Utility irons could be the solution for your long approach shots

Q: I’ve noticed Scottie Scheffler uses utility irons instead of the traditional 3- and 4-irons that usually go with his set. Is that something I should be looking at?

A: Hopefully this question is more about set makeup than a comparison to the world No. 1. That said, long irons have long been the bugaboo of many golfers, often producing more sweaty palms and inconsistency than any other club in the bag.

For the sake of clarity, we assume you’re asking about these clubs versus traditional long irons, not hybrids. With that in mind, part of what makes a utility iron a go-to option isn’t just a higher ball flight than comparable irons; it's the fact that most are designed to be easier to hit than a long iron and offer more zip off the face.

The design of these clubs provides more clubhead mass combined with a lower and deeper center of gravity (CG) to help get the ball airborne, plus the workability generally associated with irons. With a standard 3- or 4-iron, the CG is located close to the face whereas it's farther back in a utility iron, the result of its hollow-body construction. Because of that, the spin rate of a utility iron is lower than that of a 3- or 4-iron, which reduces the curvature of the shot for greater accuracy. In addition, a deeper CG also encourages a higher launch (but lower than a hybrid) and a longer carry—a desirable combination.

Manufacturers have responded to golfers' desires to try these clubs by providing a number of options, some with lofts that go through the 6-iron. That’s valuable for players who don’t just struggle with their long irons but with middle irons, too, making those long to medium-length par 3s scoring opportunities instead of disasters in waiting. It also drives home that these are true iron-replacement clubs and not “driving irons.”

In golf’s great treasure hunt for lower scores, the answers are not the same for everyone. Looks can vary with utility irons, but their trademark features—a bigger, more forgiving head size and a lower, deeper CG for higher launch and more versatility—make them viable opotions for a lot of players. You might not hit shots like Scottie, but your palms are likely to sweat less over a long-iron shot. That’s a start.