A reader asked that I give my opinions on offset irons.

First and foremost it’s about aesthetics. As I said in the post about picking out a driver, if you set down an offset iron and you cringe, don’t even bother. Whatever benefits you may receive are diminished if you don’t like the look of it.

Offset can reduce slice, help hit the ball higher and produces less spin. Less spin can be good or bad, depending on your prospective. Offset changes the center of gravity which affects the three things I already mentioned and changes the feel of the strike as well.

Obviously all three of those positives can be negatives if you hook the ball, hit it too high and spin the ball too much.

Just like any other club, you need to try it and see if it suits you.

I happen to think varying amounts of cavity back are good for almost everyone not playing for a living and even for some that do. Offset, on the other hand, is very individual.

It cracks me up when I hear an 18 handicap say they like muscle back forged irons because they like how much easier it is to work the ball. If you are one of these people, I am not laughing at you, I am trying to get you to laugh with me.

Only the most skilled of golfers will find a difference in workability between a forged muscle back and a cast cavity back. When I say this, I mean there are thousands of single digits out there who are taking themselves a bit too seriously and could benefit from a more forgiving iron head.

Now if you want to sell me that you are an 18 handicap, recognize the benefit of a cavity, but like the look of a thin top line on a forged blade…I am willing to buy that. However, I will try and convince you to find a cavity with a thin top line. 🙂