Opinion & Analysis
The Wedge Guy: My thoughts on single-length irons
One of the bigger stories in golf equipment the past few years – thanks to Mr. De Chambeau – is the development of single-length irons. So, are they right for you or not? That’s a question only a fair trial can answer, but let me offer some thoughts on how your set make-up might look if you do take that direction.
First of all, the concept is not about single-length clubs — the conversation is about single-length irons. No one is playing a driver or fairway woods at the same length as their irons. Probably not even the hybrids. The putter is typically not either. So, the question is where in the set does the “single-length” begin and end?
I’ve long espoused the concept that your set of clubs (excluding the very specialized putter) should be divided into three sub-sets: Distance Clubs, Positioning Clubs, and Scoring Clubs. And generally speaking, these subsets each cover a specific range of lofts.
The Distance Clubs are those up to 20-25 degrees or so. This subset begins with your driver and encompasses your fairway woods and maybe your lowest loft hybrid or two. Your goal with these clubs is to move the ball “on out there” and put you in a place for your “positioning shot.”
The Positioning Clubs then begin after that highest loft Distance Club and take you up to 38 to 40 degrees of loft. Generally speaking, this subset would begin with your 3 or 4-iron or hybrid and go up to through your 7- or 8-iron. The goal with these clubs is to set up a reasonable putt or chip so you can get down in no more than 2-3 shots. My opinion is that it is only within this subset that “single-length” might serve you.
The Scoring Clubs – those over 38-40 degrees of loft — are the ones with which your scores will likely be determined. Long ago, I wrote several posts about the “round club mindset” when 8-irons had a more curved topline than the seven – a distinctly different look, and those 8-irons were 38 to 40 degrees. These are the clubs designed for putting the ball close enough for a makeable putt, hopefully, more often than not.
So, most conversations about single-length irons should be limited to that subset of “Positioning Clubs,” from your longest iron through that iron of 38-40 degrees. While many golfers may not see the distance separation between clubs that you would ideally like to have in that subset, others might. I’ve long observed that the distance a club can be hit is a combination of loft AND club shaft length. I just don’t see how you can get the range of distances from the longest to shortest in the set by changing loft only. I have tried several of these sets and just do not experience the distance differentials I want from that subset in my bag.
But I can certainly assure you that you simply cannot be as accurate with wedges that are 37 or 38 inches in length as you can with those clubs being 35 to 36 inches. It’s simple golf club physics. With very few exceptions, the shorter the club, the narrower your distance dispersion is going to be.
Consider that a “wide” shot with a 45-inch driver might be 30-40 yards off-line, while even the worst “wide” shot with your 35-and-three-quarter-inch pitching wedge is not likely to be more than 15 yards offline. In between, your lateral dispersion is progressively narrower as the shaft length is reduced.
So, I just cannot see why anyone would want to make their wedges the same length as their 5- or 6-iron, 37.5 to 38 inches, and give up the naturally more accurate dispersion that the shorter shaft delivers.
I am looking forward to hearing from those of you who have tried single-length irons and longer wedges to share your experiences.
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
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Archie
Jan 2, 2024 at 11:30 pm
Interesting post. Been playing single length for 3 years now. Pinhawks first year and upgraded to EQ1-NX most of last two seasons. 8-SW I love it. 6-7 iron, doesn’t work for me. Forget it. Don’t generate enough clubhead speed to get any sort of trajectory. Low missiles and poor gapping. Going to lengthen 6i and 7i this winter.
What has surprised me the most is the flexibility of the single length clubs. Yes I agree that accuracy probably falters at full length with the wedges BUT I also have 3 different yardages I can hit per wedge PW-SW based on how much I choke up. If I need a little extra distance and height to a tight pin over a bunker, I can take less club at full length and go after the pin. If I want to a hit a low spinner gap wedge from 115 I can choke down on the gw instead of a full SW. Completely counter to why you use single length clubs, I know, but it is definitely an unexpected benefit to me as I was never a good wedge player using the ‘clock’ method. Shaft is not the same length choked up but swing is very similar across. I agree wholeheartedly that single length is not for everybody but just sharing that it has worked well for me and generated a lot more consistency with my iron play. Best to all in your golf adventures.
