The Evolution of One Length Irons: Why it's Time For You to Really Consider Playing Them

One length irons (or single length irons) have become mainstream equipment news this year thanks to spectacular performances and five worldwide wins by Bryson DeChambeau in just an eight month span.  Although the concept of making each iron in a set the same length is not new (Bobby Jones used single length irons in 1930 to win the Grand Slam), never before has there been so much attention given to single length, and that also means never before has there been so much confusion about them. 

 

There are certainly arguments for and against playing one length irons, and I’ll touch on some of those below.  Most importantly however, I’ll try to help you decide if they’re right for you by separating fact from fiction and taking on the biggest misconceptions about one length irons today. 

The Idea behind One Length Irons 
To put it simply: one length irons are supposed to uncomplicate your golf swing.  We all know how complex the swing can be, and the slightest club-head inaccuracy can put you in golf jail and result in blooper reel shots you hope no one sees. 

 

When you use the same one length shaft for all clubs, the same flex and frequency for all shafts, and the same head-weight from club to club, you can then use the same swing for every shot you hit.  No more worrying about different ball positions for different clubs.  No more concern about how close or far you should stand from the ball. 

 

One swing for every shot you ever take.  It’s simplified, it’s repeatable, and in theory that means it should result in shaving strokes off your game and hitting good shots more consistently. 

One Size Fits All 
One of the biggest misconceptions about single length irons is that you have to swing a certain way to benefit from them, and that’s just not true folks.  Just because Bryson DeChambeau swings on one plane doesn’t mean the rest of us also have to swing like him or be bio-mechanics disciples to see the advantages of single length irons. 

 

If you have a hitch in your backswing, or swing too far over the top coming down; if you aren’t consistent hitting the sweet spot, or don’t even have a typical miss, one length irons will work for you because they make your own unique swing more repeatable.  And that can lead to ball-striking improvement whether you're a golfing savant like Bryson, or a golfer who’s just looking to break 100. 

Overcoming Previous Problems 
A big issue for one length irons in the past, and one that played a large role in them not having great appeal was that shortening the shafts in the long irons made them fly lower and shorter, while increasing lengths in short irons made them fly higher and longer.  That created a reduction in range of yardage between the longest and shortest hitting irons, as well as irregular and problematic gapping spreads. 

 

Today however, one length manufactures are able to create more consistent gap patterns, and yardage ranges are nearly identical to those found in variable length irons. Some players will find single length irons can even produce greater distances throughout the set for each iron. In fact, I hit the new Cobra F9 ONE Length at Demo Day this year at the 2019 PGA Show, and can tell you they cracked the code on one length this year. 

 

While there’s no universal system to building one length irons, customizing variables like club-head design and weight, face thickness, center of gravity, shaft profiles, and loft adjustment in addition to length makes it possible to account for every single aspect of feel and performance in the one length irons.  And that’s unlocked one length potential like it’s never been unlocked before. 

Is One Length for You? 
Single length irons have the potential to make the game easier for everyone from the elite golfer, down to the mid-handicap and beginning golfers.  Decreasing the whole set down to one swing improves consistency if just for the simple reason that you have fewer swings to master. 

 

When you’re grooving your swing with a 7-iron, you know and have confidence you’ll do the same with your 4-iron.  And conversely, if there’s a swing flaw with your 4-iron, you know fixing it will mean you’ve fixed every iron in your bag.  I’m excited to put Cobra’s F9 ONE Length irons to the test this season. 

 

Breaking away from traditional variable length irons for some golfers may take some getting used to.  For others they may never be able to mentally get used to all their irons being the same length.  And it will probably be some time before a consensus is reached one way or another.  However, it’s more than mere speculation that single length irons have evolved into a legitimate alternatives to variable length irons, and the benefits of single length are too obvious to ignore.