8 Iron Golf Club Guide (Distance, Loft, etc.)

Golf clubs often come in numbered irons to guide players and hobbyists in picking the best irons for golf. The 8-iron variety can be utilized for different positionings and shots in the golfing scenes. Typically used for higher lofts and farther distances, the 8 iron golf club be a handy companion for tweaking some skills here and there.

8 iron golf clubs are more effective for higher angles of flight. Therefore, they’re able to provide a good shot, even when the angle and technique seem to be unforgiving. These clubs are easier to control and a good choice for beginners, but the distance it can shoot depends on the player.

The rest of this article will touch on the loft, distance, length, and usage of 8-iron golf clubs. I’ll also compare the 8 iron to other iron numbers to further elaborate on its qualities and how it can affect your gameplay or your golfing skills. Let’s get started.

What is an 8 Iron?

The 8 iron is one of the best irons golf has to offer for its versatility in improving gameplay. This golf club, also known as a “short iron,” is typically used for shots that require a higher loft but moderate to short distance.

In golfing jargon, the clubs are divided into two sections called the ”numbered golf clubs” and the “non-numbered golf clubs.” The 8 iron belongs to the former category and signifies the loft and material of that particular club. Let’s look at the material and then dive deeper into the number.

There are two kinds of materials for golf clubs:

Wooden golf clubs
Iron golf clubs

The word “iron” in 8 iron verifies that the club is indeed made of that material. Therefore, it’s a little heavier and could affect the distance of your shot.

Iron clubs are used after the initial shot, also known as the tee-off. In contrast, the wooden version is used for the tee-off and, sometimes, another swing after that. In short, you would be better off using this club after you’ve made your first shot from the tee.

However, depending on your circumstances, it might take a couple of swings and shots to get you to the point where it’s best to use the iron, not the wood. Now that you’re clear on the differences, you can look more closely at what club number 8 means and why it matters.

Number 8 is the higher end on the scale of golf clubs, which suggests that this can cover up your mistakes quickly and offer you better performance. The material could affect your swing and indirectly manipulate your distance due to strength, but the number will control the angle at which you take a shot.

This is also known as a loft, and it’ll affect your travel distance more directly.

Not only does the loft affect your distance, but it also plays a massive part in the trajectory of your shot. The trajectory is your golf ball’s angle and height after being struck. Therefore, the higher the club number, the better the loft and trajectory; or, in simpler terms, higher club numbers improve your gameplay. This is why number 8 is an excellent choice for many golfers.

8 Iron Distance

Driving distance impacts your golfing performance significantly. But this heavily depends on your swing and the club you use. Lower-numbered golf clubs will give you considerable driving distance, but the trajectory will be lower. The 8 iron, for one, can travel an average of 130 yards (118.87 m). In contrast, the 5 iron can travel 180 yards (164.59 m).

As a result, each club is used for a different purpose, and the 8-club performs best in the:

High trajectory shots
Medium distance shots
Short distance shots
Chipping to the middle pin

Depending on weather conditions, the players’ strength and age, and how well-kept a golf club is, 8 iron distances can increase to 150 yards (137.16 m). But improvement is not always the case, especially when dealing with bad weather conditions or past a certain age.

Yards that you might hit with an 8 iron, depending on age, include:

20-30-year-olds: 150 yards (137.16 m)
30-40-year-olds: 145 yards (132.59 m)
40-50-year-olds: 137 yards (125.27 m)
50-60-year olds: 130 yards (118.87 m)
60 and up: 120 yards (109.79 m)

In short, you can expect to get the golf ball in the hole with 3-4 swings on average.

8 Iron Loft Degree

Sometimes golfers tend to focus on how high they can launch a ball. This is a common goal for many sportspeople, mainly because all the great golf players seem to shoot their shots really high. But a high-angle launch is much more than a strong swing and a club you picked from your gut feeling. This is where the angle or loft of your golf club comes in.

While it’s common to think that every iron golf club should have a similar angle, if not the same, that’s never the case. Each golf club has its unique loft, providing a different degree. For 8 iron clubs, the loft degrees are around 37-39 degrees, but this can vary depending on the brand you buy from. Some brands have game improvement features at 32 degrees.

Golf brands often come out with different extremes for performance and handicap. These continually improve your swing or have a professional touch to them.

For experienced players, investing in the best players irons may cost a little more than the regular, but it can help them perform better and fine-tune their game even further, regardless of their handicap points.

Standard 8 Iron Length

Finding the right club length for your golf equipment can give you a more comfortable grip on the shaft. This might not seem like a big deal at first. But comfortable gear goes a long way, especially if you want to play professionally. After all, you can only be the next Tiger Woods if your golf club is the right size.

So how do you make sure you have the right size?

Golf club lengths are determined by the swing weight. Each swing weight is different and requires a unique size to be adequately upheld. This also gives them a good proportion next to the headweight.

