Opinion & Analysis

The Wedge Guy: My thoughts on single-length irons

Published

3 years ago

Sep 15, 2021

One of the bigger stories in golf equipment the past few years – thanks to Mr. De Chambeau – is the development of single-length irons. So, are they right for you or not? That’s a question only a fair trial can answer, but let me offer some thoughts on how your set make-up might look if you do take that direction.

First of all, the concept is not about single-length clubs — the conversation is about single-length irons. No one is playing a driver or fairway woods at the same length as their irons. Probably not even the hybrids. The putter is typically not either. So, the question is where in the set does the “single-length” begin and end?

I’ve long espoused the concept that your set of clubs (excluding the very specialized putter) should be divided into three sub-sets: Distance Clubs, Positioning Clubs, and Scoring Clubs. And generally speaking, these subsets each cover a specific range of lofts.

The Distance Clubs are those up to 20-25 degrees or so. This subset begins with your driver and encompasses your fairway woods and maybe your lowest loft hybrid or two. Your goal with these clubs is to move the ball “on out there” and put you in a place for your “positioning shot.”

The Positioning Clubs then begin after that highest loft Distance Club and take you up to 38 to 40 degrees of loft. Generally speaking, this subset would begin with your 3 or 4-iron or hybrid and go up to through your 7- or 8-iron. The goal with these clubs is to set up a reasonable putt or chip so you can get down in no more than 2-3 shots. My opinion is that it is only within this subset that “single-length” might serve you.

The Scoring Clubs – those over 38-40 degrees of loft — are the ones with which your scores will likely be determined. Long ago, I wrote several posts about the “round club mindset” when 8-irons had a more curved topline than the seven – a distinctly different look, and those 8-irons were 38 to 40 degrees. These are the clubs designed for putting the ball close enough for a makeable putt, hopefully, more often than not.

So, most conversations about single-length irons should be limited to that subset of “Positioning Clubs,” from your longest iron through that iron of 38-40 degrees. While many golfers may not see the distance separation between clubs that you would ideally like to have in that subset, others might. I’ve long observed that the distance a club can be hit is a combination of loft AND club shaft length. I just don’t see how you can get the range of distances from the longest to shortest in the set by changing loft only. I have tried several of these sets and just do not experience the distance differentials I want from that subset in my bag.

But I can certainly assure you that you simply cannot be as accurate with wedges that are 37 or 38 inches in length as you can with those clubs being 35 to 36 inches. It’s simple golf club physics. With very few exceptions, the shorter the club, the narrower your distance dispersion is going to be.

Consider that a “wide” shot with a 45-inch driver might be 30-40 yards off-line, while even the worst “wide” shot with your 35-and-three-quarter-inch pitching wedge is not likely to be more than 15 yards offline. In between, your lateral dispersion is progressively narrower as the shaft length is reduced.

So, I just cannot see why anyone would want to make their wedges the same length as their 5- or 6-iron, 37.5 to 38 inches, and give up the naturally more accurate dispersion that the shorter shaft delivers.

I am looking forward to hearing from those of you who have tried single-length irons and longer wedges to share your experiences.

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Terry Koehler

Terry Koehler is a fourth generation Texan and a graduate of Texas A&M University. Over his 40-year career in the golf industry, he has created over 100 putter designs, sets of irons and drivers, and in 2014, he put together the team that reintroduced the Ben Hogan brand to the golf equipment industry. Since the early 2000s, Terry has been a prolific writer, sharing his knowledge as “The Wedge Guy”. But his most compelling work is in the wedge category. Since he first patented his “Koehler Sole” in the early 1990s, he has been challenging “conventional wisdom” reflected in ‘tour design’ wedges. The performance of his wedge designs have stimulated other companies to move slightly more mass toward the top of the blade in their wedges, but none approach the dramatic design of his Edison Forged wedges, which have been robotically proven to significantly raise the bar for wedge performance. Terry serves as Chairman and Director of Innovation for Edison Golf – check it out at www.EdisonWedges.com.

34 Comments

Archie

Jan 2, 2024 at 11:30 pm

Interesting post. Been playing single length for 3 years now. Pinhawks first year and upgraded to EQ1-NX most of last two seasons. 8-SW I love it. 6-7 iron, doesn’t work for me. Forget it. Don’t generate enough clubhead speed to get any sort of trajectory. Low missiles and poor gapping. Going to lengthen 6i and 7i this winter.

What has surprised me the most is the flexibility of the single length clubs. Yes I agree that accuracy probably falters at full length with the wedges BUT I also have 3 different yardages I can hit per wedge PW-SW based on how much I choke up. If I need a little extra distance and height to a tight pin over a bunker, I can take less club at full length and go after the pin. If I want to a hit a low spinner gap wedge from 115 I can choke down on the gw instead of a full SW. Completely counter to why you use single length clubs, I know, but it is definitely an unexpected benefit to me as I was never a good wedge player using the ‘clock’ method. Shaft is not the same length choked up but swing is very similar across. I agree wholeheartedly that single length is not for everybody but just sharing that it has worked well for me and generated a lot more consistency with my iron play. Best to all in your golf adventures.

