Which Type of Iron is Best for You?

Our testing results will surprise you

IF THE NUMBER of iron categories on the market has you confused, you’re not alone. We have questions, too. For example: Do oversize super-gameimprovement irons (SGI) really hit it higher and farther than compact irons for better players? Does an iron’s benefits change based on what kind of golfer you are? Should highhandicappers play only SGI irons? To find out, we commissioned a test by Club Champion, the premium clubfitting chain with 39 facilities nationwide. For the test, every handicap level (low, middle and high) tested the three main iron categories: compact “players” irons, standard game-improvement models and super-size, ultra-forgiving irons. First, the test showed the value of a clubfitting. Just getting the right category of iron in each golfer’s hands saw gains of 12 yards for the best players to 18 yards for the 90s-shooters. That’s right: higher handicappers benefited the most from finding the correct irons. But it’s not only about distance. Each level of player hit a different classification of iron the most consistently in terms of distance and dispersion. This is why Nick Sherburne, founder of Club Champion, believes an iron fitting can be an attitude adjustment. “We don’t move a golfer into an iron type based on their handicap,” he says. “It’s a matter of seeing what things you need and what kind of club works best.” And that means testing more than one category of iron. As you look at the latest designs here (from SGI irons on the left to players irons on the right), our advice is this: Assume nothing, and be open to trying everything.