GreigT
Mar 7, 2022 at 6:30 am
Got back into golf after not playing for 20 years. Played my old clubs to decide if I wanted to play again and got the golf bug back. Best handicap was 4 but consistently played more like a 6 marker.
Got fitted and went in with an open mind. Being 64, and having a few body issues that meant I want going to get back to single figures I wanted the game to be easier and enjoyable.
Finally went for Cobra ForgeTec one length irons having played real blades on the past, loved the look of the ForgeTec irons.
However, I agree with the article relating to splitting up the club lengths.
Ok I initially got 4 to GW in one length, but the 4 & 5 are 1/2″ longer.
Got SW 54 & LW 60 I the Cobra MIM wedges. Luv em. The GW didn’t last long and I finally reached it with a 50 MIM. All wedges are standard wedge variable lengths.
Have ARCCOS tracking gapping is consistent through the set.
Give them a go but you need a good fitter to tune the gapping for you. Just don’t hit the 7 iron.
Pingback: The Wedge Guy: Which is better – method or feel? – GolfWRX
LOWEBOY
Sep 30, 2021 at 11:33 am
I struggle with the wedges getting shorter as the loft increases. Back when BHGC was being resurrected, and I was getting my FW15 irons and TK Wedges ordered, I spent a long time on the phone with Barry. I told him about my disdain for the shorter clubs, and that 9i is about the shortest club I am comfortable hitting. We decided to make all of the clubs from 9i down, the same length, and I am glad we went that route. 9i (44*) is my 135 club. PW (49*) is my 120-ish club. GW (54* is my 100 club. SW (59*), well, I cannot hit it consistently, so I don’t have a go-to yardage on that club, and mainly use it for sand shots. So for shots in the very short to 80 yard range I pitch with my 6i (32*), 7i (36*), 8i (40*), 9i (44*) depending on the conditions and distance. Around the green I have discovered that my 5i (28*) has about the same feel as my putter in length, so I will chip with it using a putting stroke. So, I say for some people, having a range of clubs the same length works for them. For others it does not.
Bruce
Sep 20, 2021 at 4:32 pm
About 5 years ago, I evaluated my game and concluded that I hit 8 iron through 58 degree wedge just fine: therefore leave them alone.
I fabricate clubs from purchased parts so I set about to fabricate 7 – 3 iron in single length to match my 8 iron. I purchased clubheads and shafts, added weight to the 7-3 irons to make the clubhead weight equal my 8 iron, then installed the shafts. Great way to go, never going back. Hybreds and woods remain conventional.
My education background is in mechanical engineering so analyzing the clubs is no problem. According to mechanics, the increase in head weight EXACTLY offsets the change in shaft length so I have no gapping or distance issues. My irons all swing the same, and distances equal the variable length set. The real issue is the clubs are easier to hit – the game is simplified. Yes, I know the lie angles are incorrect, but setting up for a shot, I simply look at where the club contacts the ground and correct the lie by raising my hands a very little bit. No problem.
Adding weight takes some development and would be an issue for later discussion. Suffices to say I use tungsten powder mixed with shafting epoxy, or with minor machining (milling machine to make flat bottom shallow holes in the back of the iron opposite of ball impact area), you can epoxy tungsten bullet fishing sinkers to add weight. Very effective because tungsten weighs 1.8 times that of lead.
ChipNRun
Sep 18, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Tried some Cobra single-length irons circa 2016 at a demo day – remember those? It was a bit rainy, and not many people showed up. I got to spend a half hour with a 5-GW set.
The clubs were easy to get used to, all being the same length. But, the PW and 9i went a bit too far, and the 5i went not much longer than the 6i. Got some distance compression at both ends.
Also, a super-long PW was hard to get used to.
Richard Douglas
Sep 21, 2021 at 6:13 pm
Back then, Wishon had solved that issue while Cobra did not. Now, Wishon’s 2nd gen clubs are even better.
Kev
Nov 29, 2021 at 7:28 am
I have to agree with that, the Wishon EQ1 NX clubs are superb, I just got a set of these amazing clubs and find that today on trackman I can hit the 5 iron 190 meters thats 207 yards inc run out and it is only built to an 8 iron length of 36.5″. I hit the ball purer and further than my variable Ping iron set.