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GreigT

Mar 7, 2022 at 6:30 am

Got back into golf after not playing for 20 years. Played my old clubs to decide if I wanted to play again and got the golf bug back. Best handicap was 4 but consistently played more like a 6 marker.
Got fitted and went in with an open mind. Being 64, and having a few body issues that meant I want going to get back to single figures I wanted the game to be easier and enjoyable.
Finally went for Cobra ForgeTec one length irons having played real blades on the past, loved the look of the ForgeTec irons.
However, I agree with the article relating to splitting up the club lengths.
Ok I initially got 4 to GW in one length, but the 4 & 5 are 1/2″ longer.
Got SW 54 & LW 60 I the Cobra MIM wedges. Luv em. The GW didn’t last long and I finally reached it with a 50 MIM. All wedges are standard wedge variable lengths.
Have ARCCOS tracking gapping is consistent through the set.
Give them a go but you need a good fitter to tune the gapping for you. Just don’t hit the 7 iron.

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LOWEBOY

Sep 30, 2021 at 11:33 am

I struggle with the wedges getting shorter as the loft increases. Back when BHGC was being resurrected, and I was getting my FW15 irons and TK Wedges ordered, I spent a long time on the phone with Barry. I told him about my disdain for the shorter clubs, and that 9i is about the shortest club I am comfortable hitting. We decided to make all of the clubs from 9i down, the same length, and I am glad we went that route. 9i (44*) is my 135 club. PW (49*) is my 120-ish club. GW (54* is my 100 club. SW (59*), well, I cannot hit it consistently, so I don’t have a go-to yardage on that club, and mainly use it for sand shots. So for shots in the very short to 80 yard range I pitch with my 6i (32*), 7i (36*), 8i (40*), 9i (44*) depending on the conditions and distance. Around the green I have discovered that my 5i (28*) has about the same feel as my putter in length, so I will chip with it using a putting stroke. So, I say for some people, having a range of clubs the same length works for them. For others it does not.

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Bruce

Sep 20, 2021 at 4:32 pm

About 5 years ago, I evaluated my game and concluded that I hit 8 iron through 58 degree wedge just fine: therefore leave them alone.
I fabricate clubs from purchased parts so I set about to fabricate 7 – 3 iron in single length to match my 8 iron. I purchased clubheads and shafts, added weight to the 7-3 irons to make the clubhead weight equal my 8 iron, then installed the shafts. Great way to go, never going back. Hybreds and woods remain conventional.
My education background is in mechanical engineering so analyzing the clubs is no problem. According to mechanics, the increase in head weight EXACTLY offsets the change in shaft length so I have no gapping or distance issues. My irons all swing the same, and distances equal the variable length set. The real issue is the clubs are easier to hit – the game is simplified. Yes, I know the lie angles are incorrect, but setting up for a shot, I simply look at where the club contacts the ground and correct the lie by raising my hands a very little bit. No problem.
Adding weight takes some development and would be an issue for later discussion. Suffices to say I use tungsten powder mixed with shafting epoxy, or with minor machining (milling machine to make flat bottom shallow holes in the back of the iron opposite of ball impact area), you can epoxy tungsten bullet fishing sinkers to add weight. Very effective because tungsten weighs 1.8 times that of lead.

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ChipNRun

Sep 18, 2021 at 7:32 pm

Tried some Cobra single-length irons circa 2016 at a demo day – remember those? It was a bit rainy, and not many people showed up. I got to spend a half hour with a 5-GW set.

The clubs were easy to get used to, all being the same length. But, the PW and 9i went a bit too far, and the 5i went not much longer than the 6i. Got some distance compression at both ends.

Also, a super-long PW was hard to get used to.

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- Richard Douglas
  
  Sep 21, 2021 at 6:13 pm
  
  Back then, Wishon had solved that issue while Cobra did not. Now, Wishon’s 2nd gen clubs are even better.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Kev
    
    Nov 29, 2021 at 7:28 am
    
    I have to agree with that, the Wishon EQ1 NX clubs are superb, I just got a set of these amazing clubs and find that today on trackman I can hit the 5 iron 190 meters thats 207 yards inc run out and it is only built to an 8 iron length of 36.5″. I hit the ball purer and further than my variable Ping iron set.
    The irons are excellent, forgiving and versatile as you can grip down when you feel you need more control for more delicate chips.
    
    Reply Report comment
JEREMY

Sep 18, 2021 at 5:49 pm

too many comments to see if this has been said yet but pw, gw, sw, lw are all about the same length, yet you hit those 4 clubs various lengths because there is a greater loft difference in them, 4-6 degrees. As irons get longer loft difference decreases, making single length less viable but the manufacturers of these clubs change the make up of the club from more of a blade type wedge to a thin faced super game improvent iron to creqate more distance in the “long” lower loted irons. they are not hitting blades or gi irons throught the whole set. i personally dont like single length irons but there is more to the equation than lengh, lie, loft.

