The irons J.J. Spaun used to win the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont could not look more different than the ones Johnny Miller used to earn the same title at the same venue in 1973.

But Spaun’s Srixons and Miller’s MacGregors have one interesting thing in common that could help you play better, too.

Instead of a “traditional” set of matching irons, both pros played with blended sets of different model irons to get the performance they wanted. 

What are blended iron sets?

A blended set merges the strengths of different types of irons — more distance and forgiveness for longer irons like the 4-, 5- and 6-iron, and more feel and precision with the shorter ones, from 7-iron down to pitching wedge. 

Miller was something of a trailblazer in how he customized his irons far beyond their length and loft, mixing and matching heads from different product lines (and different eras) to get the performance and feel he wanted. His homemade set featured ancient (even at the time) 915T models from irons 2-7 and contemporary Tourney Custom 985 heads for the 8, 9 and pitching wedge, all with strips of lead tape Miller personally applied and molded. 

That’s a strategy more and more PGA Tour players are adopting today (although with less lead), for the exact reason you might expect. Spaun played with Srixon’s ZXi7 irons from 5 to pitching wedge, and augmented them with a ZXi5 4-iron for its increased forgiveness. He even used three different Cleveland models for his gap, sand and lob wedges to finetune his short game approach for Oakmont’s brutal green complexes.

Is a blended set right for you?

Chris Marchini, Golf Galaxy’s Director of Golf Experience and Master Club Fitter, sees this trend accelerating among elite players and believes it holds a valuable lesson for golfers at every level. “I personally do blended sets, but I don’t think it’s something that’s talked about or done enough,” Marchini says. “Everything the manufacturers make is in a family, so the opportunity is there to really get some benefits.”

Who will benefit most from a blended set? 

Players with notable strengths and/or weaknesses in one area of their iron game. 

• Players with slower swing speeds get help from higher-launching game improvement long irons.
• Strong short iron players may benefit from the increased feel and precision of compact, players style short irons. 
• Players who have poor control with long irons need the forgiveness of game improvement heads. 

common transition points

The most common transition point occurs in the long iron range, typically around the 4- or 5-iron. This is where many players see their ball flight characteristics change dramatically and struggle to get the height and landing angle they need.

Marchini describes a typical scenario: “You're hitting your 5-iron efficiently, but when we get to the 4, we lose it. At that point, I might go to something that's got a little lower center of gravity. I know I'm more than likely going to maintain the ball speed, but I need to get that peak height up and produce a better landing angle.”

Where that transition point lands will be particular to your personal swing data. Some players carry more forgiving clubs through the 6-iron, and others even combine three different models that span the forgiveness spectrum: 

• Game improvement clubs in the long irons
• Players distance irons in the middle of the set
• Precision players irons for the shortest irons 

how to build the right blended set for you

Successful blending usually involves staying within the same manufacturer's current iron family. “These families are engineered with consistent feel, similar aesthetics and compatible performance characteristics that make blending feel natural rather than jarring,” says Marchini. “With the right fitting, you’re talking about a set that looks as if it was meant to be put together this way. There’s no distraction or disruption. It looks right.” 

The ability for a fitter to configure and order clubs from across a manufacturer’s family is yet another in the long line of advantages getting fitted has over buying a stock set. “I’m looking forward to the day when nobody has a club in their bag—or in their garage—that has virtually never been hit,” says Marchini. “Building a blended set gives you the chance to have everything in your bag working for you when you need it.”