Should different style clubs with the same loft hit similar distances?

[Chicago Lefty]

For example, would a 19* iron, hybrid, and fairway wood all hit a similar distance with the same swing?

[dmband8985]

those would all likely be within one club of each other...distance is a result of several factors, one of which is loft. shaft, length, swingspeed (which are all related) also factor into the distance equation as well as a bunch of other physics mumbo jumbo. that said, you could expect to hit your woods and hybrids further and a similar lofted iron,

[2-dogs]

Lots of factors here ... basically comes down to launch angle, club head speed and club head mass ... with some adjustment for the way the face reacts with the ball.

By inference - the type of conditions you are playing in also are relevant ... ie playing in hot and dry conditions means different results to cold and wet !! High lofted all carry vs low hard runners :)

[Leftygolfer]

For example, would a 19* iron, hybrid, and fairway wood all hit a similar distance with the same swing?

they are very different in lengths of the shaft. I have a 17 degree hybrid and a 18 degree 5 wood and I would guess I can fly the hybrid by 25 yards with my 5 wood.

The length of the shaft makes a big difference.

[Chicago Lefty]

All factors being equal, do they hit the same distance?

[upah]

With equal course conditions, and equal quality of contact for all clubs, a wood will likely hit the ball farthest. Second would be the hyrbid, and third would be the iron. This is for three clubs with equal loft.

[GaijinGolfer]

Theres lots of little differences between irons, hybrids and woods; so no, they shouldnt hit a ball the same distance.

[sean_miller]

All factors

If your 19* hybrid, your 19* 5-wood and your 19* 2-iron all had the same shaft (including length), they still wouldn't go the same distance. Differences in COR and COG would play a part. Your swing also plays a part. My guess is the iron would be the shortest, then the hybrid and 5-wood very close together.

[2-dogs]

The length of the shaft makes a big difference.

Actually the length of shaft doesnt make that much difference at all.

[2-dogs]

Actually the length of shaft doesnt make that much difference at all.

From David Lake (1-iron golf):

What is the true affect of club length on distance? We are led to believe that longer golf clubs produce greater swing speeds on a linear scale and thus more distance. This is the explanation given for the 1/2 inch increase in club length between the individual irons and woods within a conventional set of golf clubs. In actuality, the only static factor that results in distance changes between clubs is the difference in the loft angle of the clubhead. Our testing has shown conclusively that there is absolutely no measurable difference in swing speed due to the standard 1/2 inch incremental shaft length increases between clubs. The only affect of the standard length increases between clubs is to make each successively longer club harder to hit. The armchair physicist will point to the radial arm length in a golf swing as being the prime determinant of swing speed stating that the longer the radial arm the greater the swing speed and resultant distance. A common misconception is that club length alone is used to define this radial arm length. Regardless of how many hinging points and resultant secondary arcs/planes are involved the true center of a golf swing is a point somewhere between your shoulders (this center point moves laterally between the shoulders during the swing). Hence, you must include your arm length into the radial arm length equation for any meaningful analysis. Therefore, assuming a 37 inch iron length and an arm length of 24 inches, the actual radial arm length in your golf swing is 61 inches. This means that a 1/2 inch change in club length results in a radial arm length change of only 1/122nd or 0.008197. A 1 inch change in club length results in a radial arm length change of only 1/61 or 0.01639. As you can see, these fractional increases in radial arm length will not produce any measurable change in swing speed or distance whatsoever.

[DonW]

Isn't that quote from someone who makes their living selling clubs all cut to the same exact length throughout the set, no offense but I'm going to take his "scientific data" with a grain of salt.

[2-dogs]

Isn't that quote from someone who makes their living selling clubs all cut to the same exact length throughout the set, no offense but I'm going to take his "scientific data" with a grain of salt.

... if you would rather believe the marketing hype surrounding the big brands, thats your choice. The maths holds up, you cant argue with that.

I can tell you from my club making experience, that length is way over-rated. The longer the club - the lighter the head - the more speed it needs to get the same force into the golf ball as a shorter heavier head traveling at a slower speed. I know which one I would prefer. How many Pros do you think play with 46 inch drivers? These are the best ball strikers on the planet and they average under 45 inches. (they also have more loft on average than amateurs) How many Pros do you think have a standard set of golf clubs, with 0.5 inch increments throughout the set? If you think they are playing with the same gear as you ... you are sorely mistaken. Tom Wishon talks about the 38/24 rule - that an average golfer cannot handle any iron that is over 38 inches and less than 24 degrees in loft, and I think that many golfers would improve if they looked at their set make up a bit closer. More loft, shorter shafts .. you wont believe how much your scoring improves.

[iacas]

Our testing has shown conclusively that there is absolutely no measurable difference in swing speed due to the standard 1/2 inch incremental shaft length increases between clubs. The only affect of the standard length increases between clubs is to make each successively longer club harder to hit.

Their testing is bad. I've done my testing and my clubhead speed changes appreciably with each different iron.

People swing their drivers MUCH faster than their 6-irons.

... if you would rather believe the marketing hype surrounding the big brands, thats your choice. The maths holds up, you cant argue with that.