The irons are excellent, forgiving and versatile as you can grip down when you feel you need more control for more delicate chips.
JEREMY
Sep 18, 2021 at 5:49 pm
too many comments to see if this has been said yet but pw, gw, sw, lw are all about the same length, yet you hit those 4 clubs various lengths because there is a greater loft difference in them, 4-6 degrees. As irons get longer loft difference decreases, making single length less viable but the manufacturers of these clubs change the make up of the club from more of a blade type wedge to a thin faced super game improvent iron to creqate more distance in the “long” lower loted irons. they are not hitting blades or gi irons throught the whole set. i personally dont like single length irons but there is more to the equation than lengh, lie, loft.
David
Sep 18, 2021 at 3:50 pm
Interesting comments. Personally I have been using a mixed bag for about two years. My 4-7 are all 7 iron length. I have no problem with gapping. At 70 years old I hit the ball shorter than a few years ago but my 7 still goes 145. The 6-5-4 all go a respectable distance with 10 yd. gaps above the 7 iron. My Distance clubs are traditional length and my 8-wedges are traditional. Doesn’t sound like much, but the difference in the 4-7 as one length has totally improved my game. I am 5′-9″ and 7 iron length wedges felt like driver length to me. I decided that variety is best. Nothing says “all” clubs need to be the same. Part of mine are graphite and some a steel and that too makes a difference. Experiment and have fun. I did and it works for me.
Richard Douglas
Sep 18, 2021 at 1:34 pm
I’ve been playing single-length irons for more than 5 years now. This article is typical of those who look at the situation statically instead of dynamically.
Statically speaking, single length clubs look deficient in two ways. The lower-loft clubs can’t go far enough and the high-loft clubs are too long.
Wrong.
This ignores the dynamic aspect of these clubs: You groove one iron swing and are, thus, more consistent throughout the set. This includes the “longer” “short irons.” I’m more accurate with a wedge now than ever before, and that’s despite its longer length. It doesn’t feel longer; it feels like every other club in the set. (In my case, 4-iron through Sand Wedge.)
On the low-lofted end, each player will be limited with how far he/she can go before there is a loss of gapping. This is determined by swing speed. Yes, the length does add to distance; about 15%. In traditional sets this is accomplished by lengthening the clubs as you go through the set. So, the author decries the longer “scoring” clubs, yet ignores the longer “positioning” clubs (his terms). But when I stand over a 36.5″ 4-iron that travels as far as a traditional 4-iron, I have a lot of confidence. I know I don’t have to sacrifice accuracy.
Finally, the club manufacturer has an impact on all of this with club design. Softer metals and higher CGs in the high-lofted clubs, more COR and lower CGs in the low lofted clubs. So the differences are mellowed out.
I used to chase iron designs for years. I stopped when I switched to single-length. I’ll never go back.
Bagger Vince
Sep 19, 2021 at 7:52 pm
Glad they worked for you… saw my handicap increase by 2.8 using them for 6 months; just went back to my variable length and couldn’t be happier
Jack R Symmes
Sep 17, 2021 at 9:08 pm
For anybody interested in going to same length clubs, I found a good read in Tom Wishon’s Q & A on same length clubs(wishongolf.com). It’s very informative and worth reading.
Webster Warren Miller
Sep 17, 2021 at 5:52 pm
I would like to try as set of dual length irons. In the author’s terms, positioning clubs based on one length and then scoring clubs based on another.
My current set almost already is in the scoring clubs. There’s only a 1/2″ difference between my 36″ 40* 9I, 35.75″ PW, and 35.5″ AW/SW/LW. I don’t see why having all my clubs 40* and above at 35.5″ would be an issue. If they all had the same length, shaft, lie, swingweight I can only imagine that I would hit them equally well.
As for the positioning clubs, I would probably settle at 37″ which means my 24* 5I would only need to be 1″ shorter and my 35.5* 8 iron a 1/2″ longer. It’s not like those are drastic length changes by any means.
