Should You Use Offset Golf Clubs?

Offset is a term that gets banded about in golf equipment as a benefit to golfers, especially high handicappers, but what exactly is it, how does it work and who should consider using offset clubs? We've got all the answers down below.

What is offset?

Offset is a term used to describe how far back the leading edge sits in relation to the shaft when at address. Think of it this way, if you were to draw a straight line down the shaft, in an offset club, the hitting surface (the clubface) would be slightly behind that line.

There are a few major benefits to using offset golf clubs and those golfers who are a mid-high handicap range will likely benefit the due to usually having less clubface awareness and control. In essence, offset is a clever design feature that provides a bit of "help" to golfers, making it easier to hit straighter, higher, and more consistent shots, particularly for those who are still refining their swing.

What are the benefits of offset?

Squaring the golf club is the primary benefit of having offset golf clubs. Because the clubface is set back, it arrives at the ball a split second later in the swing. This extra fraction of a second gives the golfer more time to rotate their hands and "square up" the clubface at impact.

Offset can also help golfers get the ball up in the air more easily than clubs with little offset. By moving the club's CG further back from the shaft, it promotes a higher trajectory. This is particularly helpful for golfers who struggle to get enough loft on their shots. Even some of the game's best players such as Rory McIlroy uses a longer iron with more offset than the rest of his set to help increase launch and carry distance, so if you feel some of your irons don't quite reach an optimal height, then finding some irons with offset could be a huge help.

Fixing a slice is the third benefit offset clubs can provide. An open clubface at impact is a common cause of slices (when the ball curves significantly to the right for right-handed golfers, or left for left-handed golfers). This open face, combined with an over-the-top golf swing, can be extremely destructive for higher-handicap golfers. By helping golfers square the clubface, offset clubs can significantly reduce the tendency to slice the ball, leading to straighter shots or even hitting draws, which often will help produce more distance.

So should you use offset golf clubs? Well, if you struggle to square up the face at impact (miss consistently to the right) or need to hit the ball a bit higher, then offset clubs could most definitely help your game.

What are the best offset clubs?

Offset clubs will typically be found among the best distance irons or most forgiving irons as golfers that gravitate towards these types of clubs usually require assistance with height and a right miss. The amount of offset will vary and it's not limited to game improvement irons either as even some of the best compact mid handicap irons will have differing degrees of offset.