9 Wood Vs. 5 Iron – Choosing the Right Club

You have probably seen a lot of players swap out an iron for a wood, and it’s probably less likely you’ve seen someone swapping out a mid iron for a high lofted wood but it can be advantageous.

But who should really be replacing your 5 iron with a 9 wood? The simple answer is probably somebody who hits their woods well or struggles with their irons but that choice has also become even more cloudy with the surge in popularity of hybrids in recent years.

As recently as last year, we saw tour pros like Bubba Watson and Matthew Fitzpatrick clamoring for 9 woods to help rescue their balls from the rough on tour, due to its high loft and sharp leading edge.

However, a 9 wood may not always be a viable option for you, its certainly not as precise as the 5 iron but it can be worked with a draw or fade.

A 5 iron is going to be precise, workable and forgiving, coming in styles for beginners to advanced players.

9 Wood Overview

The 9 wood is not a common sight on tour or even at your local course. However, it does have it’s place in the bag in certain situations.

9 woods have popularly been used as rescue clubs because of the staggering launch angles they produce and the way the edge can cut through the longer grass.

They are something of a rarity these days but some people do like to swap their 4 or 5 irons out in favor of a 9 wood.

In general, a 9 wood is good for covering moderate distances on the fairway. Most 9 woods you find will have lofts of around 26 degrees leading to a high launch without much rollout.

Another thing that draws higher handicap players to clubs like the 9 wood is the large head. It’s typically pretty easy to hit the sweet spot with a 9 wood and the shorter shaft, compared with lower woods makes it easier to wield.

5 Iron Overview

5 irons have become known as irons for lower handicap players although they will be present in most beginner sets too.

They are good for shots between 175 and 200 yards and can provide more advanced players with pin hunting accuracy from these long distances.

The have long and compact heads with large sweet spots and they cut the tough well from the fairway or the rough. You can also generate quite a bit of spin.

In our experience, 5 irons are very versatile when it comes to distance. It’s true that this club is a precision iron.

Due to the thicker face, you get more control around hazardous greens. Still, you can use them for long and mid-range shots from the fairway or the semi-rough.

The best thing about 5 irons in our opinion is the low trajectory shots they produce and you can also open or close the face to change the dynamic loft.

This is very beneficial when you are playing uphill and don’t want to bomb the ball so it goes sailing over the green and down the other side.

At the end of the day, both of these clubs can be useful. Making the choice between them though will require you to apply what you know about your own game and needs as a player and don’t forget that hybrids are also a big part of the conversation nowadays too.