5 Wood Vs. 9 Iron Comparison Overview
Every golfer will derive different value from different clubs. What may be a good club to have in the bag for a beginner wouldn’t necessarily be valuable for a low handicap player. You may be wondering whether you need a 9 iron or a 5 wood in your bag and we would like to help you find the answer.
We tested a 5 wood and a 9 iron to see how they perform in different situations. While getting fitted for clubs is always advisable, the following comparison overview will provide you with the next best thing.
5 Wood Overview
Especially skilled players will be able to use a 5 wood to land on the green from the rough. The average player however, will find that the 5 wood is most helpful from the deck.
The average distance you can expect from a 5 wood is about 230 yards so it’s great for covering most distance you are facing from the deck. The average loft of a 5 wood is between 18 and 19 degrees so it is also pretty good to use in the rough.
In fact, we were pleasantly surprised in our testing when we found how easy it was to cut through tall rough with the 5 wood we were using. The 5 wood can be used to replace a 2 iron but will have a much larger head so it may be favorable for beginners and high handicappers.
Lower handicap players may prefer a 2 iron because it offers more control and is better for precise ball placement.
9 Iron Overview
Right off the bat, the 9 iron should be in every golfers’ bag. While you may have trouble with it at first if you’re a beginner, it will be well worth it to learn this club.
That’s because 9 irons give you acute control on short approaches – shots where you really need control. The average length of your typical 9 iron is only about 120 yards but the average loft is between 26 and 28 degrees so this kind of iron gives you plenty of pop.
Better players will draw immediate value from a 9 iron on short approaches while beginner and mid handicappers may need to practice a bit more.
A 5 wood is great to have if you like the feel of woods over hybrids. A 9 iron is a crucial club for short approaches.
9 Iron Overview & First Impressions
When we tested a 9 iron against a 7 iron we were disoriented because we tested the 7 first. The shorter shaft and altered stance takes some getting used to.
When you need a higher loft than a 7 or 8 iron and on approaches within 120 yards, the 9 iron is an excellent.
If you’ve tried a 9 iron before without much success, it may have been a forged, players irons but don’t worry, the 9 iron also comes in a game improvement form which is focused on allowing beginners and high handicappers more forgiveness and consistency.
It’s also not surprising to see a pros ball land on the green and then spin off in a different direction as the better player has been able to add considerable spin to the ball thanks to the generous loft.
Because the 9 iron has a sharper leading edge, it can cut through the rough easily and is excellent if you do find yourself in trouble.
However, if you want easier putts, you will need to get familiar with the 9 iron. It offers robust spin control – just get used to the typically heavier head.
One Iron Down – 8 Iron
An 8 iron will cover an average of 130 yards and might not get used too often depending on what your swing speed is like.
One Iron Down – Pitching Wedge
The pitching wedge is even more generously lofted, workable and is used for distances just around the ground. Better players will be able to send the ball straight up into the sky.
5 Wood Overview & First Impressions
The 5 wood is one of the nicest clubs to hit in the bag form the fairway, light rough and occasionally from the tee as well.
It has a large head with a manageable shaft length and a generous loft which results in a high long and straight ball flight.
When the ball sits up on the fairway is the perfect time to pull out the trusty 5 wood and it’s flight path is higher and we less roll than the club that is one up in the 5 wood.
The Average hitter will average close to 200 yards with a 5 wood so it is quite a long club in and of itself and the next club down the line with be a 3 hybrid , 3 iron, driving iron or even a 7 wood.
Common problems when hitting the club would a hook or a fade and it can be down to a number of issues from shaft length to shaft flex or just the swing mechanics of the golfer.
A D Type 5 wood might help to straighten out a 5 wood’s flight path or else some lessons.
5 Woods have slightly become less popular in recent times due to the hybrid clubs gaining popularity and even finding their way into the professionals bags these days. Still the 5 wood is an extremely popular club in almost every bag.
One Club Up – 3 Wood
A Slightly longer and lower launching club than the 5 wood, it is a staple is every golf bag around the world. It is also quite versatile being useful from the tee, fairway or the light rough.
One Club Down – 3 Hybrid
A common club that we see nowadays one down from the 5 is the three hybrid. Great for accuracy and distance from fairway and rough, it has a sharp leading edge for hitting from the rough, earning it’s name as the rescue club.
9 Iron Selling Points
- Good control
- Good feedback
- Good for hilly courses
- Very precise
- Good from rough or bunker
- Promotes accuracy
5 Wood Selling Points
- Easy & Rewarding Club To Hit
- Long, Arching Ball Flight With Less Roll
- Great For Long Par 4’s And Par 5’s
- One Of The Most Popular Clubs In Many Bags
- Higher Loft And More Forgiving.
Who Are 9 Irons For?
Speaking objectively, 9 irons will be more useful to advanced players who can cover most of the fairway in one or two strokes on shorter par 5’s.
They are most helpful on short approaches and can really help out when you’re facing down a hilly or particularly fast green
Again though, no matter what your skill set as a golfer currently is, this is a club you will need to learn.
A 9 Iron to Check Out – Taylormade SIM2
We really liked the forgiveness of this 9 iron. It has a lot of pop too which is really what you want from your 9 iron.
Distance: 94/100
Accuracy: 96/100
Feel & Control: 95/100
Forgiveness: 92/100
Overall Score: 96/100
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Who Are 5 Woods For?
The 5 wood is an excellent club for everyone to carry.
It is long, forgiving and easy to hit and it also covers key distances on the course.
The high arching stroke makes this club perfect for hunting the green on a long par 4 or on a par 5, it can be also be used from the tee for par 3’s or to lay up on a dog leg.
All in all the 5 wood is a key component in every bag.
Our Favorite 5 Wood – The Taylormade Sim Max
The Taylormade Sim Max range has a ton of quality features for distance, forgiveness and accuracy.
The Sim Max is not the latest model so you get it at a good price and it is competitive with any club in the game.
The sim max will ideally help high handicappers but the sim 5 wood will be perfect for intermediates.
Distance: 95/100
Accuracy: 94/100
Forgiveness: 94/100
Feel and Control: 91/100
Overall Score: 94/100
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