For most of my formative years on the golf course, I had little to no knowledge of the impact of my shaft on my launch. Fortunately, I am older and wiser and have seen the light.

In this post, I pay homage to the best high-launching iron shafts in each category for 2023.

The best of the list features a range of graphite and steel shaft designs that cater to slow, mid and faster swing speeds, seeking a higher launch. I have also included the top pick for ladies and senior golfers in our ranks.

What Types of Shafts Create The Highest Launch?

In my experience, the highest launching golf iron shaft features a low to mid kick point, a high degree of torque, and lightweight construction. In addition, high-launching golf shafts often feature a longer raw length than their mid-to-low-launch counterparts.

A low to mid kick point provides golfers with added spring into impact for consistent ball speed and spin to prompt a high launch. I also find that the higher degree of torque helps slower swing speeds accelerate the club head on the downswing for maximum velocity.

While the added clubhead speed improves your chances of a powerful strike, it can also cause you to leave your clubface open at contact. As a result, your shot dispersion chart features numerous misses to the right of the target.

6 Top High Launching Iron Shafts

1. KBS Max Graphite – Best Overall Iron Shaft For High Launch

Pros

• Elevated launch
• Helps slow swingers accelerate clubhead speed
• Produces ample flex into the impact
• The set includes 6 shafts
• Durable

Cons

• Expensive for the average golfer
• The high torque can prompt slices or pushed shots

The KBS Max Graphite irons are the overall best iron shaft construction for high launch in 2022. It tops the list for its wealth of shaft flex options, easy launch, and the consistent carry distance it helps a slow swing speed golfer produce.

A mid to high torque in the lite, senior and regular flex profiles promotes supreme flexibility on the downswing for a powerful strike. This encouraged consistent ball speed and initiated an improved launch and a soft landing on approach.

Further aiding my launch was a low kick point which helped the clubhead flex at a critical point of the swing to prompt rapid clubhead and ball speed for a high launch. Conversely, the regular + and stiff flex option has a higher kick point to induce a mid-to-high launch.

Overall, I found the graphite shafts easy to launch, stable and durable. A slow swing speed golfer should have no struggle launching their irons high and landing the ball softly on approach.

2. KBS Tour 90 – Best Steel Iron Shafts

Pros

• Lighter than standard steel irons
• Produces a consistent high launch
• Improves control compared to some graphite shafts
• Boosts clubhead speed
• Ideal for fast swing speeds

Cons

• Expensive
• The shaft’s stiffness may prove excessive for slow swing speeds

Golfers with fast swing speeds may prefer the heavier weight and added control provided by a steel golf iron shaft. The KBS Tour 90 tops the category, thanks to its lighter-than-usual design and the increased clubhead speed it produces.

I produced splendid velocity on my downswing, which often saw me impart it onto the golf ball for adequate speed and spin. This resulted in a high launch, consistent trajectory, and a soft landing on the dancefloor.

My buddy, Martin, who swings a 6-iron over 90 mph, felt the Tour 90 shafts enhanced his tempo compared to the graphite golf shaft options we tested. However, the slowest swingers in our game are advised to stay with graphite shafts for now.

KBS only constructed these shafts in regular and stiff shaft flex, making it best suited to faster swing speeds. Ultimately, I felt the lightness of the KBS Tour 90 golf shafts compared to other steel shafts and enjoyed maximum distance, speed, and control.

3. UST Mamiya Recoil ESX – Best High Launch Graphite Shaft

Pros

• Lighter mass than a steel iron shaft
• Encourages accelerated clubhead speed
• Soft feel
• The stiffer butt and midpoint boost control
• Ideal for medium to slow-swing-speed golfers

Cons

• Not ideal for the fastest swing speeds
• An expensive product

Modern high-handicap golfers often favor the lightweight, fast-swinging, and high-flexing graphite golf shaft material. The UST Mamiya Recoil ESX shafts are the best high-launch graphite shafts in 2022 for their maximum spring, easy lift, and high torque during the swing.

I pushed a few shots right of the target on mishits, which is attributed to the moderate torque of these shafts. However, I appreciated the impressive whip of the clubface at impact to boost energy transfer for accelerated ball zip at contact.

Next, I appreciated the soft feel on all shots created by the soft tip, which enhanced spring on the downswing. Furthermore, the stiffer butt and mid increased my control despite the higher torque.

In summary, the UST Mamiya Recoil ESX shaft springs well, feels soft, and amplifies your energy transfer at impact. In addition, a low kick point and moderate to high torque encourage a high launch for maximum carry distance.

4. Mitsubishi MMT Taper 105 – Best Feeling High Launch Golf Clubs Shafts

Pros

• Constructed with highly durable materials
• Exceptional feel
• Low torque for less whip during your swing
• Provides optimal stability
• Superb spin and ball speed control

Cons

• An expensive set of golf shafts
• No flex options for slower swing speeds

Golfers who desire a soft feel on every shot are best suited to a finely tuned, highly responsive shaft with optimal density. The Mitsubishi Taper 105 golf shaft ticked all these boxes to offer a pleasant touch, a mid-to-high launch, and consistent ball flight.

The super low torque in the stiff flex increased stability but was too much for my slow to moderate swing speed. However, I asked a 7 handicapper to give them a crack. He enjoyed their durability, ball speed, and spin consistency, which helped him deliver a controlled golf shot.

In addition, the individually braided strands of high-quality 304 stainless steel enhance the density and stability of the shaft during your swing. Plus, it allowed engineers to construct a thin composite wall, which produces a highly responsive golf shaft for a pleasant feel on long, mid, and short iron shots.

Finally, Mitsubishi only constructs these shafts in a stiff and extra stiff profile which is better for moderate to fast swing speed.

