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Golfers Chase Distance: What's the Real Trade-off?
12 Sep
Summary
- Stronger iron lofts boost carry distance reliably, data shows.
- Dispersion and peak height remain unaffected by stronger lofts.
- Flatter descent angles are the main consequence of stronger lofts.
In the pursuit of greater distance, many golfers and equipment manufacturers have embraced "loft-jacking," strengthening iron lofts across various categories. This practice involves using lofts typically found in older, more forgiving club categories to achieve longer shots.
Recent testing involving 30 different 7-irons, from players' models to super-game-improvement clubs, analyzed the impact of these stronger lofts. The data, gathered using a swing robot, focused on distance, dispersion, and descent angle.
Contrary to some beliefs, the study found that stronger lofts do not significantly increase shot dispersion or negatively affect peak ball height. These factors remained largely consistent across the tested irons, suggesting engineering efforts are mitigating potential downsides.
However, a clear consequence of stronger lofts is a flatter descent angle. This means the ball lands less steeply, potentially causing it to roll out more on the green. The relationship between loft and descent angle was particularly strong in game-improvement irons.
While stronger lofts reliably increase carry distance, the trade-off lies in the ball's landing angle. Golfers seeking extra yards should weigh the benefits of increased distance against the potential difficulty of holding greens with a flatter landing trajectory.
