In our previous article we looked at the wear and tear you can find on a driver. Today, we are going to take a look at the irons, especially the wedges. Approach play in golf is very important and if there is an issue with your golf clubs, your approach game is always going to suffer.
The first thing you need to look at when judging if your irons have worn is the grooves. This is especially true for the shorter irons, such as the 9 iron and pitching wedge for example. These clubs need to produce loft and height on the ball to stop it on the green.
If you find the usual quality of your approach shots has started to diminish and you have not changed anything in terms of the balls you are using or technique, it is time to check the grooves of the club.
If you are an experienced golfer, you may be hitting the ball in the same spot on the face of the club regularly and this can cause wear in that area. If you are unsure about how the grooves should look, try comparing the club to an iron you do not use very often to see the difference.
If the grooves are worn you could use a groove sharpening tool to repair them but should do so with caution. These are not illegal but you cannot use them to change the shape of the groves, only bring them back to what they were originally.
However, some groove sharpening tools are very sharp and they must be used with caution. If you are unsure about what you are doing, it is best to ask someone at your local golf club who has experience and can do it for you without damaging your club.
Much the same as the driver, irons can bend, especially when being used on golf range mats. The more you use your irons, the more the shaft will bend and this can eventually change the loft of the club.
The loft of irons can increase with use and this can lead to your shots becoming higher and reduced in distance. If you find the ball has started to come up short on your approach shots, it could be due to increased loft on the club and this is worth checking. Get in touch with a custom fitter who will be able to look at the club and give you some advice and if required, change the loft.
Finally, check the quality of the grip on your irons. There are many reasons by the club could twist in your hands but always check the grip on your irons for wear as they can easily be replaced.
Recent Comments