Except that the math doesn't hold up. You're choosing to believe a "study" that contradicts every study done by every other rational person in the history of golf, basically.

The longer the club - the lighter the head - the more speed it needs to get the same force into the golf ball as a shorter heavier head traveling at a slower speed.

Mass is a much, much smaller part of the force equation than velocity. So long as head weight is high enough, velocity is preferred. Drivers weigh 200 grams or so - irons always weigh more.

How many Pros do you think play with 46 inch drivers? These are the best ball strikers on the planet and they average under 45 inches.

Tell you what: they're not using 38-inch drivers.

How many Pros do you think have a standard set of golf clubs, with 0.5 inch increments throughout the set?

Most of them do. Easily in the 90th percentile. You can look at the clubs sitting in their Tour bags to notice this.

Tom Wishon talks about the 38/24 rule - that an average golfer cannot handle any iron that is over 38 inches and less than 24 degrees in loft, and I think that many golfers would improve if they looked at their set make up a bit closer.

A lot of the people on an Internet forum aren't "the average golfer." The average golfer plays about five times per year and shoots 120.

[sean_miller]

Actually the length of shaft doesnt make that much difference at all.

This was the last post I needed to read in this

train wreck thread (but I read them all anyway).

[Leftygolfer]

Actually the length of shaft doesnt make that much difference at all.

Sure... I think I will stick with what every company does who spends millions in R&D.; I never seen a 36 inch men's 3 iron.

[2-dogs]

Their testing is bad. I've done my testing and my clubhead speed changes appreciably with each different iron.

Thats a swing fault ... swinging harder when you are further away is nothing to do with club dynamics.

Except that the math doesn't hold up. You're choosing to believe a "study" that contradicts every study done by every other rational person in the history of golf, basically.

Not true. The math is not in question. These studies you are talking about ... done by "rational" people ... can you point me in there direction so I can I have a read?

Mass is a much, much smaller part of the force equation than velocity. So long as head weight is high enough, velocity is preferred. Drivers weigh 200 grams or so - irons always weigh more.

There are so many parts of this comment that are not true that I don't know where to start.

Driver heads weigh around 200gms. Iron heads range from around 240gms (3I) to 300gms (SW). What is this "enough" that you talk about in terms of weight? I am wondering if you have an understanding of golf club fitting - or you are just talking from personal experience?

Tell you what: they're not using 38-inch drivers.

Who said anything about 38 inch drivers? Using the same logic I dont see many 54 inch drivers on tour either.

Most of them do. Easily in the 90th percentile. You can look at the clubs sitting in their Tour bags to notice this.

Not true. A lot of top club fitters are not using 0.5 inch increments ... the player usually determines what they want, but usually it is more common to see 0.4 increments or a range of increments across the set. Greg Norman used to have three 7 irons for instance, where the loft was the only difference between the three. If you are taking a guess at what happens on tour thats ok - your guess is just wrong.

A lot of the people on an Internet forum aren't "the average golfer." The average golfer plays about five times per year and shoots 120.

Sounds like a big generalisation, but could be true. I think a lot of golfers think they are better than they really are. "I can hit a 3 iron as accurately as my 8 iron" ... "I dont miss the fairway with my driver" ... "I hit my wedges within 10 feet without fail" .... etc etc ... My point was that lots of golfers would benefit from looking hard at their set make up, especially length and loft considerations.

Sure... I think I will stick with what every company does who spends millions in R&D.; I never seen a 36 inch men's 3 iron.

They don't spend millions on R&D; ... they spend millions on marketing.

Do you think Nike spends millions to develop Tiger's irons and woods? Or do Nike pay him $$$$ to endorse their clubs to entice people like you and me to buy Nike clubs ... do you think Tiger plays Nike clubs? Look I'm not having a go at anyone personally here ... I understand that its a business ... but if you think that they give two hoots about your game, or improving your game ... you are sadly mistaken. They want to sell you a set this year and next year and a new driver and a new putter ... why does the club that was apparently the best thing since sliced bread three months ago, suddenly become a piece of trash that should be turfed onto ebay at the first chance. Its not about a better golf club ... we are not improving our games at all despite the apparent advances in golf equipment. Its snake oil boys and girls.

[Phil McGleno]

Thats a swing fault ... swinging harder when you are further away is nothing to do with club dynamics.

Are you on crack?

Not true. The math is not in question. These studies you are talking about ... done by "rational" people ... can you point me in there direction so I can I have a read?

You lack the common sense necessary to think about it yourself? Or you've never fit someone and measured their driver and 6-iron swing speeds?

Tiger Woods can put a smooth swing on a driver and swing as hard as he wants with a wedge and the driver's going to be traveling faster. Simple physics.

Who said anything about 38 inch drivers? Using the same logic I dont see many 54 inch drivers on tour either.

I thought he made his point well there.

And 54-inch drivers would be illegal. Duh.

If you are taking a guess at what happens on tour thats ok - your guess is just wrong.

I don't know about iacas, but

I am not guessing, and I don't think he is either. I've seen him in the Tour vans and working with and talking to the guys.

They don't spend millions on R&D; ... they spend millions on marketing.

They spend millions on R&D; too.

Enough of you.