Am I Using The Right Irons For My Level of Play?

Louis Pringle

Apr 03, 2021

10 minutes

Having the right iron set in your golf bag to match your level of play will be essential to you having success on the course. Whether you’re a newcomer, a high-handicapper, an experienced low-handicapper, or even a pro, there’s always an iron profile that will fit your game better than others.

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Game-improvement / cavity-back Iron Sets

Here are the key components of game-improvement irons:

The first type of iron sets we’ll be looking at are referred to as game-improvement irons. As the name suggests, these clubs are designed to help newcomers take their first steps in the sport and develop their swing.

Your typical game-improvement iron will be equipped with a wide sole on the bottom to help the club glide across the grass before coming in contact with the ball. This helps new golfers hit the ball without having to worry about digging up trenches before impact.

These irons will typically be very forgiving, allowing golfers to hit decent shots even when they miss the middle of the clubface.

Weight dispersion in the clubhead creates a bigger “sweet spot” on the face, which is very important for beginners who struggle to hit the middle consistently.

As the previous lines explained, this type of irons is geared specifically for new players with a high-handicap (or someone who doesn’t have a handicap yet). While they may look bulky to some at first glance, it is that very same bulk that will allow you to enjoy your time out on the course.

On that note, we suggest you go for something even bigger, especially if you struggle with your iron play. Combo sets are a mix between hybrids and regular irons. They are specifically designed to help players who have a hard time getting their long irons off the ground.

Adding hybrids to the bag will be very helpful to almost anyone as they are much easier to get in the air than the long irons they would be replacing. Plus, players with slow swings will be able to get more distance out of their shots when using a hybrid instead of a long iron.

Most, if not all, game-improvement irons will feature a cavity-back (CB) design. However, CB irons won’t always be classified as game-improvement irons. Some will be targeted to better players, as they’ll also be featuring other aspects most associated with muscle-backs (MB) or forged blades.

A gain in distance will almost always happen with those clubs whether your set is game-improvement or not. The cavity left behind the clubface serves as a slingshot for the ball to bounce off the club’s surface. CB irons will also tend to carry the ball longer because of the stronger loft of the clubs when compared to MB or forged blades.

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Muscle-back irons

Here are the key components of Muscle-back irons:

If you feel like your game is strong enough and you’re looking for more control with your irons, you’ll want to switch to MB irons. These irons serve as an intermediate between forged irons and game-improvement cavity-backs.

As mentioned previously, these irons can sometimes feature a profile closely resembling CB's. Two of the best examples of this combination were given to us by TaylorMade over the years.

One of these sets, the Tour Preferred MC ‘11 was quite popular at the time of release, a decade ago, and is just as relevant today as Daniel Berger picked up two victories with the set over 10 years after they were first released.

TaylorMade brought back the MC (muscle-cavity) last year with the release of the P7-MC iron set. Combining the forgiveness of CB irons with the added weight of a muscle-back insert at the back of the club, these irons will benefit experienced players giving them added control over the ball while maintaining a decent amount of forgiveness.

This added control over the ball is often the factor that will motivate some players to make the move, especially when their game is improving. The same applies to some pros who moved away from the blades for the added forgiveness of the MBs.

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Forged blade irons

Here are the key components of Forged blade irons:

These diminutive irons are marketed to the best iron strikers out there. Their small, yet heavy, club heads are forged from a single piece of metal, hence the “forged” moniker. Sitting behind the ball at address, their irons will often appear smaller than a golf ball and their thin top line inspired the “blade” nickname.

Such a sight may be daunting to most amateurs, which is why these clubs will usually find their way in the bag of a professional rather than your average joe. Additionally, off-centered strikes and "shanks" can be extremely painful as these clubs are not forgiving whatsoever.

Being that they are so difficult to handle, one must wonder what advantage there is to playing this type of irons. To put it simply, it’s all about control. Pro golfers can create enough speed at impact and their striking is consistent enough that the extra spin and forgiveness from game-improvement irons would only be a deterrent to their game.

The added control of forged irons, as well as the higher loft angle, allows players to be more precise when attacking the green. Shot-shaping is essential when you’re playing amongst the pros and forged clubs are the right tools for players who want as much control as possible over their ball flight.

It must be said that while most of these sets run from 3-iron to pitching wedge or 4-iron to gap wedge, most of the pros who use blades will switch out their longer irons (2, 3) with thicker driving irons or more forgiving iron models. The pros may be better, but when every shot count, a little forgiveness is never too much!

It’s also worth mentioning that forged irons can serve as a good training tool for players looking to improve their ball striking skills. Golfers will get an instant response on the quality of their strike through the vibrations that’ll run up the shaft in their hands.

Finally, here’s what you need to keep in mind when it comes to irons:

If you’re stuck with the wrong type of irons for your game, do not worry as there is a solution for you. Just check out Golf Avenue’s trade-in program to get your hands on the right iron set for your level of play.

Until next time,

The Golf Avenue Team