5. True Temper Project X Cypher Graphite – Best High Launch Iron Shaft For Seniors

Pros

• Built for a deliberate tempo
• Available in 4 shaft flexes
• Produces optimal spin
• Makes it easy to transition from fairway woods to irons
• Helps slower golfers launch high

Cons

• Not suited to faster swing speeds
• The high spin may cause some golfers to balloon their shots and lose yards

I often find seniors operating with a slow backswing and a smooth transition, which creates a deliberate tempo and a clean strike. The True Temper Project X Cypher Graphite works well for slower-swinging seniors as it helps accelerate clubhead speed for a powerful strike and high launch.

Besides its tendency to send your ball higher and longer, I also enjoyed the seamless transition between my fairway woods and long irons. The similar shaft constructions made it easy to replicate my setup and swing on every shot.

Next, I produced maximum spin off the face to help my ball land rapidly. Seniors will feel a greater sense of control in this area and deliver an improved green-in-regulation record.

True Temper offers the Project X Cypher Graphite shafts in ladies, senior, regular, stiff, and extra-stiff shaft stiffness, catering to slow, moderate, and fast swing speeds. Finally, these shafts fetch a lower price per set than most of their peers, which suits the average golfer.

6. Fujikura Vista Pro 50i – Best High Launching Iron Shafts For Ladies

Pros

• Produces maximum spin
• Improves energy transfer at impact
• Increased stability
• Lightweight
• Generates faster clubhead speed

Cons

• Their lightweight design and high launch may cause golfers to balloon strikes
• Not ideal for super fast swing speeds

The Fujikura Vista Pro 50i completes our list of high-launching shafts this year. Its blend of stability, high energy transfer, and soft feel make it the best high-launching iron shaft for ladies.

Their lightweight construction, high torque, and low kick point cover all the necessary qualities to send your golf ball higher and longer. I felt the reduced handle stiffness prompted an extra degree of spring on the downswing, which accelerated clubhead speed and improved the power of your strike.

In addition, the maximum spin produced by these shafts makes it easier for the average lady to stop their ball rapidly on the green. Lastly, opposite to their improved launch factor is the attractive low price tag, which makes the Vista Pro 50i shafts accessible to the average golfer.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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One of the things that I find to be so helpful about a 6 iron is the fact that you can use it for a variety of shots on the golf course. In addition, sometimes the 5 iron starts to feel a little uncomfortable because of its length and lower loft. With the 6 iron, that won’t be a concern.

To start incorporating your 6 iron into your golf game a bit more, you must know how far you can hit it with a 6 iron in your hands. The better contact you can make, the easier it is to get distance, but there are other factors that come into play here.

So if you are curious about how far you should be hitting a 6 iron based on skill, here is the information you need.

How Far You Should Be Hitting a 6 Iron

The major reasons you will hit a golf ball further are the squareness of the strike and the speed at which you swing the golf club. If you can strike the center of the golf club with lots of speed, expect quite a bit more distance.

The easiest way to break this down is to sort golfers by what their handicap is. Let’s look at how far you should be hitting a 6 iron based on your current handicap.

Beginner

A beginner male golfer often hits a 6 iron around 140 yards. Once they get the hang of this club and how it works, the distance can increase to 150-155 yards. Beginner golfers will have trouble getting a high ball flight, so you have to watch out for the line drive shot.

Most beginners should look for a 6 iron with a wide sole that helps improve and increase total launch in the shots they are hitting. As a beginner, if your set only comes with a 7 iron and lower, don’t worry about it; for now, you can add a 6 iron in later.

If you notice your 6 iron and 7 iron are going the same distance, this is common. As your clubhead speed increases, you should see total distance.

High Handicap

High handicap golfers often struggle with hitting the center of the clubface consistently. With the clubface being difficult to make contact with, many high handicappers struggle to get maximum distance from their shots.

With high handicappers, the 6 iron will probably travel about 145-150 yards on average. The issue with distance in this club has more to do with accuracy than with swing speed.

Many higher handicappers have high swing speed, but when it is not applied correctly, the results are unfavorable. If you find that you have more success with hybrid type clubs, don’t be afraid to take the 6 iron out of the bag and switch to something a bit more forgiving.

Mid Handicap

Mid-handicapped golfers tend to have average swing speeds and often hit their 6 iron in the 150-160 yard range. With a modern game improvement 6 iron, you can expect about 155 yards of distance on average.

One thing that can have a significant impact on the mid handicapper’s total distance is the loft of their irons. If your iron loft is a bit on the low side, you may see a longer carry distance.

With changes in the center of gravity positioning over the last few years, mid handicappers have seen more distance in their mid to long irons and a higher ball flight.

Low Handicap

One of the reasons golfers make it to the low handicap range is because they are able to hit the ball far. When you have excellent distance, it makes it easier to cover a long hole in a shorter number of strokes.

Low handicap golfers tend to have fast swing speeds that allow for yardages in the 170-180 yard range for a 6 iron. Low handicappers with slower swing speeds may be in the 160-169 range.

Most low-handicap players use a 6 iron, some mid to high handicappers look for alternatives, but most lower handicappers will go to at least a 4 iron in their set.

Professional

The PGA Tour average for a 6 iron is 180 yards. Some golfers can get it to go 190 and others closer to 178, but this is the general range for a 6 iron. For LPGA Professionals, the averages are slightly lower in the 160 to 170 range. Again this is related to swing speed.

Professional golfers also play with golf clubs that are more traditionally lofted; this means that they are hitting these longer distances with a club with even higher lofts than the one you are using.

If they switched to something like a game improvement iron, the distances they could hit the ball would be even higher!

When to Use Your 6 Iron

The 6 iron is a versatile club; in fact, it is one of my favorites when it comes to controlling ball flight. I don’t like the 6 iron for my short game, although I have seen some golfers learn how to do a bump-and-run shot with the 6. Here are the best ways to use your 6 iron and have better results on the golf course.

Approach Shot To The Green

The 6 iron is best used for a full swing approach shot to the green. You will find out the total yardage that you can hit the 6 and swing away to the center of the green. With the 6 iron being responsive, you can also fade or draw the ball.

