U.S. Women’s Open: What You Can Learn From an LPGA Player’s Bag
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U.S. Women’s Open: What You Can Learn From an LPGA Player’s Bag

U.S. Women’s Open: What You Can Learn From an LPGA Player’s Bag

As LPGA Tour players compete this week in the last major of 2020 at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, don’t be surprised to see many of them pull out hybrids and cavityback irons from their bags. This is true for the longest hitters as well as the most accurate players. Why? Because these clubs are more forgiving than long irons and blades.

And, truth be told, the average male golfer would benefit from a bag makeup that’s more like an LPGA player’s.

Before you argue, let’s look at the facts.

Average Joes versus The Best Women in the World

The average male golfer swings his driver at 93.4 mph. The average LPGA player has a driver swing speed of 94 mph. So, unless you’re swinging at 114 mph like the elite men, put away that extra-stiff driver in favor of a more flexible shaft.

But for most men, the fascination of what is in a pro’s bag centers around PGA TOUR players. With rare exception, the victims of this misguided focus are male amateur golfers.

You Sure You’ve Got that Shot in Your Bag?

During my pro playing days, I saw too many men in pro-ams pull out blade irons and try to hit that 2-iron stinger like Tiger Woods. I couldn’t help but appreciate the gumption and self-belief they had to even attempt to pull off such a feat. However, when the ball left the clubface, oftentimes resulting in a hook, chunk or cold top, there was a part of me that wanted to reach out and grab these 15 handicappers by the shoulders and say, “You don’t need a set like Dustin Johnson to enjoy the game! In fact, you’d enjoy the game more with a set built like mine!”

There are four things golfers, especially male golfers, should learn from an LPGA player’s bag:

  1. Most play cavityback irons.
  2. Most replace long irons with hybrids.
  3. Most play more flexible (i.e. softer) shafts.
  4. Most don’t carry wedges with more than 60 degrees of loft.

Let’s take a peek inside the bags of some top players who will be competing in the U.S. Open this week.

You should take some notes.

U.S. Women's Open
Photo Credit: Justin Falconer

Brooke Henderson

World Ranking: 6
2020 Money Ranking: 9
Avg. Driving Distance: 266.81 yards
Avg. Greens in Regulation: 77.40%
Scoring Avg: 69.21

What’s in her bag:

Photo Credit: Keith Allison

Nelly Korda

World Ranking: 3
2020 Money Ranking: 11
Avg. Driving Distance: 272.61 yards
Avg. Greens in Regulation: 72.86%
Scoring Avg: 70.09

What’s in Her Bag:

Photo Credit: Wojciech Migda

Danielle Kang

World Ranking: 4
2020 Money Ranking: 3
Avg. Driving Distance: 258.15 yards
Avg. Greens in Regulation: 74.03%
Scoring Avg: 69.59

What’s in Her Bag:

The makeup of these sets isn’t especially remarkable beyond the fact that each decision is driven by the desire for success.  And keep in mind, all of these examples are from a player with a clubhead speed above the LPGA average.

  • Brooke Henderson: 100 mph
  • Nelly Korda: 102 mph
  • Danielle Kang: 98 mph

If cavitybacks, more flexible shafts and hybrids are getting the job done for the best women golfers in the world, why do so many average (male) golfers believe they’re better served by small-headed unforgiving irons and shafts far stiffer than they should be?

So put away your ego, along with that extra-stiff driver, those brutal blades and that 2-iron that doesn’t love you back. Trade them in for clubs that will help you become better than average.

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Anya Alvarez

Anya Alvarez

Anya Alvarez

Anya Alvarez is former LPGA golfer turned sportswriter and producer for outlets such as ESPN and CBS Sports. In an effort to grow the game, Anya hopes to shine a light on how the golf industry can attract more women to the game.

Anya Alvarez

Anya Alvarez

Anya Alvarez

Anya Alvarez

Anya Alvarez

Anya Alvarez





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    Join The Discussion

      Stefan

      3 years ago

      I carry my driver 270 yards but used to miss 6 fairways a round, I have a PG400 Driver and adjusted the loft from 9.5 to 12 degrees. at the beginning of the season. The loss of distance is marginal but I now only miss 2 fairways a round, which does wonders to my scorecard and confidence,

      Reply

      Stefan

      3 years ago

      I meant carry plus roll = 270 yards

      Reply

      Kerry DelVecchio

      3 years ago

      Love watching the women. Wish they were on more. The women are amazing with their hybrids. I can relate to their game so much more than the tour men.

