One length golf irons have been around for close to 30 years; however, they have only become popular within the last five. When a new club concept comes to the market, golfers are ready to explore and see if this is the way to achieve the scores they have always wanted.
One length irons are sometimes called Single length irons, and the terms can be used interchangeably.
One length irons will make setup and stance consistent each time you head out to the course. For some golfers that struggle with consistency in their setup, it isn’t easy to constantly make adjustments.
Best Single Length Irons: Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Cobra Golf Men’s LTDX One Length
Best For Better Player: Cobra Golf King Forged Tec
Budget Pick: PGX Single Length
Best For Average Golfer: Cobra Radspeed One Length
Single Length Irons vs. Variable Length Irons
There are quite a few differences between single length irons and variable irons. Although the length may seem like the only noticeable difference, as we know in golf, one change will spark a series of results and impacts.
Physical Differences
One length irons are about the same length as a typical seven iron. This means that your pitching wedge and four iron will all be the same length. If you have ever compared the lengths of your golf irons, you probably noticed that the difference between the length of short and long irons is quite a bit.
Having a set of irons that are all the same length is very different. So many golfers are accustomed to changing their stance and setup for each club they put in their hand; the physical differences of the single length irons will make this much more manageable for amateur golfers to figure out.
I find that most golfers love the concept of shorter long irons, but some are fearful of longer short irons. I can tell you that it takes a bit of adjustment but is relatively easier than you would think.
Ball Flight
As golfers, we know that the length of the club can have an impact on ball flight. With single length irons, the clubs have precisely positioned centers of gravity to help improve ball flight. You will have no issues keeping the four iron down and getting the pitching wedges up high. In fact, most golfers find that the one length irons offer more consistent ball flight.
Distance
The main concern for any player thinking about switching to one length irons in the distance. How can a shorter four iron go the same length as a traditional four iron? This is a great question.
The answer comes down to two key factors in the golf swing: confidence and consistency. You can trust me that when your 4 iron is the same length as your 7 iron, you will instantly have more confidence in the club.
Shorter clubs give us the feeling that we are in control of our shots.
Golfers do not experience distance loss with single length irons because the golf ball is struck more squarely. When you hit a golf ball in the center of the clubface with full swing speed, your results will be impressive.
Most amateur golfers are not striking a standard four iron well. However, when the club’s length is decreased, just by a bit, players will hit the ball in the center of the clubface and potentially even get more distance.
Forgiveness
Most single-length irons on the market will be as forgiving as their traditional length partners. Most of the club heads on the single length irons are made very similarly to the standard length. If you purchase game improvement one length irons, you should notice that hitting straight shots with plenty of distance will not be an issue.
Consistency
Consistency is probably the most significant overall benefit of the one length irons. Getting the chance to swing a club that feels almost the same each time you need an iron is a tremendous benefit. You have to consider the number of variables in a golf game.
There are differences in weather, course conditions, your swing, and more. Taking out one of these variables and putting a club into your hands that feels and performs the same way every time is a tremendous benefit.
Who Should Play With Single Length Irons?
Now that you better understand what single-length irons are, the big question becomes, who should use them? Several different types of golfers can benefit from a set of one length irons.
New Golfers
Learning the game of golf can be pretty overwhelming. There is a lot to learn, and it takes time to become a great golfer. One of the things that golfers tend to struggle with the most is the setup and the stance.
It’s hard enough to learn a great stance and setup, and then when you find that it changes from one club to the next, it almost seems unfair. The great thing about a set of single-length irons is that your setup should remain relatively consistent throughout your set of golf irons.
Essentially new golfers will have less to learn if they invest in a single length set of irons. For players without much experience with athletic activities, single length irons help to make the game more manageable.
Inconsistent Golfers
We all would like more consistency in our game; however, some players struggle with getting a good round of golf going. If you are an inconsistent golfer, you will hit one shot long, another short, another to the left, etc. You will feel that you are doing all the things you should with your golf swing yet still struggling to hit two of the same shots in a row.
Most players don’t understand how much a slight difference in stance or setup can make in your results. For example, if the ball position is just slightly off or your feet are too wide, the overall results and impacts of the golf swing are going to be much less impressive.
Inconsistent golfers will enjoy having every iron the same length. One length golf club manufacturers like Cobra also make one length hybrids and wedges. This can help to encourage even more of this consistency throughout the game.
Precision Type Players
Golfers that are very particular and precise about their golf game can benefit from the one length golf irons. Have you ever watched Bryson Dechambeau play a round of golf? He is a very scientific player and one of the major supporters behind the one length iron concept.
Bryson feels that by having all irons the same length, he can calculate distance better, be more consistent, and hit precise golf shots that end up extremely close to the pin.
Don’t get the idea that one length irons are only for higher handicappers or beginners. These clubs will work for a variety of handicaps. Some great players even have custom sets made to the one length specifications.
Golfers Who Struggle With Long Irons
Long irons are some of the most difficult clubs in the bag to hit. When you hit a long iron, you must have high swing speeds and a pure strike. Slower swinging handicap golfers and those with higher handicaps tend to struggle with this.
However, when you try to hit a five iron that is the same length as your seven iron, the game becomes quite a bit easier. Golfers will find that the slightly shorter length makes it easier to swing the club with speed and launch the long irons with better ball flight.
