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Tiger's Irons

post #1 of 30
8/22/06 at 12:54am
Thread Starter 
I'm sure I read somewhere that Tiger has weak lofts in his irons - in other owrds that his nine iron would equal a PW for someone else.

Does anyone know if that's correct - makes how far he hits them even more impressive if it is.
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post #2 of 30
8/22/06 at 1:11am

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by Xt1ncT View Post
I'm sure I read somewhere that Tiger has weak lofts in his irons - in other owrds that his nine iron would equal a PW for someone else.

Does anyone know if that's correct - makes how far he hits them even more impressive if it is.
As far as I know, this is a true statement. He's kept the same lofts on his irons from when he 15 years old.

Updated to add the following from a Tiger Woods press conference last year:
Q. When it comes to what you keep in your bag, are you a guy that likes to tinker with loft and lie and swing weight and things like that, and if you do, what kind of thinking goes into those decisions?

TIGER WOODS: To be honest with you, my lofts, my lie, my length on my irons haven't changed since I was 14 years old. So to answer your question, no.

Q. Why not?

TIGER WOODS: Why? Because they have worked (smiling). I've won a lot of tournaments since I was 14. I'm not going to change. But I have changed my 3 wood obviously and my driver over the years and trying to keep up with everybody off the tees, but my irons are still very weak compared to today's standards. They are the standards back in the 60s. People have that so called gap wedge. Well, my pitching wedge is like 51 degrees. My 9 iron is like 45, and that's like most people's gap wedges. A lot of the guys' pitching wedge is like my 9 irons, so I play with very weak lofts, but they have worked so far.
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post #3 of 30
8/22/06 at 1:54pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Pretty sure that's correct as well... I remember reading somewhere that Mickelson's PW was like 44 or 45 degrees (at least it was when he played Titleist clubs) because he wanted to hit it further.

So yes, I'd believe that statement.
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post #4 of 30
8/22/06 at 7:29pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by FAHooGolfs View Post
Pretty sure that's correct as well... I remember reading somewhere that Mickelson's PW was like 44 or 45 degrees (at least it was when he played Titleist clubs) because he wanted to hit it further.

So yes, I'd believe that statement.
This doesn't really make since to me, maybe i'm too simple minded but why would he have his 9 iron put at 44 or 45 degrees? If he wants to hit it further pull an 8 iron, what is tigers 8 iron and or what are our 8 irons? That statement just got me thinking, hey that doesn't really seem logical but you know what he's on tour and i'm not so there must be something too it right.

ZEBRA
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post #5 of 30
8/22/06 at 7:45pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by zebrasinamerica View Post
This doesn't really make since to me, maybe i'm too simple minded but why would he have his 9 iron put at 44 or 45 degrees? If he wants to hit it further pull an 8 iron, what is tigers 8 iron and or what are our 8 irons? That statement just got me thinking, hey that doesn't really seem logical but you know what he's on tour and i'm not so there must be something too it right.

ZEBRA
Agreed. .
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post #6 of 30
8/22/06 at 7:58pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Top golfers strike the ball quite perfectly with a lot of club head speed and have no problem getting the ball up. They almost always have their clubs delofted. I am guessing that is one reason guys like Phil or Tiger can hit an "8 iron" 200 yards.

With my swing and swing speed, I'd never get the ball up with a low lofted club with a short shaft.
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post #7 of 30
8/22/06 at 8:21pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Pros aren't Pros cause they can generate a lot of club head speed or hit an 8 iron 200 yards, they're pros cause they can think on the course and execute the shot they want or need to execute when they need to do so. Every players swing is different and every players attack angle is different so saying that every pro hits the ball perfectly with a ton of club head speed is probably not accurate but I may be wrong. I'm not trying to start an argument I'm just stating my point of view as well.

ZEBRA
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post #8 of 30
8/22/06 at 8:25pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by zebrasinamerica View Post
This doesn't really make since to me, maybe i'm too simple minded but why would he have his 9 iron put at 44 or 45 degrees? If he wants to hit it further pull an 8 iron, what is tigers 8 iron and or what are our 8 irons?
A normal 9-iron would be around 43 or 44 degrees or so... most regular retail pitching wedges are around 47 or 48 degrees with about 3-4 degrees difference between clubs. The idea being that 1 degree of loft equates to roughly 2-3 yards difference in ball flight.

I think you were getting a little confused over my post... the point of the thread is that Tiger's clubs are more highly lofted than most players. So, where my PW is 48 degrees, Tiger's might be 51 degrees - thus making it evem more impressive that he hits his PW 140 yards.

Mickelson, on the other hand (at least when he was obsessed with hitting it further), de-lofted his clubs, so his PW might be closer to 44 degrees (equivalent to a 9-iron for most players) and thus he could hit it further (theoretically a lower launch angle) with more control (theoretically due to the shorter shaft). The significant swing speed of a tour pro means that its easier for them to get the ball in the air compared to us normal folk (as SubPar pointed out).

I'm sure there's a point I'm missing somewhere with regards to the iron's center of gravity, etc but I think that was the gist of the situation.
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post #9 of 30
8/22/06 at 8:28pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by zebrasinamerica View Post
Pros aren't Pros cause they can generate a lot of club head speed or hit an 8 iron 200 yards,
It does help though...

Originally Posted by zebrasinamerica View Post
so saying that every pro hits the ball perfectly with a ton of club head speed is probably not accurate but I may be wrong.
The consistent contact though does contribute to their ability to hit the ball the same distance every time. If you ever look at a pro's clubs up close, you'll see a small circle right in the sweet spot of the iron that looks like it's just been worn off by hitting the ball in the same spot time after time after time. It's really quite depressing that I'll never get to that point.
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post #10 of 30
8/22/06 at 8:34pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

I found this info, but have no idea how accurate it might be...

