Why the wrong iron sole can hurt your scores

When golfers think of bounce, they usually think of wedges. But the same principles that influence shot location, launch, and turf interaction with a 56-degree wedge apply to your 6 iron as well.

A typical wedge fitting looks at a player’s angle of attack (AoA) and divot pattern. While I am aware of a client’s general playing conditions, my primary focus is to get the shot closer to where you want it.

More bounce will move the stroke along the blade, producing lower launch shots. Conversely, there will be less bounce higher on the blade, creating higher launch shots. How someone delivers a wedge will influence the bounce they will select.

The purpose of this article is to illustrate that sole width and bounce in irons should be considered in fitting with the same level of attention as wedges.

When a player needs less spring in his irons

I’ll start with the most common example I see. Customer A is a good golfer. He delivers his 6 iron very shallow and produces a left spin axis on his good shots.

This customer plays with a set of irons with a thick sole and a 6-iron loft of 26 degrees. He wonders why even his best iron shots have a very shallow land angle and lower-than-optimal spin.

This player has a set of irons with a high bounce, where the loft on the part of the clubface he regularly hits is perhaps 23 degrees. Customer A, who is a shallow swinger and pulls the ball, bounces the club in many shots, presenting the lower portion of the head, resulting in unwanted low-iron shots.

One of the first things I want to try with this client is an iron club head with less spring and more loft. Remember from the opening paragraph that less bounce moves the shot toward the blade, creating higher launch shots. Client A could use an iron set that strikes more upwardly in the center of the face. Combined with a higher lofted set, he should see softer iron shots in no time.

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While being mindful of the bounce of your irons is more of an immediate concern for the better player, it should not be disregarded as a factor in forgiveness for players who are either less skilled or who deliver the golf club rather steeply.

When a player needs more spring in his irons

I see my second example every week in my role as Master Fitter at True Spec Golf. Customer B has been playing for a few years, but has never had formal golf lessons. He came to the game after playing another sport extensively. Some of the habits from his previous venture die hard in his golf swing.

Customer B delivers his 6 iron in a way that produces a low fade under the best conditions. He uses a set of golf clubs that his friend recommended to him when he started. The irons are a beautiful set of muscle spines that can get stuck in the grass on the best ball strikers.

With his steep throw, Client B has little hope of hitting a shot that reflects the speed of his clubhead. Client B has good clubhead speed, but the high hits on the blade rob him of significant distance, and worse, control.

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After discussing the effect that club bounce can have on an impact location, we begin testing with stronger loft sets that provide more bounce. Clearing his contact we witnessed huge ball speed gains and many more penetrating flights. This customer will enjoy more forgiveness by selecting an iron set with the right amount of bounce for his golf swing.

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With over 70,000 club head and shaft combinations, True Spec Golf custom fits and builds a precise set of clubs.

I recognize that there are many factors that influence strike location on the face. Some could be swing, some could be club related. Understanding the role of bounce at the impact location is an element to consider when selecting your next set of irons.