Golfing News & Blog Articles

Iron loft is a hot topic for good reason. It’s one of the first numbers golfers look at when comparing clubs. But with more data than ever on launch, spin and shaft characteristics, we’ve learned that iron loft alone doesn’t tell the full story.

Still, if you’re switching from a game-improvement iron to a player’s model (or vice versa), you’ll feel the difference immediately.

In 2025, we tested more than 65 iron sets across every category. Using that test pool, I researched the stock lofts of each set and created a composite average for every major iron category. While there are small variations from one set to another, this chart represents what you can realistically expect in 2025 for golf iron lofts.

2025 iron loft chart

Here’s how 2025 iron loft averages compare across every major category tested by MyGolfSpy.

Iron	Player’s	Player’s Distance	Game Improvement	Super Game Improvement
4-Iron	23°	21°	20°	18°
5-Iron	26°	24°	22°	21°
6-Iron	29°	27°	25°	24°
7-Iron	33°	31°	28°	27°
8-Iron	37°	35°	33°	31°
9-Iron	42°	39°	37°	36°
Pitching Wedge	46°	44°	42°	41°

The loft gap is big

The difference between the average player’s 7-iron (33 degrees) and a super game improvement 7-iron (27) is six degrees, roughly the difference between a 7-iron and a “5½-iron.” That’s why golfers switching categories instantly notice a change in distance and trajectory.

Western North Carolina is home to natural beauty and, not coincidentally, Balsam Mountain Preserve.

If you are an outdoor lover, it is a bucket list area to visit. You have the Blue Ridge Parkway at your fingertips. There is the cultural richness of Asheville, N.C., and the surrounding foothill towns and communities. Ultimately, it is a mountainous paradise to explore and experience.

Fortunately for us, it is also a region rich in golf. There is a handful of golf communities nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. A newcomer is vying for attention, especially from individuals looking to escape to the rural peacefulness the mountains provide. And, to its credit, this upstart is rooted in preserving the natural scene and beauty of Sylva, N.C.

This is Balsam Mountain Preserve.

Balsam golf is an Arnold Palmer masterpiece

Balsam Mountain Preserve is an Arnold Palmer Signature Course. The views are breathtaking. The routing will leave you speechless. Soaking in the beauty at every turn will satisfy your soul, especially if you believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Japanese golfers Nasa Hataoka and Miyu Yamashita each shot 7-under 65 on Thursday to stand atop the leaderboard after the first round of the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic.

LXXII golf arrives. Plus, Rose will not Captain in '27, GMac throws his name into the pursuit, the late Judy Bell, Quotables and Reads.

High school junior Charlie Woods, the son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, was named a first-team All-American by the AJGA.

Rory McIlroy said he got a personal apology from PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague over the abuse he and his wife endured at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in September.

This document highlights some of the world's most renowned and architecturally significant golf clubhouses, which serve as iconic symbols for their respective courses.

The Old Course at St Andrews – St Andrews, Scotland

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) clubhouse overlooks the 1st tee and 18th green of the Old Course. While the R&A is distinct from the St Andrews Links Trust, the clubhouse is synonymous with the history of golf. It has a classic, imposing stone structure and is one of the most photographed buildings in the sport.

Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, Georgia, USA

The clubhouse at Augusta National is one of the most private and exclusive buildings in golf. Known simply as "The Clubhouse," it is the oldest existing structure on the property, dating back to the 1850s, before the course was built. It is a stunning, white-painted Southern manor that embodies tradition and elegance.

Saudi Arabia finally has a deal with American golf under an agreement announced Wednesday for the LPGA Tour to co-sanction a PIF Global Series event at prestigious Shadow Creek in Las Vegas next spring.

2025 World Wide Technology Championship tee times for Thursday's first round in Mexico, featuring J.J. Spaun and more.

The post 2025 World Wide Technology Championship Thursday tee times: Round 1 groupings appeared first on Golf.

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. It’s time for another edition of MyGolfSpy’s History’s Mysteries.

