"Strong lofted irons" refers to golf irons that have lower loft angles than traditional iron sets. This means that, for example, a "strong" 7-iron might have the loft angle typically found on a traditional 6-iron.
Understanding Loft and Distance
- Loft: Loft is the angle of the clubface relative to the vertical. Lower loft angles generally result in lower launch angles and less backspin.
- Distance: Lower launch angle and backspin generally create longer distance.
Why Strong Lofts?
Manufacturers use strong lofts for several reasons:
- Increased Distance: The primary reason is to increase the distance that golfers can achieve with their irons. Lower lofts, combined with modern club design (like fast-face, hollow-body irons), lead to more ball speed and a flatter trajectory, which translates to more yards.
- Marketing: Distance sells. Golfers are often drawn to clubs that promise increased distance, and strong lofts can deliver that.
- Modern Iron Technology: As mentioned in the reference, modern iron designs, especially those with fast faces and hollow bodies, tend to launch the ball higher than older cavity back designs. Strong lofts help compensate for this higher launch angle, maintaining a desirable ball flight and preventing shots from ballooning.
- Gapping Concerns: Manufacturers design iron sets with consistent distance gaps between each club. If a 7-iron has a stronger loft, the other irons in the set will likely have correspondingly stronger lofts to maintain those gaps.
Potential Downsides of Strong Lofts
- Lower Trajectory (Potentially): While technology often compensates, excessively strong lofts can lead to a lower trajectory, making it harder to hold greens, especially on approach shots. However, modern design and materials often mitigate this issue.
- Distance Gapping Issues: Simply changing lofts without redesigning the club can result in distance gaps that are too large between clubs or a loss of control near the greens. This is why it's important to consider the entire set as a system.
- Misleading Numbering: Golfers must understand that a 7-iron with a strong loft is essentially functioning more like a traditional 6-iron in terms of distance and trajectory.
Conclusion
In summary, "strong lofted irons" are designed to deliver greater distance by decreasing the loft angle of the clubface, often in conjunction with other technologies that promote faster ball speeds and higher launch. While they can offer distance gains, it's crucial to consider the overall set design and ensure consistent gapping and optimal ball flight.