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David

Sep 18, 2021 at 3:50 pm

Interesting comments. Personally I have been using a mixed bag for about two years. My 4-7 are all 7 iron length. I have no problem with gapping. At 70 years old I hit the ball shorter than a few years ago but my 7 still goes 145. The 6-5-4 all go a respectable distance with 10 yd. gaps above the 7 iron. My Distance clubs are traditional length and my 8-wedges are traditional. Doesn’t sound like much, but the difference in the 4-7 as one length has totally improved my game. I am 5′-9″ and 7 iron length wedges felt like driver length to me. I decided that variety is best. Nothing says “all” clubs need to be the same. Part of mine are graphite and some a steel and that too makes a difference. Experiment and have fun. I did and it works for me.

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Richard Douglas

Sep 18, 2021 at 1:34 pm

I’ve been playing single-length irons for more than 5 years now. This article is typical of those who look at the situation statically instead of dynamically.

Statically speaking, single length clubs look deficient in two ways. The lower-loft clubs can’t go far enough and the high-loft clubs are too long.

Wrong.

This ignores the dynamic aspect of these clubs: You groove one iron swing and are, thus, more consistent throughout the set. This includes the “longer” “short irons.” I’m more accurate with a wedge now than ever before, and that’s despite its longer length. It doesn’t feel longer; it feels like every other club in the set. (In my case, 4-iron through Sand Wedge.)

On the low-lofted end, each player will be limited with how far he/she can go before there is a loss of gapping. This is determined by swing speed. Yes, the length does add to distance; about 15%. In traditional sets this is accomplished by lengthening the clubs as you go through the set. So, the author decries the longer “scoring” clubs, yet ignores the longer “positioning” clubs (his terms). But when I stand over a 36.5″ 4-iron that travels as far as a traditional 4-iron, I have a lot of confidence. I know I don’t have to sacrifice accuracy.

Finally, the club manufacturer has an impact on all of this with club design. Softer metals and higher CGs in the high-lofted clubs, more COR and lower CGs in the low lofted clubs. So the differences are mellowed out.

I used to chase iron designs for years. I stopped when I switched to single-length. I’ll never go back.

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- Bagger Vince
  
  Sep 19, 2021 at 7:52 pm
  
  Glad they worked for you… saw my handicap increase by 2.8 using them for 6 months; just went back to my variable length and couldn’t be happier
  
  Reply Report comment
Jack R Symmes

Sep 17, 2021 at 9:08 pm

For anybody interested in going to same length clubs, I found a good read in Tom Wishon’s Q & A on same length clubs(wishongolf.com). It’s very informative and worth reading.

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Webster Warren Miller

Sep 17, 2021 at 5:52 pm

I would like to try as set of dual length irons. In the author’s terms, positioning clubs based on one length and then scoring clubs based on another.

My current set almost already is in the scoring clubs. There’s only a 1/2″ difference between my 36″ 40* 9I, 35.75″ PW, and 35.5″ AW/SW/LW. I don’t see why having all my clubs 40* and above at 35.5″ would be an issue. If they all had the same length, shaft, lie, swingweight I can only imagine that I would hit them equally well.

As for the positioning clubs, I would probably settle at 37″ which means my 24* 5I would only need to be 1″ shorter and my 35.5* 8 iron a 1/2″ longer. It’s not like those are drastic length changes by any means.

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- Richard Douglas
  
  Sep 18, 2021 at 1:34 pm
  
  Dual-length defeats the purpose of single-length clubs. You’ll get all the downsides and none of the advantages.
  
  Reply Report comment
MCS

Sep 17, 2021 at 1:38 pm

Personally, I think this article might not adequately account for the potential benefits of a single-length setup for high-handicap players or players who are not already confident in their short clubs. It is not an exaggeration to state that single length clubs have revolutionized my father’s game. As a high handicap player who has never been confident with wedges, the consistency and confidence of the single length setup have him now playing his “Scoring Clubs” with more success than any time in the 25+ years we have been playing together. While I understand it is logical that a longer-length wedge will be harder to control “all things being equal,” in my experience this concept is meaningless if the single length setup helps to strike the ball with much greater consistency. My father is now playing Cobra’s single length clubs all the way down to the sand wedge there is no doubt in my mind that his average approach shot with them is significantly better than with his prior clubs.

As a player who does have confidence in my shorter clubs, I did not find single length clubs to offer an advantage in that part of the bag, but I also did not feel a drastic difference in accuracy either. The wedges in particular did tend to fly a bit further, which encouraged me to adopt a shorter, less aggressive swing on those clubs to retain accuracy and gapping — something that might actually be helpful for some players. Ultimately I do prefer variable length wedges and short iron and believe that I personally am slightly more accurate with them, but I don’t think the difference is insurmountable.

