In the end, it’s not a universal fact that strong-lofted irons will lead to more distance and more greens hit, nor is it the case that choosing a weaker- lofted iron without a springy face is going to be the best solution for you. Still, since golfers purchase relatively strong-lofted irons over weak-lofted irons by a margin nearing 20-to-1, it seems obvious that the smart play is to forget distance when searching for new irons, whether your average 7-iron distance is longer than Rory McIlroy’s or shorter than Lydia Ko’s. You want your shots to stay on the green, too.
Skylar Frankiewicz, a former college player who’s now a 7-handicap, hits the stronger-lofted 7-irons about half- a-club further than the weaker-lofted 7-irons. Her landing angles are better with weaker-lofted 7-irons, but the real decider is spin rate. With about 2 000 rpm more spin on the weaker-lofted 7-irons, she’s getting more predictable results when her 7-iron has more loft, not less. So it’s reasonable to suggest that weakening the lofts on her irons might get her the best of all worlds: bet- ter launch, better spin, better landing angle and better distance.
Distance irons will land at a serviceable 45 degrees with five to eight more yards of carry. David Ilsley is 30 yards shorter and three decades older than Shaw, but his handicap is just two strokes different. His slower swing speed, coupled with a launch angle that’s more like a PGA Tour player’s 9-iron, means he actually gets not only a better landing angle but also more carry distance with a higher- lofted 7-iron. Example: Ilsley hit the Callaway Apex Ai200 (30 degrees) eight yards shorter than the Callaway Apex CB (34 degrees).
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 109
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
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