If you've been struggling with your long irons lately, you've probably looked into wishon single length irons as a possible solution to that mid-round consistency crisis. It's a concept that sounds almost too good to be true: every single iron in your bag is the same length, meaning you only need one setup, one ball position, and one swing. While Bryson DeChambeau brought the idea into the mainstream a few years ago, it was actually Tom Wishon and his team who really figured out how to make this work for the rest of us.
I spent a good chunk of time diving into the Sterling line—which is Wishon's take on this tech—and I wanted to break down what actually happens when you stop carrying five different-length clubs and start swinging just one.
Why the Single Length Concept Actually Works
The traditional way we build golf clubs is a bit weird when you stop to think about it. As the irons get longer (like your 4 or 5 iron), the shafts get longer and the heads get lighter. This forces you to change your posture and where you stand relative to the ball for every single club. It's no wonder most amateur golfers find a 5-iron terrifying but feel like a pro with an 8-iron in their hands.
With wishon single length irons, that variability just disappears. Every club in the set is built to the length of a standard 7-iron. This isn't just about making the shafts the same length; it's about matching the weight and the "feel" of the club so that when you close your eyes, you can't tell if you're holding a pitching wedge or a 5-iron. For someone who struggles with ball striking, having that one consistent repeatable motion is a massive mental edge.
The Problem With Other Single Length Sets
Before we get too deep into why Wishon is a top-tier choice, we have to talk about the "gapping" problem. A lot of early single-length sets were basically just regular iron heads stuck on 7-iron shafts. The result? The 5-iron didn't go far enough because the shaft was too short, and the wedges went way too far because the shaft was too long. It was a mess.
This is where Tom Wishon's engineering really shines. He realized that if you're going to shorten the long irons, you have to change how the face of the club works. In the Sterling set, the lower-lofted irons (the ones that are usually hard to hit) use a high-strength steel face that acts a bit like a fairway wood. It's "hotter," meaning the ball jumps off the face faster to make up for the shorter shaft. On the flip side, the wedges are designed to keep the ball flight down so they don't just balloon into the sky.
What It's Like to Actually Play Them
The first time you stand over a 5-iron that's the length of a 7-iron, your brain is going to short-circuit a little bit. It looks "wrong." You'll feel like you should be standing closer to the ball, and you'll probably expect to chunk it. But once you commit to that 7-iron swing, something magical happens. The ball just goes.
What I noticed most about the wishon single length irons is the sheer lack of stress on those "par 3 over water" shots. Usually, pulling a 5-iron involves a prayer and a very tense grip. With these, you just take your 7-iron stance and let it rip. The consistency in your ball position is probably the biggest game-changer. You aren't guessing where to play the ball in your stance anymore. It's the same spot, every time.
The Feel and Feedback
If you're a "feel" player, you might be worried that these will feel like clunky game-improvement shovels. They don't. Wishon is known for high-quality components, and these feel remarkably soft for a club that packs so much technology. You still get plenty of feedback to know when you've hit one thin or off the toe, but the forgiveness factor is significantly higher than a traditional set.
Dealing with the Short Game
The transition to a longer-than-usual pitching wedge or gap wedge takes the most time to get used to. Most of us are used to choking down on a short wedge for those delicate shots. With the Sterling irons, your wedges are longer, which can feel a bit cumbersome at first around the greens. However, once you get the hang of the different swing weight, you'll find that you're actually more consistent with your full-swing wedges because, again, it's that same 7-iron rhythm.
Who Are These Irons For?
I'll be honest: if you're a scratch golfer who loves to work the ball both ways and flight your long irons low under the wind, you might find single length a bit limiting. But for the vast majority of us—the weekend warriors, the high handicappers, or even the solid mid-handicappers who just want to stop thinning their 4-irons—wishon single length irons are a literal godsend.
They are especially great for: * Golfers who don't have hours to spend on the range perfecting five different swings. * Players who struggle with back pain and want a consistent, more upright posture. * Anyone who feels "lost" with their long irons but loves their mid-irons.
The Importance of a Professional Fitting
You can't just buy a set of wishon single length irons off a shelf at a big-box retailer. Wishon is a component brand, which means they are meant to be built by a professional club fitter. This is actually a huge advantage.
When you get fitted for these, the builder will look at your swing speed, your release point, and your height to determine the perfect "single length" for you. While the standard is usually around 37 inches (7-iron length), some people might be better off at 36.5 or 37.5. Plus, they'll make sure the lie angles are perfect for your swing. If you're going to commit to the single-length life, doing it without a fitting is like buying a tailored suit without getting measured—it kind of defeats the purpose.
Common Myths About Single Length
There's a lot of chatter on golf forums about these clubs, and not all of it is accurate.
Myth 1: You lose distance. Not really. Because the long irons in the Wishon set have that thinner, "hot" face, most players find they actually hit their long irons further because they're making better contact. A center-face hit with a shorter shaft beats a toe-hit with a long shaft every day of the week.
Myth 2: They are only for beginners. Tell that to the guys on tour using them. While they are incredibly helpful for beginners, the benefit is really about efficiency and consistency, which any golfer can appreciate.
Myth 3: You can't play "finesse" shots. It takes a little practice, but you can absolutely hit chips and pitches with these. It just requires a slight adjustment in how you handle the longer shaft of the wedges.
Final Thoughts on the Sterling Set
I think the reason wishon single length irons have such a loyal following is that they actually solve a problem rather than just providing a gimmick. Golf is hard enough as it is. Why would we want to make it more complicated by using 14 different tools with 14 different feels?
Switching to a set like the Sterlings is about simplifying the game. It's about walking up to your ball in the fairway, seeing 170 yards to the pin, and thinking, "Easy, that's just my 7-iron swing," instead of "Oh boy, here comes the 6-iron, I hope I don't chunk this one."
If you're tired of the inconsistency and you're open to trying something a little non-traditional, I'd highly recommend finding a local club fitter who carries Wishon. It might just be the thing that finally gets your handicap moving in the right direction. Just be prepared for everyone in your foursome to ask you a million questions once they notice all your clubs are the same height in the bag!