In the bag (Tiger)
Driver: Nike SasQuatch 460 cc driver (8.5 degree)
Fairway Woods: Nike Ignite T60 3 Wood (15 degrees) and Nike T40 5 Wood (19 degrees) *Tiger will put his 5 Wood or 2 Iron in the bag depending upon the course setup and conditions
Irons: Nike Forged Irons (2-PW) (all irons are 1 degree upright, have D4 swingweight, standard size Tour Velvet Cord grips and True Temper Dynamic Gold X-100 shafts)
Wedges: Nike 56 degree Pro Combo SW and 60 degree Flatback TW LW
Putter: Scotty Cameron By Titleist Studio Stainless Newport 2 putter (standard loft and lie, 35 inches long)
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post #11 of 30
8/22/06 at 8:49pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by FAHooGolfs View Post
It does help though...



The consistent contact though does contribute to their ability to hit the ball the same distance every time. If you ever look at a pro's clubs up close, you'll see a small circle right in the sweet spot of the iron that looks like it's just been worn off by hitting the ball in the same spot time after time after time. It's really quite depressing that I'll never get to that point.
I just re-read my post and the perfect contatct was not intended to be in there so thats my bad, my point was not everyone on tour swings as fast as Tiger and Phil

ZEBRA
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post #12 of 30
8/22/06 at 8:55pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by zebrasinamerica View Post
I just re-read my post and the perfect contatct was not intended to be in there so thats my bad, my point was not everyone on tour swings as fast as Tiger and Phil

ZEBRA
ZEBRA

I think you're missing the point of the thread.

Tiger's irons aren't de-lofted. They have MORE loft. In other owrds his 3 iron is equivlanet to Phil's 4 iron, his 4 iron equivalent to Phil's 5 iron and so on.

Which means that it's even more impressive that he can hit his 8 iron (or Phil's 9 iron) 198 yards on a par 3 to 3 or 4 feet.
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post #13 of 30
8/22/06 at 9:12pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by Xt1ncT View Post
ZEBRA

I think you're missing the point of the thread.

Tiger's irons aren't de-lofted. They have MORE loft. In other owrds his 3 iron is equivlanet to Phil's 4 iron, his 4 iron equivalent to Phil's 5 iron and so on.

Which means that it's even more impressive that he can hit his 8 iron (or Phil's 9 iron) 198 yards on a par 3 to 3 or 4 feet.
Xt1ncT, I do understand how impressive it is for Tiger to be hitting de-lofted clubs but I think you're missing the point of my posts being that I don't see the poing of Phil, and probably many other touring pros hitting a stronger lofted clubs, seems like they are just having the engraver put a 4 on their 3 iron or a P on their 9 iron etc...

sorry if i'm not being clear about what I don't understand

ZEBRA
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post #14 of 30
8/22/06 at 9:30pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

Originally Posted by zebrasinamerica View Post
Xt1ncT, I do understand how impressive it is for Tiger to be hitting de-lofted clubs but I think you're missing the point of my posts being that I don't see the poing of Phil, and probably many other touring pros hitting a stronger lofted clubs, seems like they are just having the engraver put a 4 on their 3 iron or a P on their 9 iron etc...

sorry if i'm not being clear about what I don't understand
Zebra, if I gave you a set of clubs that were all one club longer than your current set, would you want to buy them? After all, they're longer and yet probably just as accurate...

Many equipment companies do this by marking their 44° club "PW" even though, in reality, it's a 9-iron. There's that "club longer."

A lot of the pros play de-lofted clubs because they are looking to hit long par threes, reach par fives with irons, and so forth. So that 4-iron that plays as a 3-iron is good. On the top end, they add a sand and a lob wedge to fill the gaps between their PW and whatever short-game shots they need.

They rarely leave themselves an awkward distance on a layup, so they really don't need too much height (with a true PW, for example).

Tiger plays pretty standard lofts. His PW isn't 51, last I heard - but more the "old" industry standard of 48 or 49. Titleist still sticks to pretty standard lofts, but look at this review and you'll note I talk about the decreased lofts for a few paragraphs.
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post #15 of 30
8/22/06 at 9:44pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

well to me it just doesn't make since to have a 4 iron that plays like a 3 iron because it is de-lofted instead of just playing a 3 iron. I guess I am just over thinking this whole topic but it just doesn't make since to me. As far as you giving me clubs that play one club longer, I would be real mad the first few rounds cause I know that the distance difference would slip my mind and I would hit everything long but heck yeah of course I would take free clubs but it would make more since to me to say hey here's a 2 iron, it will go furthur than your 3 iron. Sorry if it seems like I am being difficult this concept just doesn't make since to me. If you want the length of a 3 iron then hit your 3 iron.

ZEBRA
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post #16 of 30
8/22/06 at 10:15pm

Re: Tiger's Irons

I don't care if I hit 6 or 7, I care about how close it went. At the level Woods plays at and it's true for many low handicap players as well, distance control is far more important than distance.
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post #17 of 30
8/23/06 at 2:34am

Re: Tiger's Irons

One difference between a delofted 8 iron verses a standard 7 is shaft length. In theory the 7 would still be longer even if the lofts are the same, but the 8 might be more accurate due to the shorter shaft.
I would guess the pros play less loft for a few reasons:
They hit the ball hard enough to get it in the air,
They have better control (as mentioned above),
It might alter a competitors club selection, especially on par 3's,
It sounds cool on TV to hit a 8 iron 200 yards from the rough!

Chris
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post #18 of 30
8/25/06 at 7:09am

Re: Tiger's Irons

boys,

as my old coach used to say "they ask how many,not how".

it does not matter what iron you hit,it's how close you hit it???

deano
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