      Reply

      PuffyC

      3 years ago

      My big takeaway is that Titleist must love the trend of loft jacking because it means they’re selling 4 times as many wedges as they were 15 years ago.

      Reply

      RC

      3 years ago

      My first thought was why does Nellie adjust her loft so high with her driver and 3 wood? Overall, as a 6’1” 240 pound male, who plays to an 8 handicap, I always thought that I learned more from watching women’s golf, because I’m closer to them in regards to swing speed. The highest iron I carry is a 7, and I round out my set with hybrids and fairway woods. I was fitted to a stiff shaft with higher (10.5) loft. Hybrids and cavity backs make the game much more enjoyable for me, and I still score pretty well (thanks to a great 52 Vokey wedge and a trusty Scottie.) I also find the LPGA just as fun to watch as the PGA, and some of the swings you see on the LPGA are beautiful and something that any man would do well to try to emulate.

      Reply

      Bill

      3 years ago

      I replaced my old set of irons this year. It was 5-P with 2 hybrids. I’m not sure how to use them yet – didn’t get out as much as I would have like this summer. With my older set I didn’t carry the 4 (hit the 5 just as long and with better control). I saved the 3 for bump and run style shots from under tree branches and so forth. From the fairway it was no better than my 5 wood for distance.

      So hybrids for the longer irons makes sense.

      Reply

      Daryl

      3 years ago

      Glad to see MGS adding a woman to the writing staff!!! Great article.

      Reply

      Coach Bob

      3 years ago

      Great article and something all of us guys can learn from.

      Reply

      scott

      3 years ago

      I’m 63 my bag setup is similar to the lady pro’s . The mix of fairway woods 5- 7-9 hybrids and wedges 50-54-58 . It works great for me but slower swing speeds should put a 9 wood in their bag for long par 4s and 3 par 3s.

      Reply

      Robert E

      3 years ago

      Great article, makes a lot of since . Makes me feel a lot better about my bag. I would like to know the reason behind such high loft in Nellys driver with her speed. I would like to see this done with the senior tour bags.

      Reply

      WBN

      3 years ago

      Good article on the women. They should get more TV coverage. I have always liked to watch them because as you said, their game is much closer to ours than the men’s game. We only hit it 280+ in our minds. Egos hold back many amateur players. I have switched to more flexible shafts and a more game improvement iron set. Trying to play what the pros play doesn’t help me win anything.

      Reply

      Leigh

      3 years ago

      M2 regular shaft 10.5 deg, M2 3HL fairway, a weird 4 iron/hybrid thing, M2 5-PW, Renegar 48, 52, 56 & 60 wedges
      Swingspeed similar to the girls I think.
      . I fight a slice all the time and am incosistent and somewhere between 18 and 21 handicap but hit the ball better than that half the time :-(

      Reply

      SL

      3 years ago

      Great article, great point, and I agree 100%.
      I’ve got 3-5 hybrids, cavity back “game improvement” iron set 6-PW + Gap, and 54/58 degree wedges. All flexible graphite shafts.

      Reply

      NCDuffer

      3 years ago

      I now feel better about my 16 degree “3 wood” and 21 degree 7 wood, 4 hybrid, my old Ping Gmax irons and CBX2 wedge. The Ping G400 Max driver may never leave the bag. But I do need to suck up my pride and ditch the 5 iron.

      Reply

      WillieT

      3 years ago

      Great article on using sensibility in golf. I am a high handicapper and I know that I can learn more from the LPGA’s play than the PGA. What I like about the article is that is says for most to consider what’s in the bag of the average LGPA player. When Golf Digest highlights a LPGA pro, I tend to pay more attention to their bag than the average pro. I need to be fit for clubs and need to get fit…I play a 20+ handicap and that is okay. I love hearing the claims of the manufacturers proclaiming the benefits of their latest technologies…not buying…..

      Reply

      Revkev

      3 years ago

      I agree with the authors premise but like others would have preferred to see her choose the bags of players in the 95 mph range rather than top players who are longer off the tee.

      A statistical comparison I would truly love to see is the average LPGA player verses a scratch male golfer. I think guys would be stunned at how well the LPGA player would do.

      I’m a member at a club that used to be home to an upper 1/3 player. She was a plus 3 playing from the tips at our course, 7,300 yards long.

