When to drop your 5- iron

Is this the least-used club in your bag? Time for a change.

Iron lofts are getting stronger, the modern golf ball spins less and the average age of golfers is on the increase, so it’s easy to see why many club golfers struggle to launch a 5-iron from the turf nowadays. As if to prove our point Callaway’s latest Rogue X iron has a 5-iron loft (21°) the same as a 3-iron only a few years ago.

TG gear editor Simon Daddow had a reality check recently when a session on a GC Quad launch monitor helped him realise he only carries a 5-iron (from the turf) six yards further than his 6-iron, so consequently only hits a 5-iron when he can tee it up on a par 3.

It’s a story we hear a lot from club golfers and custom fitters, so we thought it was high time to investigate how you know if you need to get rid of your 5-iron? And if you do, what are your best options?

How do I know if I should swap my 5-iron?

There are a few tell-tale signs. First off, be very honest about your own ability and ask yourself what’s the longest iron you hit with confidence from the turf (not a tee)? For many club players, it will be a 6-iron. Other signs include feeling you can’t launch a 5-iron (from the deck) without pulling off your Sunday best swing and strike. And if your 5-iron shots struggle to reach a peak height to maximise carry distance, they’ll struggle to stop on a green or typically end up being low and weak, fading off short and right of the green. If any of that sounds familiar, you really should be looking at ditching your 5-iron once and for all.