Iron characteristics for windy play

[ChaosTheory]

Which is a better choice for playing in a windy region, higher spinning irons or lower spinning irons?  How about if the choices are higher spin with lower trajectory versus lower spin with higher trajectory?  Spin and flight characteristics in question would be of a smaller solid head versus a hollow distance type head.  I’m not asking about swing technique.

 

Which will be longer into the wind?

Which will be more predictable/ useful downwind?

Better at holding the line in crosswinds?

 

 I’m assuming high spin with high trajectory might be the worst situation.
 

 

[MountainKing]

Low spin irons is the wrong answer.  Serves no purpose to have something that cuts through wind but can't hold a green.   Low spin can also be a mess downwind, you can get knuckle shots that fall out of the sky.  

 

The answer is the one you don't want,  learn to play the shots required for the conditions. 

[Mitchell]

Highly dependent upon delivery of clubhead by player and influence upon spin loft and dynamic loft. Personally have found that choice of golf ball for stability in wind is a very important and effective means of controlling a number of factors, provided relatively consistent strike pattern.

[RobS]

I would always choose the higher spin option.  It will perform better down wind and better hold its line on all conditions.  In to the wind, it may be shorter but you can counter that by taking less loft and taking some speed off the shot.  Most players will find it much easier to take spin off than to add spin.

[Fairways_and_Greens]

In wind I’d say

1: club selection and strategy

2: technique

3: ball

4: iron

 

you take spin off by clubing down. Unless you totally change your release/club face, flighted down shots can spin more. Balls like Bridgestone and Srixon do way better in wind than Titleist in my experience.

 

TXG has a great wind video. 

[ChaosTheory]

It occurred to me to plug some numbers into the Flightscope optimizer.  I used some average 7 iron numbers for average, non-WRX players.  I set it for my weather locally, 48F with 19 MPH wind. 

 

Standard iron:  104 BS, 19 deg LA, 6000 spin.  (this is somewhat based on real data at 75MPH.)

Hot iron: 104 BS, 22 LA, 5000 spin.  (this is a guess based on a lot of reading and YT reviews.)

Hotter iron: 107 BS, 22 LA, 5000 spin.  (ditto.)

 

Results:

Calm:  Std 137 carry, 76' high

Hot 141, 86'

Hotter 146, 91'

(these all seem very close to what I see. Remember it's 48 degrees F.)

 

Downwind:

Std 151, 60'

Hot 156, 71'

Hotter 163, 76'

 

Into wind:

Std 111, 92'

Hot 113, 102'

Hotter 117, 107'

 

Straight across:

Std 22.4 yds offline

Hot 23.1

Hotter 24.4

 

Wind into from 10:30:

Std 18.8 yds offline, 87' high

Hot 19.1, 97'

Hotter 20.0, 103'

I added that one to test the thought of "but the ball flies so high on the distance irons, that will be a killer into the wind and across!"

 

Recap of distances:

Std 111, 137, 151  (39 yd spread)

Hot 113, 141, 156  (43)

Hotter 117, 146, 163 (46)

 

It looks like the lower launch, higher spin is more accurate.    Whether the differences are significant, probably depends on player expectations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ChaosTheory]

I appreciate the thoughts on technique, strategy, balls, etc.  But even then, there still is a choice to be made about irons for windy play.  I'm trying to focus on that.   🙂

[scheff13]

3 hours ago, MountainKing said:

Low spin irons is the wrong answer.  Serves no purpose to have something that cuts through wind but can't hold a green.   Low spin can also be a mess downwind, you can get knuckle shots that fall out of the sky.  

 

The answer is the one you don't want,  learn to play the shots required for the conditions. 

Agree with this. I play the 716 TMB's. Into the wind they're great. Down wind they can goshort of normal yardage. I went to Mizuno 221's in 7-9 and put in a 46* vokey. 

[Lasorcier]

In windy conditions, I tend to compact my swing somewhat, move the ball further back in my stance, and not kill it, resulting in punchier shots with low trajectory and high spin that hold greens.  Slight draw tendency which cuts wind whereas fades seem to get punished distance wise, at least for me.

[Lasorcier]

Oh forgot to stay on topic.  As far as irons, I want something low launching in wind, so more blades.  GI clubs seem like they are designed to elevate the ball more (not scientific - that has just been my practical experience).  So I would go bladier.  0311ST are excellent in wind.  0311T as well.  i500, G400 etc were way higher for me when I had them.