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- Milbs
  
  Jan 14, 2023 at 4:59 pm
  
  I agree!
  I’m 6’4” and after an 8 year break I bought some F9 OL irons as I thought it would be easier to get back into things – I was right, but I became concerned that the 4&5 irons weren’t going as far (nor were they gapped) like they should have.
  So I went back to variable length – and struggled like mad with my wedge game – short clubs and tall guys promote lifting! I also realised after getting my game back that I was actually better switching to hybrids beyond my 5 iron.
  
  So fast forward two years of trying really hard to get going with VL irons and this week I bought 5-SW Speedzone OL – first round with them I was SEVEN, yes SEVEN shots better than the previous round – and most of my gains were around the green, chipping with clubs that didn’t need me to bend almost double to hit them!
  
  Golf is all about what you’re comfortable with (I’ve tried Cleveland’s chipper and have a Ping Chipr and can’t hit either closer than I can with “normal “ wedges) – so I ignore the bias out there and play with what works for me!
  
  Reply Report comment
retired04

Sep 17, 2021 at 1:34 pm

Been playing Cobra f8 ONE length irons since they were introduced in 2017-6 iron-PW. Was 70 yrs old when I got mine and was fitted for lie angle. Have been playing with real clubs/balls since I was 7-single digit since high school although from shorter sr. tees since about 66 years old-spent 20+ years in/ around the golf business.

Single length concept just made too much sense so I tried it-best decision I could have made-love them. Consistent distances, no problems with trajectory and all with the SAME swing. Like them so much I already own my backup set for when these wear out.

Only made one change-sent the 6 & 7 iron heads to Jim Kronus at the Iron Factory, Glendale, AZ to be regrooved to get rid of the goofy distance grooves-now I can stop the ball on the greens.

I bought based on lofts-PW-6 iron are 44*-39-34-29.5-25.5 with my old 913 hybrid at 21* with 10-12 yd. gaps. Add in 3 std length Zipcore wedges-56*-52 & 48 and ironically I am playing the same lofts I did about 60 years ago when PWs were 50-52*. I can work them either way,change trajectory and golf is still fun. And SL is not just for us old(er).

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Mike

Sep 17, 2021 at 1:10 pm

One set of rules in fitting golf clubs to a golfer is NEVER an option.
I could never play wedges longer than 35.5″ myself, having said that, that’s me, countless golfers differ in so many aspects. A good example is the driver length, for most, 45.5″ is way too long, yet and though the exception, some higher handicap players actually hit their driver better at that length.
Some golfers prefer longer wedges because they simply feel more comfortable standing more erect over the ball, hence for those golfers, longer wedges actually work better.

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Jeff

Sep 17, 2021 at 10:10 am

Single length irons can bring bring some questions and thought. No one product will fit everyone’s need. However, stamping the degrees of loft on an iron versus the actual number of the iron. We know that does not work!!:Right Terry

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A. Commoner

Sep 17, 2021 at 8:53 am

Interesting (?) comments ….Seems pedantry is flourishing.

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Rob McCance

Sep 17, 2021 at 8:10 am

First, I play VL irons, Srixon ZX7. So this is not anti or pro SL here.

Those are great thoughts and opinions from Koehler, and that’s all they are.

A MUCH better article on SL Irons would of included actually hitting the set and reporting back the results, using a Quad.

Test the latest set of Cobra SL irons and give us the numbers.

Last, anyone can choke down on a wedge one inch if they need to, I do it all the time with my VL irons (ZX7). So this “wedges are longer in SL” idea is pretty irrelevant.

Not many actual points made in this OpEd and certainly no actual data.

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John Courtney

Sep 16, 2021 at 6:18 am

I play single length wedges. I have a setup that looks like this: 60, 56, 52, 48, 43 (43 is pitching wedge in my iron set, really a 9i because of loft). Including my actual 9i (it’s an 8i, 38 degrees), all of my wedges are at 36″. This helps with finding the same setup position for me when using them in the short for chipping/bumping. I don’t find single length irons all that helpful for the same reason, the writer of this article doesn’t. Your irons carry a number of yards that helps you solve the math equation that is golf. If you hit a 250 yard drive and you hit your 7 iron 150, which two clubs do you think you’ll play on a 400 yard hole. As the hole gets longer you adjust which club. Using single length irons will make this harder. Especially if you put a 4 iron shaft in your 9 iron. You’ll create a huge gap between your wedges and irons. That will make it incredibly harder to play since you won’t have a full shot between 100-130, THAT IS SCORING RANGE.

