Why does iron spin matter?

[BombsAway]

Why does iron spin matter?

I hear so many YouTube reviewers saying spin is too high or too low for certain irons. And looking at the data, I see the low spinning irons generally have the most distance (as expected). So would anyone want a high spinning 7-PW? Or a high spinning 3-6 iron for that matter. If I can hit a low-spinning 7 iron the distance of a 6 iron, why would I bother to play a high-spinning 6 iron that flies lower, goes the same distance and stops within a similar landing spot?

Iron spin usually isn't an issue, but I noticed a Srixon Z-785 7 iron (low spin) goes about a club farther than a JPX 919 Forged (high spin). And the 785s are high hitters, so they also stop well instead of rolling through greens. 

 

Here is one source of distances and spin rates: 

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[Double Mocha Man]

It's not the distance.  It's the ability to spin the ball to get it to hold the green.

[onthehunt526]

Just now, Double Mocha Man said:

It's not the distance.  It's the ability to spin the ball to get it to hold the green.

I agreed spin plays a big part in ability to hold the ball on the green. But it's only one factor, there are others I.e. peak height, descent angle, etc.

[BombsAway]

1 minute ago, onthehunt526 said:

I agreed spin plays a big part in ability to hold the ball on the green. But it's only one factor, there are others I.e. peak height, descent angle, etc.

Exactly.

Assuming both clubs have the same stopping power, is there any reason to play shorter-hitting high-spinning irons?

[Double Mocha Man]

Excessive peak height and a steep descent angle are fine... until you find yourself playing in the wind.

[ncates00]

20 minutes ago, BombsAway said:

Exactly.

Assuming both clubs have the same stopping power, is there any reason to play shorter-hitting high-spinning irons?

Different players have different swing characteristics that yield different results.  It's the same reason why some play low spin drivers or higher spin drivers.  Some players have lower spin loft (greater compression) even with an iron, and may need the higher spin for their irons.

Also, while peak height and descent angle also contribute to holding a green, along with spin, that's not the only reason why a person wants spin.  They may also want higher spin because it helps with gapping your yardages.  If you have a low spinning iron set, eventually you're going to have clubs bunch up because there's only so low you can go.  For instance, having an 8i spin at 6k revs might help you feel better about yourself thinking you hit your 8i further (what's an 8i anyway, look at static loft), when you pull a 6i or 5i or a hybrid, you may run into some useless clubs because the lack of spin is causing your club distances to bunch up.  They might not overlap completely if you're a pretty good player, but you'll likely lose the 12-15 yard gap most people like to have with their irons.

To me, lower spinning irons can certainly help some people that spin the ball too much.  The clubs can even maintain or even improve height with today's technology.  That said, I tend to have low spin on all my shots already; I would not benefit from lower spinning irons.

[billchao]

Spin rate by itself is not that important. There's an optimal spin rate for different launch angles, trajectories, etc. Peak height and descent angle have a lot to do with holding greens.

A lot of people get fixated on just the one number for whatever reason. You see it all the time on those YouTube reviews and they're always surprised that the club holds a green just fine.

[onthehunt526]

19 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

Excessive peak height and a steep descent angle are fine... until you find yourself playing in the wind.

That's where the lower trajectory higher spin shot comes in handy. 

Or the little flighted iron shot. 

Most of the YouTubers Finch, Shiels, Crossfield, etc will say "oh this 7-iron only spins around 4500 revs but gets way up in the air". 

Don't listen to dry ball data, it's honestly bullshit. Shiels at least goes out on the course for his reviews and I believe Crossfield is as well. 

Don't listen too much to the dry ball data it'll just make your head explode. I want to see how an iron performs on the course. Not on GC Quad.

3 minutes ago, billchao said:

Spin rate by itself is not that important. There's an optimal spin rate for different launch angles, trajectories, etc. Peak height and descent angle have a lot to do with holding greens.

A lot of people get fixated on just the one number for whatever reason. You see it all the time on those YouTube reviews and they're always surprised that the club holds a green just fine.

Right. Every time I see a review for an SGI iron, they always bitch that with those spin numbers it'll never hold a green. I call bullshit. I see guys stuff cobra F9 and Taylormade M series irons from all distances.

[ncates00]

31 minutes ago, onthehunt526 said:

I want to see how an iron performs on the course. Not on GC Quad

You can take launch monitors on the course.  I take my gc2 all the time (for practice rounds).  I agree with your basic premise of seeing what happens on the course and not just at home on a mat.  However, the mat testing/practice at least gives you a sterile baseline to play off of.

31 minutes ago, onthehunt526 said:

Right. Every time I see a review for an SGI iron, they always bitch that with those spin numbers it'll never hold a green. I call bullshit. I see guys stuff cobra F9 and Taylormade M series irons from all distances.

 

33 minutes ago, billchao said:

A lot of people get fixated on just the one number for whatever reason. You see it all the time on those YouTube reviews and they're always surprised that the club holds a green just fine.

True, but spin is important for distance control as well (given your usual launch angle).  If you're using low spin irons and you are in the rough or flyer lie and you don't have much spin to begin with, You could be in for a rough go.  Spin is your friend in many instances.

Edited April 25, 2019 by ncates00

[onthehunt526]

53 minutes ago, ncates00 said:

You can take launch monitors on the course.  I take my gc2 all the time (for practice rounds).  I agree with your basic premise of seeing what happens on the course and not just at home on a mat.  However, the mat testing/practice at least gives you a sterile baseline to play off of.

 

True, but spin is important for distance control as well (given your usual launch angle).  If you're using low spin irons and you are in the rough or flyer lie and you don't have much spin to begin with, You could be in for a rough go.  Spin is your friend in many instances.

Bingo!!!! We have a winner. Spin is how you are able to hit within 3-4 yards of your intended distance. If I'm 150 yards from the hole (Which is now 9-iron for me). I want the ball to go 150 yards. Not 165 not 135... 150. 

I guess there is an optimum spin as there is a launch angle, descent angle, peak height, spin axis, dispersion plane, etc.