      I remember watching the women at black wolf run when I lived in Wisconsin. Their course management and execution was impeccable.

      I’d love to see more, much more about that. They don’t get the props that they deserve.

      Reply

      Erock

      3 years ago

      If you go on Pings site they list all their pros and their bag setups. Love some of them play down to a 6h.

      Reply

      Michael J. Little

      3 years ago

      I am a 73 year old male with a slow swing speed, 13 handicap, and 3 back surgeries. I have 3, 4, 5, and 6 hybrids in the bag. Plan to go to all hybrids this spring after the Covid 19 vaccinations.
      By the way isn’t it time for a woman as one of your TV personalities other than the terrific woman moderator? Man up and get a WPGA woman!

      Reply

      Ronald

      3 years ago

      OMG are you ever preaching to the choir here madam! I have been an advocate and proponent for just such for the longest time! This weekend wraps up the CME, the level of play and quality of game is on par with anything the most hopeful golfer could ascertain.

      Reply

      James

      3 years ago

      Excellent article! I’m at a point (61 years old, 104 swing speed) where I’m thinking about getting rid of 4I in favor of another hybrid. Using stiff shafts and 120 grams stiff irons on my ping I500 irons. . My iron play has dropped off significantly the past year most likely my swing, but wondering if shafts too heavy…..

      Reply

      mark

      3 years ago

      I got fitted a few years ago for a set of Mizuno jpx 900 Hot Metal irons. I had a set of KBS Tour 90 regular shafts put in. I had them built when I was 58, I’ve swung heavier shafts and don’t like the feel/weight.. As we get older (amatuer golfers), we become less flexible and our swing speed gets a little slower. Find a shaft that feels good (weight and control), going down 25-30 grams in shaft weight, will affect your swing, and it’ll take time, maybe 1/2 a season to get used to them. At our age our strength, swing speed and flexibility will change every year. In a few years I’ll be looking at graphite shafts that weight around 70 grams.

      Reply

      SteveD

      3 years ago

      It’s uncanny, I was just telling my regular golf buddies only last week that I like to watch the LPGA because they play a very similar game to me and how I can relate to what they’re doing, not so with the PGA players. Ditto with the LPGA WITB. I am 68 years of age and have a 1.9 handicap. I hit my 7-iron 155 yds and my driver carries 250-ish yds. But another good reason for watching the ladies is that their swing speeds are slow enough to be able to actually see what they are doing and that helps me no end. If my swing is a bit off I can watch the likes of Amy Olsen, JY Ko and SY Kim and absorb the finer points like the transition at the top of the backswing, clearing the hips and extending down through the line to the target etc. etc. I see their techniques and can absorb them just by watching, I get so much more from them. When I watch Justin Thomas or Rory Macilroy in real time it is just a blur. I love to see them and I marvel at their athleticism, but I don’t learn anything useful to me. Let’s face it, although I am still a fit and active 68 year old, I’ll never be able to emulate their swings. However, I can and do swing very similar to most of the ladies on the LPGA tour, my putting is not what it was so they would have me in that department.

      Reply

      mackdaddy9

      3 years ago

      I love to watch the ladies play. They hit yardages like
      i hit. Let’s be honest they are some great looking women.

      That said just spend the cash and get fit for your clubs like every pro on any tour!

      Reply

      Bill

      3 years ago

      Great article Anya. And yes, absolutely. As much as our egos have trouble admitting, the vast majority of men over 50 in age should be paying close attention to LPGA player bags. I think most realize this but have a difficult time accepting the cold hard facts. But we can take a little solace in knowing the vast majority of the gals are 30+ years younger.

      Reply

      KMo

      3 years ago

      What is the average age of the “average male golfer” used for this data and what is the average age of the “average lpga tour player?” When you’re looking at averages they’re going to be skewed because of this.. You should have probably said “the average male golfers over 55 or 60” should be looking at LPGA Players bags.

      Reply

      Mark L.

      3 years ago

      Age is irrelevant, it is all about swing speed. If your swing speed is greater than 100mph, then you can emulate the guys on tour; else, maybe you should pay more attention to the women.

      Reply

      Parker

      3 years ago

      What type golf balls do they use?

      Reply

      Kevin Meeks

      9 months ago

      Most use the ProV1x or ProV1. A few use Srixon, Calaway, TsylorMade premium offerings.

