That small number etched onto the bottom of your golf club is one of the most important factors influencing every shot you hit. It’s called loft, and it directly controls the height and distance of your golf ball's flight. This article will break down exactly what that degree means for each club in your bag, empowering you to make smarter choices on the course and finally understand why your 7-iron goes farther than your 9-iron.
In the simplest terms, loft is the angle of the clubface in relation to the vertical shaft. Imagine your club shaft is a straight wall. a club with zero degrees of loft would have a face that is perfectly parallel to that wall. As you increase the degree, the clubface tilts backward, pointing more towards the sky.
This angle is the primary engine behind two things: trajectory and distance.
Think of it like a ramp. A low-lofted club is like a short, steep ramp that shoots an object forward. A high-lofted club is like a taller, more angled ramp that sends the object more upwards than forwards. Mastering your shots is about picking the right ramp for the job at hand.
Every club is designed with a specific job in mind, and loft is the main tool it uses to get that job done. Let's walk through an entire set, from the longest club to the shortest, to see how these degrees work in practice.
These are the lowest-lofted clubs in your bag, built for maximum distance off the tee or on long fairway shots.
Irons are for precision and control. The lofts are spaced out progressively to create consistent distance gaps between each club, typically about 10-15 yards for the average player.
Here's a look at a *typical* modern iron set to see how the loft changes:
You can see the clear pattern: As the number on the iron gets higher, the loft degree increases by about 3-4° per club. This is what creates those reliable yardage gaps that allow you to hit a specific number.
If you're playing with an older set of irons, you might be confused by the numbers above. "My 7-iron is 36°!" This is a very common and important point. Over the last two decades, manufacturers have steadily strengthened the lofts on their irons. This is often called "loft jacking."
Essentially, a modern 7-iron has the loft (and therefore, the distance) of what used to be a 5-iron. This helps sell clubs, because golfers hit the ball "further" during a fitting. It's not a bad thing, but it's vital to be aware of. The number on the bottom of the club doesn't matter as much as the actual loft degree. This is also why the Pitching Wedge has become so strong and created the need for a...
Inside 120 yards, you're in the scoring zone. This is where your wedges come in. Understanding the loft on these clubs is fundamental to having a great short game.
When you get to your wedges, another number comes into play: bounce. Bounce is the angle on the sole of the club, from the leading edge to the trailing edge. It's the part of the club that "bounces" off the ground instead of digging in.
Think of it as your club's defense against digging. A club with high bounce (10-14°) will resist digging into soft sand or fluffy rough, making it great for players who have a steep swing or play in lush conditions. A club with low bounce (4-8°) has a sharper leading edge that sits tighter to the ground, making it ideal for firm turf, tight lies, and players who "sweep" the ball cleanly.
Loft gets the ball up, bounce helps the club get through the turf cleanly. The two work together as a team to create the perfect strike.
Now for the most important part: applying this knowledge to your own bag. You don't need a launch monitor to make smart decisions. Start with these simple steps.
Head to the range or an open field and hit 5-10 balls with each of your irons and wedges. Throw out any terrible shots and get an average distance for each club. Write it down.
Do you see any unusually large gaps? The most common one is a 20+ yard gap between the Pitching Wedge and the Sand Wedge. If you see that, you're a perfect candidate for a Gap Wedge (~50-52°). Identifying and filling these gaps is one of the fastest ways to improve your scoring.
Do you struggle to get the ball in the air? If your shots fly low, you'd likely benefit from more loft across the board. Don't let your ego get in the way. Hitting a 12° driver higher and straighter is way more effective than hitting a 9° driver low and offline. The same goes for your irons and fairway woods - consider playing more forgiving clubs with slightly higher launch characteristics.
What are the conditions like where you play most often?
Matching your wedge lofts and bounces to your typical conditions gives you a built-in advantage ayou stand over every short shot a_
Understanding the degrees on your golf clubs isn't about memorizing a chart, it's about seeing each club as a specific tool for a specific job. Grasping how loft and bounce work together gives you the power to select the right club with confidence, taking the indecision out of your swing so you can focus on making a good, athletic motion.
We know that reading about lofts is one thing, but applying it on the course, in the heat of the moment, is another challenge entirely. This is why we created Caddie AI&mdash,to act as your personal, on-demand golf expert. If you’re stuck between your gap wedge and pitching wedge from 110 yards out, or you’re facing a tricky shot from a bald lie in the rough, our app gives you an instant, intelligent recommendation. You can even take a photo of your ball's lie, and we’ll analyze the situation and advise on the best club and shot to play, helping you turn equipment knowledge into smarter on-course decisions in seconds.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
