Get To Know The Benefits of Single Length Irons
Bryson DeChambeau and the folks at Cobra/Puma Golf are sparking new interest in single length irons. What are those you ask? In a single length iron set, all of the irons are the length of a typical 7 iron. We dive into a brief history of single length irons and show how they can benefit your game.
Brief History Of Single Length Irons
Though just becoming popular in the last year, the idea has been around for some time. In 1989, Tommy Armour Golf debuted the EQL irons. Unfortunately, sales were poor and the idea never took off, perhaps due to the lack of a high-profile PGA Tour player. More recently, DeChambeau revived the concept with custom Edel single length irons. He used these while becoming only the 5th player in history to win a NCAA and US Amateur title in the same year. After turning pro in 2016, DeChambeau paired with Cobra Golf to develop a set that has since come to retail.
Concept Behind Single Length Irons
The idea behind the single length philosophy is using one set up and one swing for every club in the bag. The question is, how do you determine what length to use in the set? Ideally, you are going to use a club that is comfortable to hit but can still get the distance needed. Long irons in traditional sets are generally harder to hit due to the extended length and lower lofts. The first iron many golfers learn to use is the 7 iron. It’s in the middle of the set and is one of the easier clubs to hit. Therefore, manufacturers of single length irons use a 7 iron as their “standard” length.
As mentioned, with all clubs being the same length, golfers only need to learn one set up and one swing to use with every iron. Variable lengths in a traditional set cause setup and swing changes with each club because players must stand closer or further from the ball. So why doesn’t everyone just re-shaft their current clubs with 7 iron length shafts? The answer lies in the needed adjustments to make the set to work.
Details In Making Single Length Irons
There are three key design elements when making a single length iron set.
- Lie Angle
- Swing Weight
- Loft
The lie angle and swing weight of the club must be the same throughout the single length set. This preserves the notion of using the same swing with each club. Also, the weighting of the clubhead, or swing weight, becomes essential. As in any iron set, you want each of the clubs to feel the same when you swing. Variable length sets use the changing length to accomplish this. In a single length set, the weight of the head is the only thing that can change. Proper weighting takes skill.
The lofts of the single length clubs must be adjusted to get the correct distance and gapping for the set. Lofts in the longer irons are made stronger (less loft) to account for the difference in length. Shorter irons may be a little weaker (more loft) because they are longer than usual.
Are Single Length Irons For You?
The benefit of single length irons is plain to see. Who wouldn’t want to use only one set up and swing for every club? If a single length set will be the next weapon in your golf arsenal, get fit! As mentioned, there are details in making the set that are key. Get a proper fitting to ensure you are getting the right specs for your swing.
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Rudi Fann
Rudi Fann has been a Class “A” member of the PGA of America since 2008. He began his career in 1998 as the Assistant Golf Professional at Wake Forest Golf Club in Wake Forest, NC. In 2002, Rudi accepted a similar position at Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. He spent a year there before moving to Nipomo, CA where he worked at Blacklake Golf Resort. Over the next 10 years, he worked his way from Assistant Golf Professional to Head Golf Professional and finally Director of Golf Operations. In his time at Blacklake, Rudi devoted much of his time to running tournaments and other activities in order to create a social atmosphere at the club. After Blacklake, Rudi spent one year as Head Golf Professional at Paso Robles Golf Club before deciding to return home to North Carolina. Since returning to North Carolina, Rudi has worked with the First Tee of the Triangle helping to instill life skills and core values through the game of golf to local youth.