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John

Sep 16, 2021 at 1:19 am

I have been using a mixed set of SL and VL clubs for 2.5 years now, a d love them.
I have 4-7 iron in SL, VL in the rest of the bag. I have seen such an improvement in long iron consistency, without any detriment to the rest of my game. Gapping has not been an issue either with 15-17 yards between the SL long irons

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Sk jay

Sep 15, 2021 at 10:54 pm

I play everything I need from 160 in using SL at wedge length for me that is 7-p. My thinking is pros are also essentially using sl wedges from this distance so I am just adjusting loft to compensate for my lower ss. The nice thing is I can chip around greens with all sl clubs and now have loads of options without having to choke up

Outside 160 I’m using vl hybrids and fairways since I need the height to stop the ball.

Btw I shot par for the first time ever with set up and play off 3. I’m not planning to change anything.

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Jim Evans

Sep 15, 2021 at 10:47 pm

Started playing Cobra One Length clubs (5 – GW / regular flex steel) two months ago. Not only are they all the length of the 7 iron, I had an extra inch added due to my height (6’4″) It took several weeks to adjust but now I love them. I either grip down or use a 2 finger swing with my GW to cover the gap between it and my standard SW. I haven’t had any issues with gaps between my irons and hybrids. My accuracy, especially with 8 – GW, has improved markedly. Now if I could just putt…

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Tommy Williams

Sep 15, 2021 at 10:30 pm

I have been playing King Cobra SZ 4-6 built at a single length 6 iron length. 7-Gap are standard length Cobra forged-Tec. I’ve used this setup for almost 18 mths now. Depending upon workload and practice , I usually float between 6-10 handicap.

For me the single length 8-Gap was a non-starter as I hated the look, and the control just wasn’t there for me after many demo sessions. Long story short, this setup works great for me, specifically, in that I tend to over hit my long irons. Seeing a shorter iron works for me in that I swing more smoothly. Mea culpa, I’m compensating for a mental flaw. However, it’s existed in my brain for 40 years. I’ll try to address it via lessons soon…keep the dream I suppose.?

My biggest issue however is 4 & 5 iron gapping. I hit reach off them 200-205. I need more from my 4 iron, so I think I may try their single length adjustable driving iron. If you do go this route though, the gapping thing is real. I was fitted, and still ended up with issues. However, I’m still a believer in the single length long irons.

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Kosko Koskinen

Sep 15, 2021 at 9:44 pm

I decided to experiment 2 years ago after year of frustration and inconsistency with 3-5 irons. Living in Minnesota have me some time away from the course in the winter months. Decided to go in and demo the Cobra Forged Tech irons. At first… My thoughts were, “well this is dumb”…. But after putting some indoor time and visually adjusting to shorter length long irons, I started to enjoy it. The biggest adjustment was not changing ball position for my 3-7 irons…. Same swing, consistent results. I decided to follow my golf pros advice of going 8-pw in traditional variable length irons. Been a fan ever since and cannot imagine reverting to the traditional sticks. Handicap is hovering in the 2’s as I age not so gracefully toward the 48 years old.

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Alan Kwon

Sep 15, 2021 at 6:46 pm

I am in my early 50’s with 2 years of golf under my belt. I learnt to play golf with cobra one length irons and it is the best thing I could have done in terms of flattening the learning curve. Initially I picked up Ping G700s and just couldn’t hit anything above the 7 iron, so I thought to myself, why can’t I have a 4 iron in 7 or 8 iron length? So I googled exactly that, and came across a chap named Bryson Dechambeau play with one length irons! Wow, there was such thing as a 4 iron in 7 iron length and Cobra was the brand!

My curren handicap 15. My practice routine is so simple – start with an OL wedge, then 7 iron, then the driver. That’s it. Needless to say all my irons are OL, and even my 2,3 hybrids. I don’t really use metal woods.

But now that my iron play is pretty good, I am using the normal length irons from PXG, Mizuno, and TM, mostly blades. As good the OL cobra irons are, life is too short to miss out on the pure feel of forged blades!

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Tom

Sep 15, 2021 at 5:53 pm

I am a 17 handicap, I was fitted and have the Cobra 5-SW SL irons. I also have a normal 4 hybrid, fairway and driver. In addition, I carry a normal SW and 60 degree wedge (not single length). I use these clubs, the normal SW and 60 for distances under 100yds. All the rest SL have a good range between clubs except for the 5 iron. It’s distance is just a little longer then the 6 iron, but it has a much lower trajectory. So I use the right tool for the right distance. Overall the SL have improve my consistency.

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Jim Harper

Sep 15, 2021 at 5:16 pm

I took an old set of Ping G20 irons last fall and changed to a 40” stiff shaft. 4-PW. In my bag now are the 8-9 only. They are magic from 140-160 yards. Worth the experiment.