When a 6 iron approach shot is struck correctly, expect a high ball flight, plenty of spin, and a generally controlled path or line.

Knock Down Shot

The knockdown shot keeps the ball flight lower so players can get the ball to fly under the wind. With a knockdown shot, you can expect a bit more roll when the ball does hit the green, but you can also get the distance in some of the most challenging conditions.

The loft of the 6-iron is perfect for a knockdown shot. It gives you just the right mix of forgiveness and control that is necessary to hit a shot like this.

Play around with a knockdown shot on the driving range, and you will be surprised at how much you can do with it on the golf course.

Controlled Shot From Tee Box

When standing on the tee box, it’s essential to learn how to control a golf shot. A par 3 is difficult in that you only get one shot to make it perfect. Some golfers can perfect a ¾ type swing with their 6 iron which results in some impressive overall accuracy and control.

I would highly recommend learning how to take a little off of your 6 iron (i.e., not a full swing) and keeping it as accurate as possible; it’s a shot you will continually use on the course.

Other Clubs That Could Replace a 6 Iron

If the 6 iron is not a good fit for your game, you are not alone. There are plenty of golfers that struggle with a 6 iron and the ability it has to get you from point A to point B. Some golfers don’t like the lower loft and the overall look of the club head, while others just don’t feel comfortable.

Here are a few alternatives if you need those exact yardages but don’t want to keep the 6 iron in the golf bag.

6 Hybrid

The 6 hybrid is a perfect option for golfers who are slightly leery of a 6 iron. The 6 hybrid is much easier to launch, has a deeper and lower center of gravity, and can help golfers get a more consistent distance.

What I like about the 6 hybrid is that it is much easier to hit out of the rough than the 6 iron. If you find that you are continually hitting your approach shots into the green from the rough, invest in the 6 hybrid.

Hitting a 6 hybrid and a 6 iron is not all that much different, but the 6 hybrid makes it a bit simpler for the higher handicap player.

13 Wood

Golfers that don’t like the iron or hybrid look can also consider adding in an additional fairway wood. From a loft perspective, the 13 wood will match the 6 iron, but it certainly has some different playability.

With the 13 wood, you will take more of a sweeping type golf swing and get a slightly more penetrating ball flight, as opposed to the high loft you may get with the hybrid.

The 13 wood is a bit longer than a 6 iron, so some golfers also notice a bit more distance.

Utility Club

There are a few   that may get you close in loft and yardage to a 6 iron. However, most companies will stop their utility club production at the 5 iron loft. When utility irons are used, you will sometimes notice a more precise turf interaction.

They tend to have a slightly wider sole and promote a higher launch than the 6 iron itself.

Tips for Hitting Your 6 Iron Further

If you want to get your 6 iron to fly further, you must make a clean strike. I have found that these are some of the best ways to ensure you get the most distance and the best overall results from your 6 iron.

• Always ensure the ball is in the center of your stance; a half-inch forward of the center works as well, but don’t play this off your front or back foot.
• The 6 iron requires plenty of acceleration through impact, don’t slow the swing down to try and increase accuracy; go after the ball.
• Make sure that you finish high, amateur golfers forget to transfer their weight through the ball, and it can cost you a few yards.
• Practice stability and balance off the course so that you can go after the ball a bit more when you are on the course.
• Remember that total distance only matters if you hit the ball straight, make sure your hands and body are working together to get high ball flight, accurate shots, and increased total distance.

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.

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The 8 iron has always been my favorite iron.

Growing up, the 7 iron was of course the first club that was put in my hands. But there is something about the 8 iron and the way that I can manipulate the ball flight that makes it one of my favorite choices.

In addition, I have learned how to hit the 8 iron a variety of distances depending on the shot that I need to hit. However, it pays to know exactly how far your 8 iron flies if you want to make some great shots on the course.

How Long Should You Hit an 8 Iron?

The average 8 iron will travel about 130 yards. However, this does not give you the full story. The distance that an 8 iron flies has quite a bit to do with your swing speed. Faster swing speed golfers can hit an 8 iron considerably further than the low swing speed player.

High Swing Speed Player

High swing speed golfers should be able to get 145 or more yards from the 8 iron. In fact, some can get 155 or more. The PGA Tour Professional, with really fast speeds, should be able to see close to 170 yards with the 8 iron.

These golfers are almost always using an 8 iron with a steel shaft that is built more for accuracy than for total distance. High swing speed players are also known for their high ball flight on the 8 iron.

Low Swing Speed Player

Lower swing speed players are those that continue to struggle with distance in their game. The lowest swing speed players usually hit the 8 iron around 120-130 yards. Of course, some golfers may hit it less than 120 if they really struggle to get the clubhead moving fast.

The lower swing speed players typically use a golf club with a graphite shaft. This lightweight shaft helps increase total launch and improve the consistency in the results seen on the course.

Average Swing Speed

The average swing speed golfer is a player who hits the 8 iron about 130 yards. Players on the LPGA and PGA Tour generate considerably higher swing speed and ball speed than the average swing speed golfers, so expect to see more distance from those golfers.

Most average swing speed players use game improvement equipment which helps them hit the ball further. With modern lofted golf irons, some of the 8 irons in these sets are more like 7 irons.

If you are shopping for new golf irons and can suddenly hit your 8 iron considerably further than your 7 iron, chances are you went from a traditionally lofted set to a set with a modern loft.

Distance Based on Handicap

One of the things that I find most frustrating about determining golf club distances is when people talk about distance in relation to handicaps. It is assumed that higher handicap golfers can’t hit the ball as far as lower handicap golfers.

This is just not true.

Research has shown us that the further you can hit the ball, the easier it can be to score. However, there are plenty of players that go low without hitting an 8 iron any further than 135-140 yards.

Try to remember that the distance you can hit your irons has more to do with speed than anything else.

