Iron lofts have gradually become one of the most misunderstood topics in modern equipment, especially in the game improvement category. This is why finding the right set of lofted irons for your game can be a crucial part of a fitting.
Look back a few decades and the numbers tell the story. In the 1980s, a standard 7 iron sat at around 35 to 36 degrees of loft. Today, many game improvement and player distance irons feature a 7 iron closer to 28 to 30 degrees, sometimes even stronger.
This change has sparked much debate. Is this just a marketing tactic designed to make golfers feel like they are hitting the ball farther? Or is there a legitimate performance reason behind what some call “loft jacking”?
The answer is a bit of both. And once you understand how modern irons are designed and who they’re designed for, the trend starts to make sense.
How Modern Design of Iron Changed the Equation
To understand why lofts have changed, you first need to understand how game improvement irons have evolved.
Over the past two decades, R&D teams have gained the ability to manipulate the center of gravity in ways that were not possible in the past. Multi-material construction, hollow bodies and dense materials like tungsten allow engineers to move mass lower and further from the face.
This CG placement directly influences launch, spin and forgiveness.
When you look at the players these irons target, a few swing trends consistently appear. Many amateur golfers hit the ball thin, swing sharply, or encounter the ball with a trajectory that creates excessive launch and spin. Left unchecked, these tendencies lead to shots that balloon, lose velocity, and fail.
The solution is to add mass where players tend to miss the ball the most, typically low on the face, while reducing static loft to maintain launch and spin within a window of play.
Stronger lofts aren’t just there to inflate distance numbers. They exist to compensate for the high launch characteristics created by modern CG placement.
When strong lofts work against the player
That said, stronger lofts aren’t the right solution for everyone.
The Tiger Woods bag in 2000 was the largest set of clubs ever assembled.
Take a mid-to-high handicap player with above-average clubhead speed, a steep angle of attack, and an inconsistent trajectory. Pair this swing with a modern 6-iron that sits at 30 degrees of loft and features today’s low center of gravity designs, and the result can actually be an over-launch with spin numbers closer to a pitching wedge.
Lower loft is one of the most effective ways to reduce launch and spin, but only if the player needs it. Most golfers struggle to control dynamic loft at impact. This is where modern iron technology comes in handy. The goal is not to transform players into tour pros. It’s about making the game more playable and enjoyable.
Not all high handicappers need less loft
This is where the conversation often becomes simplistic.
While many higher handicap players create too many launches and spin, many face the opposite problem. We see it daily during fittings.
A golfer comes in playing a game-improving iron and launches the ball low with spin rates a few thousand revolutions per minute lower than ideal. Shots fall out of the air and travel 20 yards or more beyond the green. This could be from slower clubhead speed, a shallow attack angle, or difficulty controlling loft at impact.
A detailed view of the Trackman as American Keegan Bradley plays a shot from the driving range during a practice round ahead of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 13, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky.
For this player, strong lofts can actively harm performance.
This is why many manufacturers now offer higher-end versions of their game improvement irons. Adding a few degrees of loft can significantly improve tip height, carry distance and stopping power without sacrificing forgiveness.
Forgiveness is more than dispersion
When golfers talk about forgiveness, they usually focus on left and right dispersion. Brackets and edges are easier to spot and therefore get the most attention.
Consistency of distances matters just as much.
Have the proper loft throughout helps produce predictable carry numbers, tighter front-to-back dispersion and more confidence when attacking greens. Two golfers with the same handicap may need very different loft packages to achieve these results.
The essentials
Inside the Real Golf Studio in Scotsdale, Arizona
True Spec Golf Club Fitting
With over 70,000 club head and shaft combinations, True Spec Golf will custom fit and build you an accurate set of clubs.
Loft is no less important than shaft, length or lie angle. Buying irons off the shelf and assuming they will work the same for you as they would for someone else is a gamble, especially given how wide the range is in modern lofts.
This is where a good fit is important. Work with an installer, like us at True Spec Golfwhich understands how today’s technology interacts with your swing, allows you to dial in launch, spin and distance instead of guessing.
The goal is not to chase the distance. It’s about building a set that produces repeatable numbers and helps you hit more greens. Sometimes that means stronger lofts. Other times it means the exact opposite.
Want to find the right irons for your game in 2026? Find a club fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
The position What’s Wrong with Loft Jacking in Modern Irons appeared first on Golf.
