Have you heard the term lie angle around the golf course or your local golf shop?
Do you have one constant miss with your irons or wedges? I’m talking about that push or pull that seems to happen every time you think you are hitting a good shot.
What if the answer to your problems wasn’t a swing change, but a change in your equipment?
That’s right, for some players the lie angle on their irons and wedges could be off and make them miss their target even when they hit a perfect shot.
For that reason, it is important you understand lie angles.
Here’s everything you need to know about lie angles and if you are the type of player who could benefit from getting your irons adjusted.
What Is a Golf Club’s Lie Angle (Does It Matter)?
Lie angle is simply the angle between the shaft and the ground when the club is in the normal playing position. Think about it like this, imagine the club flat on the ground with a straight line extending back from the heel of the club along the ground.
Now imagine measuring the angle from that line all the way up to the shaft. That’s how you determine the lie angle. If you’re more visual, make sure to check out this Youtube video to show you more about lie angle.
Lie angle plays a big role in the accuracy of your shot. The goal with lie angle is to make sure you’re hitting the golf ball in the center of the club more often than not.
Lie angles differ for each club. For example, drivers are usually in the mid-50 degrees while irons are in the 60s, and wedges a little bit higher.
Why Lie Angles Matter
It’s estimated that each degree the lie angle is off, the ball will travel four yards offline.
So if you’re playing standard clubs but should be 2 degrees flat or 2 degrees upright, you’re probably missing your target by 8 yards!
However, I want to say that not every golfer should worry about getting their lie angles adjusted.
If you are a beginner or high handicapper who is just getting to know golf, work on your swing first. The only caveat to this would be if you are either overly tall or short.
But if you have advanced beyond the novice / high handicap levels, starting to get a consistent swing, lie angle is one of the most important things to have adjusted when you buy a new set of irons. Or even have adjusted to your current set if you’re not shopping for any new ones just yet.
While improving your swing is obviously part of the equation, having your equipment match your swing is super important as well. It’s also important to note that each manufacturer has a different spec for the lie angle on their clubs. Almost none of the big brands have the same loft and lie as the others, more on that in a second.
Understanding Lie Angles for Your Irons
Now that you know what lie angles are, next up is figuring out how to measure them and if you need to get adjusted.
How to Determine Your Lie Angle
There are a few ways to figure out the current lie angle of your irons. The first way is to do some research online.
For example, let’s say you have the Titleist AP2 irons. You can google “Titleist AP2 Iron specs” and find the results on their website. The manufacturer’s website should show you the standard loft and lie for each iron in your bag.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect system. As clubs get hit, transported, and bounced around in carts, they can adjust over time.
While you can look online for exact specs, I recommend taking them to a club fitter or golf shop to confirm the actual lie angles. This is even more important if you’ve bought the clubs used as you can’t guarantee what has happened with previous owners.
Ultimately, the lie angle can be too upright, too flat or still have the same standard measurements from the factory.
Here’s the consequences for having the incorrect lie angles on your clubs:
Too Upright
If your irons are too upright, your shot will tend to head to the left of the target. Every little bit matters too.
For example, if your clubs are 2 degrees upright, you will have a miss of eight yards to the left!
Standard Lie Angle (Square)
If you buy clubs straight from the manufacturer or golf store, they almost always come with a standard lie angle. But like I mentioned earlier, not every manufacturer is the same.
For example, here are the specs for a 7-iron with some of the top game improvement irons on the market.
- Titleist AP3 Irons – 31* loft, 63* lie
- Callaway Apex Irons – 30.5* loft, 62* lie
- Taylormade M5 Irons – 30* loft, 62.5* lie
As you can tell, some of them have different lofts and lies. This is important to know as a standard lie on a set of clubs might be one degree flat or upright on others.
Too Flat
If your irons are too flat, your shot will tend to head to the right of the target. For example, if your clubs are 2 degrees flat, you will have a miss of eight yards to the right!
Lie Angles in Wedges
Recently, a friend of mine was getting a club fitting at Golftec for some new clubs. After all the fitting, it was determined that his body type and swing yielded a standard lie angle for Callaway irons. But the club fitter said that his wedges should be 1-2 degrees flatter than the rest of his clubs.
He mentioned that it will help him to not scoop the ball and make more consistent contact.
How to Fix Your Lie Angle
Sorry, this is not something you can or should attempt to fix yourself. Unlike regripping your clubs at home, you will need more heavy duty equipment to get the job done. Go to your local golf shop or see the golf professional at your home course.
Final Thoughts on Lie Angle
Your lie angle plays a big part in becoming a good iron and wedge player. If you want to start hitting more greens and giving yourself more birdie putts, make sure those lie angles match your swing.
You don’t need to buy new clubs either. Simply adjusting your current set of irons to match your swing can help improve your game dramatically.
Also, as time goes on, make sure to continually get adjusted. If you have an injury or make a major swing change, always double check the lie angle. Remember, having the wrong lie angle, even by one degree, can start your ball four yards or more offline.