Reply Report comment
Matt

Sep 15, 2021 at 2:26 pm

I think single length can be an intriguing option for some people if you are willing to go through the process of ensuring proper fit and proper gapping. It’s no secret that having all one length irons from, say, 5-9 will make swinging those clubs easier. One swing plane, one set up. Elimination of variables. However, where I get a little lost in the weeds is now the increased difference in your 5 iron (or whatever your last iron is) and your next club ie hybrid, fairway, utility, etc. Same as the other end. Now you are going from a 7/8 iron length in your 9 iron to a shorter wedge. Bryson has clearly shown that it can be done and it can be useful. He however has a lot of resources at his disposal that the average golfer doesn’t. It’s a very intriguing option that I would certainly be willing to try if I had the proper fit and the ability to go back for adjustments without paying an arm and a leg. The idea of grabbing my 7 iron on the range knowing that I am now warmed up with all my irons is intriguing. Elimination of variables in a game full of them is never a bad thing, as long as it’s done properly.

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Gordy3279

Sep 15, 2021 at 1:54 pm

Personally, I think single length irons from lets say 4-LW is not a good idea. What you need the club to do in a 4-6 is different than a 7-9 and PW-LW. What I mean is you want your long irons to interact with the turf and the ball differently than your mid to short irons.

However, something I have tried and do like but need to dial a tad bit with lie angles and weight is to make a group of clubs the same distance. I have made my 4-6 iron all the same length as my 6i. My 7-9i the same length as my 9i and my PW-LW the same length as my LW. What I have noticed is, going shorter has no effected my distance all but a yard or 2 but does increase accuracy. I don’t have numbers but I do feel a ton more confident with a shorter club in my hand than a longer one.

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- Aaron Gibson
  
  Sep 16, 2021 at 9:15 am
  
  Gordy? Can you tell me how you built that set. What lie angle did you make the 4-6, 7 – 9 and pw- Lw? What is the swing weight of them as well?
  
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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle

Published

3 days ago

Apr 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.

Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.

The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.

Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.

Past Winners at Harbour Town

2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
2019: CT Pan (-12)
2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
2016: Branden Grace (-9)
2015: Jim Furyk (-18)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For Harbour Town

Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
Tom Hoge (+1.27)
Corey Conners (+1.16)
Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
Cameron Young (+0.93)

Good Drive %

The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

Brice Garnett (88.8%)
Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
Sepp Straka (+85.1%)

Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs

Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.

SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:

Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
Brian Harman (+1.89)
Sungjae Im (+1.58)

4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)

Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.

SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds

Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
Taylor Moore (+1.02)
Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
Andrew Putnam (+0.83)

5. Greens in Regulation %

The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.

Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:

Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
Corey Conners (+69.0%)
Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)

6. Course History

Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.

Course History over past 24 rounds:

Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
Cam Davis (+2.05)
J.T. Poston (+1.69)
Justin Rose (+1.68)
Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)

The RBC Heritage Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)

Shane Lowry
Russell Henley
Scottie Scheffler
Xander Schauffele
Corey Conners
Wyndham Clark
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Matt Fitzpatrick
Cameron Young
Ludvig Aberg

2024 RBC Heritage Picks

Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)

With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.

Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).

Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.

Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)

I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.

The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.

Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)

Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.

Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.

Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)

Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.

In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.

Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.

Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)

When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.

Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.

Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.

Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)

This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.

Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.

Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.

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Vincenzi: The 6 biggest takeaways from the 2024 Masters

Published

3 days ago

Apr 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The 2024 Masters offered up plenty of excitement throughout the week with Scottie Scheffler delivering when it mattered to live up to his pre-tournament favorite tag. With the year’s opening major now in the books, here are my six biggest takeaways from the 2024 Masters.

Scheffler In a League of His Own

In the most impressive way possible, Scottie Scheffler won the Masters without having his absolute best stuff. For the week, Scottie ranked 19th in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is a category the number player in the world typically dusts the rest of the field in. After a strong approach day on Thursday, the 27-year-old lost strokes to the field on approach on Friday and Saturday, before gaining on Sunday. The iron performance was more than solid, but it was an all-around game that helped Scheffler get it done around Augusta National.

For a year or more, the narrative around Scheffler has been, “With his ball striking, if he can just putt to field average, he’ll be unbeatable.” At Augusta, his ball striking came back down to earth, but his touch around the greens and ability to manage the golf course demonstrated why he is the best player on the planet right now. For the week, Scheffler ranked 1st in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 24th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

For the time being, there is a major gap between Scottie Scheffler and the second-best player in the world, whoever that may be.

The Future is Now

Ludvig Aberg went into his first back-nine at the Masters with a legitimate shot to win the tournament. When he teed it up on the treacherous 11th hole, he was one behind Scottie Scheffler, who had just stuck one to a few feet on the 9th. By the time he approached his tee shot, which was perfectly striped down the left side of the fairway, he was two behind. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old got too aggressive with his approach at the 11th and found the water, making double bogey. Ludvig rebounded nicely and finished the event in solo second place.

