When you start to think about what iron set that you would like to purchase next there is a real tendency to start with very strong pre-conceptions linked to a combination of what brand you have played with before, what brand is the flavour of the year with the golf superstars and a budget that you want to stick to.

The correct starting point is actually your golf game and what you want to achieve in the short-term. That will help you narrow down the large selection into a core group of Irons that are going to bring you, your golf swing and your golf game the maximum benefit.

I’ve been looking at how the manufacturers have been able to create so many different solutions. Creating ‘discretionary weight’ has driven the multitude of different designs that are subtly different with different impact on your golf shot.

I mentioned previously how it is no longer just a matter of ‘Cast’ vs ‘Forged’ and to highlight that complication now look at the range of different metals that are used. It used to be that 8620 and 1020 Steels were used in almost all golf club heads. Mizuno have created a higher grade steel (1025E) that improves the mix of Carbon, Phosphorous and Sulphur.

The most important result of that is the metal is stronger, allowing thinner walls to be created (saving weight) and the feel of the club to be improved.

I wish you could all use a golf club manufactured in 1980 together with a golf ball from that year. You would be amazed at how much more ‘feel’ there is today, and how much more comfortable off-center hits are.

What is frightening though is how the pace of that improvement and innovation is increasing every year. In 1980, as a golf professional, one needed some understanding of technology and a lot of expertise in equipment repair. Today, we need to understand physics, design and materials and then to update that knowledge at least every quarter to keep pace with the manufacturers.

For expert advice and guidance please visit your local Foremost PGA Golf Professional.

James Langmead is a PGA Qualified Golf Professional and former Callaway Club Fitter of the Year