Hollow body irons or game improvement irons were introduced back in the 1990s but gained a ton of popularity over the last few years. They can help you improve your game and are completely different from traditional irons.
Hollow Body Irons have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years as a great alternative to traditional irons. They provide a ton of forgiveness as the faces are thin. These irons also have great weight distribution to help with forgiveness and overall performance.
This article will cover everything you need to know about hollow body irons.
What Are Hollow Body Irons?
Hollow body irons are golf clubs with two thin pieces that make up the head rather than one large piece. They distribute their weight differently than traditional irons that carry it centrally in the head. Instead, hollow body irons keep their weight on the back of the head.
The weight distribution of hollow body irons allows for a unique opportunity to focus the club’s weight toward the back. Traditional irons have one large piece as the head that is thick and heavy. Hollow body irons have two pieces that make up the head, allowing manufacturers to place the weight in the back of the club, leaving a thin face.
Having the back of the head heavier than the front helps players have better control over their shots. It also adds power to your swings, increasing your distance with every club. Controlling exactly where the weight of an iron sits makes hollow body irons so unique and useful for those looking to improve their game.
Hollow body irons also feature a thin face. This allows for an increased sweet spot, which means that you get more forgiveness than typical irons provide. The maximum forgiveness and increased distance of these irons are why they are also known as game improvement irons.
Are Hollow Body Irons Only for Beginners?
When it comes to hollow-body irons, the lightweight, forgiveness, and distance characteristics can make you think of beginner clubs. The nickname “game improvement irons” also doesn’t help this theory. However, hollow body irons can benefit players of all experience levels.
There are many different types and styles of hollow body irons out there. Manufacturers do not only make them with beginners in mind. Some focus on forgiveness, while others focus more on distance or height. Beginners, experts, and every golfer in between can find a hollow body iron that suits their gameplay.
The hollow body iron’s larger face and sweet spot can benefit players of any experience level. Still, it does not negatively impact distance or height as some clubs with forgiveness can. Instead, you can find hollow body irons that suit your experience level without affecting other parts of your game.
Are Hollow Body Irons Dependable?
Hollow body irons may have a different construction than traditional irons, but they are no less dependable. When you are looking for a long-lasting iron, you will find traditional and hollow body irons have the same level of dependability. Just like with any other golf club, you can expect more dependable clubs from more dependable manufacturers.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options to choose from when you begin your search for hollow body irons. Callaway is the most popular brand that began selling hollow body clubs, and they have many different varieties for you to choose from. Alternatively, TaylorMade, PXG, Ping Titleist, and many other well-known golf brands offer their own hollow body irons.
So, choose a brand you are familiar with, and your hollow body irons will last as long as you need them to. The two-piece head construction can make some hesitant to trust the longevity of the clubs, but they are just as secure as a driver, hybrid, or putter.
Hollow Body Irons vs. Traditional Irons
Traditional irons or blades are one piece of metal shaped into the form of an iron. Hollow body irons are two pieces of metal forged together to make a club with no interior. The two types of clubs may look very similar unless you know exactly what you are looking for.
Hollow body irons are thicker than traditional irons as they have two pieces that make up the head. So, the heads of these irons are thicker than traditional irons. Most hollow body irons have a noticeable seam where the two pieces of metal forged together. You will also notice that the face of a hollow body iron is much larger than traditional iron.
You will also notice the difference between the two types of irons when you pick them up. Hollow body irons tend to be lighter than traditional irons. Even if they are the same weight, you will notice the difference in the weight distribution. Rather than the entire head being heavy, the hollow body iron design allows the manufacturer to move the weight around.
Hollow Body Irons vs. Hybrids
If you aren’t familiar with hollow body irons, you may confuse them with hybrids. However, hybrids and hollow body irons are very different. Hollow body irons still have the shape of a traditional iron, but they have two pieces that make up the head. Those two pieces are close together, although the weight tends to distribute differently.
When you consider hybrids, they are a combination of wood and irons. You get the wide head of a wood combined with the slanted face of an iron. So, you can easily tell the difference between hybrids and traditional irons simply by sight.
Hollow body irons are a little more difficult to distinguish from traditional irons. They have the same body shape as the traditional iron, with some key differences that set their looks apart. However, hollow body irons are easier to distinguish from hybrids than they are from traditional irons.
Final Thoughts
Many still consider hollow body irons as a new addition to the golf club scene. However, they are now very popular among beginners and intermediate players. If you are looking for irons with a large sweet spot, these will give you a ton of forgiveness without sacrificing distance.