Low iron carry distances

[jshots]

Currently my lowest iron is a 4i, and as far as carry distance goes, the difference between my 4i and 6i is only about 10-15 yards (5i in between those). I still hit my 4i a good amount further because the trajectory gives it a lost more roll then I get with the 6i. Is this how it is supposed to work?

[Matt Gawley]

Originally Posted by jshots

Currently my lowest iron is a 4i, and as far as carry distance goes, the difference between my 4i and 6i is only about 10-15 yards (5i in between those). I still hit my 4i a good amount further because the trajectory gives it a lost more roll then I get with the 6i. Is this how it is supposed to work?

Nope, it should be 12-15 yards in between each club.  What kind of irons do you have?

[xmanhockey7]

Originally Posted by jshots

Currently my lowest iron is a 4i, and as far as carry distance goes, the difference between my 4i and 6i is only about 10-15 yards (5i in between those). I still hit my 4i a good amount further because the trajectory gives it a lost more roll then I get with the 6i. Is this how it is supposed to work?

My guess is you aren't making solid enough contact with the ball. You can either work on your swing or get a 23-24* hybrid. That should cover the distance of what your 4 iron should be. Your 4 iron should CARRY about 10 yards longer than your 5.

[AmazingWhacker]

check this out:

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by jshots

Currently my lowest iron is a 4i, and as far as carry distance goes, the difference between my 4i and 6i is only about 10-15 yards (5i in between those). I still hit my 4i a good amount further because the trajectory gives it a lost more roll then I get with the 6i. Is this how it is supposed to work?

This is one of the reasons people use hybrids.

[jshots]

The thing is I feel like I am making solid contact. My Irons are Titleist 695 cavity backs.

I do also have a hybrid 2i replacement, which I can carry much further and I hit it much higher.

[Matt Gawley]

Originally Posted by jshots

The thing is I feel like I am making solid contact. My Irons are Titleist 695 cavity backs.

I do also have a hybrid 2i replacement, which I can carry much further and I hit it much higher.

If you feel like you are making solid contact with all of your irons, there is a possibility that your lofts are out of whack.  It sounds like your 4 iron may have been weakened somehow.  With the Titleist 695's being a forged golf club, it is possible.  Get your lie and lofts checked to see if they are correct.

You're going to hit the hybrid higher because the weight of the club head is in the back to help promote a higher ball flight.

[Shindig]

What's your swing speed? When I was starting, my 4 and 5 went about 150 and 145, respectively (over a 135 yard 6-iron). As my swing speed increased, I got proper differences in the longer irons (even as the sets themselves changed). Obviously solid contact is important, but if you don't have the swing speed, the decreased loft will cause minimal, if that, distance gains. Seems to me there was some study a year or so ago that, depending on your swing speed, you would hit a 4-wood longer than a 3-wood for a similar reason.

[Matt Gawley]

Originally Posted by Shindig

What's your swing speed? When I was starting, my 4 and 5 went about 150 and 145, respectively (over a 135 yard 6-iron). As my swing speed increased, I got proper differences in the longer irons (even as the sets themselves changed).

Obviously solid contact is important, but if you don't have the swing speed, the decreased loft will cause minimal, if that, distance gains. Seems to me there was some study a year or so ago that, depending on your swing speed, you would hit a 4-wood longer than a 3-wood for a similar reason.

Ya, Ping did that research a while ago.  The average player hits a 17 degree 4 wood further because the ball stays in the air longer than a 15 degree 3 wood.  This is why TaylorMade is selling a whack load of 3HL (17 degree) RBZ fairway woods right now.

I still think the loft in the 4 iron is out.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by jshots

The thing is I feel like I am making solid contact. My Irons are Titleist 695 cavity backs.

I do also have a hybrid 2i replacement, which I can carry much further and I hit it much higher.

You probably are hitting it solid.  Tour pros who nail the sweetspot everytime are using 3H's.  On the LPGA tour 4H and 5Hs are all over the place.

[jshots]

Originally Posted by Matt Gawley

If you feel like you are making solid contact with all of your irons, there is a possibility that your lofts are out of whack.  It sounds like your 4 iron may have been weakened somehow.  With the Titleist 695's being a forged golf club, it is possible.  Get your lie and lofts checked to see if they are correct.

You're going to hit the hybrid higher because the weight of the club head is in the back to help promote a higher ball flight.

I will have to check on that. I suppose I should check my distance a little better with my 5i too. I say it is right in between my 6 and 4 but I almost never hit my 5i on the range.

My swing speed with driver is 115, so I don't imagine that is the issue.

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by jshots

I will have to check on that. I suppose I should check my distance a little better with my 5i too. I say it is right in between my 6 and 4 but I almost never hit my 5i on the range.

My swing speed with driver is 115, so I don't imagine that is the issue.

With a 115 swing speed and solid contact you should have at least 15 yards between each club because you are swinging at the top end. I have to go with checking your lofts to make sure they are accurate. I have never seen a set off the rack or out of the box to be perfect so they could be off.

Now if you were swinging at 85, I would say to ditch the 3-4-5 and start with a 6 because today's specs put about 3 degrees between these clubs and your gaps would be hardly noticeable given the swing speed. That is definitely where today's manufacturers have fallen down, they strengthen the lofts of the short irons and the result is that they bunch the lofts closer together towards the long irons and average swingers still buy the full set, buy the gap wedge, and then retire the long irons for a set of hybrids. What a racket! Give me my 48 degree pitching wedge back!!!