How Far PGA Players Hit an 8 Iron

PGA Tour players can hit their 8 iron anywhere from 150 to 170 yards or more. At some point, it becomes difficult for PGA players to hit the shots they want to hit because they hit the ball so far. With an 8 iron for PGA Professionals, the loft angle is generally a little lower.

These players use a blade style 8 iron for the most part, and although it may take away from total distance, they often have more accuracy.

On average, female golfers on the LPGA Tour can hit the 8 iron about 140-150 yards.

Can You Hit an 8 Iron 150 Yards?

Hitting an 8 iron 150 yards is entirely possible. In order to do this, you will need quite a bit of clubhead speed. With higher club head speed, the 8 iron will fly 150 yards. Remember that to hit an 8 iron consistently 150 yards; you should also be hitting the ball high in the air with the proper descent angle.

Some golfers don’t get the proper ball flight, and it may increase roll distance, but it won’t help with accuracy or consistency.

If you want to learn to hit an 8 iron 150 yards, you will need to look at increasing your clubhead speed from where it is now. For a golfer that already hits the ball 140 yards, there is a good chance that getting to 150 is entirely possible.

Tips for Hitting Your 8 Iron Further

The 8 iron is a golf club that should be more about consistency and accuracy than distance. However, as an amateur golfer, chances are iron distance matters to you, and you are always looking for a few extra yards of carry distance when possible.

Here are a few of the tips I have used to increase my total distance with my 8 iron. However, it is essential to use a launch monitor from time to time to look at things like the smash factor, spin rate, ball speed, and swing speed mph.

You can get much more insight into why you are getting the distances you are currently getting and where to go from there.

Create More Stability in Your Lower Legs

If you want to hit any golf shot further, it’s important to have stability in the lower body. The lower body is your base of support for the rest of your golf swing. These ground forces that golfers have are being studied more and more to help increase the overall effectiveness for golfers.

To create more stability in your lower legs, you can do things like work on the total strength of your legs. Working out at the gym or adding a walking/running regime to your life can help.

In addition, it does help to have the right pair of golf shoes that grips you to the ground a bit better. I like a spiked design when looking for increased power.

Lastly, I would recommend thinking about where your weight is on your feet. If you have weight on the toe or heel of the foot, you will see considerably less total distance as your balance will be a little off.

Compress The Golf Ball

We’ve talked about this before, but anytime that distance comes to mind, it’s really important to understand what golf ball compression can do for players. If you want to compress the golf ball, you must hit down and through it.

Golfers that strike the ball while they are still on their right foot or when they have yet to make a weight transfer will notice that they are not compressing the golf ball quite as well.

Unfortunately, when you don’t have excellent golf ball compression, you will almost immediately notice a lack of total distance.

I like to think about a small spot in front of the ball. During my swing, I think about hitting the golf ball and this spot in front of the ball. When I think about attacking both, it makes it much easier to get a higher ball flight and more carry distance.

The club stays in the impact zone longer, and the consistency and control are typically greatly improved.

Work on Your Swing Speed

Swing speed is how you get the distance in the game of golf. If you are able to increase your swing speed, you will see more distance with your 8 iron and all the other clubs in your bag.

The two most common ways to increase swing speed include getting stronger and making your golf swing more efficient. If your swing is more efficient and you are able to use the same amount of effort but generate more power, a higher swing speed is easy to achieve.

Here are a few of my favorite drills to help you work on increasing your swing speed:

Make Sure Your Setup and Ball Position Is Correct

Last but certainly not least is to ensure your setup is actually correct. If you don’t have the ball in the proper position or your weight is not balanced at the start of your swing, it’s really hard to maximize distance with your 8 iron.

Most golfers can play the 8-iron shot directly in the middle of the stance. This position creates some consistency from one setup to the next and allows for easier compression of the golf ball.

The ball position can move slightly if you are trying to hit a lower lofted shot with the 8 iron.

In addition, make sure your stance allows for stability but is not too wide. Save those wider stances for the longest clubs in the bag.

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.

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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.

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A 3-iron is my favorite golf club in the bag because it is a utility iron. That means I can use it in multiple scenarios.

That is not a statement you hear amateur golfers make. That is because they struggle to consistently launch the stronger lofted and longer shafted iron. In this article, I am sharing the tips from 10 Pro Golfers on how to hit a 3 iron.

This iron has fallen out of favor so much that manufacturers do not include them in most game improvement iron sets. It is a pity because a 3-iron produces low spin and launch, for optimal yardage.

There are several reasons why you may struggle to hit a 3-iron. These include excessively stiff or heavy shafts, an imbalance rhythm, or positioning the ball too far forward in your stance. Instead of dwelling on the problem, let’s see how the Pro’s suggest you solve it.

Tip #1: Shoulder Width Stance – Dave Myers Tour Academy TPC Sawgrass

PGA Tour Academy coach Dave Myers recommends setting up with your feet shoulder-width apart. This position maximizes your stability to help you optimize rotation and coil during your golf swing.

He further advises that you keep your head still during the swing. If you position the ball correctly and strike it cleanly, you enjoy superior control at the low point of the swing. Inducing clean contact.

Tip #2: Center Ball Position – Dave Myers

Myers finds the biggest mistake an average golfer makes with long irons is their ball position. The marginally longer shaft causes many amateurs to position the ball too forward in their stance.

Myers says he often sees the ball placed parallel to the front heel of a player. That gives you no chance of catching the ball cleanly off the clubface. When the ball is excessively forward, you will likely strike it low off the face leading to a low launch, loss of carry distance, and stinging hands.

He recommends setting up with the ball in the middle of your stance as if you were swinging a 6-iron or 8-iron. If you feel that is too far back, move it towards your front foot by no more than two balls.

Tip #3: Back Ball Position For A Low Shot – Billy Horschel

Billy Horschel was among the top ten best PGA Tour Players in 2021 and knows how to strike a long iron. The advice he shares pertains to your ball flight.

