2022-01-13 Head structure
In terms of club head construction alone, we can divide irons into two types: blade irons and socket irons.
Among them, the knife-back irons give the most direct feedback at the moment of hitting the ball, and it is easier to control the ball path. These irons are popular among professional players as well as amateurs. If you're confident in your skill level and want more control over your shots, choose a knifeback.
On the other hand, the cavity back club has a higher forgiveness rate (deviation from the sweet hit) due to the weighted treatment around the head. But the corresponding handling capabilities are not as good as blade irons. This club is more suitable for golfers with high handicap, because their swing skills are not mature enough, so they need this kind of high forgiveness head.
Loft
The inclination of the club face when the iron is perpendicular to the ground is called "loft", which is one of the important factors in choosing an iron and has a great influence on the flight of the ball.
Irons that are generally considered to be flying usually have a smaller loft. Also, some mid-irons have a similar loft to the long irons. Recommended when you want to increase your flight distance.
Shaft material
The main materials are steel and carbon.
a) Steel shaft
Steel shafts are synonymous with stability. With low take-off trajectory, good control ability and minimal torque, it is the best choice for professional players, and it is also the choice of many experts. There are currently two major factions of steel shafts, Japanese and American, which are N.S.PRO in Japan and TRUE TEMPER in the United States. Japanese products take the lightweight route, with common weights of 75, 85, and 95 grams, and the general torque is around 2.0. American products follow the traditional route, and the weight of the product is basically 125 grams. True Temper believes that the torque of its products is negligible, so it has never announced the torque value of its products. There are two third-party claims, one is 1.6 and the other is 1.2, both of which are much more stable than Japanese. Although Japanese products are less stable than American products, the advantage is that they provide a steel shaft as light as 75 grams, which can even replace many carbon products. The N.S.PRO 75-gram 750 steel shaft is the first choice for those looking for stability but not wanting to slow down their swing speed.
b) Carbon shaft
The carbon shaft is light in weight, good in elasticity and good in shock absorption. The hands are not too painful when hitting the ball not solidly. There are many manufacturers with carbon shaft production capacity, and the choices are also varied. Generally, the carbon shafts of the commercially available products are mostly 5X grams in weight. The torque is large and the stability is average. If there is a requirement for performance, it is necessary to additionally replace it with a high-performance product from an independent manufacturer.
Now many golfers have a concept, "only good players can choose steel shafts, while average players should choose carbon shafts", this idea is not completely correct. When choosing a shaft type, you should make your choice based on your swing speed and physical condition, not your performance. If a beginner has good physical fitness, then he should choose a steel shaft and enjoy the stability it brings. If an expert has a slower swing, he should choose a light steel shaft, or a better-performing carbon shaft from an independent manufacturer. If you have a wrist injury or an injured golfer, no matter what your level is, you should choose a carbon shaft to protect your body and prolong your golf career.
The world-famous club designer TOM WISHON once did a test that the weight of the shaft needs to increase by 30 grams to significantly reduce a person's swing speed. So if you are not very sensitive to distance, you should still use steel or light steel shafts for the best stability.
If your 7-iron swing speed is below 75MPH, then you should choose a softer carbon shaft. If you can reach 75-80MPH, if you need stability, you can consider choosing a 75g light steel shaft. More than 80MPH can use 85g, 95g product. If you can stabilize more than 85MPH, then it is recommended that you use the American 125g product to increase the stability of the swing.
