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.

Source link

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.

Source link

Did you know that golf ball manufacturers now offer a specific kind of golf ball for each type of swing speed? Many golfers are shocked to learn that they’ve been hitting the wrong type of golf ball for many years.

There are tons of golf balls out there, but if you have a slower swing speed, which ones are best for you? We break down what type of ball is best for slow swing speed golfers and which brands to try.

For golfers that just need a quick recommendation, here are our top choices:

What Kind of Ball Should You Be Using if Your Swing Speed is Slow?

1. Find a Golf Ball That’s Easy on Your Wallet

This is one of the few advantages that golfers with slow swing speeds have over their faster-swinging counterparts. Premium golf balls like the Titleist Pro V1s are nice and all but folks with slower swing speeds won’t see any extra benefit from buying them. Why spend $5 on a golf ball if you don’t have to?

Golfers with slower swing speeds should leave the expensive golf balls alone and find something in the $1 to $3 range. Heck, choosing a cheaper golf ball instead of an expensive one will result in huge cost savings! Golfers with slower swing speeds can take that extra money and play golf more often!

2. Pick a Golf Ball with a Low Compression Rating

This one is a biggie! Nothing will cost a golfer with a slow swing speed more yardage than hitting a golf ball with a high compression rating. The aforementioned Titleist Pro V1 has a compression rating of around 90, which is way too high for folks with slower swing speeds. Don’t worry though, Titleist makes plenty of other options for golfers who have slow swings.

When searching for the perfect golf ball, slow swingers should try to look for a ball compression rating of 60 or less. For example, the Callaway Supersoft has a compression rating of 38. This makes it an ideal choice for golfers with slower swing speeds.

3. When in Doubt, Choose a 2-Piece Golf Ball

Did you know that golf balls come in layers of anywhere from 2 to 5 pieces? Golfers with slower swing speeds should stick to golf balls that are made up of only 2 pieces. 2-piece golf balls usually have a soft core in the center but a harder outer shell.

The covers on the 3 to 5 piece golf balls usually aren’t as hard, which costs slow swingers some valuable distance off the tee. The good news is that 2-piece golf balls are usually cheaper and they tend to have a fairly low compression rating.

5 Best Golf Balls for Slow Swing Speed

1. Best Overall Choice: Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Our best overall golf ball for golfers with slow swing speeds is the Srixon Soft Feel. Srixon has been making incredible golf balls for over 50 years, so golfers can rest easy knowing they are getting a high-quality product. Here are a few of the main features we like about the Srixon Soft Feel.

• Low Compressing Rating – We’ve already discussed how golfers with slower swing speeds need a golf ball with a low compressing rating to help maximize their distance. The Srixon Soft Feel is a great choice in that regard because its compression rating is 60.
• FastLayer Core – Srixon’s engineering team did a fantastic job of designing this golf ball’s core. The center is very soft, but it gets more firm toward the outer edge. This is why the Soft Feel has a rare combination of softness and distance.
• Ball Speed – Slow swingers need more ball speed and that’s another area that the Soft Feel excels in. This golf ball has a special 338 Speed Dimple Pattern that helps keep your shots in the air longer, even during those annoyingly windy days on the course.
• Greenside Spin – Having the right amount of spin is crucial for golfers when it’s time for short game shots like chipping, pitching, or putting. The thin cover of the Srixon Soft Feel provides all the spin you need. This results in more confidence and hopefully more made birdie putts!
• 4.7 stars on Amazon with over 1,000 reviews
• Fantastic Price of only $1.92 per golf ball

2. Best Feel Around the Green: Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls

You just know that we had to put Titleist on this list at some point! Titleist is the most popular brand of golf ball in the world and they’re beloved by both professionals with fast swings and beginners with slow swings. Here are some of our favorite attributes of the Titleist Tour Soft.

• Extreme Softness – Golfers who prefer a soft-feeling golf ball for all their short game shots will love the Titleist Tour Soft. There’s very little vibration when hitting putts, chips, or pitches.
• Control – Titleist engineers designed this golf ball to have just the right amount of greenside spin. This gives golfers an extra boost of confidence when they’re on or around the green. It also allows them to have more control over all their shots.
• Low Spin Rates on Long Shots – Here’s another incredible feature of the Titleist Tour Soft. Although it gives golfers plenty of spin for the short game, it’s specifically designed to not spin too much on long game shots. This will help you keep more of your drives in the fairway.
• Premium Distance off the Tee – The Tour Soft helps golfers with slower swing speeds get a little extra distance off the tee. A low compression rating of 65 ensures that each drive is hit with the maximum amount of ball speed.
• Sidestamp Line – Here’s a neat add-on that Titleist recently started doing with the Tour Soft. They’ve added a built-in alignment tool on the side of the golf ball to help golfers line up their putts on the green. This way folks no longer have to mark up their golf balls with a Sharpie.
• 4.8 stars on Amazon with nearly 2,000 Reviews