We’re so glad you could attend. Come inside, come inside.

In History’s Mysteries, we take a deep dive into the people, products, companies and events that are woven into the fabric of the game we love. Today’s story focuses not on a product, but on a process introduced in 1972 that lies at the very foundation of the modern golf equipment business.

Please join us as we examine the genesis, introduction and evolution of PING’s color coding system. Its introduction in 1972 can truly be considered the birth of modern club fitting and yet another of Karsten Solheim’s contributions to golf as we know it.

History’s Mysteries: The birth of PING’s color code system

Today, custom club fitting is probably about 90 percent science and 10 percent artistry. You walk into a hitting bay and the launch monitor will tell you damn near everything you need to know in seconds. You get carry and total distances and the ingredients behind those numbers. Ball speed? Check. Angle of attack? Check. Face angle and club path to target? Check.

From training aids to recovery gear, these are my go-to golf finds from 2025. Designed to increase performance and comfort on the course.

The post 6 game-changing golf finds that made my 2025 season better appeared first on Golf.

The golf ball is the most important piece of equipment in your bag. It’s the only thing you use on every shot and the 2025 Ball Test presented by UNRL showed once again that the differences between golf balls are often bigger than the differences between clubs.

Vice’s current lineup includes Pro Plus, Pro, Pro Air, Tour and Drive. Only the Pro Plus, Pro and Pro Air were included in MyGolfSpy’s 2025 robot test. The Tour and Drive models remain value-oriented options for golfers who want distance and durability over tour-level spin.

Remember that the key differences here aren’t about your swing speed. They’re about spin, flight and how the ball behaves from tee to green. Here’s what the data says about Vice.

High-speed testing (115 mph driver/90 mph 7-iron)

In high-speed testing, Vice’s lineup was clearly separated by spin and flight. The Pro Plus offered the lowest driver spin and firmest flight while the Pro Air launched higher with slightly less total distance. The Pro sat comfortably in between.

Vice Pro Plus → Firm and fast, with low spin rates off the tee. Its flatter iron flight and mid-tier wedge spin (5,823 rpm) made it one of the most controlled Vice models for high-speed players.Vice Pro → Balanced from tee to green, with moderate launch and spin levels. Its wedge spin (5,773 rpm) kept it near the middle of the pack overall, providing a good mix of feel and stopping power.Vice Pro Air → The softest-feeling Vice model. It launched higher with slightly lower wedge spin (5,592 rpm), trading greenside grab for additional peak height and softer feel.

Mid-speed testing (100 mph driver/80 mph 7-iron)

At mid swing speeds, the Pro Plus maintained strong total distance, the Pro offered mid-flight control and the Pro Air helped players launch it higher with less effort.

The past week on YouTube golf has been centered around the Internet Invitational, a six-episode series featuring 48 of the most popular golf personalities on YouTube.

The tournament, run by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports, is off to a rousing start as more than five million viewers tuned in for the first episode. The second and third episodes have been released as buzz around the event is strong.

A defining part of that buzz centered around Luke Kwon, the ex-Good Good member who now has his own channel.

Kwon, a good player who has toiled on the Asian Tour, slept in past his 9:30 a.m. tee time during the first episode of the Internet Invitational. By the time he showed up for his two-man scramble match, he was assessed a four-hole penalty that doomed any possibility of a comeback in the nine-hole match.

The format for the first part of the event was two teams of 24 battling it out so Kwon’s mistake ended up being a big blow to his side’s chances. He was arguably the best player on his team and many assumed he would cruise to victory, even with high-handicap partner, PFT Commenter of Pardon My Take fame.

I’m going to walk you through my top five golf sneakers of the year. Let’s get it!

5. adidas Samba Golf

Coming in at number five is the Adidas Samba Clean Classic. You simply cannot go wrong with the iconic look and reliable comfort of the Samba golf shoe. It’s a timeless choice that works on any course.