[b.mattay]

I think in general it really depends on the amount of wind. Low to moderate amounts of wind (say 20-25 mph or less), I'll take the spin and manipulate shots. For those 30, 40, 50 mph days, I could see lower spin being beneficial. On those days I pray I hit every tee shot 6 inches into the rough so approach shots get easier 🤣

[Fairways_and_Greens]

1 hour ago, Snowman9000 said:

It occurred to me to plug some numbers into the Flightscope optimizer.  I used some average 7 iron numbers for average, non-WRX players.  I set it for my weather locally, 48F with 19 MPH wind. 

 

Standard iron:  104 BS, 19 deg LA, 6000 spin.  (this is somewhat based on real data at 75MPH.)

Hot iron: 104 BS, 22 LA, 5000 spin.  (this is a guess based on a lot of reading and YT reviews.)

Hotter iron: 107 BS, 22 LA, 5000 spin.  (ditto.)

 

Results:

Calm:  Std 137 carry, 76' high

Hot 141, 86'

Hotter 146, 91'

(these all seem very close to what I see. Remember it's 48 degrees F.)

 

Downwind:

Std 151, 60'

Hot 156, 71'

Hotter 163, 76'

 

Into wind:

Std 111, 92'

Hot 113, 102'

Hotter 117, 107'

 

Straight across:

Std 22.4 yds offline

Hot 23.1

Hotter 24.4

 

Wind into from 10:30:

Std 18.8 yds offline, 87' high

Hot 19.1, 97'

Hotter 20.0, 103'

I added that one to test the thought of "but the ball flies so high on the distance irons, that will be a killer into the wind and across!"

 

Recap of distances:

Std 111, 137, 151  (39 yd spread)

Hot 113, 141, 156  (43)

Hotter 117, 146, 163 (46)

 

It looks like the lower launch, higher spin is more accurate.    Whether the differences are significant, probably depends on player expectations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is helpful, but I think the optimizer is a little off because in real life the wind typically gets faster as you go up. I think higher shots are punished even more. The rule of thumb is wind hurts 3-4 times more than it helps. 

[MountainKing]

2 hours ago, Snowman9000 said:

I appreciate the thoughts on technique, strategy, balls, etc.  But even then, there still is a choice to be made about irons for windy play.  I'm trying to focus on that.   🙂

 

To each their own, but I think generally most people want to get fit into a set of irons based on their swing/game, and then use technique to adjust to mother nature.  What happens when you end up playing on a calm dry day?  You'd be adjusting for a 7 iron that's now rolling out 30 yards. 

[Jamie_Tee]

There is never going to be a definitive answer here.  Anything gained into wind will cost you downwind and visa versa.  What issues do you currently find you have playing on windy days?

 

I've never seen a pro change irons before going to a windy links location.  They'll swap out hybrids for long irons.  

 

Changing ball might be more beneficial depending on what you play.

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, Snowman9000 said:

It occurred to me to plug some numbers into the Flightscope optimizer.  I used some average 7 iron numbers for average, non-WRX players.  I set it for my weather locally, 48F with 19 MPH wind. 

 

Standard iron:  104 BS, 19 deg LA, 6000 spin.  (this is somewhat based on real data at 75MPH.)

Hot iron: 104 BS, 22 LA, 5000 spin.  (this is a guess based on a lot of reading and YT reviews.)

Hotter iron: 107 BS, 22 LA, 5000 spin.  (ditto.)

 

Results:

Calm:  Std 137 carry, 76' high

Hot 141, 86'

Hotter 146, 91'

(these all seem very close to what I see. Remember it's 48 degrees F.)

 

Downwind:

Std 151, 60'

Hot 156, 71'

Hotter 163, 76'

 

Into wind:

Std 111, 92'

Hot 113, 102'

Hotter 117, 107'

 

Straight across:

Std 22.4 yds offline

Hot 23.1

Hotter 24.4

 

Wind into from 10:30:

Std 18.8 yds offline, 87' high

Hot 19.1, 97'

Hotter 20.0, 103'

I added that one to test the thought of "but the ball flies so high on the distance irons, that will be a killer into the wind and across!"

 

Recap of distances:

Std 111, 137, 151  (39 yd spread)

Hot 113, 141, 156  (43)

Hotter 117, 146, 163 (46)

 

It looks like the lower launch, higher spin is more accurate.    Whether the differences are significant, probably depends on player expectations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do you assume that average swingspeed players are not wrx golfers?? I just use technique to lower spin and height. Or is that just reserved for above average swingspeed players that are wrx golfers?

Edited December 3, 2022 by hammergolf