Best One Length Irons
One length irons are still a bit limited, Cobra makes the majority of one length options, and they are all good, but it helps to ensure you end up with the right ones in your hands.
Here are our top picks for the best one length irons in the game of golf.
Best Overall: Cobra Golf Men’s LTDX One Length
The Cobra Golf Men's LTDx one length features the Pwr-Cor Technology, forged cup face, and Speed Tuned Weighting, a perfect mix of both distance and forgiveness.
- Rebound effect off the clubface
- Forged Face Cup for higher ball speed and good feel
- CNC milled face and grooves
- High MOI, yet still a sleek look
- Newer release still has a higher price point
The Cobra Golf Men’s LTDx is an impressive golf iron with a high MOI design and plenty of distance. One of golfers’ primary concerns when switching to a one length iron is lack of distance. With the LTDx in your hands, you will not have to be concerned.
The new technology of Speed Tuned Weighting was incorporated into the Cobra LTDx. Speed Tuned Weighting includes an 8-gram toe weight to stabilize the club head. You can also adjust this weighting when you have the irons custom bit.
With Pwr-Cor Technology, there is a steel bar in the clubhead that promotes maximum flex in the face. We know that the chance of hitting the ball further is much higher with a more flexible clubface. This technology almost works as a trampoline.
Best For Better Player: Cobra Golf King Forged Tec
The Cobra Golf King Forged Tec is a forged player's friendly iron with very consistent performance on both long and short shots.
- Great feel
- Impressive Pwrshell Face Design
- High ball speed
- Not as forgiving as other Cobra sets
The Cobra King Forged Tec golf irons are designed for better players. These clubs have a really impressive feel and offer the consistency you can rely on from the one length golf irons.
Additionally, with the Cobra King, Forged Tec golfers benefit from the Pwrshell Face Design that allows you higher ball speed even on the miss hits.
With Cobra Golf King Forged Tec, tungsten toe weighting is positioned behind the center of gravity to improve overall feel and sneak in a bit of forgiveness. Even golfers that like this more streamlined look and appearance in a golf iron are interested in getting better forgiveness.
With the Cobra King Forged Tec, the hollow body is injected with a foam that improves overall ball speed and lessens vibration at impact. The combination of feel and performance is certainly there with this iron.
Budget Pick: PGX Single Length
The PGX Single Length is the most affordable single length iron on the market; with forgiving and easy clubheads; this can be a great set for beginners.
- Very fair pricing
- Forgiving clubhead
- Good set makeup for the money
- They are not the best feeling clubs, but they have quite a bit of vibration
Cobra makes the majority of one length irons. You may be surprised to learn that a good portion of the Cobra business is one length irons, more than most would think. However, the concept has just not really caught on with other manufacturers.
Luckily PGX decided to make a really affordable one length set that can work great for beginners or those on a budget. We love this option for golfers who are unsure if one length technology will work for their game. This is a minimal investment to make.
The PGX set comes with 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, and GW. You will have no issues with a consistent setup. In addition, the clubhead is extremely forgiving.
Best For Average Golfer: Cobra Radspeed One Length Irons
The Cobra Radspeed One Length irons feature radial weighting technology, an optimized Center of Gravity, and 3D printing for the first time in a golf iron.
- The very fair price point
- Long distance
- Consistent ball flight
- Not as long as the new LTDx
Although the Cobra Radspeed is not the newest release on the market, they have some really great technology and a very fair price. The most interesting part of the Cobra Radspeed is the 3D Printed Medallion. This 3D medallion allows for weight savings in the club head and a fine-tuned feel.
In addition, the Forged PowerShell Face is made of 17-4 stainless steel that increases flex and improves launch. Remember that getting the ball up higher in the air certainly helps increase the total distance from the Radspeed.
Radial Weighting Technology allows for an optimized center of gravity. The result is a more accurate ball flight. That, combined with the 10g weight positioned in the clubhead, improves overall stability and distance, even when you miss the center of the face.
Frequently Asked Questions
Switching to single length irons is a big adjustment. I was not sold on the concept until I tried it out for myself. Here are some of the questions I often get asked about this one length technology.
One length irons are not better than traditional-length irons. They simply offer some different performance attributes. Certain golfers will find that one length irons are a much better decision for their game. Others will have a hard time adjusting to this more modern concept.
You should not lose distance when switching to single length irons. Golfers tend to make better contact and have higher ball flight, which increases distance. You may hit your shorter irons slightly further than usual, but you should not lose distance in your long irons.
The point of one length irons is to make the game of golf more consistent. With one length irons in place, you will have no trouble perfecting a stance and setup that works for you on the golf course. This concept may seem strange; when you try it, you will quickly understand how and why it is helping golfers.
Companies like Cobra Golf specialize in the production of Cobra one length irons. However, even if you don’t purchase from Cobra, custom golf clubs can be made to be one length irons. Don’t cut your irons down yourself without the help of a club-fitting professional.
When you only change the length of the club, the weighting and relative stiffness of the golf club can change a bit too much. One length irons should be manufactured this way to ensure that the fitting parameters, weights, and feel are all correct.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now feel a little better about the one-length irons on the market. Some great options exist, but the Cobra LTDx is our favorite overall choice. If you like the idea of setting up the same way to hit with each club in your bag, Cobra is the company to go with. The best thing about the one length is that you can feel consistent in your golf game without having to think much.