      Reply

      ed

      3 years ago

      This is a fantastic thread. As others have said, I enjoy watching the LPGA because it’s a game I can relate to. They have swing speeds comparable to male amateurs which makes what they do relatable. Yeah, watching PGA guys nuke 160 yard wedges is sorta impressive, but it’s like watching NBA players and trying to figure out how their game carries over to our Sunday night pick-up games.

      Reply

      Ed

      3 years ago

      I’d also add that it’s telling that a golf pro who has access to the best fitters and unlimited equipment who is talking about her experience AS A PROFESSIONAL in the sport, is getting ‘well actually”d by male amatuer golfers.

      The male ego is predictable. Every golf instructor and fitter would tell you the biggest hurdle is getting people to open up to their expertise.

      Reply

      Bradford

      3 years ago

      My bag already IS like theirs. The real questionable decision this for me is Kordas driver loft. Now I know her swing mechanics would dictate that based on her dynamic loft at impact but thats a wild loft to have at driver if you’re the fastest player of these 3. Kang is playing 8.5 which i also wouldn’t suggest for the average male golfer.

      Reply

      Bob Kendall

      3 years ago

      AS a long time (17 years) but now retired Custom Fitter, I’ve been saying this for years. Most men SHOULD be watching the LPGA players for equipment recommendations. Sure there are elite players, the young and those with excellent swing mechanics who generate enough ball speed to use “S” or “X”shafts. They represent less than 10% of male players in my experience, having done literally more than 1,000 fittings since 2003.

      Reply

      Franz

      3 years ago

      May I disagree with most of the comments here? I am a bit longer than these ladies (or the trackman LPGA average). My numbers are not much larger but they are in metres when they are in yards. Most guys I play with are also in the same ball park as me (like 240, 250 metres carry for the driver). Should we look at the LPGA numbers after we get fitted in PX6.0 or PX6.5 for our shafts? Should I look at the bag of a lady who plays a “4 hybrid” with more loft than my 3 iron and carries it shorter than I do my 5 iron? Why? Because sexism? Sure, these girls are waaaaay better than me (I’m off 8, and they would be off +3 or better on the courses I play), their proximity to the flag from 150 in is certainly miles better than mine, so is their putting (my weakest point). That’s another point. But gear wise, I’d say about 50% of male players younger than 65 shouldn’t even look at the LPGA bags, least they do as bad a mistake as when they look at the top PGA players’ bags.

      Reply

      Dan

      3 years ago

      245 meters is 268 yards. If you’re carrying the ball 268 yards with driver, that puts your swing speed around 110-115 mph. So this doesn’t apply to you. This article is for the guys who THINK they swing 110 mph, but actually swing 90-95.

      And then you say 50% of male players under 65 shouldn’t look at what the women are playing. I think you’re spectacularly overestimating how fast. men swing (which is really the point of the whole article), but I’ll give you the 50%. That still leaves 50% who could learn something from this.

      Reply

      osullis

      3 years ago

      Fred couples used a ladies driver, shaft included, as a threewood for many years. He used it when he played in the Presidents cup in the Ryder Cup.

      Reply

      Jim Shaw

      3 years ago

      I sooo agree with this, I am a competitive senior golfer at a provincial level in Canada. , now that I have retired I can focus on my game. I have the same swing speed as Daniel Kang, 98 mph, and hit it about the same distance, lets use all the tools we have at our disposal and get fit for the clubs that work for us not against us.

      Reply

      Brad

      3 years ago

      What is the avg length of the courses played on the LPGA…..add in the avg male golfer is playing from the wrong tees

      Reply

      Mark L.

      3 years ago

      I recently saw where the typical length for an LPGA tourney is between 6100 and 6500 yards.

      Reply

      Rob

      3 years ago

      Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei CK Pro Blue 60 TX shaft for a 102 mph swing speed is stout. At that speed, that shaft is barely flexing. Maybe she was trying to take the left side out of play because it would be hard to turn over.

      Reply

      JasonA

      3 years ago

      I agree the sentiment (yes, been tracking my numbers against LPGA trackman numbers for years), but:

      “put away that extra-stiff driver” ….
      2 out of the 3 players bags shown : extra-stiff driver

      What can we learn from that? Article more about gender and hackneyed single idea than insightful attention to the facts.