Richard Douglas
Sep 18, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Dual-length defeats the purpose of single-length clubs. You’ll get all the downsides and none of the advantages.
MCS
Sep 17, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Personally, I think this article might not adequately account for the potential benefits of a single-length setup for high-handicap players or players who are not already confident in their short clubs. It is not an exaggeration to state that single length clubs have revolutionized my father’s game. As a high handicap player who has never been confident with wedges, the consistency and confidence of the single length setup have him now playing his “Scoring Clubs” with more success than any time in the 25+ years we have been playing together. While I understand it is logical that a longer-length wedge will be harder to control “all things being equal,” in my experience this concept is meaningless if the single length setup helps to strike the ball with much greater consistency. My father is now playing Cobra’s single length clubs all the way down to the sand wedge there is no doubt in my mind that his average approach shot with them is significantly better than with his prior clubs.
As a player who does have confidence in my shorter clubs, I did not find single length clubs to offer an advantage in that part of the bag, but I also did not feel a drastic difference in accuracy either. The wedges in particular did tend to fly a bit further, which encouraged me to adopt a shorter, less aggressive swing on those clubs to retain accuracy and gapping — something that might actually be helpful for some players. Ultimately I do prefer variable length wedges and short iron and believe that I personally am slightly more accurate with them, but I don’t think the difference is insurmountable.
Milbs
Jan 14, 2023 at 4:59 pm
I agree!
I’m 6’4” and after an 8 year break I bought some F9 OL irons as I thought it would be easier to get back into things – I was right, but I became concerned that the 4&5 irons weren’t going as far (nor were they gapped) like they should have.
So I went back to variable length – and struggled like mad with my wedge game – short clubs and tall guys promote lifting! I also realised after getting my game back that I was actually better switching to hybrids beyond my 5 iron.
So fast forward two years of trying really hard to get going with VL irons and this week I bought 5-SW Speedzone OL – first round with them I was SEVEN, yes SEVEN shots better than the previous round – and most of my gains were around the green, chipping with clubs that didn’t need me to bend almost double to hit them!
Golf is all about what you’re comfortable with (I’ve tried Cleveland’s chipper and have a Ping Chipr and can’t hit either closer than I can with “normal “ wedges) – so I ignore the bias out there and play with what works for me!
retired04
Sep 17, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Been playing Cobra f8 ONE length irons since they were introduced in 2017-6 iron-PW. Was 70 yrs old when I got mine and was fitted for lie angle. Have been playing with real clubs/balls since I was 7-single digit since high school although from shorter sr. tees since about 66 years old-spent 20+ years in/ around the golf business.
Single length concept just made too much sense so I tried it-best decision I could have made-love them. Consistent distances, no problems with trajectory and all with the SAME swing. Like them so much I already own my backup set for when these wear out.
Only made one change-sent the 6 & 7 iron heads to Jim Kronus at the Iron Factory, Glendale, AZ to be regrooved to get rid of the goofy distance grooves-now I can stop the ball on the greens.
I bought based on lofts-PW-6 iron are 44*-39-34-29.5-25.5 with my old 913 hybrid at 21* with 10-12 yd. gaps. Add in 3 std length Zipcore wedges-56*-52 & 48 and ironically I am playing the same lofts I did about 60 years ago when PWs were 50-52*. I can work them either way,change trajectory and golf is still fun. And SL is not just for us old(er).
Mike
Sep 17, 2021 at 1:10 pm
One set of rules in fitting golf clubs to a golfer is NEVER an option.
I could never play wedges longer than 35.5″ myself, having said that, that’s me, countless golfers differ in so many aspects. A good example is the driver length, for most, 45.5″ is way too long, yet and though the exception, some higher handicap players actually hit their driver better at that length.
Some golfers prefer longer wedges because they simply feel more comfortable standing more erect over the ball, hence for those golfers, longer wedges actually work better.
Jeff
Sep 17, 2021 at 10:10 am
Single length irons can bring bring some questions and thought. No one product will fit everyone’s need. However, stamping the degrees of loft on an iron versus the actual number of the iron. We know that does not work!!:Right Terry
A. Commoner
Sep 17, 2021 at 8:53 am
Interesting (?) comments ….Seems pedantry is flourishing.
