We sometimes use affiliate links to products and services on retailer sites for which we can receive compensation if you click on those links or make purchases through them.
How do single length irons compare to variable length? Equipment editor James Savage has put them head-to-head in an extensive long-term test
My single length vs. variable length irons test has taken place over the last eight months.
I first switched into the Cobra One Length irons at the start of the 2018 season and have been continually comparing the performance against variable length irons.
But as we reached the end of the season I wanted to do a bit more in-depth launch monitor comparison testing, using a SkyTrak, to go alongside the vast on-course testing I had done.
We also visited Leicester Golf Centre recently to test using their Toptracer technology using functions like their nearest the pin and course simulator games.
So let’s find out what the actual difference is between the two and whether or not I will continue using single length or switch back to variable…
So I had been using the Cobra Forged One irons pretty much for all of the 2018 season.
Towards the end I made a switch into their Forged Tec Black One irons so see if they offered me a little bit more forgiveness. The results were inconclusive but I stuck with the Forged Tec for the sake of using something brand new as much as anything else.
But I’m a big fan of Mizuno irons and recently got fitted into a set of JPX919 Forged following a visit to their new Tour Performance Centre at Bearwood Lakes.
And I was fitted into the exact same shaft (True Temper AMT White S300) as I have been using in the Cobra Forged Tec so it gave me the opportunity to put together a detailed comparison.
I was primarily focussed on gapping so gathered a lot of data on the SkyTrak launch monitor hitting the 9, 7 and 5-iron.
Ideally I would get a nice, consistent 20-yard gap between those three clubs.
So the Cobra One Length irons all have a shaft the length of a 7-iron.
Advertisement
But the heads are weighted accordingly to get the right swing weights and add a bit of ball speed in the longer irons.
The theory though is largely based on getting a more consistent strike.
If you are able to strike your 5-iron out of the middle more often, you will see a better average carry compared to a variable length 5-iron where you may hit, say, one in four shots out of the middle.
With each shaft the length of a 7-iron Cobra say you can take the same set-up and make the same swing for each of your irons – again to improve consistency of strike.
The theory with variable length irons is that the shafts are shorter in the short irons and longer in the long irons.
Longer irons have less loft therefore you need more swing speed to launch the ball in the air properly.
You want to be able to hit your long irons further than your short irons and a bit more swing speed will obviously help you do that.
With short irons being more about precision and accuracy, rather than distance, the shorter shaft can help add a bit more control.
The shaft I was using for this test has something called ascending mass technology (AMT) which means the shafts are heavier in the shorter irons and lighter in the long irons.
Again, this is to help add a bit more speed to help launch those longer irons.
Everyone thinks that the problem with the single length irons is that the short irons will go to far and the long irons won’t go far enough.
This is a reasonable assumption to make because there’s a good chance you will swing your shorter irons faster when using One Length irons.
Advertisement
This could result in a bit of added and unwanted distance.
And you would also expect to swing your longer irons slower which could result in a loss of distance.
So which irons actually worked best for our equipment editor? Find out on the next page…
[skylab_video id=”157728″]Single Length vs. Variable Length Irons: The Ultimate Test[/skylab_video]
Let’s take a look at the SkyTrak launch monitor data first.
As I said, this was gathered hitting a 9-, 7- and 5-iron with the Cobra Forged Tec Black One and the Mizuno JPX919 Forged.
This data was gathered during multiple visits to Leeds Golf Centre to try and get a picture of how these irons might perform over a sustained period of time rather than on just one visit the the driving range.
I still always take launch monitor data with a pinch of salt because when I collect data, it bears very little resemblance to actually playing golf out on the course.
You’ve got a perfect lie every time and there’s no pressure of hitting it to a target or bunkers to carry or playing partners looking on.
That’s why on-course testing and using things like Toptracer’s nearest the pin and simulator games all gave me more valuable information.
But you can see the launch monitor numbers below and I will explain them in more detail.
Unfortunately, there is nothing earth shattering about these numbers.
What did surprise me was the swing speed with the single length irons.
With all shafts being the same length, you’d expect to see the swing speeds being a lot closer together.
But I think the combination of the different weights in the shafts and the fact your subconscious tells you to hit a 5-iron harder than a 7-iron accounts for much of that.
Advertisement
There’s hardly anything to split the single length and variable from a ball speed point of view.
Slightly more with the variable length but I suspect that may be due to the Mizuno JPX919 being slightly faster off the face than the Cobra Forged Tec.
Obviously an ideal test would be to compare the same heads in single and variable length. But I was happier to use different heads and the same shaft rather than the other way around.
I did notice the 9-iron in the One Length launched incredibly high. This could be due to having the ball a bit more forward in the stance than where I would have it for a variable length 9-iron.
From a gapping point of view, I noticed a 25-yard gap between the variable 9- and 7-iron and an 18-yard gap between the single length 9- and 7-iron.
A 17-yard gap between the variable 7- and 5-iron and an 18-yard gap between the single length 7 and 5-iron.
One thing that isn’t displayed in the numbers here though is dispersion which is the key element of my conclusion.
So which irons are staying in our equipment editor’s bag for 2019? Find out on the next page…
[skylab_video id=”157728″]Single Length vs. Variable Length Irons: The Ultimate Test[/skylab_video]
I have enjoyed using the single length irons out on the course this year and on the whole I think my iron play improved and I gained more confidence.
My long irons, in particular, have been better but I’m not so sure my shorter iron play has.
My home course, Hillsborough, isn’t that long and I’ll often have a 9, pitching wedge or gap wedge in my hand for a second shot.
Advertisement
So I feel like improving my short irons would be the best way to improve my scoring.
But I’m really happy hitting my long irons and hit a few 5- and 6-irons off the tee so wouldn’t want to give that up.
And although the launch monitor numbers look better with the variable length long irons, I can assure you the dispersion was much tighter with the One Length.
I feel I can hit my numbers, and targets, time after time.
So putting all of the launch monitor and on-course data into the mix, my conclusion is that a set which is single length from 4 to 6 and variable from 7 to gap wedge.
But I had to pick a set of irons to go and shoot my best score on the course tomorrow, it would be the single length.
I played a round recently with a set of variable length irons and it seemed to me like the transition back from One Length to variable was tougher than that switching to single length in the first place.
One of the problems I have, you see, is that it’s only Cobra who are offering irons in One Length. And I like to play the field.
It’s my job to test out new equipment and when I like something, I put it in my bag. Maybe over the winter I will practise more with variable length for that reason.
But my overall conclusion is that single length irons do work, there are no problems with them and if you are struggling with your iron play I would thoroughly recommend giving them a try.
More information on One Length irons can be found on the Cobra website.
Advertisement
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
