5 Wood Vs 4 Iron – Which Club To Use And When

The 5 wood and the 4 iron are popular clubs that have traditionally been found in most golf bags throughout the years.

The 5 wood is more a blunt object than the more precise 4 iron and the 5 wood will hit it on average of about 25 yards further than the 4 iron making it entirely possible to carry both of these clubs as part of your 14.

The 4 iron is going to be used off the tee on par 3’s and for hitting the green in 2 on par 4’s. It has a generous loft that also helps to make it a better club from the rough in general.

The rapid rise in popularity of hybrid clubs has put these club place on the mandatory list at stake with their consistency and tendency to produce straight shots, but none the less, both of these clubs are still very important.

5 Wood Overview

After the driver and the 3 wood comes the 5 wood in the pecking order. It is most often utilized from a nice lie in the fairway or from an approachable lie on the light to mid rough.

The 5 wood is very good at getting the ball high, fast and long towards the green for a second shot from the fairway or light rough.

The 5 wood has more loft and a shorter shaft than a 3 wood for example which make it a more accessible club to some players.

Players with slower swing speeds who use a 12+ degree driver, may benefit more from having 5 and 7 wood combo instead of a 3 and 5 or perhaps carrying a 5 wood and a hybrid would also be an option for many players.

With the 5 wood hitting an average of about 200 yards, this club is all about distance and getting a consistent and high launching strike on the ball with distance not many other clubs can match.

4 Iron Overview

4 Irons are pretty strong lofted in terms of irons and the 4 is one of the longest. It’s higher loft provides a higher launch, more spin and less distance allowing better players to target a precise point on the green.

4 Irons are quite versatile and it can also be a handy club of the tee on a par three or ideally for a second shot from a nice lie on the fairway or side cut.

The long and compact blade can come in many variations from game improvement, to players blades to distance irons depending on the level of your game.

4 Irons have excellent turf interaction and large sweet spots, with the improvement in hybrids over the years, the irons have also improved and you can expect more distance, accuracy, consistency and forgiveness in today’s irons than ever before.

If you do end up in the rough, the 4 iron is always going to be an option, the head can cut through long grass more easily than a 5 wood and the shaft is also shorter if you are in a bit of trouble.

Both of these clubs are useful for all levels of golfers and if you do struggle with either one, you can also try to replace it with a hybrid.

The 5 wood will be great off a good lie and possibly off the tee and the 4 iron will be shorter but slightly more versatile, being playable off the tee, fairway and more rough than the 5 wood.