Tl;dr: Discover how to figure out the shortest club in the bag to improve your scrambling and save shots every round. Having the right wedges can make a massive difference in helping you hit all types of shots around the green and save tons of strokes.

If you don't have the right equipment, you're only making this complex game more difficult. But let's face it - there is a ton of equipment to understand, which is very overwhelming if you're a new golfer.

Some clubs have tons of loft, like a sand or lob wedge, and a shorter shaft. Other clubs have minimal loft and longer shafts, like a driver or fairway woods.

One of the most frequently asked questions is, "What should be the shortest club in your iron set?" This is a great question that I'll answer today to help you figure out which club(s) you should have in your set and which ones you might want to add as well.

As someone who's played for 25+ years and bought hundreds of clubs, I'm confident that I can help you buy with confidence. If you have more questions, make sure to reach out to a Curated Golf Expert today.

Defining Short Irons and Wedges

Before I get into the best iron sets and wedges, let’s first consider the main type of golf clubs.

The longest clubs in the bag are your driver, fairway woods, and hybrids.

Next up are your irons, which come as an iron set. It’s common to buy a 3-PW, 4-PW, 4-GW, or 5-GW (PW = pitching wedge, GW = gap wedge).

Most iron sets come with 6 to 9 clubs, depending on the brand and set. 4-irons are typically the longest clubs in most modern sets, as more players prefer utility irons or hybrids instead. Some have a 3-iron, while others have a 5-iron as the longest club.

Every iron set comes with a pitching wedge, which is slightly shorter and has more loft than a 9-iron. Other sets might include the next shortest club, which is known as a gap wedge.

Some sets might include a sand wedge as well. Typically, you’ll need to buy at least one or several wedges to complete your set.

So, what should be the shortest club in your set? Typically, a sand or lob wedge to help with shorter shots, but you’ll usually need to buy one or both of them separately from your irons. However, there are some sets which we’ll cover below that do allow you to buy them all together as well.

What to Consider When Buying Irons

Choosing the right iron set makeup (aka the clubs included) is important to saving money so you don’t buy any clubs you won’t use. And make sure to buy clubs that are ideal for your skill level. Ask yourself these questions when buying a new set of irons.

What is the longest iron I like to hit?

In the past, most golf club manufacturers sold sets in 3-PW or 4-PW. However, the landscape of the game has changed and very few sets now offer a 3-iron.

Why? Because long irons are extremely hard to hit, even for the best golfers in the world. This is why so many golfers choose utility irons, hybrids, or high lofted fairway woods instead.

Now, more golfers are concerned about buying a set with matching wedges instead of long irons. Answering this question can help you ensure you buy the right type of clubs and maybe even buy matching wedges for the shortest club in your set.

Do I like playing matching wedges or different?

As mentioned above, all iron sets will come with mid to short irons (6, 7, 8, and 9-iron). They also come with one wedge: a pitching wedge (PW).

A PW typically has about 43–46 degrees of loft and is slightly shorter than a 9-iron, making it easier to control. Not to mention it’s used for full shots as well as chip shots around the green.

You’ll need to then decide if you’d like to buy a gap wedge that matches your iron set, or buy one separately. A lot of iron sets now offer the ability to add on a matching gap wedge (GW) or sand wedge (SW). This ensures your SW and GW have the same shaft and clubhead as your PW and irons. A lot of golfers prefer this as it’s a seamless transition of hitting irons and wedges during the round. While lower handicap players tend to play different wedges than their irons.

For example, as a +2 handicap, I prefer my GW to match my irons and my SW/LW to be different with heavier shafts and less forgoing heads. This gives me maximum playability to hit all the shots I want and need inside 100 yards.

What is my budget?

The final thing to consider when putting together your iron set is budget. If you add on a gap wedge or sand wedge to match your set, it’ll increase the cost of your total purchase. But it’s usually still cheaper than buying individual wedges, too.

For example, buying Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges are nearly $200/wedge. It’s usually cheaper to buy a matching gap or sand wedge with your iron set (assuming they’re available).

Unfortunately, lob wedges are almost always bought separately and rarely offered in addition to purchase with your irons.

Different Types of Iron Sets

Titleist T350 Irons

When it comes to Titleist irons, there is a huge selection for all types of golfers. The T350 are perfect for mid to high handicappers who want distance and forgiveness.

They have the option to add higher loft wedges - aka the shortest clubs in the bag. This will help you buy everything together and ensure your wedges are very similar to your iron set.

Benefits

• Graphite or steel shaft options.
• Tons of set make-ups including 4-AW, 5-AW, 6-AW, or 6-AW and GW.
• Available in senior, regular, or stiff flex so you can find one based on your swing speed.
• Very easy to hit without being an overly large clubhead.

Be Aware

• No sand or lob wedge options.
• Not ideal for more consistent golfers with faster swing speeds, as they have lighter shafts and larger clubheads.

TaylorMade P790 Irons

These irons are perfect for mid-handicappers who want a good blend of distance and forgiveness. They also have several set combinations if you want more wedges too.