To hit a low launching 3-iron that gathers forward momentum and releases upon landing, position the ball further back in your stance than usual. Billy recommends placing your golf ball, a ball, and a half back.

Placing the ball back in his stance causes the clubface to catch the ball with less loft than usual, generating a low flying shot.

Horschel finds that this shot offers the most value off the tee when you need the ball to run on the fairway.

Tip #4: Forward Ball Position For High Shots – Billy Horschel

Billy also explains how you can increase your ball flight when striking a 3-iron. For starters, he says the golf ball should be placed half-a-ball to a ball forward from your usual setup.

Next, he advises that you get your hands to finish as high as possible on your follow-through. Striking the ball just before commencing your upswing enables you to weaken the loft of the face and produce high-flying shots.

This shot is ideal for playing long par 3s when you need to send the ball long and get it to land it quickly.

Horschel cautions that the average golfer may struggle with this shot if you position the ball excessively forward.

Tip #5: Ball Position – John Parry

European Tour Professional John Parry recommends placing the ball slightly forward of center in your stance to consistently launch a 3-iron. He says if you intend on hitting a consistent fade with the 3-iron, you will want to open your face at impact to generate left to right sidespin to encourage the cut.

Sean Foley knows how to develop champions. Lydia Ko, Justin Rose, and Hunter Mahan are a few of the golfers he has guided to success. Foley recommends opening your back foot slightly so that your toes are pointed in the opposite direction of your target.

This position helps you maximize your rotation and build up immense energy at the top of your iron swing. Then transition your weight to your leading leg and shift the energy from the clubface to your ball. That results in a powerful launch and optimal distance.

 

Tip #7: Take It Back Low – Geoff Ogilvy

Ogilvy suggests that the secret to striking consistent 3-iron shots is to keep the club low on takeaway. He takes the club back low and slow for the first couple of feet, with the shaft aiming along your target line and the toe of the club halfway to the top of your swing.

Getting into this position enables you to produce a sweeping motion that catches the ball cleanly and lifts it off the ground.

Tip #8: Right Arm Straight On Takeaway – Annika Sorenstam

The number one all-time earner on the LPGA Career Money List suggests keeping your right arm relatively straight on takeaway. Sorenstam says that the straight arm encourages her to rotate her upper body and not lift the arms.

When she gets to the top of her backswing, she pushes off her right foot and shifts the weight to the left. When the weight is on her left, she clears her hips to allow the arms to drop the clubhead into place at impact.

Tip #9: Shorten Your Swing – Dave Myers

Sticking with the advice of Dave Myers, we turn to your swing. Often, when we swing our long irons, we take the clubhead back excessively to accelerate our clubhead speed. We fear that the ball will not get airborne, so we wind up, ready to accelerate on the downswing.

I know this feeling well and have been guilty of it. The truth is, the further back you take the club, the higher the possibility that it could veer off the path and wreak havoc to your long iron shot. The compact profile of these irons provides minimal forgiveness, which is why you need to get the face square at impact and strike it in the sweet spot.

Myers’ advice is to produce a compact backswing to produce consistent contact with the ball and optimize your rotation. The shorter your backswing is, the more it forces you to rely on coiling to maximize energy transition from the clubface to the ball at impact.

Tip #10: Sweeping Swing – Tom Watson

Adding to Geoff Ogilvy’s advice on a sweeping swing is Tour Champions legend, Tom Watson.

He says that you should position your ball slightly forward of center in your stance to sweep the ball into the air on the up.

To achieve this, Watson recommends employing a shallow swing arc. He also suggests employing this long iron drill on the range without a ball. Place a marker where your ball would be, and practice hitting the marker consistently to get used to the motion.

Tip #11: Pretend It Is A 7-Iron – Greg Norman

Greg “The Shark” Norman says the best advice for an amateur hitting a 3-iron is to picture it like a 7-iron. Then he says that you should envision that you are only a 7-iron from your target and make a smooth, easy swing. A smooth, controlled tempo will allow the rotation of your body to generate the power for a long iron shot.

Tip #12: Control The Attack Angle – Chris Ryan, Director Of Coaching At HIT Golf Academy

Chris Ryan finds that one of the main reasons amateurs struggle to launch long irons is because of their attack angle. He says that often students will set up to play a lofted club, the same way they would their short irons, leading to a steep angle of attack.

In the video, Chris uses a 2-iron, but the principle is practically the same as you would employ with your 3-iron.

Ryan recommends that you position the ball marginally towards your front foot, adding just over half of your weight to your lead leg. He says that setup prompts you to catch the ball on a descending angle, resulting in optimal compression, launch, and distance.

Tip #13: The Stinger – Tiger Woods

Before I relay Tiger’s advice on the stinger, I must say this shot is difficult to pull off. Therefore, I only recommend trying it in certain situations. However, if you know how to hit a 3 iron stinger, it can boost your game in windy conditions.

I learned to play the stinger while living in Cape Town for 10-years. I did not play one round where there was no wind. As a result, the stinger kept me in the game.

For starters, you need to place your golf ball, one ball back in your stance, to help strike it with precision.

Woods explains that this shot is all about the braking mechanism, post-impact to lower your flight. He achieves this by softening his arms and speeding up his hips to help stop his hands as soon as possible after impact. Ultimately, he brings his hands to a halt around shoulder height.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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According to True Spec Golf, players with fast swing speeds are built to swing clubs with a stiff flex shaft. A golfer producing a slower swing speed should consider a senior or ladies’ design; when the average swingers perform the best with a regular flex shaft.

In this post, I assess stiff vs extra stiff iron shafts. I’ll evaluate the pros and cons of each design to see which construction suits your game.

In addition, I have provided a rundown of the performance features of each shaft. This helps you determine which option is better aligned with your desired launch, spin, and distance goals.

