Ok, I just don't get it. I just read that Tiger Woods said 127 yards is a perfect 9 iron for him, but .....

Question

then I've seen him hit a 9 iron over 180 yards already too. Which is it?
I realize that wind can cause these differences also but I think there is more involved here. And how far should a perfectly struck 5 iron travell on the fly? Hit with a forged blade by a semi-decent player?

Answer 1

Nearly all modern players are using irons with very strong lofts, that is a 9 iron is the old forged blade 7 and 1/2 approx. That is why they need three wedges, or even four, for most of them hit a 9 135 - 150 yds. A semi-decent player, depending on things like age, flexibility, etc., should hit a five iron at sea level approx. 155 - 175 range.

Answer 2

Most good player like Tiger can hit any iron plus or minus 10 yards with consistency. Tiger's designed distance without any other factors considered for a 9 iron is 142 yards. Based on the factor in play 127 yards what what he consideredperfect. But down hill with the wind at altitude and pumped up in competition (adrenalin) Tiger probably can hit a 9 iron up to 180 yards. I am a 10 handicap player and I can hit a 5 iron 175 yards, about average for my playing level. Most Pros and top amateurs hit a 5 iron between 190 and 205 yards. Some really big hitters (like Tiger hit it longer).

Answer 3

I would say a normal player with average swing speed would hit a 5iron somewhere between 170-190 yards - The pros have their irons custom made and can have a 3 iron which should be 21-22 degrees bent to 18-19 degrees so they can hit the ball farther but still have it land soft - I hit my sand wedge 110 yards and my pitching wedge 130 yards which is similar to a pro BUT as you start getting in to the mid irons, a players swing speed really takes over and if the pro player is having his iron bent a few degrees to get him some extra yardage but the same trajectory, that is when you see these guys hitting their 7 irons 200 yards when I can hit my 7 iron 165 yards - it is amazing

Answer 4

My opinion is that tour players don't swing at 100 percent, usually. Sure, if Tiger gets on it, he can hit it 180, but he can also probably use it with great accuracy for a 100 yard shot if he wanted to. This is one thing that separates tour players from mortal golfers, they select clubs based on the trajectory as well as the distance. Regular players say "oh, it's 175 i'll use the 5 iron". Tour players say "oh, 175, but there's a bunker in the way, so I need to hit it over that, but get the ball to stop, so i'll just jump on a 9 iron, no problem". They have the talent to do this because they make far, far better contact than we do. They have incredible knowledge and feel about what they are capable of. I heard one guy on TV once declare that he was hitting the ball off of the first groove and he wanted to be hitting it off the second groove. Don't try to understand, just have fun.

Answer 5

Would that be before or after it got dropped in the water?

180 yards with a 9-iron does seem a long way, even for Woods. That doesn't sound like a 'normal' shot - perhaps he deliberately caught it in an unusual way? I dunno...some of the shots he comes out with seem crazy, until the ball lands in the middle of the green.

As for what comes after a 9-iron. A 10-iron of course! My irons go 3-10. It's not a pitching wedge, or a sand wedge or any kind of wedge as it actually says '10' on the sole of the club.

Answer 6

I've seen Tiger hit 9 iron from rough 196 yards which landed two feet from the hole!!?!? still wonder how he did that.
If its 127 yards, it should be pitching wedge for Tiger for a normal swing. Pro usually can hit any club any distance, giving them several practices (I mean not pitching wedge 300 yards, you know what I mean). The thing is they need to hit with consistency, and that's why they hit each time with a moderate 80 % of the power of their swing. It's not distance for the pro but consistency.

For a decent male amatuer player, a well-struck five iron would travel somewhere between 150-180 yards, depending on build and equipment (of course with high tech graphite shaft five iron will give more distance than true temper stiff s300, or x flex).

In Golf Digest Jan 2003, the following is Tiger's yardages. But that is with Titleist 680, now he uses Nike Blades with one degree upright. Please visit the site below and you'll find the distance of many of the PGA tour pro.
My (Tiger) yardage (carry)
WOODS Driver: 285
3-wood: 265

IRONS 2-iron: 245
3-iron: 230
4-iron: 220
5-iron: 208
6-iron: 190
7-iron: 172
8-iron: 158
9-iron: 142
PW: 128
SW: 106
LW: 92

Answer 7

Are you sure he said a 9 iron? maybe that's a pitching or sand wedge for him.

A Friend of mine can hit his sand wedge 120+yards, while I've never hit it over 75.
iron distances will certainly vary from player to player. I played today, and hit a 5 iron 167 yards, if you believe the yardage on the tee.

Factor in dry fairways, downhill, and a breeze, and I could maybe hit a 5 iron 200 yards.

Answer 8

A 9 iron can be hit 180 yds. but it is not intended for that purpose. He may have done it, but he probably caught it thin.

I hit my 9 iron a little over 100 (woman) yards. For Tiger, 127 is the I can do this in my sleep swing.

Answer 9

Course elevation, hole elevation, temperature, humity, and wind all determine what the perfect club is for a particular shot.

An average distance for a well struck 5 iron by about a 12 handicapper is 180 yards.

Answer 10

I strike my five 165 to 190- ":The right tool for the right job!"
Variables my friend- 9 iron- he might not want loft for that shot. What is left after a 9? (wedges) On the fly, Tiger can hit his 9 180yds, If he wanted to..