Question: Do Muscleback Irons Make It Easiter to "Work" the Ball than a Cavity Back Iron?
(Editor's Note: Many golfers would frame this question as a matter of forged irons vs. cast irons. But the fact is, a cavity back iron can be forged, just as a muscleback iron can be cast. Although it is custumary for muclesbacks to be forged and cavity backs to be cast. So how do musclebacks and cavity backs compare when it comes to "working" (intentionally inducing a fade or draw spin) the golf ball? Here is Tom's answer.)
Answer: Perhaps the best way to answer this question is to look at the pros on the PGA Tour. And more than half pros who play for a living use cavity back irons.
Because of course design or wind conditions, all pros have to be able to intentionally "work" the ball to be able to compete. If it really were true that a cavity back could not "work" the ball, you would see all the pros using muscleback irons. Since that is not the case, this statement stands as a myth.
On the other hand, it is true that very thin-faced woods are a little more difficult to hit the ball with a slight intentional fade or draw. This is simply because the thin face design causes the ball to leave the face sooner, thus reducing the time the ball is on the face and thereby making it more difficult to intentionally fade or draw the ball.
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About the Author
Tom Wishon is one of the most highly respected members of the golf equipment industry. He specializes in clubhead design, shaft analysis, and clubfitting research and development, and is the owner of his own golf equipment company, Tom Wishon Golf Technology. Tom is a member of the Golf Digest Technical Panel, and is the Technical Advisor to PGA.com, the website of the PGA of America.
