I hit a 5-wood and 7-wood longer and straighter than I do a 4-iron and/or a 5-iron or 6-iron? Why is that?

Question

I am a middle-aged golfer - about 5'7''. Have never used custom clubs. Have never been able to hit long or mid-irons. Can hit 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, PW. Have 6 and 5 iron in the bag, but rarely use then.

Answer 1

It could be that your swing goes flat on longer clubs. The irons will catch grass and you will either blade the ball with a slice or catch it fat because you want to play the ball forward in your stance. The woods won't catch the grass the same way and will skim along it instead. Practice with your 5 iron by moving the ball back in your stance and make the same swing as your PW, think about making a more upright pendulum type swing and take a divot just like your PW - don't try to hit the ball any harder just because the club is longer. As you get the feel for hitting down on the ball you can adjust to take a more even and flat divot with your longer clubs and hit the ball longer and higher. But you should still be able to hit the woods further.

Answer 2

That's typical in ways. First off, you should hit your 5-wood almost as far as you hit your 3-iron if not the same. Second, it'll be all air and no roll so depending on where you play, if the fairway is cut longer, more carry means more distance because you're getting less roll with your long irons. Additionally, the fairway woods are easier to hit for most people than the longer irons (5-1) with a larger sweet spot. So, you're probably catching your woods a little better than the irons. Finally, you've already told yourself that you hit those woods better than those irons and you can't discount the mental aspect of that.... you feel better stepping up to the ball with the wood as opposed to the iron. It really does make a difference. I had a similar issue about 3 years ago with regard to hook/slice not so much distance. I switched to hybrids instead of my 5 wood, 3 iron, and 4 iron. Maybe give those a shot. Best of both worlds. Out of curiosity, what's your handicap? I'm a 7 now... was an 11 then. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

You should hit a 5 wood farther that a 5 iron. Take the wood number and subtract 3. That is the approximate iron equivalent in carry to that wood. A 5 wood has the approximate carry of a 2 iron; the 7 wood the carry of a 4 iron.

If you are above a 20 handicap, jettison the 3 and 4 irons and replace them with either 19/20 degree wood or hybrid.

Answer 4

That's completely normal.

5 wood and 7 woods are NOT equivalent in loft to that same number in an iron. I made that mistake many times when I was learning to golf. I was 170 out, and accidental took out my 5w instead of a 5 iron. It went a good 30-40 yards over the green. Don't worry about it.

Lofts: (generally)

5w= 19*
7w= 21*

4i= 24*
5i=27*
6i=31~31*
Big difference!

On the part about never being able to hit your long irons...

The reason you may have been able to hit the woods better than irons is that woods have a different center of gravity and weighting that irons. The weighting in woods probably fits your long-club swing better.

For the 3-6 irons, you will definitely want to look into getting hybrids. They are a mix between irons and woods, and are much easier to hit.

Good luck,

DB

Answer 5

Woods have a center of gravity that created a more solid shot. That is why hybird clubs are so good

Answer 6

its the length of the shaft (generally shorter)+ the stability of the larger and balanced weight of a wood's head...the main reason you can hit a 3 wood better than a driver

Answer 7

ANY WAY U WOULD BE HITTING UR WOODS LONGER THAN UR IRONS.BUT I GUESS U ARE NOT CONTENT WITH THE DISTANCE OF UR MID IRONS AND THE LONG IRONS SO U R APPLYING TO MUCH FORCE BECAUSE OF WHICH THEIR COULD B UNWANTED BODY MOVEMENT.SO,TRY TO HIT ALL UR CLUBS WITH SAME FORCE WITHOUT TO MUCH OF EXPERIMENTATION ON UR SWING AND IT SHD. HELP

Answer 8

there prolly heaver than your irons and you dont try to hit them so hard