With the Masters now in the rearview, it’s never been more evident that Ludvig Aberg is no longer an “up-and-comer” — he has arrived. The Swede has been an integral part of a winning European Ryder Cup team and has now contended at Augusta National. With a calm demeanor, a picture-perfect swing, and a build and stature that appears as if it was built in a lab, Ludvig Aberg is already amongst the world’s best. I’d be extremely surprised if he wasn’t in the mix at next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Nostalgia Wins

I try to avoid as many cliches as possible, but there’s something about the Masters that brings out the sentimentality in me. Tiger Woods strategically making his way around Augusta National without all of the physical tools that made him arguably the most dominant athlete in the history of sports will always be riveting, regardless of what score he shoots. Woods made it interesting until a tough stretch of holes on Saturday, but he ultimately wore down, shooting 16 over for the week in difficult conditions. It’s remarkable that the 15-time major champion was able to put together a few solid rounds of golf despite barely playing any competitive golf in 2024. As long as Woods tees it up at Augusta, we will all continue to be mesmerized by it.

Verne Lundquist’s 40th and final Masters Tournament was also a must-watch aspect of the event. The iconic voice of Lundquist and his calls throughout the years still give me chills each time I hear them. Verne is an icon of the game and will be missed in future renditions of the Masters.

The Masters also brings another element that is unique to the tournament. Former champions turn back the clock to battle with the golf course again which creates some amazing stories. There are a few that stick out this year and were an absolute pleasure to witness. 61-year-old Vijay Singh made the cut for the first time since 2018 and shot a pretty incredible even-par, 72 on Sunday. 58-year-old José María Olazábal made the cut as well, reminding us why fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm sought his valuable advice prior to his Masters victory in 2022.

Regardless of who wins, the Masters always delivers.

Bryson Moves the Needle

Plenty will disagree with me on this point, but outside of Tiger Woods, and potentially Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, no one moves the needle in golf as much as Bryson DeChambeau. The uniqueness in which Bryson approaches the game has always been fascinating, and if he gets near the top of the leaderboard at any major championship, whether it’s to root for him or against him, people are interested.

It began on Monday with a pretty bizarre story of DeChambeau using 3D-printed irons that got just got cleared for use by the USGA when the week began. It once again felt like a storyline that would only be possible with a character as eccentric as Bryson. He then raced off to a first-round lead in tough conditions, reminding the world of what made him such a great golfer to begin with. He made some mistakes on the weekend, but still finished a career best T6 at The Masters.

Bryson is more than just quirky; he is a former U.S. Amateur Champion and U.S. Open who I believe will contend for more majors in the future. I will continue to root for DeChambeau, but I’m perfectly content with the fact that plenty will root against him, and I encourage those people to do so. That’s what makes it fun.

LIV Walks Away Empty-Handed

Last year, there were a multitude of questions about LIV players coming into the year’s first major. They had played very limited tournament golf, and critics of LIV questioned whether the 54-hole events were enough to sharpen the players enough to compete against the best in the world on the biggest stage.

The results were fascinating, with LIV players all over the leaderboard. Brooks Koepka held the 36- and 54-hole lead, with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed finishing T2 and T4, giving LIV three golfers in the top-4 of the leaderboard.

This season, with even more time removed and with some more massive additions to the roster, the intrigue surrounding LIV players at Augusta was once again palpable. While some players, including Bryson DeChambeau, exceeded expectations, I can’t help but walk away from the Masters feeling underwhelmed by the performance of the LIV players.

Brooks Koepka finished runner-up last season and is a certified major championship killer. The 5-time major champ was never involved and simply didn’t have it at Augusta. Dustin Johnson put together a putrid performance, shooting 13 over for his two rounds, making it fair to wonder if his days of contending at major championships are over as he rapidly approaches his 40th birthday.

Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann were both players who were amongst the favorites this week, but Rahm was faced with the daunting duties of defending champion and Niemann proved he was still not quite ready to master the quirks of Augusta National, bleeding strokes both around and on the greens.

To be fair, when all was said and done, LIV had four players in the top twelve at The Masters. Tyrrell Hatton stormed the leaderboard early on Sunday, finishing T9 and earning himself an invite back to Augusta next season. Cam Smith and Patrick Reed put together gritty performances, which isn’t too surprising considering the fact that they both absolutely love Augusta National, but neither ever felt a real threat to win. There’s no doubt the players on LIV are good, and that’s why some encouraging leaderboard positions aren’t enough. They needed to contend.

With no players part of the storyline on Sunday, I view the first major of the year as a disappointment for LIV. The players will head into next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla with a lot to prove.

Rory’s Struggles Continues

Rory struggling at Augusta National is no surprise at this point. The four-time major champion has now had 10 attempts to complete the career grand slam and has never had a chance to win. His T2 in 2022 was deceiving, the Northern Irishman stormed the leaderboard on Sunday, but was never in contention, and never got within three shots of the winner, Scottie Scheffler.

I didn’t expect Rory to win, but I have to admit that this year felt a bit different. McIlroy played the week prior to the Masters, which he typically doesn’t do, and finished third at the Valero Texas Open. He gained 7.56 strokes on approach and 2.0 strokes off the tee, which told me that his visit with world-renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, after the Players Championship paid dividends.

McIlroy also approached the media quite differently. He cut his pre-tournament press conference short after only 10 minutes and seemed to be laser-focused on just playing golf.

