9-iron — 2026-03-25

This is your first tracked 9-iron session, so there's no prior comparison -- this is the baseline. 20 shots, 124 average carry, 126 total, 99 mph ball speed. The carry spread is 52 yards (88-140), which is wide, but that includes the mishit on shot 10. Excluding that dud, the range tightens to 103-140 (37 yards). Your clean strikes average 125 carry at 100 mph. The 9-iron gap from your 8-iron today is about 10 yards of carry, which is right in the expected range.

First 10 shots averaged 122 carry at 96 mph. Last 10 averaged 126 carry at 101 mph -- a 4-yard and 5-mph improvement. This is the opposite of your 8-iron session where you faded. You were already warm from 20 8-iron shots, so the 9-iron warmup was shorter. Shots 11-14 were your best cluster: 131, 131, 127, 131 carry with tight dispersion. You were grooved in that stretch.

Your longest 9-iron by 5 yards. Zero curve -- perfectly straight -- but pulled L12 offline. This is the same pattern as your 8-iron draws: when you close the face and compress it, you get elite distance but lose the start line left. The 103 mph ball speed is close to your 8-iron average (105). When you catch a 9-iron this pure, you're getting 8-iron distance. On the course, this is the shot that flies the green.

17 of 20 shots curved right, averaging R5. Two went left (shots 13 and 16) and one was dead straight (shot 4). The curve range is 0 to R13, with most shots in the R1-R8 window. This is tighter than your 8-iron curve spread today. The right fade is consistent across both clubs -- it's your swing, not the club. Your best offline shots (7, 12, 14, 17) all had moderate R1-R4 curve. When the curve creeps past R10 (shots 3, 15, 20), the ball ends up 10-13 yards right.

Shot 10 was a dud -- 88 carry, 74 mph, clearly a chunk or severe mishit. Shot 15 was weak: 103 carry, 93 mph, R10 curve, R13 offline. Shot 20 was thin: 123 carry but only 18-yard height and 39-degree landing angle (vs 46-degree average). All three share low ball speed (74-100 mph) and high curve (R7-R12). When you lose speed, the face opens more at impact and the ball curves harder right. Speed and curve are directly linked -- watch the curve number as your early warning.

6 shots missed left, 5 missed right, 9 were within 3 yards of center. Average offline is less than 1 yard left -- essentially centered. But the spread is wide: L16 to R13. Your left misses (shots 1, 4, 9, 16) tend to be pulls with low curve. Your right misses (shots 3, 5, 15, 20) tend to be fades with high curve. The centered shots (7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 17) all have moderate R1-R4 curve. That's the window to stay in.

8-iron today: 135 carry, 105 mph. 9-iron today: 125 carry (clean), 100 mph. That's a 10-yard gap and 5 mph speed difference, both in the expected range. On the course in these conditions (64 degrees, moderate wind), your numbers are: 8-iron at 135, 9-iron at 125. The landing angles are nearly identical (46 degrees 8i, 46 degrees 9i) so both clubs stop the ball. Use these numbers for club selection until conditions change significantly.

1. You have a baseline now: 125 carry, 100 mph in moderate conditions. Track this against warmer weather to see your true gap. 2. The R1-R4 curve window produces your straightest shots. When curve hits double digits, you're losing the face. 3. Shot 4 (140 carry, zero curve) shows you can compress a 9-iron to 8-iron distance. That's not a goal -- it's a warning. If you're between clubs on the course, take the 8 and swing easy rather than crushing the 9. 4. Consider adding pitching wedge next session to build out your scoring club gaps.