"Everybody can get better on 15 minutes per day."
"You can even get better on 5 minutes per day."
Tom Tucker, Unrenowned Golf Coach 😄
Tom's Featured Tip: Does a 5 Iron Belong In Your Bag?
Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
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Does a 5 Iron Belong In Your Bag?
The Best Training Aid For Indoor or Outdoor Practice
The Divot Board
This is the most useful ball striking development training aid that I own.
Does a 5 Iron Belong In Your Bag?
For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.
I recently saw some Shot Scope data that said the 5 iron is the club that costs golfers the most strokes. As a result of that, I did some research to see if my swing speed is fast enough for a 5 iron.
The 5 iron has always been the one club in my bag that gives me mixed emotions. Some days, it feels useful. Other days, it feels like a slightly flatter 6 iron that doesn’t offer any special benefit.
And even though I think it’s the weakest part of my iron setup, I still like the 5 iron for certain shots where I play.
If you find yourself in the same situation, here’s a look at what "fast enough" really looks like, what a 5 iron should be doing for you, and the smart options if yours just isn’t pulling its weight.
What "fast enough" really means for a 5 iron
A 5 iron needs enough speed to create height, separation and stopping power. Without those three things, you’re not benefiting from it.
Most mid handicap golfers swing a 5 iron at somewhere between 70 and 80 mph. That’s enough to generate a playable peak height and a 10 – 12 yard gap over the 6 iron.
The trouble begins for golfers who drop into the low 70s and below with a 5 iron. At that point, the club struggles to launch high enough, the carry distance shrinks and the 5 iron stops behaving like a true long iron.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re swinging too slow. It means the design of a traditional 5 iron may not be optimized for your speed.
The first red flag
The biggest tell that your swing might not be fast enough for a 5 iron is when your 5 iron and 6 iron start travelling the same distance.
Here’s the benchmark fitters use:
- Better players: 12 - 15 yards between irons
- Average amateurs: 8 - 10 yards
- Slow to moderate swing speeds: often 6 yards or less
Three smart alternatives when your 5 iron isn’t working
If your swing doesn’t quite match what a traditional 5 iron demands, you don’t have to give up on this completely; there are a few options to choose from.
Option 1: Keep the loft, change the head
Instead of replacing the 5 iron with a hybrid, try swapping yours for a more forgiving 5 iron - a game improvement, or even super game improvement 5 iron.
The possible benefits are:
- Higher launch
- More peak height
- Better ball speed on mishits
- More consistent carry
- Improved ability to hold a green
Option 2: Keep your head, change the shaft
For players who like the look and feel of their 5 iron but want more speed or a more forgiving launch, changing the shaft can be another solution.
A lighter steel or graphite shaft can:
- Add 2 - 4 mph of clubhead speed
- Increase launch and peak height
- Stabilize face delivery
Option 3: Replace the 5 iron
Sometimes golfers need more help in that 22 - 26 degree space, and a hybrid or high lofted fairway wood becomes a better solution. The face tends to be hotter and most golfers have an easier time getting the launch they need.
If you’re wondering whether your swing is fast enough for a 5 iron, take the club to the range alongside your 6 iron. Hit 10 shots with each and pay attention to:
- Carry distance
- Height
- Dispersion
- Which club actually holds a green
Try it, you'll really like it!
Email Comments: to TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, The Stack and Tilt Swing
Love your practice, own your swing, own your health, and remember that golf is a game of discovery. Don't be afraid to experiment when you practice, it's good for your golfing brain.
Tom
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All the best,
Tom Tucker
Teaching Professional, Batavia Country Club
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach
Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
http://www.TomTuckerGolf.com
"There are no substitutes in the quest for perfection1"
~ Ben Hogan