A Quick Overview of Iron Shaft Stiffness and Why They Matter

Shaft flex plays a role in the outcome of every strike. The right shaft flex is essential in achieving your desired launch, shot shape, distance and spin.

If you are a slower swinger and play with extra stiff shafts you may be struggling to generate the required clubhead speed for an enhanced coefficient of restitution (COR). As a result, you do not produce the necessary ball speed to achieve a high launching, long shot. Therefore, your golf ball flies low, and you lose distance.

In addition to the distance loss, a stiff design challenges your accuracy. A stiff flex shaft raises the challenge of squaring your face up through impact. The stiffer, heavier shaft delivers less torque. Therefore, it produces less whip from the club on your downswing to bring it into position.

Because of this, the average golfer tends to leave the club face open through contact and slice their ball. That means your dispersion will reflect shots consistently to the right of your target.

Pros of Stiff Shafts

Low Spin

The first advantage that a stiff shaft produces is low spin. This is ideal for longer iron shots, as it delivers a piercing flight to encourage maximum distance.

The stiffer a golf club shaft is, the less spring it provides the clubface through impact. This causes you to strike the ball with less loft, leading to a lower launch with less spin. Therefore, you enjoy increased forward roll upon landing for added distance in your long game.

Low Launch

I mentioned that a stiff shaft produces lower spin thanks to a sturdy lofted club face at contact. That causes a low launch and reduces the apex of your ball flight, which is welcomed in windy conditions.

In addition, the low launching nature of these shots prevents faster swinging golfers from ballooning their shots. This ensures increased control on approach shots for optimal distance control through the bag.

When fast swinging golfers play a lighter shaft, the added spin and high launch cause them to lose, carry, and total distance.

Built For Fast Swing Speeds

Stiff shafts are best suited to golfers with fast swing speeds. Golfers fitting into this category typically swing a 6-iron between 84 to 91 mph. Stiff iron shafts help fast-swinging golfers produce their desired launch, ball speed, and spin levels for satisfactory results.

Low handicap players typically fall into this category. While the rest of the amateur golf fraternity produces slow or average swing speeds.

Cons of Stiff Shafts

Reduced Spin

The reduced spin is a blessing for fast swing speed golfers seeking a consistent launch for optimal distance control. But, the situation is different for slower swinging amateurs.

The lack of spin causes the ball to fly low, and if you do not produce sufficient ball speed, it will hit the ground sooner than intended and lead to a loss of distance. Although spin is the enemy in the wind and hampers your yardage, you need some to get off the ball airborne.

Furthermore, the lack of spin can cause your ball to roll off the green on approach. As a result, you will need a precise short game to consistently get up and down.

Loss of Carry Distance

A stiffer shaft construction restricts the bend of the clubhead into the ball at impact. Therefore, your clubface strikes the ball with a sturdy lofted face and sends your golf ball along a low trajectory.

Failure to generate sufficient ball velocity will cause the ionomer to drop out of the sky sooner than planned, causing a loss of carry distance. This messes with your distance control and is dangerous when trying to clear a water hazard or a bunker.

Sliced Shots

If your grip, wrist angles, and angle of attack are on point, but you still slice your shots, your club shafts may be at fault. Stiffer golf shafts provide little assistance on your downswing. As a result, your rotation, rhythm, and tempo must be on point for a clean strike.

Failure to execute a clean transition from the backswing to the downswing can leave your clubface open at impact. This position generates left to right sidespin, which causes a slice. In this scenario, you might consider switching to a regular shaft.

Lowest Spin

I touched on the beauty of low spin in my review on stiff shafts. However, an extra-stiff design takes it to the next level. You will not find a shaft that produces less spin rpm than an extra-stiff construction.

Golfers who generate excess spin with a stiff shaft should contemplate an extra-stiff setup. This may help limit spin for a more controlled ball flight.

Lowest Launch

The result of the lowest spinning shaft is the lowest launching shot. This suits golfers looking for piercing flight to achieve consistency in their distance and accuracy. Plus, it prevents very fast swingers from ballooning their shots and losing yards.

Built For Super Fast Swing Speeds

Extra stiff shafts are reserved for the fastest swingers in our game. These are golfers producing more than 92 mph of velocity on the downswing. An aspiring professional and PGA Tour Pros are the most likely golfers to fill this bracket.

I suggest that these individuals test steel iron shafts and see how they go. If you launch your shots too low, think about a graphite shaft with the same flex.

Limited Spin

Extra stiff shafts provided limited spin assistance. This means you are required to do all the work, and failure to generate sufficient spin will lead to a low-flying golf shot. This reduces your carry distance and, at times, causes the ball to roll further than intended.

Erratic Dispersion

When your shaft is too stiff for your swing, it leads to erratic dispersion. The lack of clubface spring through impact makes it difficult to square the grooves up through contact. This results in a wayward shot caused by an open clubface that prompts shots to the right of your target.

How to Determine Which Type of Iron Shafts Better Suit You

Swing Speed

Swing speed provides a guideline for golfers who have no idea how to find the best iron shaft constructions for their game. Those who swing a 6-iron between 75 and 83 mph have an average swing speed. Therefore, regular flex designs are considered best for your game.

Moreover, a 6-iron swing speed below 75 mph is set up for a seniors shaft. A ladies’ shaft is also worth testing if that is still too stiff for your game.

Launch

The next factor to analyze is launch. Are you producing your desired launch and ball flight to maximize distance control and accuracy in your iron game? If you are launching the ball consistently low, your shaft may be too stiff for your swing. Therefore, you need to consider a more flexible design.

Conversely, players who frequently balloon their shots may opt for a stiffer flex that takes out an additional clubface spring through impact.

Spin

Spin is necessary to get your ball airborne and landing softly on the green. However, excessive spin can cause you to sky your shot and lose considerable carry distance. Conversely, inadequate spin can send your ball flying low and hitting the ground earlier than intended.