Different numbered irons, therefore, have different lengths. With such a variety, this gives the player the necessary swing weight and helps with wrist-to-floor measurement.

For 8 iron clubs, the length will vary between 35.5 inches to 37 inches. But it’s best not to pick one randomly, as this could affect your movements and overall score.

How To Pick the Right 8 Iron Length

Picking the right 8 iron length is essential. Everyone in a short radius will have their eyes on your club and posture when you play tee-offs, so picking the right club could help showcase your skills.

Different factors go into finding the right club length for your needs, which is why a professional fitter will combine additional requirements to help get you the right golfing gear. But you might not have the option to book a professional fitter or lack the time.

In such cases, this can also be done in the comfort of your home.

Simply measure the following:

Overall height: If you want to accurately determine your ideal club length, you first need to know your overall height. This helps you add or subtract a certain amount of inches from your club length to accurately measure comfort.
Your wrist-to-floor measurement: This measurement can help you include your arm and leg length in the metrics. Each player will have different arm and leg lengths per the difference in human anatomy. So, wrist-to-floor measurements are the best option for defining suitable club lengths.
In-swing dynamics: This is pervasive in defining the precision of your equipment.

When you take these measurements, ask for help from a family member or friend or get fitted professionally.

Taking your own measurements can result in sacrificing accuracy or even injuries.

How To Hit an 8 Iron 150 Yards

As I mentioned earlier, the distance you get after hitting an 8 iron can depend on many things, including:

Age
Posture
Strength
Overall technique

It’s more common for beginners to get shorter distances than experienced players and for younger individuals to hit further than the elderly.

But that doesn’t imply that hitting an 8 iron club 150 yards (137.16 m) is impossible. There are some tips and tricks that you can use to improve your shooting distance with an 8 iron, regardless of your golf experience.

Consider working on your swing speed if you want to hit an 8 iron well enough to rack up 150 yards (137.16 m). The swing speed determines how far you can shoot for the most part. However, posture and strength also play an essential role in your shooting distance.

Let’s now look at a general guide for hitting an 8 iron to achieve 150 yards (137.16 m) worth of distance.

Look at your surroundings, or specifically, the lie of your golf ball. Checking your surroundings to see the lie can often tell you how far your shot will go. As long as it stays on the fairway, you can make 150 yards (137.16 m), but if the ball is in a divot, you’ll be better off using another club.
Check the terrain of your desired landing area. When you look at where your golf ball will land, try to gauge the elevation changes as best as possible.
Make sure to play during warmer weather, and keep an eye on the seasonal changes. The weather plays a crucial role in how far your golf ball travels. Warmer weather will give it a better pace and help the ball go further, whereas cold weather will do the opposite.
Measure your distances. There are three distances that every successful golf player measure. These are the distances to the front and back of the green and the distance to the flag. These measurements will give you a rough idea of how strong your swing needs.
Work on your movements. If you swing too much to the left, your golf ball might not hit the desired yard mark.

8 Iron vs. 9 Iron

Sometimes you can substitute an 8 iron for a 9 iron and vice versa. However, each golf iron is unique and works better under different circumstances.

9 irons are one count upwards than 8 irons, which equips them with features that may seem less progressive than 8 irons. Yet they can come in handy during hotter days when your ball travels faster in a shorter distance.

Let’s take a minute to understand what a 9 iron is and how it differs from an 8 iron:

8 irons have a lie degree of 63.5, but 9 irons increase this to 64.
8 irons can shoot further and spin more, whereas 9 irons have less of both.
9 irons have a length of 35 inches, whereas 8 irons start at 35.5 inches.
8 irons can tee up the ball more, but 9 irons are used for lesser tee-ups.

The differences between these irons may seem minimal. Still, they significantly impact your golfing, mainly depending on the weather. This is why you should also understand the pros and cons of using a 9 iron.

The pros of a 9 iron are as follows:

9 irons land softer onto the grass
They’re easy to handle
Their spin rate is more optimized and beginner friendly

However, they come with cons, such as:

Shorter shafts make it hard for tall golfers
They’re more difficult to use during windy weather
They have shorter-distance abilities and cause gapping

Whether you use an 8 or 9 iron depends entirely on your personal needs and preferences. However, it might be best to consult a professional for more accurate fittings.

8 Iron Golf Club Recap

8 irons are great for beginners and golfers who want easier gameplay. Their standard length varies between 35 and 37 inches, and their loft degrees can start at 37 and go up to 39. Thanks to such specs, 8 irons can travel a distance between 120 and 150 yards (109.73 m and 137.16 m).

However, this can be increased through proper technique and measurements. Picking the suitable iron, assessing your surroundings, and adjusting your posture are three rules you can follow. With this knowledge, you can exceed 150 yards (137.16 m) with your 8 iron golf clubs.