Utility Irons
UTILITY IRON BUYING CONSIDERATIONS
By: Eric Strulowitz
Performance should be your primary concern when buying a new utility iron, but there are some additional factors you may want to consider before you make your purchasing decision.
UTILITY IRONS VS. LONG IRONS
Do you tend to hit all of your long irons the nearly the same distance; or do you struggle to make solid contact with your 4, 5, or even 6-iron? For many, the answer to those questions is yes, and yes. The long irons are (not surprisingly) a part of our bag makeup that perhaps doesn’t get the attention it should. If you struggle to hit your long irons consistently, it might be time to look into swapping them for more forgiving, easer-to-hit utility irons. Many manufacturers today like Srixon and Tour Edge offer utility iron replacements for long irons, and several offer lofts that overlap with traditional 6 and even 7-irons. Utilities that creep into middle iron territory typically offer wider soles and lower, deeper centers of gravity to help launch the ball high in the air while providing that extra bit of forgiveness we can all use on the course.
Be aware that utility irons will typically launch higher and fly a bit farther than the stock long irons they’re replacing. You may need to tweak your lofts along the way to ensure consistent gapping.
UTILITY IRONS VS. HYBRIDS
For many golfers, the Utility iron serves as the ideal alternative to a hybrid. While some models like TaylorMade’s GAPR Mid ride the line between categories, the appeal of the utility iron is sometimes little more than the fact that it’s not a hybrid. For golfers who struggle with hybrids (particularly those who tend to hook them), or simply don’t like hybrids for any number of other reasons, the Utility – which is often better-suited to golfers with steeper attack angles – may be a better way to bridge the gap between fairway woods and irons.
Loft for loft, Utility irons will typically launch lower, produce a more penetrating trajectory, and will generally be more workable than the equivalent hybrid. For better or worse, they’ll likely also be a bit shorter. As always, mind your gaps.
UTILITY IRONS VS. FAIRWAY WOODS
Many golfers find fairway woods to be the most difficult clubs in the bag to hit consistently. Lower lofted utilities can provide an alternative to higher-lofted (5-wood and above) fairway woods. Even as forgiveness in the utility category has increased, most brands, however, are reticent to offer a true 1-iron. The reality is that few of us can actually hit them, and the limited number of buyers doesn’t justify the manufacturing expense. That means 3-wood-replacing utilities are few and far between (16° is about as low as it goes). That said, a utility 2-iron offers an alternative to your 5-wood. This is particularly true for golfers who are steep into the ball, want more workability, or prefer the look and playability of a smaller head.
In most cases, a utility iron will launch lower and fly a bit shorter than a loft equivalent fairway wood.
LOFT
Choosing the right loft for your utility iron(s) is essential to improving your performance. We’ve said this before; yardage gapping is a massive part of the success equation on the golf course. If you’re looking to create a split set with utilities in place of your long irons, make sure you’re properly fitted, and the loft gaps between clubs translate to consistent yardage gaps on the course. On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re in the market for an off-the-tee utility iron, a 2 or 3-iron offering might be just what the doctor ordered. The plethora of lofts and models available across the major manufacturers can make it easier to dial-in your distances and find the right club for your game.
SHAFT SELECTION
Proper shaft selection is a big part of creating a consistent shot pattern for predictable results. A professional fitter can help you find a shaft that has the right specs (weight, stiffness, bend profile) for your swing profile. Failing that, we recommend you take the time to understand the performance characteristics of the available shafts.
Graphite is usually lighter, which means it is often (not always) swung faster. If you struggle with generating clubhead speed, graphite might be a good option. Steel is generally heavier, with advancements in technology, however; lightweight steel shafts are reasonably common options in the utility category. In the world of stock shafts, when the choice is between graphite and steel, the graphite option is often higher launching and spinning and will typically have a softer bend profile overall.
Also, note that head weight often varies depending on whether the stock shaft is graphite (light) or steel (heavy) shaft. In those cases, moving between graphite and steel may not be as simple as swapping the shaft. Swing weight screws (if part of the design) may need to be swapped, and depending on the design of the club, you may not be able to achieve your desired swing weight without significant effort – or at all. Take the time to work with a fitter to be sure you get it right the first time.
ADJUSTABILITY
Four of the fourteen utility irons tested offer an adjustable hosel. That’s not a massive percentage, but it means that golfers can now leverage adjustability in the utility category. It also means fitters have a bit more fine-tuning capability. The small details are often where the differences are found.
