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The irons - the long ones, to be exact - have been voted time and time again as the most difficult golf clubs to hit. But because of their pivotal purpose on the course, it becomes impossible to do away with them all together. Fortunately, manufacturers have done what they can to make sure that every kind of player gets a fair chance when wielding these fickle clubs. That includes fabricating irons for all types of golfers.
The best irons set for seniors take into account the distinct qualities of their swing. Factoring in the general speed, strength, and style that seniors swing with. These irons give you the best opportunity to level the playing field and eliminate your disadvantage.
From its material to its anatomy, clubs are intended to perform while taking your unique performance qualities into account. And that’s how manufacturers have managed to cater to every kind of player. From hard-hitting professionals to humble casual senior golfers.
While there aren’t exactly any irons that are specifically marked ‘for seniors’, there are certain types of these clubs that are known to work best for the distinct performance of an older golfer. Incorporating a set of features that make it easier to achieve the kind of shot that these clubs are intended for. Irons for seniors are likely to possess some of the following qualities.
Shafts are typically made from three types of material - steel, graphite, and titanium. All of these different materials bring something unique to the table. It may or may not work well for you depending on your distinct performance and level of skill.
MATERIAL | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
Steel | Most common and typically the most affordable. It's a long lasting material that weights significantly more than other types of shaft metals. Steel is usually preferred by more experienced golfers because it offers more weight which can be instrumental in amplifying power. Then again, it's also worth knowing that steel doesn't flex as well as other sorts of shaft material and may give off an unpleasant feel during a mishit. |
Graphite | Is the go to for high handicappers, lady golfers, beginners and seniors as it adapts to slow swing speed. With the head lagging behind the flexible shaft, these clubs can generate substantial velocity even in the hands of a slower golfer. On the downside, there is the issue of durability which is often graphite's weakness. These clubs will require regular maintenance and when they're all used up, frequent replacement. |
Titanium | It falls right in the middle of graphite and steel in terms of weight, but comes in as the toughest, stiffest material in the bunch. Some of the most advanced golfers enjoy the resonance and feedback that comes from titanium, at the cost of excessive noise. For high handicappers, less experienced players and seniors. The ultra stiff material might feel a little unforgiving and difficult to manage. |
The best golf irons for seniors will often use graphite shafts, but that isn’t set in stone. There are lots of seniors out there who might find steel or titanium more to their liking - it’s really about finding what suits you best. If we’re patterning choices based solely on trends however, graphite has long been established as the best shaft material for slower swing speeds typically demonstrated by senior golfers.
Depending on your upper body strength, it’s important that you consider the weight of your club. Heavy irons won’t only make it difficult to lug around a hefty golf bag, but might also slow down your swing speed and dampen control. The ideal senior iron should be lightweight and easy to wield. This will give the player mastery over the swing as opposed to having the club control the movement with its weight.
But aside from simply being ‘light’, senior golf irons are typically heavier in the head region while still being lighter than other clubs. The purpose of this augmented weight distribution is to create a smoother swing plane. Therefore allowing pendulum-like movement that resists twisting and mishits as you move down and towards the upswing.
In general, seniors will typically have a less stable grip than younger golfers. The decreased grip strength can take a toll on swing stability, and may be the root cause of various types of mishits. Then there are some senior golfers who might deal with tremors and conditions like arthritis. Which can make it even more of a challenge to keep their hands on a club.
Some irons will come with ergonomic, non-slip grips that can be good for a senior golfer. But in case the bundled grip just doesn’t meet your specific preferences, then there are loads of options out there that you can use to replace them.
The cavity back club head design has been around for a while and was engineered with the intention of enhancing the size of the club’s sweet spot. With an enlarged strike zone across its face, an iron becomes far easier to hit, producing ideal results even if you don’t get the ball dead center.
As you take some of the mass from the center off the back of the head, most of the weight is redistributed to the perimeter of the club’s face. This further enlarges the size of the sweet spot, giving you more room to hit your ball without fear of mishits. Together, these two club head qualities create a more forgiving club all together, generating impressive results even without the professional skill behind it.
Fat shots are some of the most common mishits for irons because of their low loft and smaller heads. As you move through the downswing, your club slices into the turf and takes a chunk of earth with it, sandwiching the divot between your clubface and the ball. This means that your club won’t hit the ball directly, so there’s a big chance of launching it in places that you don’t necessarily want it to go.
