Question

818 viewsJanuary 14, 2026

muskie67 75 January 11, 2026 0 Comments

As as aging competitive senior player, my questions about iron fitting surround iron lofts. I noticed a fairly significant decline in my distances this past year, especially in my 5, 6, 7 irons…the lower lofted irons. I found that they tended to be flatter and falling out of the sky. Just wasn’t getting the same out of them as previously. My shaft was DG 105, so I’m already in a light/ultra-light set-up there. Realizing I’m not generating the same clubhead speed to get the proper launch on those irons, I’m wondering if moving away from the Player’s Distance category, where the lofts are mostly jacked to provide more distance…and into a slightly higher lofted set in the “modern players” range might be the ticket to getting proper launch and carry out of my longer irons? I realize there are lots of variables, and a good fitting is the answer…but conceptually, is it possible I could get more distance from a slightly weakened loft structure, or is distance mostly predicated by loft, and I should look to other variables in my fitting such as ultra-light shafts and lower kickpoints, and/or moving to higher lofted fairway woods and hybrids at the top end of my set? Again, I’m wondering if conceptually i might benefit from a modern players’ loft structure as opposed to player’s distance…is that possible?

I hope that’s clear enough. I am still a good ball striker, low handicap, competitive senior, but I’m finding it difficult to find and iron I can carry 175-180 these days…thanks in advance!

Muskie

MWB1957 Answered question January 14, 2026

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Answer 1 · 2026-01-12T15:46:45+00:00

Several things to address. First, speed generates distance. As we loose it as we get older, the only way to maintain it in the clubs we play is to go lighter, longer or both. Of course we can go to the gym and work to maintain our strength, and that is a big part of it, but even with that we can’t overcome the fact that we will loose speed as we age.

Secondly, it is important to match the lofts to the speed you have to optimize trajectory. Loft is the single most important specification in a club with regards to trajectory and distance. If you can’t swing it fast enough to get low lofts launched, then that could be a problem. But, you have to realize, more loft might improve trajectory, but at the same speed it might not produce more distance. There is an optimum launch for each speed to generate the most carry distance, but testing is the only way you will know what that is for you. Generally I would tell you to play the strongest lofts you can that will maintain a trajectory you like. That might not max out your distance but should give you the best combination of trajectory and distance . Slightly weaker lofts might be the way to go to accomplish this, but it it might not. I think you’re going to have to experiment with combinations of lighter overall weight clubs and different lofts to determine what gives you the best result. DG 105 shafts are lightweight for steel, but definitely not ultra light in todays world. There are lot lighter options. I understand that feel is a big part of it and you have to balance the weight and balance of the club to what provides you with the feel you like. If you can go lighter and maintain a good feel, that would be a move in a direction that could help you maintain and even increase distance some.

Finally, a shafts overall flex profile can be a medium factor in trajectory. Not a major factor like loft. Kick point is only a minor factor. So if you want to try a softer flex than what you’re playing, it could help increase trajectory a little and generally more flex will feel better than firmer shafts to us, especially as we begin to loose club head speed.

Not sure if this helps much, but hopefully gives you a few things to consider. Nippon makes some excellent lightweight steel shafts, lighter than 105, and there are all kinds of options in graphite.

Britt Lindsey

Quality reply, Britt…thank you! The clubs I’m struggling to launch have the same lofts as my previous set, but the characteristics are different. I had P790’s, and moved to JPX 925 Forged. It was literally overnight when changing to the Mizunos that I lost the long iron carry and distance gaps. I thought it was just something I needed to get used to, and they’d come around, but no. The JPX long irons have different construction with the Chromaloy and low-spin grooves…and they just seem to want to knuckle and fall out of the sky. I hit the 8-GW just fine…the same yardages as my P790’s. I have (and do wonder) if it’s the iron construction itself…designed with lower spin, or something? And truly, the issue isn’t as much distance as it is gapping. Effectively, I don’t have a club I can dependably carry over 155-160 yards. My 8-iron carries 147-152, then my 7, 6, and 5 all carry 155-160. It’s so frustrating…never in my life have I had a set that didn’t provide gaps from iron-to-iron. Side note, the 7i in my P790’s was my favorite club, and I could jump on it to get it to fly 165 at times. My best golfing buddy, also a competitive senior, said he experienced the same thing with a set of Titleist a couple years back. I’m obsessed about moving into the TS3’s with graphite shafts anyway, so getting away from these Mizuno won’t be difficult for a club junkie like me…but I want to cry foul about the Mizuno irons first (lol)…something just isn’t right.
More comments/questions. The iron shafts I’m obsessing about are the Aerotech CW80’s. I like the lower torque rating, as it implies they might be a little more consistent. I read somewhere they have lower balance points, too, so higher swingweights are easier to achieve. Is this true? Also, I’m open to any suggestions for graphite iron shafts, and would love to hear Britt opine about the MPF’s and/or other shafts he might recommend.

Thanks again, to everyone here. This forum is one of my favorite sites!

Muskie