The four utility irons that feature adjustability in our 2019 test were the TaylorMade GAPR Lo and GAPR Mid, and the Cobra KING and KING ONE Length utility irons
By: Eric Strulowitz
Performance should be your primary concern when buying a new utility iron, but there are some additional factors you may want to consider before you make your purchasing decision.
UTILITY IRONS VS. LONG IRONS
Do you tend to hit all of your long irons the nearly the same distance; or do you struggle to make solid contact with your 4, 5, or even 6-iron? For many, the answer to those questions is yes, and yes. The long irons are (not surprisingly) a part of our bag makeup that perhaps doesn’t get the attention it should. If you struggle to hit your long irons consistently, it might be time to look into swapping them for more forgiving, easer-to-hit utility irons. Many manufacturers today like Srixon and Tour Edge offer utility iron replacements for long irons, and several offer lofts that overlap with traditional 6 and even 7-irons. Utilities that creep into middle iron territory typically offer wider soles and lower, deeper centers of gravity to help launch the ball high in the air while providing that extra bit of forgiveness we can all use on the course.
Be aware that utility irons will typically launch higher and fly a bit farther than the stock long irons they’re replacing. You may need to tweak your lofts along the way to ensure consistent gapping.
UTILITY IRONS VS. HYBRIDS
For many golfers, the Utility iron serves as the ideal alternative to a hybrid. While some models like TaylorMade’s GAPR Mid ride the line between categories, the appeal of the utility iron is sometimes little more than the fact that it’s not a hybrid. For golfers who struggle with hybrids (particularly those who tend to hook them), or simply don’t like hybrids for any number of other reasons, the Utility – which is often better-suited to golfers with steeper attack angles – may be a better way to bridge the gap between fairway woods and irons.
Loft for loft, Utility irons will typically launch lower, produce a more penetrating trajectory, and will generally be more workable than the equivalent hybrid. For better or worse, they’ll likely also be a bit shorter. As always, mind your gaps.
UTILITY IRONS VS. FAIRWAY WOODS
Many golfers find fairway woods to be the most difficult clubs in the bag to hit consistently. Lower lofted utilities can provide an alternative to higher-lofted (5-wood and above) fairway woods. Even as forgiveness in the utility category has increased, most brands, however, are reticent to offer a true 1-iron. The reality is that few of us can actually hit them, and the limited number of buyers doesn’t justify the manufacturing expense. That means 3-wood-replacing utilities are few and far between (16° is about as low as it goes). That said, a utility 2-iron offers an alternative to your 5-wood. This is particularly true for golfers who are steep into the ball, want more workability, or prefer the look and playability of a smaller head.
In most cases, a utility iron will launch lower and fly a bit shorter than a loft equivalent fairway wood.
LOFT
Choosing the right loft for your utility iron(s) is essential to improving your performance. We’ve said this before; yardage gapping is a massive part of the success equation on the golf course. If you’re looking to create a split set with utilities in place of your long irons, make sure you’re properly fitted, and the loft gaps between clubs translate to consistent yardage gaps on the course. On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re in the market for an off-the-tee utility iron, a 2 or 3-iron offering might be just what the doctor ordered. The plethora of lofts and models available across the major manufacturers can make it easier to dial-in your distances and find the right club for your game.
SHAFT SELECTION
Proper shaft selection is a big part of creating a consistent shot pattern for predictable results. A professional fitter can help you find a shaft that has the right specs (weight, stiffness, bend profile) for your swing profile. Failing that, we recommend you take the time to understand the performance characteristics of the available shafts.
Graphite is usually lighter, which means it is often (not always) swung faster. If you struggle with generating clubhead speed, graphite might be a good option. Steel is generally heavier, with advancements in technology, however; lightweight steel shafts are reasonably common options in the utility category. In the world of stock shafts, when the choice is between graphite and steel, the graphite option is often higher launching and spinning and will typically have a softer bend profile overall.
Also, note that head weight often varies depending on whether the stock shaft is graphite (light) or steel (heavy) shaft. In those cases, moving between graphite and steel may not be as simple as swapping the shaft. Swing weight screws (if part of the design) may need to be swapped, and depending on the design of the club, you may not be able to achieve your desired swing weight without significant effort – or at all. Take the time to work with a fitter to be sure you get it right the first time.
ADJUSTABILITY
Four of the fourteen utility irons tested offer an adjustable hosel. That’s not a massive percentage, but it means that golfers can now leverage adjustability in the utility category. It also means fitters have a bit more fine-tuning capability. The small details are often where the differences are found.
The four utility irons that feature adjustability in our 2019 test were the TaylorMade GAPR Lo and GAPR Mid, and the Cobra KING and KING ONE Length utility irons
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