Some loft history of irons

[RC]

We get new clubs, and we hit them longer... Ah, the wonders of technology.

But wait...

I just read some history of the Ping irons. This is what was reported: In 1985, the Ping Eye2 wedge had a loft of 50.5 degrees. The 2008 Ping G10 wedge has a loft of 46 degrees and comes standard with 3/4 of an inch longer shaft. So an old Ping Eye2 9 iron would have a real challenge hitting it as far as today's wedges. Imagine a 4.5 degree decrease in loft and a longer shaft. Some modern GI wedges are 45 degrees. Are we really hitting it longer?

With the 5 iron, the difference from 1985 to 2008 is 1.5 degree stronger with the longer shaft as well. No wonder we need so many extra wedges today.

I remember hitting one of the early Taylormade irons once and thinking the 8 iron was a 6 iron -- really strong.

(I always knew lofts were getting stronger, but had forgotten by how much. I never played Pings because they were cast and felt harsh to me, but they were a revolutionary club with their cavity design and square grooves.)

[Fourputt]

We get new clubs, and we hit them longer... Ah, the wonders of technology.

As I recall Cobra really started this trend. They may not have been the first, but they were the ones who got noticed. You have to compare the length for different sets by the actual loft, not the number on the clubhead. My Titleist AP2 PW is 47°.

[Petden]

Basically, it puts more emphasis on distance rather than (accuracy?). I guess it would only affect someone if he/she has played a weaker set-up. I have only played modern set-ups and have gotten used to that, as that is all I have known.

But I do agree with the OP on this topic.

[golfire6]

My current PW is 48* , but it makes it tough for me to look at new iron sets where the 9 iron is so strong that it would leave a sizable gap between clubs . I have a 43* 9 iron now but there are definitely stronger ones out there currently . -- K.

[RC]

Over the years, I've gone from 50+, to 50, to 48, and now play a 47 degree wedge and of course the clubs are spaced down from there. The lofts don't really matter, as someone has pointed out, but it explains (for me anyway) why as I get older, I'm still hitting about the same distance for pitching wedges. I realistically have lost some distance along the way. I notice it with the long irons because the loft difference is a lot less. That is why the 2 iron is gone and a rescue 7 wood sits in my bag -- I need the shaft length to get it up higher and carry what the 2 iron used to (at least off the deck.) Compounding this puzzle is I still have a high swing speed and am consider a longish type driver. I guess ball and driver technology has progressed more than irons (except for the grooves out of rough) -- that's my take (come to think of it, drivers are two inches longer on average so maybe there is no mystery.)

[golfire6]

A great site to look at to determine the lofts of your current ( or prospective ) clubs :

http://www.golfclubspec.com/

Enjoy ! -- K.

[Petden]

The problem with that site is that it doesnt list many of the newer clubs.

[glebert]

ironfinder.com has specs for newer clubs

Also, this page has a nice graphic that compares the lofts from 1965 with 2000. http://www.leaderboard.com/LOFTINFO.htm and a great cynical take on the whole thing.

[imtomtomim]

well, a lot of the reason the lofts have been progressively getting higher is because of the weighting technology. The newer clubs get the ball up faster with their lower COG's so you don't need such a weak loft to get a higher trajectory. The whole goal is to find the most efficient path for the ball to take off and the better the technology gets, the closer these irons get to that perfect line.

[st0wgolf08]

If you go to the club manufacturers site, in my case, Taylormadegolf.com find your club, click specs and bam its right there.

[iacas]

Again, a club with a lower center of gravity will launch the ball higher than a club with a higher CoG and the same loft.

In other words, a 47° PW might launch exactly the same as a 50° PW depending on the CoG.

As another example, the Titleist 695.MB and .CB varied by two degrees, yet blended at any club in the set because the launch conditions were the same.