      Reply

      Marq

      3 years ago

      Everyone know who shaft flexes are not consistent brand to brand. I’m a regular flex w/ driver, 85 mphi, yet I recently tested (& hit well) an extra stiff shaft of a different brand. Maybe they’re going for more control of the tea, and maybe that’s why LPGA pros hit a much higher percentage of fairways than the guys do

      Reply

      Jeff

      3 years ago

      The reason the LPGA hit more fairways is because they hit the ball significantly shorter. The best Pga player currently has an 80 percent fairway hit percentage compared to the lpga. Leader at 84 percent but the distance difference between those two golfers is 40:yards on average. I would bet using mygolfspys total accuracy formula they use during driver tests that most of the pga players are probably more accurate and rank significantly higher in strokes gained off the tee due to the distance advantage off the tee. I watched Inbee Park play at my home club at the ANA and she carried the ball about 200 yards with about 220 yards total on most drives and took 2nd place losing in a playoff whereas Bryson hit the ball. around 340 yard average with a couple 370-380 yard drives to win the US open. Currently only 4% fairways hit between the men and women which is 0..72 fairways per round now Just imagine if you added 50-70 yards. To every LPGA players drive and see what happens to their accuracy numbers.

      JASONA

      3 years ago

      Marq, indeed If article were making a analytical point about LPGA pros and
      * use flex to eliminate a miss
      * how weight vs. flex interact through their bag
      * why pro’s say sometimes non-extreme swings should use X-flex
      that would be a real contribution to thinking about golf gear. What insight can the author bring? I think it’s fair criticism to say article is shallow and not even particularly accurate.

      I think Jeff is correct on skills / accuracy analysis.

      Mark L.

      3 years ago

      You think the article is shallow and inaccurate? What about the responses? Let’s take a look at Jeff’s post where he compared the #1 in driver distance on the men’s tour to the #127th in distance on the women’s tour! And this proves what?

      Anyway, the article isn’t about comparing the LPGA to the PGA, it is about comparing the LPGA to the average male golfer. And then you ask “what insight can the author bring?” Gee, let’s think about it. Here is someone who was a LPGA player and probably plays with a lot of “average” guys. Quite frankly, her advice is probably better for most guys than Bryson’s would be!

      Reply

      JasonA

      3 years ago

      I would hope that an article has more insight and facts than the comments, but in this case it is other way around..

      Point about accuracy is purely mathematical. Degrees offline (this is key accuracy number) over distance (important for strokes gained) becomes the distance offline (longer at same angle = further offline but same skill level ) I would hope that skills wise could compare pro golfers regardless of gender.

      Comparing Pro female golfers to male amateurs on a skills basis I think underestimates their abilities

      Mark L.

      3 years ago

      For JasonA,
      I think you got it backwards. The article is not about comparing LPGA players to the average male golfer, it is about whether it is better to compare the average male golfer to an LPGA player rather than to a PGA player.

      Garth

      3 years ago

      I’ve tried my fair share of hybrids over the years, and I am just not comfortable with them, due to the face of the club looking so closed at address. I’m about a 4 handicap, and all of my playing partners are sporting stiff flex or stiffer flex shafts, and when they see me playing regular flex they ask why, and I simply tell them that I can’t hit stiff flex shafts. In fact, I’ve tried stiff flex in both my driver and my irons and my dispersion and miss hits skyrocket with this flex in the shaft. I’m averaging 11-12 fairways hit per round and my PING G series irons, which are super game improvement irons suit me just fine. But it never ends with everyone I play with. Not a month goes by when someone doesn’t show up on the first tee with the latest and greatest, and the first thing everyone does is look at them and go, “look how pretty they are.” I just shake my head, because I honestly don’t care what they look like just as long as they get the job done. I recently put several of my 1979 Ping Eye irons into my bag, and am actually hitting those better than anything they’ve come out with recently. The only reason I don’t have all my Ping Eye irons in the bag is because the grooves are so worn, and the faces are kinda dead, as I’ve lost distance with some of them. But the feel of these older irons is like nothing compared to the latest and greatest, which I am thoroughly convinced is nothing but a bunch of marketing BS.

      Reply

      Mike

      3 years ago

      Who cares what clubs or shafts you have. As a four index, you should be darn proud of that. I have the crappiest head cover on brand new driver simply because I like the way they protects the club.

      Reply

      TheDokes

      3 years ago

      I keep crappy headcovers on too.
      Nobody thinks about stealing a club with a crappy headcover.

