Measuring Up One Length Irons: Consistency at a Cost

You might think one length irons are simply an entire set of irons a 7-iron-length shaft. You’d be wrong. 

Yes, all the irons in a one length set do have the same length shaft – often a 6, 7, or 8-iron length – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

In order to work as a set, each iron in a one length iron set must have identical length, swing weight, total weight, and head weight. Many one length sets even incorporate identical lie angles and offsets throughout the set. 

On the other hand, each head in a variable length set has a different weight. That’s why you can’t just put 7-iron shafts in all your irons and call it a one length set.

Here’s the thing with one length irons. Since the clubs are all the same length, same weight, and same swing weight, you can expect your swing speed to be pretty much the same from gap wedge (or your highest-lofted club in the set) all the way down through 4-iron (or your lowest-lofted iron). 

That means that the tech inside each club head is solely responsible for creating your ideal distance gap. 

Traditionally, shorter clubs churn out slower swing speeds and longer clubs lead to faster swing speeds, which is a huge factor in creating your ideal yardage gaps. That’s an advantage that one length clubs can’t rely on.

In defense of one length irons, the clubs are successful in producing a consistent, repeatable swing, including consistent swing speed, path, and attack angle, throughout the bag. That consistency can truly be a game-changer for some players.

The problem, however, is that when you remove club length (and essentially club speed) from the equation, it’s much more difficult to manipulate distance and spin rates in order to dial in the perfect set from top to bottom, which is why gapping issues with one length irons are common.

Many people who have converted to one length irons report better and more consistent ball-striking, but problems with too much of a yardage gap between two clubs, and nearly enough of a gap between others, are common.

If you really want to give one length irons a try, the best way to address this issue is to be fit. However, a typical iron fitting only requires you to hit a 7-iron. To truly be properly fit for one-length irons, you need to hit every iron in the set to establish your distances, and adjust any lofts as necessary to create your ideal distance gaps between irons. 

If your fitter is willing to do all that for you, they’ve got a leg up on any fitter I’ve ever worked with.

Here's a quick summary of the advantages and drawbacks of single length irons.

Pros:

• More consistent ball-striking: Expect consistent swing speed, path, and attack angle through the bag, which can produce consistent and predictable shot patterns
• More consistent setup and fundamentals

Cons:

• Because one length irons are so similar to each other, gapping issues are common
• Fitting is even more beneficial with one length than variable length irons, yet difficult to access, and a proper one length iron fitting should examine gapping between all clubs, not just performance with a 7-iron (like traditional iron fittings).

Hindsight is 20-20, and now that we’ve had a major OEM hawking one length irons, and, whether you like him or not, a popular professional golfer using them on tour for almost a decade, we can answer most of those one length iron questions that came up years ago.

To this day, Cobra is still making one length irons, but no other major OEM has added them to their lineups (Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, PING, Mizuno, Srixon, PXG, Cleveland).

While Bryson DeChambeau is still gaming one length irons, it shouldn’t be surprising that one length irons have not caught on in professional golf. Players who have developed enough skill to compete with the best in the world should be resistant to major changes like switching to one length irons.

There are plenty of recreational players who enjoy one length irons, but they still only represent a tiny share of the irons sold today.

Should you try one length irons? Of course, the answer is maybe.

One length irons are not necessarily better or worse than variable length irons. There are simply tradeoffs. From those who have converted from variable length to one length, and those who have been faithful one length players for years, the consensus seems to be that one length irons do in fact deliver improved ball striking consistency through the bag, with the common trade-off of gapping issues.

That potential gapping issue can be addressed, which we'll get to shortly, so the answer as to whether or not you should try one length irons really comes down to a few things:

• Are you searching for increased consistency in your ball striking from irons?
• Can you live with some less-than-ideal gapping in you bag in exchange for that consistency?
• Are you willing to do a little bit of tinkering, and work through an adjustment period, to get one length irons dialed in to your game?

If you do decide to pursue a switch to one length irons, perhaps the biggest barrier to converting is the fitting conundrum. 

Even if you’re a poor ball-striker with variable length irons, there’s no guarantee that switching to one length irons will be a net gain for you. 

You could end up with distance gaps with some clubs that cause as much harm to your game as poor ball striking. Since a typical iron fitting does not fit you for every iron in the set, you likely won’t know that until you’ve put the one length irons in play for a while.

One solution to this problem is to use one length irons long enough to establish your distances with every iron (which you can learn quickly using a launch monitor), then address any gapping issues by bending any irons as needed (adding or reducing loft). A good rule of thumb is that each degree you adjust the loft of an iron is worth somewhere around three yards.

If you’re considering this option, you’ll want your set of one length irons to be forged, not cast, as forged clubs can be bent significantly more than cast irons, which can snap if bent more than a degree or two.

If you’re considering one length irons, there are plenty of options to fit your needs. From premium forged sets, to great deals on quality used sets, and bargains on entry-level options. Here are some of our top recommendations if you’re starting to shop for one length irons.