What Is A Muscle Back Iron?

“I can’t play a blade, it’s too difficult, and I’m a pro golfer. I think a blade goes shorter. Off-center hits aren’t going to perform as well as cavity-backs. I don’t see a reason why you’d want to play a blade. – Kevin Na

This is where muscle back/forged irons step in. If tour players even struggle to hit blades at times then how screwed are the rest of us?

But pros are also too good to use game improvement irons so what’s the solution?

Muscle back irons are the bridge golfers who are too good for game improvement irons but not at the elite level needed to use a blade iron.

But what are they, what are the pros and cons, and who should use them ideally?

All these questions are answered and more are below.

Reasons You Should Use Muscle Back Irons

Overall Design Is More Appealing

Muscle back irons look better on average than cavity back irons or game improvement irons. 

The reason for this is because of how they’re produced, they are one solid piece of steel hammered and shaped to perfection.

This gives these clubs an elegant, sleek, and powerful look at address. No glued-on logos or welded-on extras that cheapen its look.

Also, because of how the weight is distributed, with the bulk of it positioned behind the center of the clubface, it makes for some powerful-looking irons.

Not to say there isn’t a good looking cavity back iron or game improvement iron, but you will find a lot more ugly golf irons in these categories than you will with muscle back irons or blade irons.

They Make It Easier To Shape Shots

The biggest drawback of using game-improvement irons is that the golf club’s technology/design is supposed to fix slices or hooks.

Now, if you’re a seasoned golfer and would like to be able to fade or draw the ball when the situation calls for it these clubs won’t work.

You won’t be able to rely on these shots since the club is working against you.

With muscle back irons, you won’t have this problem and will be better able to shape specific shots when needed.

This is why these irons are not suitable for most golfers or any golfer who struggles with their shots looping the left or right of the target all the time.

If this is you, then a set of game improvement irons would be better suited.

Better Feel/Feedback Then Game Improvement Irons

Muscle back irons are known for their fantastic feel and feedback for both good or bad shots.

The reason for this improved feel is that the bulk of the material is positioned behind the sweet spot of the club. So when you catch it pure all the weight gets behind it, and it feels amazing.

Now for the other side of the coin. When you catch it off the heel, toe, or a bit thin it won’t feel good, and you will be able to tell you hit it wrong through your hands.

But this isn’t bad if you’re looking to improve. Since you will feel it if you caught it off the toe or heel, you can then work on fixing this miss.

However, if you had a game improvement iron, you wouldn’t get this feedback and, therefore, struggle to identify where the miss happened clearly.

Making it harder for you to diagnose and fix.

Because of the perimeter weighting, game improvement irons also don’t feel as satisfying on well-struck shots either.

Low Trajectory

For more experienced or any golfer who has a fast swing speed and doesn’t need help getting the ball higher in the air, muscle backs are the way to go.

Without getting too technical and boring because of how the weight is distributed behind the clubface, the club’s center of gravity is much higher than a game improvement iron.

Because the center of gravity is higher, it helps to launch the ball lower giving it an ideal ball flight for highly skilled golfers trying to keep the ball below the wind. 

Or who just wants a more penetrating ball flight. 

If an experienced golfer or someone who swings really fast hits a game improvement iron the ball flight would get too high in the air.

This is because these irons are made to help people get the ball into the air. 

The longer your balls are in the air the more the wind will affect it and potentially drag it off course.

Reasons You Shouldn’t Use Muscle Back Irons

Less Forgiving Than Game Improvement Irons

So, with all the good muscle back irons bring there are some negatives one of which is its forgiveness. 

Now let’s start by saying I’m not saying muscle backs are not forgiving just not as forgiving as game improvement irons which have larger heads and more offest.

Which means if you’re somebody who doesn’t hit around the center of the clubface often, then these irons are not for you.

But if you do stripe your irons more than you don’t, then these irons are perfect, as you’ll be able to make use of the benefits we discussed earlier.

Why is there a drop in forgiveness? Well, the weight is distributed behind the sweet spot of the iron, so good shots feel great.

But since there isn’t a lot of weight towards the edges of the clubhead when you hit here, you will see a drop in distance and accuracy.

More Expensive

Muscle back irons tend to be more expensive on average when compared to game improvement irons.

There is a simple reason why this is the case.

The process of how each type of iron is made is completely different. Game improvement irons are typically made from being cast.

Casting means pouring molten steel into a mould, and when it cools off you have all your pieces to make an iron. Simple and cost-effective as it doesn’t take a huge of labor.

Muscle back irons on the other hand are made from one solid piece of steel that is super heated than bashed and squished into the shape of an iron.

It’s then cooler then wham bam there’s your iron. This takes considerably more time and labor to do so the extra cost is passed on to the consumers.

Low Trajectory…

Low trajectory/launch has made it into both sections for and now against muscle back irons.

The reason for this is that if you’re a golfer who sometimes struggles to get enough height on the ball then launching it even lower isn’t going to work for you.

In this case, muscle back irons should be avoided. 

Now obviously if you don’t struggle with getting the ball into the air ignore this as a negative because it doesn’t apply to you.

Who Should Use Muscle Back Irons?

Now you know all there is to know about muscle back irons, you might still be wondering if you’re good enough to use them.

Well, nobody is stopping any level of golfer from using them, but if you do pick the wrong type of iron for your game/current level, it can be bad news for your scorecard.

Overall, these irons will be best suited for any golfer with a handicap 10 or lower. These golfers tend to shoot in the 70s or very low 80s.

If this is you then you can strike the ball consistently enough to get the most out of these irons.

You’ll be doing well to find someone in this range using game improvement irons the lower their handicap gets.