Why many Tour players are now carrying a split set of irons (and why you should too)

The days of playing one iron model are a thing of the past. Roughly 75 percent of pros carry at least two models in their bag, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas. Pairing more forgiving long irons with compact, workable scoring clubs is a common blueprint, but there’s more to a combo set than simply blending multiple models. Here’s what you need to keep in mind during the split-set search.

1. Impact location. Take a look at your current iron set. If the impact location (where you regularly strike the ball) expands significantly at the 5-iron, it might be time to add long irons with perimeter weighting to mitigate the misses.

2. Mind the gaps. Some manufacturers have started to design irons with combo sets in mind. But you can’t assume the lofts from a game-improvement model and a better-player offering will always match. Look closely at the specs and see if large loft gaps exist, particularly where you break up the set. The last thing you want is two irons with the same loft.

3. Be like Hovi. Tour player Viktor Hovland has tried numerous combo sets since joining Ping. Some have featured a player model at the top and bottom of the set. Follow his lead and try a wide variety of set makeups to find what works for you.

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