      Randy

      3 years ago

      Right on, Accuracy / dispersion /consistency of gaping is key why Ping Eye 2 replicas (TNT) are what I use from 1985.

      LPGA golfers (lower middle rank and under are what most guys are for distance, not for skill they are way better.

      PGA pros clubs are meaningless to 95% of male golfers.

      Reply

      Weekend Hacker

      3 years ago

      If I was playing for a living, I’d definitely play what gives me the best results on the score card. But as I don’t, I just play whatever I enjoy the most. It might be the club that I score the best but it could also be the club that looks/sounds/feels the best. Everyone should be allowed to play golf just the way they like to.

      Reply

      JasonA

      3 years ago

      So true. My fitted forged Mizuno iron’s (cavity back, sure) communicate about strike, but tried super game improvement shovels that provided no information, and I could not play them for enjoyment.

      I’ll enjoy a round if having good ball striking, even if my overall scoring on that day is not good.

      Reply

      Glenn

      3 years ago

      Agree with most of this article, only issues are these pros get fit for every single club in the bag separately. And just the shaft alone in D. Kang’s driver cost more then most ametures want to spend on a complete driver.

      Reply

      Dennis Beach

      3 years ago

      This article hits the nail squarely on the head! I watch the women play, because of just that very reason, their play on the course is more closely matched to a male amateur, with the distances. I have recently sold my conventional irons(Caly X-20’s), and went all in in a full hybrid set. I AM NOT SORRY I DID THIS! I play much better with all hybrids, and I don’t have to kill the ball to get where I want to be on the course. Also, us folks with lower swing speeds like our shafts just a little heavier. Tend to get to fast if they are too light, and I don’t know where the club is at in my swing. And not to forget mentioning, as you get heavier in the shaft, it gets a little “firmer”. Getting a club/shaft fitting is a good thing if you don’t know where you fit in. I like a heavier shaft in my driver, so I don’t get too quick, especially on the downswing, as I will start spraying the ball all over the course. I have a high handicap, but looking forward to next season with my new set!

      Reply

      Frank Capone

      3 years ago

      The great Bob Toski made this very argument decades ago.

      Reply

      Tim D.

      3 years ago

      Great article! Now 60 with a 95mph clubhead speed I can relate. Used to carry a 1-iron “back in the day” in my Wilson Staff blade set. Too old to care what other people think now–heck, I even have cavity back wedges, the CBX2’s from Cleveland and they are oh so sweet!

      Reply

      Mike

      3 years ago

      Great article, you hit it right on the head!!!
      Many guys have this ego thing that most women don’t.. I love watching the LPGA because, as mentioned in other posts, the clubs they hit at certain yardages are usually only a club or two weaker than what I would hit. Forget that 150 yard pitching wedge stuff on the PGA tour, that’s beyond my wildest imagination! The other thing I noticed in the article was that for the players mentioned, none were using the latest / greatest this year’s model clubs. And many could get them free. You find something that works for you, you stick with it.

      One of the most useful articles I’ve read on MGS in a long time. Not that the others aren’t good, but this one should be gospel for any double-digit & up handicapper

      Reply

      Johnny Penso

      3 years ago

      As usual I’m years ahead of the curve. When I got back into golf about 8 years ago I bought a set of Adams A12OS clubs which had 4-6 as hybrids. Loved them so much I still play the hybrids, found a A12OS 3 hybrid at a travelling golf sale and now pair them up with Ping i210s. I have a 5 and 6 iron in the i210s but rarely use them.

      Reply

      Mike

      3 years ago

      Same here. I’ve been a hybrid guy since I was first exposed to them in late 2003. I haven’t carried a three or four iron since then and about five years ago ditched my 5 iron.. unless you’re really old school, I laugh when people say they can’t hit a hybrid. As opposed to, what, a 19° 4 iron? I think some people may struggle with hybrids only because, like irons, the lofts have gotten so low that they can’t get them airborne either. In that case, go get fitted and find a shaft/head combo that works for you

      Reply

      Todd V

      3 years ago

      Ssshhh…..not so loud please….. This 6 handicap playing game improvement cavity back irons enjoys taking some cash from the 15 handicappers playing blades and TX driver shafts., and their 4-putting Scotty Cameron blade putter.

      Reply

      MM Smith

      3 years ago

      Me too.

