus RDX Red 5.5 60g 
3 & 5Hy:  IMG_1282.jpeg.5aa87f97d80bcf4ae3205107fd0a6add.jpeg G430 19° & 26°
     Hzdrus RDX Red 5.5 70g
5-PW:  image.png.e76c3a80e959f4571ac9d38b658506a0.png 699 v2
     Mitsu MMT 80R
Wedges:  image.png.bddbadf2cd48c1b40cf591e520848ebb.png MAX milled 50° (bent to 48°), 54°, 58°
     Mitsu Kuro Kage Black 2G S/R
Putter: IMG_0001.webp.1bb06711a891b54d87220134616250e5.webp DF3
     TPT Armlock  - purple 💜 edition!
Ball:  image.png.10667a299706a9d7d3afd32e78f27847.png Pro Soft
Bag: image.png.1645cda6e679afe5a2659ddb2ecb59d1.png  C130

 

Wine is sunlight held together by water - Galileo 

 

image.jpeg

Posted

Don't really care about the lofts, I just depend on which club provides me the distance I need.

Ping 410 +

Callaway Mini 13.5

Ping G430max 7 wood

TM P790

TM Grind 2 50.9

TM Hi-Toe 56.10

Vokey 58.10s

Scotty Newport Mid Slant Pro Platinum

Ball: Titleist Tour Soft, TM Soft Response Yellow

Posted
1 hour ago, CPP said:

Don't really care about the lofts, I just depend on which club provides me the distance I need.

Sure, but without some way to compare them to each other, you aren’t able to contrast different clubs nd see which ones might better suit what you need…either the numbers should be comparable, or the lofts…it would just be nice to have a better commonality across brands…not unlike getting them all to use a universal shaft adapter. 

Driver:  image.png.ac16a10c2b861fff646dd08647f76d1f.png 849D 9°
     Fuji ‘24 Ventus velocore+ Blue 5R
3W:  IMG_1282.jpeg.5aa87f97d80bcf4ae3205107fd0a6add.jpeg G430 MAX 15°
     Hzdrus RDX Red 5.5 60g 
3 & 5Hy:  IMG_1282.jpeg.5aa87f97d80bcf4ae3205107fd0a6add.jpeg G430 19° & 26°
     Hzdrus RDX Red 5.5 70g
5-PW:  image.png.e76c3a80e959f4571ac9d38b658506a0.png 699 v2
     Mitsu MMT 80R
Wedges:  image.png.bddbadf2cd48c1b40cf591e520848ebb.png MAX milled 50° (bent to 48°), 54°, 58°
     Mitsu Kuro Kage Black 2G S/R
Putter: IMG_0001.webp.1bb06711a891b54d87220134616250e5.webp DF3
     TPT Armlock  - purple 💜 edition!
Ball:  image.png.10667a299706a9d7d3afd32e78f27847.png Pro Soft
Bag: image.png.1645cda6e679afe5a2659ddb2ecb59d1.png  C130

 

Wine is sunlight held together by water - Galileo 

 

image.jpeg

Posted

I go my numbers not the lofts.  I know what each club is capable of, its the distance that has been measured and noted,. I don't walk up to my ball and say, let me pull out my 23.5 degree iron, NO I say let me pull out my 5 iron.

 

 

 

 

Ping 410 +

Callaway Mini 13.5

Ping G430max 7 wood

TM P790

TM Grind 2 50.9

TM Hi-Toe 56.10

Vokey 58.10s

Scotty Newport Mid Slant Pro Platinum

Ball: Titleist Tour Soft, TM Soft Response Yellow

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...