Rob McCance
Sep 17, 2021 at 8:10 am
First, I play VL irons, Srixon ZX7. So this is not anti or pro SL here.
Those are great thoughts and opinions from Koehler, and that’s all they are.
A MUCH better article on SL Irons would of included actually hitting the set and reporting back the results, using a Quad.
Test the latest set of Cobra SL irons and give us the numbers.
Last, anyone can choke down on a wedge one inch if they need to, I do it all the time with my VL irons (ZX7). So this “wedges are longer in SL” idea is pretty irrelevant.
Not many actual points made in this OpEd and certainly no actual data.
John Courtney
Sep 16, 2021 at 6:18 am
I play single length wedges. I have a setup that looks like this: 60, 56, 52, 48, 43 (43 is pitching wedge in my iron set, really a 9i because of loft). Including my actual 9i (it’s an 8i, 38 degrees), all of my wedges are at 36″. This helps with finding the same setup position for me when using them in the short for chipping/bumping. I don’t find single length irons all that helpful for the same reason, the writer of this article doesn’t. Your irons carry a number of yards that helps you solve the math equation that is golf. If you hit a 250 yard drive and you hit your 7 iron 150, which two clubs do you think you’ll play on a 400 yard hole. As the hole gets longer you adjust which club. Using single length irons will make this harder. Especially if you put a 4 iron shaft in your 9 iron. You’ll create a huge gap between your wedges and irons. That will make it incredibly harder to play since you won’t have a full shot between 100-130, THAT IS SCORING RANGE.
John
Sep 16, 2021 at 1:19 am
I have been using a mixed set of SL and VL clubs for 2.5 years now, a d love them.
I have 4-7 iron in SL, VL in the rest of the bag. I have seen such an improvement in long iron consistency, without any detriment to the rest of my game. Gapping has not been an issue either with 15-17 yards between the SL long irons
Sk jay
Sep 15, 2021 at 10:54 pm
I play everything I need from 160 in using SL at wedge length for me that is 7-p. My thinking is pros are also essentially using sl wedges from this distance so I am just adjusting loft to compensate for my lower ss. The nice thing is I can chip around greens with all sl clubs and now have loads of options without having to choke up
Outside 160 I’m using vl hybrids and fairways since I need the height to stop the ball.
Btw I shot par for the first time ever with set up and play off 3. I’m not planning to change anything.
Jim Evans
Sep 15, 2021 at 10:47 pm
Started playing Cobra One Length clubs (5 – GW / regular flex steel) two months ago. Not only are they all the length of the 7 iron, I had an extra inch added due to my height (6’4″) It took several weeks to adjust but now I love them. I either grip down or use a 2 finger swing with my GW to cover the gap between it and my standard SW. I haven’t had any issues with gaps between my irons and hybrids. My accuracy, especially with 8 – GW, has improved markedly. Now if I could just putt…
Tommy Williams
Sep 15, 2021 at 10:30 pm
I have been playing King Cobra SZ 4-6 built at a single length 6 iron length. 7-Gap are standard length Cobra forged-Tec. I’ve used this setup for almost 18 mths now. Depending upon workload and practice , I usually float between 6-10 handicap.
For me the single length 8-Gap was a non-starter as I hated the look, and the control just wasn’t there for me after many demo sessions. Long story short, this setup works great for me, specifically, in that I tend to over hit my long irons. Seeing a shorter iron works for me in that I swing more smoothly. Mea culpa, I’m compensating for a mental flaw. However, it’s existed in my brain for 40 years. I’ll try to address it via lessons soon…keep the dream I suppose.?
My biggest issue however is 4 & 5 iron gapping. I hit reach off them 200-205. I need more from my 4 iron, so I think I may try their single length adjustable driving iron. If you do go this route though, the gapping thing is real. I was fitted, and still ended up with issues. However, I’m still a believer in the single length long irons.
