At average swing speeds around 80-85 mph, club head geometry dictates launch far more than loft alone. The fairway wood provides the necessary peak height and landing angle to hold greens, whereas the utility iron is best reserved strictly as a tee option or for players with higher swing speeds.
Their scorecard
Launch: 5/5 — Reaches 88-90 ft height easily
Forgiveness: 5/5 — High off-center stability
Versatility: 4/5 — Great off fairway; wide sole in deep rough
What they rate
Compares all three long-game club options at identical 20° loft
Clear breakdown of launch, peak height, spin, and descent angle differences
In-depth explanation of CG location and sole geometry impact
What they don’t
Focused primarily on moderate/average swing speed data
At average swing speeds around 80-85 mph, club head geometry dictates launch far more than loft alone. The fairway wood provides the necessary peak height and landing angle to hold greens, whereas the utility iron is best reserved strictly as a tee option or for players with higher swing speeds.
Compares all three long-game club options at identical 20° loft
Clear breakdown of launch, peak height, spin, and descent angle differences