A wider, rounder sole creates a smooth, bouncing motion off of the turf. As your club head grazes the ground, it has less of a chance of slicing through the earth, so there won’t be too much of a divot in its wake. This also helps to reduce the risk of a fat shot, letting you make direct impact with your golf ball for more precise results.
If there’s one thing you’ll learn from the countless custom golf club fitting services out there, it’s that finding the perfect club for your skill and style isn’t something you should just rush into. There are a load of considerations that deserve your attention if you want to buy the best irons for your specific needs.
To make sure you’re buying a set that won’t find its place in storage soon after you make the purchase, you might want to take the following tips to heart.
Rule of thumb: If you don’t like using a long iron, then don’t use one. That’s actually why there are hybrids. Long irons can be especially difficult to wield, and most experts recommend that seniors pack the 7-iron as their longest pick. The irons from 2 to 6 can be replaced by woods or hybrids. To offer a little guidance, here are some potential alternatives to the long irons:
IRON | ALTERNATIVE |
|---|---|
2-iron | 4-wood or 3-hybrid |
3-iron | 5-wood or 4-hybrid |
4-iron | 4 or 5-hybrid |
5-iron | 5 or 6-hybrid |
6-iron | 6 or 7-hybrid |
There’s a lot of information out there that talks about what irons a senior should have, but that doesn’t mean that’s what you should get. Remember, all of this is suggestive and isn’t meant to be taken as the final word. Whenever you read advice on what irons are best suited for senior players, keep your own style and skill in mind.
There are lots of seniors out there who might play with non-graphite shafts, non-cavity back heads, and heavier irons without a fuss. It’s really all about finding the best fit for you. These recommendations have been found to suit the majority of senior golfers, but there is a minority that might not fit into the mold.
Exploring the market of golf irons can get pretty confusing especially with all of these brand new models popping up left and right. But as a general rule, you should always keep in mind that latest doesn’t always mean greatest.
There will always be a low priced classic that offers the right technology despite being a little older than present-day models. Don’t limit yourself to just the freshest drops, and always take time to consider the specific qualities of a club instead of being blinded simply by how new it is.
Touting premium construction and intuitive anatomy, the Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Iron Set has consistently won the top spot as the best golf irons for seniors and for good reasons. Its progressive design features a hollowed club head that’s slightly behind the hosel, allowing players to make last minute adjustments before colliding with the ball. With a shaft flex that’s specifically intended for seniors, the Launcher set allows excellent speed and control that’s both lightweight and forgiving.
The shafts of the PGX Single Length Iron set let the head drag behind the shaft during swing, maximizing speed and power even if you’re not necessarily a hard-hitter. Because they’re single length, you get a better chance at getting the right feel and familiarity no matter which of the 7 irons you pull out of your bag. With a low and deep center of gravity and optimized weight distribution across the head, these clubs will almost literally pick your ball up and launch it into the air with reliable consistency, speed, and carry.
Fitted with premium, feather-light graphite shafts, the TaylorMade Gold Rbladez Iron Set can be especially satisfying to swing, with 17.5 grams of its weight redistributed towards the depth of the head for greater control and forgiveness. Its heavier head and lightweight shaft allows a smoother pendulum swing that reduces the risk of mishits and twisting. And with its high launch angle, high peak trajectory, and fantastic feel, the Rbladez Iron Set can be a dream to handle anywhere on the course.
If you feel too clumsy or uncomfortable with a long iron and you can never seem to get the right results when using it, there's no need to force it. Hybrids and woods can be suitable alternatives that should make it easier for you to approach the green from where you stand.
With hybrids and irons all in the same bundle, the Cobra King F6 Hybrid and Iron set does away with the difficult long irons so you won’t have to deal with the cumbersome learning curve. These clubs feature a unique Speed Channel Sole that creates a distinct flex upon impact, increasing the coefficient of restitution for minimal energy loss during collision. On the irons, an extremely thin face and a half-hollow anatomy improves feel, increases forgiveness, and provides accurate launch that can make them a delight to pull out on approach shots.
It’s true - irons can be a tough cookie to really get the hang of. But that doesn’t mean you have to surrender just yet. The best irons set for seniors can help augment those weaknesses and put you at an advantage. Allowing you the level playing field so you have a fair chance at winning the game.
While there are tons of choices out there, the Cleveland Golf Launcher HB Iron Set stands out as one of the best there is. With shafts intended specifically for seniors, these clubs use intuitive anatomy that doesn’t just forgive your weaknesses, but also strengthens your skill so you come out better with irons that you were before.
