Equipment
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using HL irons? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been discussing the benefits and downsides of playing HL (High Launch) irons. WRXer ‘jjfcpa’ kicks off the thread, asking:
“Just looking for some feedback on the advantages and disadvantages of the HL model irons that Ping (G430), Taylormade (Qi10), JPX923, and Callaway (AI Smoke HL) are now offering?
If you are a slower swing speed golfer (senior primarily I’m guessing), would you consider one of these?”
And our members have been having their say on the subject in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- POKeefe: “Advantage and Disadvantage: They go higher, fly straighter, and are chunkier which can be confidence inspiring. This is ideal for a lower speed player who struggles to get the ball airborne but bad for a higher speed player who can easily balloon golf balls.”
- Roejye: “I think it’s the ability to give you more launch. Yeah, a lower lofted iron will give you more distance, but how predictable is that if that distance is based on roll-out. Theoretically, giving someone with slightly slower swing speed with the other characteristics of a GI/SGI iron would help launch the ball better.”
- erock9174: “I don’t think there are any disadvantages to HL irons. It’s all about providing a fitting need. Not everybody needs super strong lofts to win the distance battle. While I am not quite old yet…do turn 48 this year, I have always hit the ball the same distance pretty much since I started golf 30 yrs ago. I just have a nice easy deliberate swing and try to keep the ball in play with accuracy. So anything stronger than a 26* 6i never works for me. I think that is helpful going into club purchases for me. Also hollowbody irons rarely work for me either. I seem to generate more height and spin with cavity back irons.”
Entire Thread: “What are the advantages and disadvantages of using HL irons? – GolfWRXers discuss”
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
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Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
