Every golfer thinks they know which club is costing them the most shots. Most will point to the driver that sprays two fairways over or the 60-degree wedge that gets skulled across the green. But when we look at the numbers, the reality is a little different.
We analyzed the data to identify which clubs are statistically costing golfers the most strokes. Shot Scope gave us access to Strokes Gained data broken down by handicap and while I’d love to say the results are shocking, they’re actually pretty much what you’d expect. Still, seeing the numbers paints a clear picture of where golfers of all skill levels lose the most ground.
25 handicap
For a 25-handicap golfer, the 5-iron is the biggest stroke loser in the bag. On average, it costs –0.373 strokes per swing compared to a scratch player. That’s a steep penalty for a single shot.
Long irons demand swing speed, precise contact and tight dispersion, all things higher handicaps struggle with the most.
By comparison, the putter and gap wedge are far more efficient, costing fewer strokes per attempt and serving as reliable tools to keep scores manageable.
20 handicap
When your handicap drops to a 20, the 5-iron continues to drag scores down, losing –0.328 strokes per swing. While not quite as severe as for 25 handicaps, it still represents a high-risk club. For most golfers at this level, replacing the 5-iron with a hybrid or higher-lofted fairway wood would likely save strokes.
The putter remains the most efficient club, with the gap wedge following closely behind.
15 handicap
For mid-handicap golfers, the same trend holds. The 5-iron costs –0.276 strokes per swing. While ball striking improves at this level, the long iron still demands precision that most players can’t consistently deliver.
The gap and putter still save the most strokes.
10 handicap
Take a wild guess at which club is still costing golfers the most strokes?
It’s the 5-iron, costing –0.205 strokes per swing. At this level, players are more consistent, but the punishment for even small misses with a long iron keeps the numbers negative.
What changes is the “best” category: the driver enters the conversation alongside the putter, reflecting improved ball speed, strike quality and dispersion off the tee.
5 handicap
Even for 5-handicap golfers, the 5-iron remains the weakest performer at –0.136 strokes per swing. The gap in Strokes Gained compared to that of a scratch player is much smaller at this level. Here is where we see that skilled players are handling their 5-iron much better, but it’s still not a club that gains strokes.
At this level, the putter remains the most efficient club and the 3-wood joins as another strong performer.
Scratch Golfers
Even scratch golfers aren’t immune to the struggles of the 5-iron. It still averages –0.062 strokes per swing compared to the scratch baseline (yes, even the best of the best lose ground with it). The difference is tiny but it proves that the 5-iron remains unforgiving no matter the skill level.
What’s most interesting is that, for scratch players, the driver and 3-wood actually produce positive StrokesGgained, making them the only group where the long game truly becomes a scoring tool rather than a liability.
Final takeaway
Across every handicap, the 5-iron consistently costs golfers the most strokes. The losses shrink as skill improves but even scratch players can’t turn it into a net positive. Meanwhile, putters dominate as the most efficient club for nearly every group, with drivers and 3-woods becoming increasingly valuable as skill levels rise.
Bottom line: if you’re looking to save strokes, ditch the 5-iron. Swap it for a hybrid or higher-lofted fairway wood.
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