      Reply

      Urine Sumuri

      3 years ago

      Funny thing are also that 18-20hcp golfer who get fitted for regular shafts and then go buy stiff and x-stiff because the fitter was wrong.
      They’re still 20.

      Reply

      betheball

      3 years ago

      I always try to see LPGA bags but just like your article, I never see the flexes in their irons? Also, focusing on 100mph doesnt help all of us 95mph like the LPGA average, love to see 3-4 bags of 94 average bags esp with iron flexes. I dont have access to professional fittings the prs get so see their flexes and shafts really help. Keep up the great work

      Reply

      MJ

      3 years ago

      Just google WITB of most other women

      Reply

      Alex

      3 years ago

      I would say overall mostly true. Golf, however is such a unique game. There have been times where I really struggled with a hybrid, and without a doubt hit my 4 iron better. However, in my current game I hit the hybrid significantly better, and therefore carry two of them. I also see the inverse, where I often play with a 15 handicap who can hit 320 yard drives and has 90 gram gram high launching shafts with high launching iron heads and can’t figure out why they are spraying their irons all over the place. While I don’t play blades, I will say that I think SGI irons for most are a bit overmarketed for high handicaps with moderate swing speed. I generally find minimal difference between playing something like a mizuno hot metal vs a 921 jpx forged for the mid swing speed player. As with most things, I’ve found falling too far outside the spectrum generally has unintended consequences. While 130g shafted blades are a detriment to most people’s games, I would say the same could be said for 70 gram SGI irons. I think many companies have done consumers a disservice by making the stock shaft in game improvement irons too soft and light…

      Reply

      Mike

      3 years ago

      That is funny you mention that- I was playing with a good golfer this week and this guy kills the ball- he really can hit a 300 yard drive when he catches one, and is a 6 handicap or less, but he was hitting some new Apex irons and had the True Temper Elevate shafts which he was hitting higher than just about anyone I have ever seen hit an iron. I am sure he would be better off with Dynamic Gold in an S-400 or X-100.

      Reply

      Scotty

      3 years ago

      Huh. Surprised 12.5* for a 102mph swing speed. Wonder what her angle of attack is.

      Reply

      Brandon M

      3 years ago

      Probably 1-2 down, which is common for a lot of pro’s to favor control over distance.

      Reply

      Brian

      3 years ago

      Most of the ladies hit up and that’s how they maximize their distance. Nelly could hit down, sure. She may also need more loft because she’s playing a TX flex shaft in her driver, the shaft doesn’t kick as much at impact, and she needs a little bit more loft to get the desired launch angle.

      Frank Wiater

      3 years ago

      As a senior I have been spending more time looking in the LPGA bags as the swing speed is more comparable to mine than the PGA players. Drop your ego’s and your scores will drop too. I can hit a hybrid from anywhere, cant say that about a 3 iron anymore. Probably dump the 4 iron as well this year, and add another hybrid…

      Reply

      Tom

      3 years ago

      Great read, and even better advice.

      Reply

      elvis14

      3 years ago

      I love this article. It basically repeats what I’ve been saying for years. My swing speed is right at the average for the LPGA. One of the reasons I like watching LPGA golf is that I can relate to the ladies game more-so than the mens. Don’t get me wrong, they are MUCH better than I am but when I see player hit the same club from 150 that I would hit (as opposed to watching a PGA player hit a wedge), I like it. What the LPGA ladies are doing on the course is what I aspire to do. I appreciate how incredible the men are but I wish the women got more coverage and were on more channels (ESPN, CBS, etc) because they are worth watching.

      Reply

      Cleo

      3 years ago

      I agree. I’m quite disappointed with the coverage the LPGA get in comparison to the PGA.

      Reply

      Six 8 Pete

      3 years ago

      My 3,4,5 irons are collecting dust in the corner.
      I have 2,3,4,5 Ping G hybrids with 1 1/2″ longer stiff shafts (I’m 6′ 8″)
      Others may laugh when I’m hitting a mid length shot with a hybrid until I’m still in play or on the green…

      Reply

      Max R

      3 years ago

      Yup! My Mizuno JPX 919-Forged irons are #6-PW. Ping hybrids 3, 4 and 5.. Al regular flex shafts.

      Reply

      MIGregB

      3 years ago

      Ms. Alvarez: Great article! I’ve actually said this same thing for years. But my buddies would simply nod their heads and then snigger behind my back. Now all you need to do is get the average male to read past the title so they can learn something.

      Reply

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