Despite the different approach to the Masters, the results were the same. McIlroy struggled over the course of the week, finishing T22 (+4) and never sniffed a decent weekend position on the leaderboard. It’s back to the drawing board for McIlroy, and I have doubts that he will ever figure it out at Augusta.

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Vincenzi: The 8 best prop bets for the 2024 Masters

Published

1 week ago

Apr 9, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

We’ve finally reached The Masters and excitement is at an all-time high. The world of golf has been fractured for the better part of two years, but for a week at Augusta National, all of the outside noise will disappear. All of the best players in the world will be together seeking to make history.

RELATED: Vincenzi’s 2024 Masters betting preview: Niemann to play star role at Augusta National

In addition to betting on The Masters champion. This is one of the few weeks of the year where there are so many more markets to explore, with value to be had in plenty of different categories.

Throughout this article, I’ll discuss all of my favorite props and players for the 2024 Masters.

Placement Bets:

Tony Finau Top 5 +750 (DraftKings):

I badly wanted to include Tony Finau in my outright betting selections, but I simply ran out of room on my card. Additionally, it’s slightly difficult to see him hitting the putts necessary to win the Masters on back nine on Sunday. However, I do strongly believe he will play great golf this week at Augusta National.

In his past 24 rounds, Finau ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Approach is always amongst the best drivers of the golf ball in the game. Back in 2019, Finau had a great chance to win The Masters. I expect him to be hanging around over the weekend once again in 2024.

Gary Woodland Top 20 +550 (DraftKings), Gary Woodland to make the cut -110 (DraftKings):

Last season, Gary Woodland had his best ever finish at The Masters in his eleven tries. The 39-year-old finished T14 and played incredibly steady across all four rounds.

In Woodland’s most recent start at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, he struck the ball incredibly well. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach (+8.8) and Strokes Gained: Ball Striking (+10.0).

Gary has been working with Butch Harmon and absolutely flushing the ball both in tournaments and during practice.

Woodland appears to be healthy once again and in a great place physically and mentally. If he can build off his impressive performance at Augusta last year, he can place inside the top ten in 2024.

Additionally, the make the cut number on Woodland seems generous considering the number of players who miss the cut will be relatively small this week. Woodland is striking it well enough to make the cut even if he’s hindered by a balky putter once again.

Thorbjorn Olesen Top 20 +400 (FanDuel):

The Thunder Bear, Thorbjorn Olesen, made his Masters debut in 2013 and finished an incredibly impressive T6 for the week. In the two additional starts he’s made at Augusta National since then, the Dane has continued to be incredibly solid, finishing T44 and T21.

This week, Olesen heads into the week playing some good golf. He gained 3.8 strokes on approach and 5.52 strokes around the green at last week’s Valero Texas Open on his way to a strong T14 finish. Back in January, he won the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour.

Olesen has the skill set to be successful at Augusta and seems primed for a good performance this week.

Top Nationalities:

Sergio Garcia Top Spanish Player +280 (DraftKings):

I believe Sergio Garcia can get into contention this week with the way he’s striking the ball in addition to his good vibes with a refurbished version of the Scotty Cameron that he used at the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah.

I am slightly concerned about the emotional letdown he may face after losing in a playoff at LIV Miami, but I believe a veteran and former Masters champion should be able to regroup and focus on an event far more meaningful.

This is essentially a tournament head-to-head with Jon Rahm at +280. While Rahm deserves to be respected this week, the history of the lack of success of defending champions at The Masters is difficult to ignore.

Joaquin Niemann Top South American Player -230 (FanDuel):

While I hate paying this much juice, I don’t see a world in which Joaquin Niemann isn’t the top South American this week at The Masters. Joaco comes in playing better golf than anyone in the world not named Scottie Scheffler and has a serious chance to win the green jacket.

He only needs to beat two players: Emiliano Grillo and Camilo Villegas.

Tournament Head-to-Heads:

Justin Thomas -110 over Collin Morikawa

JT isn’t having his best season but is playing a lot better than he is getting credit for at the moment. In the past three months, there are only six players on the PGA Tour who have averaged 1.7 Strokes Gained: Tee to Green or better. Justin Thomas (+1.7) is one of the six and is currently tied with Rory McIlroy (+1.7).

Morikawa, on the other hand, has been extremely poor with his irons, which is incredibly uncharacteristic for him. I can’t help but feel like something is completely off with the two-time major champion.

Tony Finau -110 over Wyndham Clark

I explained in the placement section why I’m so high on Tony Finau this week. With how well he’s striking the ball, it seems as if his floor is extremely high. I’m not sure if he can make the putts to win a green jacket but I believe he will be in the mix similarly to 2019 when Tiger Woods emerged from a crowded pack of contenders.

Clark is a debutant, and while some debutants have had success at The Masters, it certainly poses a challenge. I also don’t believe Augusta National suits Clark as well as some of the other major championship venues.

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