reasoning behind different loft progression

[sociojeje]

I'm just wondering about different ways of loft progression across different OEMS. 

 

I know the ball flight matters much more than the static loft angle. However, I'm just wondering. 

 

For example, all the irons I have been eyeing on (t100s, 223pro, zx7, king tour, and p770) have 5 iron at 25 degree (770 at 25.5 though). And their progression is the same until 8i. However, they diverge at 9i. For t100s and king tour, 9i and p are at 40 and 44. For 223pro, zx7, and p770, they are at 41 and 46. 

 

What is the idea behind the difference? I also wonder which progression you prefer and why. 

Edited March 19, 2023 by sociojeje

[Stuart_G]

On 3/18/2023 at 11:19 PM, sociojeje said:

I'm just wondering about different ways of loft progression across different OEMS. 

 

I know the ball flight matters much more than the static loft angle. However, I'm just wondering. 

 

For example, all the irons I have been eyeing on (t100s, 223pro, zx7, king tour, and p770) have 5 iron at 25 degree (770 at 25.5 though). And their progression is the same until 8i. However, they diverge at 9i. For t100s and king tour, 9i and p are at 40 and 44. For 223pro, zx7, and p770, they are at 41 and 46. 

 

What is the idea behind the difference?

 

Just different integration or syncing with different gap wedge lofts.

 

 

On 3/18/2023 at 11:19 PM, sociojeje said:

I also wonder which progression you prefer and why. 

 

Neither.   The more traditional 4* loft gaps have worked better for me with a PW at 45/46* for the best distance gap with my 50*.   But that's me.

 

It's really all about how to get your desired distance gaps within the set and with the number and lofts of the wedges you have or want below the PW.

 

Edited March 20, 2023 by Stuart_G

[nitram]

The "reasoning" is so they can claim "our club offers more distance". The driver mentality has overtaken the iron design. As Stuart said so well in the above post, it's ALL about the distance gaps, and how many and what lofts you want for wedges below PW. Wedging your ball is about accuracy and predictability, not a distance contest. Any of the newer sets and their respective loft progression is going to require you to add additional "wedges" to fill the gap between 40-44* and 60+.

Edited March 20, 2023 by nitram

[NRJyzr]

@nitram beat me to it.  😁

 

The more 5* gaps you have at the bottom, the easier to have 6 irons or 7 irons with a loft that starts with a 2.  

 

[ChipNRun]

Through odd chance, my last two primary iron sets and the irons in my backup bag all had 46* PWs. 

 

Today, MAX irons have a 43* PW. And, keeping my legacy MD wedges I ended up with 48-54-58 lofts at short end. Not pure - loft gaps are 5*, 6* and 4*. The SW has stayed at 54* because not sure 53* would get ball out of bunkers. That said, wedge matrix is pretty evenly spaced, except for off GW-SW gap of 12 yards on 3/4 swing. But, I know where gap is, so I can adjust.

 

In future, would probably hunt out irons with 45* or 46* PW. Higher-lofted PW means higher lofted 5i, which is still playable. All and all, I get better launch from GI irons with lighter shafts than from lower-lofted PD irons.

 

 

[iknowbagu]

Personally, I don't mind 5-6° gaps at the bottom. I find yardage gets a little condensed at 3-4° since you're usually not swinging those clubs full bore. 

[sociojeje]

Thank you everyone for your help! Since I've been playing with 46 51 56 61 wedges for a while, I am a bit allergic to change the loft of my pw (even without seeing how far it flies). While I don't mind change the lofts of the entire iron set by one or two, I am a bit worried to make changes to a couple of irons only (well I know I won't feel it but hope wrxers understand this idiosyncrasy). I tried all those irons i mentioned above and liked all (only 6 or 7 iron though). But just because of the lofts of 9i and pw, I was inclined to zx7, 223 pro, and p770. Perhaps, I don't need to worry about the lofts of 9i and pw and try those irons again! 

[The bearded shanker]

Sync but when you get into the MB versions or players versions of alot of clubs I find that the oems would fit more people into "wedge" specific lofts anyways so the top end doesnt matter as much.

[JCAG]

On 3/20/2023 at 8:17 AM, nitram said:

The "reasoning" is so they can claim "our club offers more distance". The driver mentality has overtaken the iron design. As Stuart said so well in the above post, it's ALL about the distance gaps, and how many and what lofts you want for wedges below PW. Wedging your ball is about accuracy and predictability, not a distance contest. Any of the newer sets and their respective loft progression is going to require you to add additional "wedges" to fill the gap between 40-44* and 60+.

Wedging your ball is about accuracy and predictability, not a distance contest. Any of the newer sets and their respective loft progression is going to require you to add additional "wedges" to fill the gap between 40-44* and 60+.

 

Good advice.