All golfers are conscious that there are completely different genres of irons out there to them, but many aren’t conscious of what the precise variations could be. This text is designed that can assist you sift via some present choices, provide you with perception into the variations in ball flight you would possibly anticipate and thus choose that higher fits your recreation.
With this in thoughts I gathered three present fashions despatched to me by my mates at PING: the brand new G440, the very new i240 and my present gamer, the Blueprint S. I used the 7i from every set and every membership has the identical shaft, grip, size, flex, swing weight and lie angle. This fashion the variations in ball flight can solely be attributed strictly to the variations within the clubhead.
Whereas every of the 7 iron heads have customary lofts, the G440 has 29º of loft whereas the i240 and the Blueprint S every have 33º of loft. Sure, modern-day, bigger membership head fashions have lowered lofts to help in serving to the ball fly additional, however that decrease loft can also be in place to handle trajectory considerations. The “flex-face” know-how will increase ball pace, reduces spin and will increase top. The lower in loft serves a twin goal of growing distance and ball pace, nevertheless it additionally deters the ball from flying overly excessive.
The take a look at concerned hitting 12 pictures with every membership in randomized three-ball increments. I used a really low tee for all pictures with the intention to hold grass and particles from influencing the end result. As soon as I had hit 12 pictures with every membership I culled the worst 4 pictures with every membership to remove any outliers that might corrupt the information. All the information was captured utilizing TrackMan in normalized mode which retains any temperature, altitude or wind results out of the information. The blue pictures have been the Blueprint S, the pink pictures have been the i240 and the purple pictures have been the G440.
PING G440
Angle of Assault -6.1, Dynamic Loft 19.9º, Membership Velocity 83.6 mph
Spin Charge 4956 rpm, Ball Velocity 121.7 mph, Carry 177.2 yds, Peak Peak 88.4 ft, Land Angle 44.5º
The ball stopped 10.8 yards after touchdown
PING i240
Angle of Assault -6.2, Dynamic Loft 21.3º, Membership Velocity 84.3 mph
Spin Charge 5637 rpm, Ball Velocity 118.1 mph, Carry 167.1 yds, Peak Peak 87.5 ft, Land Angle 45.7º
The ball stopped 9.8 yards after touchdown
PING Blueprint S
Angle of Assault -6.1, Dynamic Loft 21.7º, Membership Velocity 83.5 mph
Spin Charge 5710 rpm, Ball Velocity 117.3 mph, Carry 165.4 yds, Peak Peak 87.7 ft, Land Angle 45.9º
The ball stopped 8.3 yards after touchdown
What can we take away from this take a look at?
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Any attention-grabbing notice was that whereas the G440 had 4º much less loft I solely delivered the clubface with +/- 1.5º much less loft relative to the i240 and the Blueprint S. The peak top was just about similar with all three fashions.
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Modern-day “face-flex” (my time period) know-how makes the ball fly additional, with much less spin and whereas the stopping energy shall be decreased, the good points in distance for these in want far outweigh any unfavorable results.
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In my skilled opinion anyone who swings a 7 iron at 75 mph or quicker doesn’t want the gap assist a “face-flex” iron offers. You at the moment hit the ball far sufficient to sacrifice the distance good points for improved predictability and stopping energy.
And that’s the massive query: do you want extra consistency and improved potential to cease the ball as soon as it lands? Or is distance extra essential? Personally, I shall be switching to the brand new i240 iron (5-UW). I like the feel and appear of the clubhead and know that the slight bump in forgiveness from the Blueprint S mannequin will serve me nicely.
As you resolve which course to take earlier than buying your subsequent set of irons, please think about a number of the info I’ve shared right here. I hope this data helps you play your finest and expertise extra pleasure out on the golf course.
(Many due to Peter Egazarian and Farmington CC exterior Charlottesville, VA for permitting me to show and conduct my take a look at.)
