A 2 iron is not typically a golf club that many players have in the bag. With the lower loft and traditionally narrow profile, a golf swing has to be pretty accurate to hit a 2 iron well.
However, with the release of some driving iron or utility-type clubs, this 2 iron has seen a bit of a re-emergence.
If you’re thinking of putting a 2 iron in the bag or have one currently and want to do a better job with it, here are some of the most important things to understand.
How Long Should You Hit a 2 Iron?
The distance that you can hit your 2 iron depends on your swing speed. The average swing speed golfer can hit a 2 iron about 195 yards. Those with higher swing speeds can go well over 200 yards with their 2 iron.
Slower swing speed players often get about 170 yards out of their 2 iron.
If you’re currently hitting a 7 iron about 140 yards, you can do the math to figure out how far you should hit your 2 iron. Each club should allow you about 10 yards more distance. So if your 7 iron goes 140, your 6 should be 150. Work your way up to the 2 iron, and you will see distances in the 190 range.
This information is beneficial because it will make it easier for you to determine whether or not you should have a 2 iron in the bag.
I know that with my golf swing after I get to the 4 iron, I don’t see a major difference in the distances that I can hit the ball. When I try the 2 iron loft, it just goes as far as the 4 iron. However, if I use a hybrid or a fairway wood, I see a major jump in distance.
This all has to do with clubhead and swing speed.
How Far PGA Players Hit a 2 Iron
PGA players have much higher swing speed as well as accuracy levels in the shots that they hit. Therefore the distances they see are considerably longer. Not all PGA Tour players choose to hit a 2 iron because of other clubs they would rather have in their bag.
The golfers that do play a 2 iron typically hit it about 240 yards. With the distances that these players can hit their other clubs, they will probably need to hit the 2 iron 240 yards to keep it in the golf bag.
Overall, PGA players will often use a utility iron of some sort or a hybrid or fairway wood in place of a 2 iron. Most professional golfers have a 3 iron in the bag, but when it goes to the 2 iron, it often switches to some alternative type of golf club.
Some great ball strikers that like a more traditional set may keep the 2 iron in the bag. Another option is to put a graphite shaft in the 2 iron to help improve swing speed and the ability to max out on distance.
Tips for Hitting Your 2 Iron Further
If you have a 2 iron in your golf bag currently and feel as though you could do better with it, here are some of my best tips for hitting your 2 iron further.
Work on Speed
The best way to hit a 2 iron solid is to have a bit more clubhead speed. The higher clubhead speed makes it easier to have a clean strike and maximize the distance. Remember that the 2 iron has a very low launch, so without this speed, you will also notice that the ball flight is not what it should be.
The good news is that you can work on increasing clubhead speed.
One of the best ways to do this is to use a speed training aid. Something that allows you to gradually increase how far you hit the ball and how fast you swing. For most players, this is a weighted type of club.
In addition, you can work on getting physically stronger, which will help increase the overall distance that you can hit your 2 iron. It takes some work to gain speed, but it will help with more than just the 2 iron.
Make Sure The Ball Position Is Correct
The ball position for the 2 iron has to be slightly forward of center. If your setup is not correct with the 2 iron, it makes it incredibly more difficult to hit this club.
Remember the 2 iron is longer than other clubs in the bag, and therefore you also have to stand a bit further away from it. With the distance from the ball being further and the clubface having this lower loft, the ball position and setup are critical.
If you are not feeling like you are maximizing distance, play around with the ball position and see if it makes a difference.
Think About a Graphite Shaft
With the 2 iron being longer than other golf irons in the bag, it is also a bit heavier and harder to swing. This is why many players have put a graphite shaft in their 2 iron. The graphite shaft allows golfers to increase their clubhead speed without having to fight too hard for it.
Changing your 2 iron to a graphite shaft should also help to increase the ball flight and the forgiveness that the club offers.
There are times that a graphite shafted 2 iron will have higher dispersion rates than a steel shafted 2 iron. If your major struggle is accuracy and not distance, then you may want to stick with the steel.
As soon as I switched to swinging a 2 iron with graphite, I was certainly able to increase my total distances. This club took a little customization time, but it’s certainly an option.
Be Realistic About Yardage
I think it’s essential when trying to hit your 2 iron further to be realistic about what the 2 iron is there for.
Let’s say you normally hit your 4 iron 200 yards. When you try to hit the 2 iron, the maximum distance you can get is 210 yards. I would try some of the tips for working on clubhead speed or customizing the club to work for you.
However, at some point, you may need to realize that your golf swing is maxing out, and the loft of the 2 iron golf club is just too low for you to keep it in the bag. For high handicappers, beginners, and many average golfers, this is really what happens.
Don’t Push It
Low-handicap golfers will tell you that you can’t push a golf club to work. If it takes every effort in you to be able to hit the 2 iron well, chances are it’s a club that should not be in the bag. You should be able to take your normal aggressive swing and see results with the 2 iron.
If you feel like you are swinging out of your shoes to hit the ball well, the results and the shots will not be ideal. Each golf club in your bag should have a high percentage of going somewhere near the target, don’t push it if you don’t want to see issues with forgiveness and consistency.
Which Goes Further: A 2 Iron or 3 Wood?
The 2 iron and the 3 wood have a similar loft. A long hitter can usually see very similar distances between these two clubs. However, in my experience, the 3 wood almost always goes further than the 2 iron.
The 3 wood has some extra distance technology incorporated into the club head. Amateur golfers are going to notice a big jump in ball speed as soon as the golf ball leaves the clubface. In addition, the 3 wood tends to be slightly longer and has a graphite shaft.
The graphite shaft and the length are two features of the club that lead to extra distances and also more roll when it does hit the ground. If you are a distance-seeking player, I would recommend the 3 wood.
What Degree Hybrid Replaces a 2 iron?
Hybrid and iron loft replacement is not always an exact science. However, most golfers will find that the 2 iron is replaced best with an 18-degree hybrid. Most golf manufacturers are not making hybrids that are less than 18 degrees.
Most players that are replacing a 2 iron in their bag will look to a fairway wood instead of a hybrid. The fairway wood has a larger sweet spot and slightly higher loft and can help even a short hitter to improve overall ball speed and distance.
Hybrid golf clubs are an excellent replacement for the 3, 4, and 5 iron. Some golfers even put them in the bag for the 6 or 7 iron. However, you will find very few companies manufacture the 2 iron hybrid, as it is simply not a popular choice.
Brittany Olizarowicz
Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.