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Should a beginner use a 5 iron?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 15, 2026

EQUIVALENT IRON / WOOD

A beginner should certainly not have a traditional 2, 3 or 4-iron in their bag. One option would be to choose a 3 and 4 hybrid and then add a 5-iron, 7-iron and 9-iron. Or alternatively 3 and 5 hybrid (with an option of a 4 hybrid also) and adding a 7-iron and 9-iron.

What iron should a beginner practice with?

Your 9-iron, for beginners, is for shots from around 50-60 yards, Otherwise, stick with a gentle 7-iron shot. There you have it, easy peasy golf for beginners. Don't be intimidated. Get out there and have fun.

What golf club should a beginner start with?

Instead, start with a driver, a putter, a sand wedge (it's the club that has an "S" on the sole or a loft of 54 to 56 degrees) and supplement those with a 6-iron, an 8-iron, a pitching wedge, and a fairway wood or hybrid with 18-21 degrees of loft.

Is a 5 iron hard to hit?

Generally, a 5 iron is plenty for most players. If you're in single digits, then a 3 or 4 iron is usually the longest iron. A 5 iron is great because it's still relatively easily to hit and can also help with punch shots as well.

Why do I struggle with 5-iron?

Some golfers make the mistake of playing the five iron with a ball position that is right in the middle of their stance. This will make it very difficult to even get the ball up off the ground. A proper ball position with a five iron is closer to your left foot than it is to the middle of your stance.

21 related questions found

What is a 5-iron used for?

A 5-wood is used for a shot of about 180 yards, while a 5-iron is used for a shot of about 160 yards. As you may have deduced from the numbers above, a 5-wood and 3-iron are both typically used for the same distance shot and should be chosen based on the desired loft for the shot.

Should a beginner use a 4 iron?

EQUIVALENT IRON / WOOD

A beginner should certainly not have a traditional 2, 3 or 4-iron in their bag. One option would be to choose a 3 and 4 hybrid and then add a 5-iron, 7-iron and 9-iron. Or alternatively 3 and 5 hybrid (with an option of a 4 hybrid also) and adding a 7-iron and 9-iron.

Do beginners need all irons?

You definitely don't need a full set of clubs when you're just getting starter. If you want to learn how to play and you want to get out on the course, here's what you need to get started: A driver or 3-wood: These are your tee shot clubs, at the very beginning I would recommend a 3-wood but you can decide.

How many golf lessons should a beginner take?

As a general rule beginners should take 3 to 5 golf lessons before playing on a course to help them learn the basics of the swing and rules. It is not compulsory to take lessons and only 15% of golfers seek professional instruction but they are generally viewed as one of the best ways to improve a player's game.

What is the easiest iron to hit?

Most Forgiving Irons

  • Titleist T400 Irons. A hybrid-style design that offers the most forgiveness in the Titleist range. ...
  • TaylorMade Stealth Iron. ...
  • Cobra King LTDx Iron. ...
  • Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Iron. ...
  • Tour Edge Exotics E722 Iron. ...
  • Srixon ZX4 Irons. ...
  • Ping G425 Irons. ...
  • Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal Irons.

How far does Tiger Woods hit a 5 iron?

Tiger Woods can hit a five iron over two hundred yards. Most of the time, he hits it about 210 yards. This is undoubtedly quite a bit further than most amateur golfers should be able to hit their five iron. His long distances come down to clubhead speed and the efficiency of his golf swing.

How far do pros hit 5 irons?

According the Leaderboard website, PGA Tour players' average 4-iron shots travel 210 to 220 yards (including the roll). They can hit 5-iron shots 195 to 205 yards; 6-iron shots 180 to 190 yards; 7-iron shots 165 to 180 yards; 8-iron shots 150 to 170 yards; and 9-iron shots 140 to 155 yards.

How far does Dustin Johnson hit a 7 iron?

Dustin Johnson is the world's #1 professional golfer who is a threat to win on any course and in any tournament. He has numerous PGA Tour wins and one of his strengths is his short iron game and he regularly hits a 7 iron for 200 yards.

How many clubs should a beginner carry?

If you're a beginner golfer you should start with 10 golf clubs. You can golf with a fairway wood, iron, and putter but you're going to want to learn how to use more clubs if you want to be able to handle every situation.

How many clubs should be in a golf bag for beginners?

To address the question posed in the title, we have a very simple answer – beginning golfers should carry 14 clubs, which is the maximum allowed under the rules of golf. There is no reason to carry fewer than 14, as each club can serve a specific purpose when the set is constructed properly.

Is golf hard to learn?

GOLF IS HARD.

Learn from your mistakes, accept them, and most importantly manage your expectations. As a golf pro once told me when I was frustrated beginner having a mid-round breakdown: “You're not that good, to get that mad.” Golf is a game that can teach you a lot about someone.

What club should I use on a par 3?

Use a 9-iron on a short par-3 of about 130 yards. The 9-iron will help you get loft on the ball, and that's important because you want the ball to come in high and soft. If you come into the green high and soft, your shot is much less likely to bounce off the green.

Does a 5 wood replace a 5 iron?

As a general rule of thumb, a 5-wood would replace a 2-iron a 7-wood the 3- or 4-iron, a 9-wood the 5-iron.

Where should a 5-iron be in your stance?

Because you want to make ball-first contact and then have the iron bottom out just in front of the ball, you should play it just under your left pectoral muscle. The width of your stance will become second nature once you continue to keep the ball in the same spot.

Can you hit irons but not Woods?

If you are struggling to hit your driver but not your irons, the issue could be a lack of clubhead speed. If your driver is slowing down as it makes its way into the impact position, you will lose both distance and accuracy. A lack of clubhead speed is a problem throughout the entire game, not just the driver.

How far does Rory McIlroy hit a 5 iron?

According to Rory McIlroy's stock yardages, the Northern Irishman hits his 9-iron 163 yards and he hits his 5-iron 219 yards. He is currently the second-longest driver on the PGA Tour and he averages 326 yards with the big stick.