4. New Balance 550 Golf

Coming in at number four is the New Balance 550. These are chunky and comfy. This specific limited-edition colorway is sick, too. I highly recommend the 550 for those who like a more substantial, classic sneaker feel.

3. Air Jordan 1 Low Golf

You already know it—at number three is the Air Jordan 1 Low Golf. This “Chicago” colorway is sick. My friend TFI now rocks these all the time. It’s a great shoe for the course, the range, and even the office.

2. Sunday Red Osprey

An unexpected pick at number two is the Sunday Red Osprey. Look at these boys—they’re crispy, they’re clean, they’re white, and this is, hands down, the most comfortable golf sneaker you’re going to find. If comfort is your priority, this is the one to get.

If you’ve ever scrolled past the GolfForever system, assuming it’s just for Tour pros (like Scottie Scheffler) or fitness-minded golfers, it might be time to take another look. I recently spoke with Jason Baile, the 2025 PGA of America Teacher and Coach of the Year who is the director of instruction at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Fla.

I wanted to learn more about the tool, why it helps Scheffler and what amateurs could potentially take away from that. According to Baile, GolfForever bridges the gap between golf fitness and swing improvement.

More than a fitness tool

I’ll admit it: I’ve always viewed GolfForever as a fitness product. I don’t think of it as a golf training aid. Strength, balance and mobility are all great goals but not something I tend to think of as a specific golf training tool.

Baile started working on changing my mindset almost immediately after we met.

“This system is a mesh point between the golf swing and fitness,” he told me. “It’s designed so golfers can perform golf-specific movements with just enough resistance to make those movements stick. The goal isn’t just to stretch or get stronger. It’s to train your body to move like a golfer.”

Your 7-iron just went 155 yards. You pull the 5-iron, make what feels like a better swing, and watch it land at 158 yards. Standing over your 8-iron now, you can guess what’s coming.

When iron distances collapse into the same narrow window, it’s usually because you’re releasing your wrist angles too early, adding loft and losing compression. What should be a 15-yard gap between clubs becomes a five-yard gap. You’re left guessing which iron to hit because none of them behaves predictably anymore.

The compression problem nobody talks about

Most golfers think “distance compression” means their long irons aren’t going far enough. That’s only half the story. The real issue is that you’re presenting the wrong loft at impact across your entire iron set.

Vertical spin loft, the difference between your angle of attack and the loft you present at impact, is a huge component of compression. When you flip your hands through the ball, you might present 30 degrees of loft with a club designed to deliver 23 degrees. The ball balloons. Distance evaporates.

Your 4-iron should launch around 16 degrees. But if you’re scooping at impact, it’s launching closer to 24 degrees with significantly less ball speed. Meanwhile, your 8-iron launches at nearly the same angle because you’re adding similar amounts of loft to both clubs.

Rory McIlroy has described LIV Golf's decision to expand its events to 72 holes as "peculiar," adding he is unsure the move will help the league's quest for golf ranking points.

How'd Joaquin Niemann build his unique golf swing?! Chopping weeds and skipping stones, partly. He tells all on 'Warming Up.'

The post Joaquin Niemann’s surprising swing story (and 10 other things he taught me) appeared first on Golf.

A DP World Tour tournament rule has been amended for two-time European Ryder Cupper Sepp Straka because of family reasons.

The post Tournament rule is amended for Ryder Cup star because of family reasons appeared first on Golf.

LIV Golf is making a U-turn.

After years of marketing 54-hole tournaments as an alternative to the PGA Tour’s traditional 72-hole format, LIV (or should we call them LXXII?) is changing course and expanding all events to 72 holes.

The league is still continuing with shotgun starts and individual and team competition, but its tournaments will be one round longer and typically start on Thursday.

“The most successful leagues around the world—IPL, EPL, NBA, MLB, NFL—continue to innovate and evolve their product, and as an emerging league, we are no different,” LIV Golf League CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement.

LIV, which reads “54” in Roman numerals, is now looking a little more like the competition it wanted to breakaway from in the beginning.