Benefits

• Graphite and steel shaft options.
• Clean design with larger sweet spot than previous models.
• Available in three set make-ups including 4-PW, 4-AW, and 5-AW.

Be Aware

• No sand wedge options.
• No 3-iron or combo set available.

Callaway Apex Pro Irons

These irons are ideal for skilled golfers who want plenty of playability and just enough forgiveness features.

Benefits

• Improved turf interaction vs. the Apex 2021 design
• Hollow body construction with a forged face for ultra soft feel
• Multiple set make-ups including 3-PW, 4-PW, 4-AW, 5-PW, and 5-AW
• Progressive face design to make the longer irons more powerful, while the shorter irons are built for precision

Be Aware

• No graphite shaft options.
• No matching sand wedge options.

If you aren’t sure which irons or wedges are right for you and have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact a Curated Golf Expert today.

Features to Look for in Irons

Now that you have an overview of irons that are included in a set, here are a few other things to consider.

Number of Wedges

The USGA (United States Golf Association) allows you to have up to 14 clubs in the bag. While you can have less, it’s not recommended, as you want as many weapons as possible for a round of golf.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is choosing two, three, or four wedges. As mentioned before, all iron sets come with a pitching wedge. While a lot of sets also include a gap or sand wedge too.

Ultimately, you’ll need to decide if you want three or four wedges. Here’s my take - if you’re a mid to high handicap golfer, opt for three wedges and use the extra club for another hybrid or fairway wood. Having a PW, GW, and SW will allow you to hit plenty of shots from inside 100 yards.

If you’re a lower handicap golfer, I’d suggest adding a fourth wedge - lob wedge. An LW is a handy club if you have a reliable swing, as it can help with all sorts of shots from close range.

Clubhead Design

The design of your irons and wedges is key, as they need to match your skill level. For example, if you’re a beginner golfer, you don’t want to play a blade design. These clubs are extremely unforgiving, hard to hit, and have a tiny sweet spot.

Blade clubs should be used by the best of the best ball strikers, not the everyday golfer. It’s important to have a similar wedge design as your irons.

For example, you don’t want to play lightweight cavity back irons then try to swing heavy, unforgiving wedges. This makes it a hard transition as you hit shorter clubs in the bag. Try to play similar wedges to your irons for better tempo and clean contact.

Graphite vs. Steel Shafts

The club heads are important, but so are the shafts of your wedges. All irons will come with the same shaft throughout the set and you’ll need to decide which to buy if you add extra wedges.

However, if you buy matching wedges with your iron set, they will have the same flex/weight as your irons. This is preferred by some players, as hitting a wedge feels just like a normal iron.

Personally, I like to have my gap wedge match my set since it’s primarily used for full shots. Then, I use a Titleist Vokey SM9 sand wedge and lob wedge with heavier shafts, as they’re primarily used for less than full shots.

How to Choose the Shortest Club in Your Set

Below are some examples of different types of golfers and what iron sets and wedges they should play.

Nick

Nick is just getting started in golf and plays a complete set as he didn’t want to buy everything separately. This helped him save money and get started playing golf faster.

Features Nick should look for:

• Most sets only come with one or two wedges, so he should consider a gap wedge.
• It’s best to find a forgiving, easy to hit gap wedge (and/or sand wedge) to improve his short game.

His best pick is Cleveland RTX Zipcore or Cleveland Smart Sole 4.0 wedge.

Darren

Darren is a mid-handicap golfer who shoots in the high 80s or low 90s most of the time. He has an average swing speed and is looking to improve his performance inside 100 yards.

Features Darren should look for:

• An iron set that is a good mix of forgiveness, distance, and playability.
• A solid gap wedge and sand wedge with similar shafts as his irons.

For irons, he should consider the Titleist T200 or Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro Irons. While, he’ll want lightweight steel shafts or heavy graphite shafts in his wedges (preferably ones that match his set).

Nigel

Nigel is a low handicap golfer who shoots in the 70s consistently. He’s looking to get started in tournaments soon and loves to practice, especially his short game. He's also more of an iron guy than a 5-wood.

Features Nigel should look for:

• Possibly a 2-iron golf club (in a utility iron style like the Mizuno Pro-Fli Hi).
• High performance high lofted blade wedges to help with maximum shot versatility.

His best picks are heavier steel shaft iron sets (Titleist T150 or Callaway Apex Pro) and wedges like the Titleist Vokey SM9.

Find the Best Golf Clubs for You

Hopefully, you have a better idea of the best irons and wedges that will benefit your game the most. Just remember that playing the right equipment - both clubhead and shafts - will play a pivotal role in getting the most out of your game.

You’ll want to add 1–2 wedges to your iron set as the shortest clubs in your bag. These clubs will help you save shots around the green and inside 100 yards. Unfortunately, most of them aren’t included in a set and will require you to buy additionally to your irons.

When you have the right wedges, it makes golf so much easier and a lot more reliable from short range. A custom fitting with a launch monitor can also help you learn more about your backswing to find the right irons and even the right golf ball.

If you aren’t sure which irons or wedges are right for you or have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact a Curated Golf Expert today.