Kosko Koskinen
Sep 15, 2021 at 9:44 pm
I decided to experiment 2 years ago after year of frustration and inconsistency with 3-5 irons. Living in Minnesota have me some time away from the course in the winter months. Decided to go in and demo the Cobra Forged Tech irons. At first… My thoughts were, “well this is dumb”…. But after putting some indoor time and visually adjusting to shorter length long irons, I started to enjoy it. The biggest adjustment was not changing ball position for my 3-7 irons…. Same swing, consistent results. I decided to follow my golf pros advice of going 8-pw in traditional variable length irons. Been a fan ever since and cannot imagine reverting to the traditional sticks. Handicap is hovering in the 2’s as I age not so gracefully toward the 48 years old.
Alan Kwon
Sep 15, 2021 at 6:46 pm
I am in my early 50’s with 2 years of golf under my belt. I learnt to play golf with cobra one length irons and it is the best thing I could have done in terms of flattening the learning curve. Initially I picked up Ping G700s and just couldn’t hit anything above the 7 iron, so I thought to myself, why can’t I have a 4 iron in 7 or 8 iron length? So I googled exactly that, and came across a chap named Bryson Dechambeau play with one length irons! Wow, there was such thing as a 4 iron in 7 iron length and Cobra was the brand!
My curren handicap 15. My practice routine is so simple – start with an OL wedge, then 7 iron, then the driver. That’s it. Needless to say all my irons are OL, and even my 2,3 hybrids. I don’t really use metal woods.
But now that my iron play is pretty good, I am using the normal length irons from PXG, Mizuno, and TM, mostly blades. As good the OL cobra irons are, life is too short to miss out on the pure feel of forged blades!
Tom
Sep 15, 2021 at 5:53 pm
I am a 17 handicap, I was fitted and have the Cobra 5-SW SL irons. I also have a normal 4 hybrid, fairway and driver. In addition, I carry a normal SW and 60 degree wedge (not single length). I use these clubs, the normal SW and 60 for distances under 100yds. All the rest SL have a good range between clubs except for the 5 iron. It’s distance is just a little longer then the 6 iron, but it has a much lower trajectory. So I use the right tool for the right distance. Overall the SL have improve my consistency.
Jim Harper
Sep 15, 2021 at 5:16 pm
I took an old set of Ping G20 irons last fall and changed to a 40” stiff shaft. 4-PW. In my bag now are the 8-9 only. They are magic from 140-160 yards. Worth the experiment.
Matt
Sep 15, 2021 at 2:26 pm
I think single length can be an intriguing option for some people if you are willing to go through the process of ensuring proper fit and proper gapping. It’s no secret that having all one length irons from, say, 5-9 will make swinging those clubs easier. One swing plane, one set up. Elimination of variables. However, where I get a little lost in the weeds is now the increased difference in your 5 iron (or whatever your last iron is) and your next club ie hybrid, fairway, utility, etc. Same as the other end. Now you are going from a 7/8 iron length in your 9 iron to a shorter wedge. Bryson has clearly shown that it can be done and it can be useful. He however has a lot of resources at his disposal that the average golfer doesn’t. It’s a very intriguing option that I would certainly be willing to try if I had the proper fit and the ability to go back for adjustments without paying an arm and a leg. The idea of grabbing my 7 iron on the range knowing that I am now warmed up with all my irons is intriguing. Elimination of variables in a game full of them is never a bad thing, as long as it’s done properly.
Gordy3279
Sep 15, 2021 at 1:54 pm
Personally, I think single length irons from lets say 4-LW is not a good idea. What you need the club to do in a 4-6 is different than a 7-9 and PW-LW. What I mean is you want your long irons to interact with the turf and the ball differently than your mid to short irons.
However, something I have tried and do like but need to dial a tad bit with lie angles and weight is to make a group of clubs the same distance. I have made my 4-6 iron all the same length as my 6i. My 7-9i the same length as my 9i and my PW-LW the same length as my LW. What I have noticed is, going shorter has no effected my distance all but a yard or 2 but does increase accuracy. I don’t have numbers but I do feel a ton more confident with a shorter club in my hand than a longer one.
Aaron Gibson
Sep 16, 2021 at 9:15 am
Gordy? Can you tell me how you built that set. What lie angle did you make the 4-6, 7 – 9 and pw- Lw? What is the swing weight of them as well?