Ultimately think about a lighter and more flexible shaft if you demand a higher launching shot. However, lower ball flight seekers should stick to stiffer shaft constructions.

Dispersion

Several factors can prompt an erratic shot wide of your target. This starts with a bad grip, followed by a lack of rotation, then by a wrong angle of attack. These factors produce an open or closed clubface sending the ball left or right of the landing zone.

If your coach is satisfied that your swing mechanics are optimized and your grip is secure, your shafts may prove the issue. Typically, extra stiff shafts cause slower swinging golfers to leave their clubface open at impact, causing a slice.

On the other hand, a light, flexible golf shaft can prompt a player to close its clubface through contact and hook their ball.

Therefore, if you are consistently slicing your shots and have your swing and grip in order, contemplate a more flexible shaft. Conversely, golfers frequently hooking their shots should consider a stiff shaft design.

Related Reading: If this post made you realize you need to switch out your golf shafts , read our post on how much it costs to reshaft irons. The process is far more straightforward than you may think.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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The 5 iron is the longest iron I carry in my bag.

With my swing speed and ability to make solid contact, I max out at the 5 iron. However, I need this club to be consistent and high flying because it is important yardage in my golf game.

One question that many golfers have is whether or not they are hitting their 5 iron as far as they should be. It’s a tough club for some people because the loft is a bit lower and can make it harder to control.

If you are wondering how far most people hit a 5 iron and whether or not you are in range with the swings you are taking, here is everything you need to know!

How Long Should You Hit a 5 Iron?

The average male golfer will get about 150-160 yards out of their 5 iron. However, it’s important to remember that these distances are directly related to the quality of the strike and the swing speed of the golfer.

Of course, there are other factors for things like the wind or the golf ball being used.

Women golfers rarely keep a 5 iron in their set with the number of 5 hybrid options on the market for women players. For a female, a great 5 iron strike should go about 110 yards. Again many women players will also hit their 7 iron almost this far, which is why the 5 iron often comes out of the bag.

The length that you should hit your 5 iron will be determined by your ability as well as your swing speed.

How Far Do PGA Players Hit a 5 Iron?

Professional golfers can get more distance than average golfers because they have a high smash factor and go after the ball with quite a bit more speed. This is not to say that there are no average golfers with high swing speed; it’s just not as common.

PGA Tour Golfers

Most PGA Tour golfers get more than 200 yards out of their 5 iron. The average is typically between 190 and 210, and of course, some can probably hit it further than these numbers.

One of the things that I find most interesting about these numbers is that PGA tour players are using golf irons with many different lofts than an average golfer. Several years ago, golf manufacturers realized that if they lowered the center of gravity in a golf iron, they could also lower the loft, and players would get great distance.

With many PGA Tour golfers, they are playing with a blade style 5 iron that has two or three degrees more loft than your 5 iron, yet they are still able to hit the ball incredibly far. This certainly takes some talent.

LPGA Tour Golfers

LPGA Tour golfers don’t always have the same speeds as PGA tour golfers, but they can generate a tremendous amount of clubhead speed. Most LPGA Tour golfers will hit their 5 iron anywhere from 175 to 190 yards.

For LPGA Tour golfers, you can see that the distance gap between an amateur and a professional is even larger than it is for male golfers. This says quite a bit about the training and work that LPGA tour golfers put in to be able to get the distances they need in their golf club sets.

Can You Hit a 5 Iron 200 Yards?

Long hitters can easily hit a 5 iron 200 yards as long as they have all the right factors add up to produce these types of distance. Here are the things you will need in place to hit a 5 iron 200 yards…

The Right Golf Shaft

The golf shaft in your 5 iron has to be a match for your game. In addition to looking at shaft flex and shaft weight, you also must consider the impacts of a longer shaft length and how that can affect carry distance.

Many great players will tell you that the best way to get the right performance in your game is to find a golf shaft that matches your game.

Lots of Ball Speed

The ultimate way to increase the total distance of your golf shots is to increase your ball speed. Golf club distances are directly related to ball speeds. Any golf club distance chart will show you that the more swing speed you can get, the easier it is to get the distance.

Amateur golfers sometimes work on swing speed incorrectly and swing out of their shoes. Of course, your golf swing still needs to be in balance, and you must ensure that you are hitting the center of the clubface for the best total distance.

A Center Strike

Hitting the ball in the center of the clubface makes a big difference in the total distance that you get. Golfers that hit the ball on the heel or the toe can lose 10 yards or more of distance.

If you hit the golf ball with a center strike, chances are your launch angle, and spin rate will also be optimized.

The Right Loft on The Club

As we mentioned in the case of the PGA Tour player using a blade style iron, each five iron has a different loft and set makeup. Keep this in mind as the lower lofted 5 iron is going to travel a bit further and probably have some lower spin rates than the higher lofted golf irons.

All of these things will impact whether or not you are able to hit a 5 iron 200 yards.

Tips for Hitting Your 5 Iron Further

Here are some of the best tips for hitting your 5 iron further. Sometimes the issues impacting distance are equipment related. Other times, they are mechanics related.

It’s up to you to figure out which impacts you.

Ball Position

Keep the ball slightly forward of center. When you have the ball back in your stance, you may struggle with accuracy and not be able to apply the full energy that you have produced in your backswing.

With the 5 iron being slightly longer, this little bit of movement toward the front of your stance works out just fine.

Look For a Club with More Forgiveness

More and more golfers and amateurs are realizing that long irons are considerably more challenging to play with than short irons or wedges. This is because of the lower loft of the club as well as the total length of the club.

A golfer that wants to hit the 5 iron further should look for something with a bit more forgiveness. These clubs often have a slightly high trajectory, and a bit of leeway on those toe or heel hits that players sometimes struggle with.

More forgiveness makes it easier to keep those club head speed numbers high.

Get Your Weight Transferred Forward

One of the easiest ways to lose distance in your golf swing is to keep your weight on your back foot as you get to the impact position. Weight must transfer forward if you expect to get the full distance potential.