3. Best for Mid-Handicappers with a Slow Swing Speed: TaylorMade Soft Response Golf Ball

TaylorMade takes home the #4 spot on our list. Though the TaylorMade TP5 may be the company’s best-seller, the Soft Response is the best choice for mid-handicap golfers with slow swings. Here’s what we like about this golf ball:

• Affordable Price – The price on the Soft Response comes out to only $2.08 per ball. That’s an incredible deal for an established brand like TaylorMade.
• Higher Ball Flight – TaylorMade knows that some golfers with slower swings struggle to get the ball in the air. That’s why they made the Soft Response with a seamless 322 dimple pattern, which helps golfers launch their shots even higher.
• High Durability – Though this golf ball has a low compression rate of 35, it is still one of the most durable choices on the market. The soft ionomer cover holds up incredibly well and won’t scuff easily on the course.
• Respectable 4.6 stars on Amazon with over 900 reviews

4. Best for Low Handicappers with Slower Swings: 2020 Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls

Chrome Soft is a 4-piece ball, which means it’ll allow highly-skilled golfers to shape their shots. Here are a few features that make this a desirable choice.

• Increased Distance – Callaway designed this golf ball with a Graphene-infused Dual Soft Fast Core to help maximize distance. The soft core helps create more ball speed at impact
• Ideal Spin on Wedge Shots – Spin rate is always important in golf, especially on wedge shots that are close to the green. The spin rate of the Callaway Chrome Soft allows golfers to be aggressive and aim towards the pin.
• Higher Forgiveness – No one likes to mishit a shot! It can hurt both your scorecard and your hands! Luckily, the Chrome Soft is incredibly forgiving! This means your bad shots won’t be as painful!
• Consistency – The Chrome Soft performs consistently on the course, even in less than ideal weather conditions. Golfers can count on this golf ball’s performance in both the wind and the rain.
• Incredible 4.9 stars on Amazon with over 3,000 total reviews

5. Best Value Pick: Nitro Maximum Distance Golf Ball

The price on these babies is incredible, as each ball will only run you less than a dollar. Here are some of the other reasons why we highly recommend the Nitro Maximum Distance balls for golfers with slower swings.

• Low Spin – The super reactive 2 piece titanium core promises less spin and explosive distance off your metal woods
• Driving Distance – We all know that folks with less swing speed need all the help they can get off the tee. The Nitro Maximum Distance hits a home run in that aspect because of its aerodynamic and symmetrical dimple design
• High Durability –  The cut-proof cover on these balls is constructed of Dupont Lithium Surlyn for long term durability, outstanding resilience, and excellent resistance to cuts and abrasions
• 4.6 stars on Amazon with over 3,100 total reviews

Golf Ball FAQs

Does it really matter what golf ball you use depending on your swing speed?

Yes, it’s vitally important for golfers to match their swing speed with their choice of golf ball. If a person with a slow swing speed uses a golf ball with a high compression rating, he’ll be robbing himself of some precious distance off the tee.

The inverse is true for folks with faster swing speeds. If these folks choose a low compression golf ball, they’ll also cost themselves several yards. As a general rule, slow swingers perform better with low compression golf balls and fast swingers do better with a high compression ball.

What is the average swing speed?

This question depends on the golfer’s skill level. Professional golfers on the PGA Tour have an average swing speed of around 110 mph. Geez, no wonder the pros have no trouble blasting the ball so far down the fairway!

Very good amateur players swing at a little over 100 mph on average. Amateurs with average skills swing at just over 90mph.

Why all the fuss over swing speed? Because each mile per hour usually gives the golfer about 2.5 extra yards!

So what’s considered a slow swing speed?

For male golfers, a swing that is between 75 and 90 mph is considered slow. For female golfers, any swing that is less than 72mph is considered slow.

Golfers tend to lose a considerable amount of swing speed as they age. About every 10 years, golfers should expect to lose anywhere from 7-10 yards off the tee due to the decrease in their swing speed.

Don’t let that stat discourage you though, because precision means more than sheer distance in this game. Remember, a 250-yard drive in the fairway is better than a 300-yard drive in the deep rough!

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

Source link

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.

Source link