Do New Golf Irons Make A Difference?

Written by Todd in Online Golf Instruction

Yes! Ultimately, in order for a golfer to reach his or her full potential the golf irons they use should at least be made within the last 10 years, the right model for their type of swing and the right fit for their body size.

Golf can be a difficult game.

The game of golf can be even more difficult if your golf clubs are old, not the right fit for you, or not the right option for you.

In today’s golf market, there are many options for golfers as the technology improves frequently and the ability of club fitters gets better with the improvement of technology.

Do New Golf Irons Make A Difference?

Personal Experience: I buy new irons every 10 years. With every new set of irons it appears that the irons fly higher, further and have a great precision level on off center hits. The new technology make a difference.

Answer these three questions about your current set of golf irons:

  1. Were they made in the past 10 years?
  2. Are they the right model? 
  3. Were you fitted for the clubs?

While quality golf can still be played with old irons, the wrong model and irons that were fitted for you, the golfer trying to reach his or her full potential and eliminate any doubt about having the wrong equipment in their hands should consider buying a new set of irons.

Below, I will dive into each of the 3 questions above to provide more clarity on why these categories are important!

Are old golf clubs still good?

If you in the market for new irons, make sure you consider your options at the 3, 4, and 5 iron levels.

Do New Golf Irons Make A Difference: Were they made in the past 10 years?

Golf technology continues to improve every year.  We see the biggest shifts in irons about every 10 years, which is why our recommendation is based on about every decade.  With drivers, we prefer to upgrade our own equipment every 3-5 years and with irons we are closer to every 7-10 years.

Every golfer wants to take advantage of the new technology found in today’s golf irons.  The ability to launch the ball at certain heights, control spin rate and the control shot dispersion improve every 7-10 years.  In addition, the extra distance potentially found in newer irons can mean the difference between hitting a 7 iron from 150 and maybe hitting an 8 iron instead from 150.

Do New Golf Irons Make A Difference: Are they the right model? 

There are two major categories that most golfers will consider when purchasing a new set of golf irons.  These include:

  • Muscle Back Irons
  • Cavity Back Irons

Muscle back irons are also considered “blade irons” and can be really difficult to hit for even the low handicap golfer.  Their main advantage is the ability to control distance, shot shape and shot height.  The feedback on a poor shot is easier to read through the feel of the shot.  Many golfers seek consistency in their game and if you aren’t playing 5-7 days a week, muscle back irons can be difficult to achieve consistency with.

Cavity back irons are known for their versatility and forgiveness.  They provide the golfer with the ability to launch the ball higher and further even on shots that aren’t in the perfect sweet spot.  They are highly recommended for the majority of amateur golfers.  While the perfectly struck shot on a muscle back club feels amazing, the ability to have the forgiveness of a cavity back iron is vital.

What we are seeing more and more in the golf iron world is a blend of the features of each of the two types of irons above.   There are clubs that take the best of both worlds of the muscle back and cavity back to develop a club that the mid to low handicap player can use.

On the professional tours, we also see a blend of clubs when it comes to the irons.  The longer irons (3, 4, and 5 iron) are sometimes built more like a cavity back, while the 6 through 9 iron and wedges are more blade-like.

The other option many amateurs should also consider is the mix of irons and hybrids.  Maybe the amateur golfer wants to replace a 4, 5 and 6 iron with 2-3 hybrids and then hit a 7 through 9 cavity back irons as well as the wedges. 

The bottom line is that golfers have options and to find the best option can see a club fitter or test out on their own at a variety of locations.

Are adjustable drivers worth it?

Do New Golf Irons Make A Difference: Were you fitted for the clubs?

Seeing a club fitter can help you select the right style of irons or combination of irons and hybrids and ensure your clubs are set at the right lie angle as well as the right length for your game.  

Too many golfers pick up a cheap set somewhere and then struggle to learn the game.  Seeing a club fitter, especially if you are already making a sizable investment, to help get you in the right set of clubs and eliminate any doubt as you stand over a shot whether you have the right clubs for your game.

Is a new putter worth it?

Will Fitted Clubs Help My Game Greatly?

I actually believe getting in the right type of club such as cavity back, muscle back, blend of the two, hybrids, etc. will have a more immediate impact on your game.  Picking the right style is vital to matching up to your swing speed and your ability to launch the golf ball.  

If you are a 15 handicap golfer with a fitted set you might play at a 12, but chances are without additional activities you are going to drop to a 5 just from a new set of irons. 

I think most golfers can see a decrease of 2-3 shots of their handicap with a club fitting and a new investment.  However, if your clubs are really good for you now you might not see that size of a drop.

Are expensive drivers worth it?

Make sure you test your new irons out! Find the best fit for your game and swing!

Do New Golf Irons Make A Difference: Next Steps

The golfer has several options.  If you answered yes to your clubs being 10 year or older, I would recommend finding a new set sooner rather than later.  You can also assess your game to see how you are currently hitting your irons.

As far as options.  The golfer can head to the local sporting goods store and test out a variety of options on a golf simulator and hope that you run into someone with some decent knowledge.  You can also head out to a club fitter as many will give you a one hour free session and they will make a recommendation.

Ultimately, the golfer needs to assess his or her game and then shop around and decide how much they want to spend on the fitting process and their new purchase.

One way to save money is to buy from a place like Callaway Pre-Owned after a model has been selected.

Or you can do your own testing on your own golf launch monitor:

Are golf launch monitors worth it: 7 reasons to own one!

My Secret To Golf Improvement

Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently.  About four years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.  I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.

This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer.  I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.  I can practice or play rounds of golf.  I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.

It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.

Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:

Irons change over the year, make sure you are in the market every 7-10 years for new irons!

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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