Golfers should work on making a transition from the top of the backswing down to impact so that they have some weight transferred to the left at impact. You can look at pictures of golf professionals and clearly see how they move this weight forward and improve their overall distance.

My Favorite 5 Iron

My favorite 5-iron has a mix of great feel and the ability to create tremendous distance while still controlling the ball.

More and more golfers are going with mixed sets of irons that fit the needs of their game. Think about adding this 5 iron to yours.

Callaway Apex DCB 5 Iron

The Callaway Apex DCB 5 iron is my favorite on the market right now. This club was released in 2021, and it brings some impressive feel and precision to the market for amateur golfers.

This is a forged golf club, and for the first time, the Callaway Apex line has a club for players that need that extra forgiveness in their golf game.

This is a deep cavity back, but it is a forged golf face. The club is made with a 1025 mild carbon steel body, and it includes urethane microspheres to help with sound and feel. The top down line is a little thick, and the wide sole is certainly confidence-inducing.

If you are looking for something that provides an easy launch and very consistent turf interaction, the Callaway Apex DCB is an excellent option to consider.

Pros

• The progressive design allows for a bit more width in the sole
• Very forgiving Apex, a new release for Callaway
• Deep cavity back style with easy launch
• Consistent turf interaction
• Several golf shaft options

Cons

• Top-down look is a bit thick
• Can be hard to work the ball and control ball flight for better players

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.

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We all know you have to choose to be a player’s iron kind of golfer or a game-improvement iron kind of golfer.

Or do you?

With the evolution of player’s distance irons, we are seeing the line between player’s clubs and game-improvement clubs increasingly blurred and that is certainly the case with the new Rogue ST Pro irons.

We included these irons in our 2022 Best Player’s Distance Irons test and we can tell you that, when it comes to distance, Callaway is on to something with the Rogue ST Pro.

Callaway Rogue ST Pro Details

The Callaway Rogue ST irons were a new game-improvement series in 2022. They feature some impressive upgrades from the original Callaway Rogue irons and an impressive amount of tungsten weighting. Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons are designed for the player who wants a club that looks like a player’s iron but is not ready for the harsh reality of missing the center of a clubface of a player’s iron.

With the Rogue ST irons, Callaway claims to have produced the fastest player’s irons ever. The hollow-body construction incorporates more of the urethane microsphere technology than previous releases. The microspheres allow for a thin face and hollow construction without sacrificing feel and are installed up to the sixth groove on the club.

One of the other impressive features of the Rogue ST Pro irons is the combination of the high-strength 450 Steel Flash Face Cup with the new precision tungsten weighting. We can tell you for sure that the overall ball speed off of this clubface is impressive. The top-down look is undoubtedly thicker than an Apex Blade but thinner and less offset than other irons in the Rogue ST series.

Pros

• Hollow-body construction with plenty of distance
• Patented urethane microspheres up to the sixth groove
• 48 grams of high-density tungsten
• Low-lofted with a penetrating ball flight
• AI face optimization
• Maximum speed across the entire face of the club

Cons

• It can still look a bit clunky at setup
• Overall forgiveness is not nearly as high as other Rogue ST irons
• The chrome finish is shiny

How We Test 

The Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons were part of our 2022 Player’s Distance Iron test. We spent 200 hours testing 412 products, taking a total of 11,520 shots. All data is measured using the FlightScope GC Quad launch monitor and all players use the Titleist Pro V1 ball to help minimize the variables. The metrics used to complete this testing include distance, accuracy and forgiveness. All outliers were removed before the results were calculated. 

Callaway Rogue ST Pro Review

The Callaway Rogue ST Pro had a total rating of 89.65 which put it in fourth place overall. As you will see from the individual metrics, what brought Callaway up to the top were the distance numbers. 

Distance

For distance, the Callaway Rogue ST Pro is the No. 1 option for a player’s distance iron in 2022. The distance score was 97.51 which is exceptionally high.

Accuracy 

Accuracy is where the Callaway Rogue ST Pro struggled the most. Sometimes when you see big distance gains, you also see issues with overall dispersion. This was certainly the case with the ST Pro and, as a result, it finished 10th with a score of 82.24. Although 10th may not seem all that bad, try to remember that we only tested 12 player’s distance irons.

Forgiveness 

Unfortunately, forgiveness was another weak spot for the Rogue ST Pro with a score of 83.99 and a sixth-place finish. Many testers felt that when they hit the center of the clubface, the distance was incredible but, if you missed, especially on the toe, you paid the price. It’s frustrating that the forgiveness is not here, what with the extra tungsten weighting and the AI used to design the club head.

Overall

The overall score for the Callaway Rogue ST Pro was 89.65. For comparison, the top player’s distance iron in 2022 was the Mizuno Pro 225 with a total score of 97.53. The real reason the Callaway Rogue ST Pro made it into the top five is, without a doubt, the technology incorporated into this iron head. We hope it’s just a matter of time before Callaway refines this iron to include more forgiveness and accuracy.

Tester Feedback

The overall feedback from the MyGolfSpy testers was varied but a few things stood out with each of the individual feedback notes we reviewed. 

• The chrome finish is too shiny and should have been dulled a little in what is considered a player’s iron.
• Golf balls come off the clubface very hot and overall distance performance was impressive.
• The dispersion was relatively high, especially on shots that were hit near the toe of the club.
• Aside from the chrome finish, the look at setup was very nice and led to increased confidence.
• A slightly lower trajectory was mainly viewed as positive.
• The overall feel was considered quite good, certainly better than previous Rogue irons.

MyGolfSpy Feedback  

Bottom Line 

The Rogue ST Pro irons have the best distance performance of any player’s distance iron that we tested. Overall, there are better choices for accuracy and forgiveness but, if you want a golf ball to rocket off the face, go with the Rogue ST Pro. 

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