Ava Romero
The mashie is one of the more well-known names of golf clubs from the early days of the sport. Before irons were numbered, the mashie iron was used for medium-long approaches into the green, and some golfers used them to play off the tee. It is usually thought of as the rough equivalent of the later 4-iron in terms of its loft and position in the golf bag. The name mashie is thought to derive from the French word massue, meaning mace, or from mash, a Scottish word for a sledgehammer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | Before the 1900s, up to the mid-1800s |
| Club type | Iron golf club |
| Clubhead | Iron |
| Club use | Medium-long approaches into the green, off the tee, medium distances, lofting a ball |
| Club length | 37.5 inches |
| Similar modern clubs | 4-iron, 5-iron |
| Name origin | French word 'massue' meaning mace, or 'mash' (Scots for sledgehammer) |
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What You'll Learn
- The 'mashie' name is thought to derive from the French word for mace
- Mashie irons were used for medium-long approaches into the green
- Mashie irons are equivalent to modern 4- or 5-irons
- Mashie irons were used before golf clubs were numbered
- The 'mashie' name is still sometimes used by modern golf manufacturers
The 'mashie' name is thought to derive from the French word for mace
The mashie is a golf club with a wide blade that is used for medium-long distances and for lofting a ball. It is also known as a "number five iron". The name "mashie" is thought to be derived from the French word "massue", which means mace. This is assumed to be from the Vulgar Latin "mattiuca", derived from the word "mattia", which means mallet or club.
The mashie was one of the old golf clubs that were used before the invention of matched, numbered sets of irons in the first half of the 20th century. Golfers used to assemble their own sets of clubs, buying them from clubmakers or making them themselves. The mashie was introduced in the second half of the 1800s and was originally a highly lofted club used to impart backspin for short approach shots. Over time, the design and use of the mashie evolved. By the 1900s, it had lost some of its loft and was used for a wider range of approach shots.
The term "mashie" can also refer to a family of irons used for approach shots that were developed during the era of named clubs. These included the mid-mashie (equivalent to a modern 3-iron), the mashie iron (similar to a 4-iron), the spade mashie (similar to a 6-iron), and the mashie-niblick (similar to a 7-iron).
Another theory about the origin of the name "mashie" is that it is derived from the word "mash", which was used by Scots to refer to a sledgehammer.
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Mashie irons were used for medium-long approaches into the green
The mashie iron was a golf club used in the late 19th century and early 20th century, before irons were numbered in 8- or 9-club matched sets. It was used for medium-long approaches into the green, and some golfers also used it to play off the tee.
The name "mashie" is thought to derive from the French word "massue", meaning mace. Another theory suggests that it comes from the word mash, a Scots term for a sledgehammer. The mashie was one of the better-known old golf club names and resembled a modern 5-iron in function, with a rather wide blade that was well laid back. It was used for medium distances and for lofting a ball, and had a higher loft than other clubs of its time, allowing golfers to impart more backspin.
The mashie iron fell between the mid-iron and mashie in terms of loft and shaft length. In his book, Picture Analysis of Golf Strokes: A Complete Book of Instruction, four-time major winner Jim Barnes wrote that his mashie iron was 38.5 inches in length, compared to 38 inches for his mid-iron and 37.5 inches for his mashie. James Braid described the mashie iron as "really a deep-faced mashie with less loft than an ordinary mashie — about the same as a mid-iron."
The mid-mashie, another variation of the club, was used in the same way as a modern 3-iron.
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Mashie irons are equivalent to modern 4- or 5-irons
In the early days of golf, clubs were not identified by number but by name. The mashie is one of the better-known names of the old golf clubs, and it most closely resembles a modern 5-iron in function. The name "mashie" is believed to have originated from the French word "massue", which means mace. Another theory suggests that "mashie" comes from "mash", a Scottish word for a sledgehammer.
The mashie iron was a golf club used before irons were numbered in 8- or 9-club matched sets. It is usually thought of as the rough equivalent to the modern 4-iron in terms of its loft and position in the golf bag relative to the other clubs golfers carried. A mashie iron was about 38.5 inches in length, compared to 38 inches for a mid-iron and 37.5 inches for a mashie.
The mashie was used for medium-long approaches into the green, and some golfers used them to play off the tee. It was also used for medium distances and for lofting a ball. The club had a higher loft (relative to other clubs of its time), giving golfers the ability to impart more backspin.
The mashie iron can be considered a deep-faced mashie with less loft than a regular mashie, similar to a mid-iron. The mid-iron, in turn, is equivalent to a modern 2-iron.
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Mashie irons were used before golf clubs were numbered
In the early days of golf, clubs were not standardised and did not have uniform shapes or forms. They were often handcrafted by the players themselves. In the late 19th century, names like mashies, niblicks, cleeks, jiggers, baffies, spoons, and others were used to identify clubs. These clubs served similar functions to their modern counterparts but differed vastly in design and difficulty of use.
The "mashie iron" was the name of a golf club from the era before irons were numbered in 8- or 9-club matched sets. It is usually thought of as the rough equivalent of the later 4-iron in terms of its loft and position in the golf bag relative to the other clubs golfers carried. The mashie iron was used for medium-long approaches into the green, and some golfers used them to play off the tee. It was also used to generate more backspin.
The name "mashie" is thought to derive from the French word "massue", meaning mace. Another theory is that it comes from "mash", a Scottish word for a sledgehammer.
The mashie iron had a deep face and less loft than an ordinary mashie, with a similar loft to a mid-iron. It was about 38.5 inches in length, compared to 38 inches for a mid-iron and 37.5 inches for a mashie.
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The 'mashie' name is still sometimes used by modern golf manufacturers
The mashie was a golf club that was used in the early days of golf, before clubs were identified by number. It was an iron club with a wide blade that was used for medium-long approaches into the green and for lofting the ball from medium distances. The name "mashie" is thought to derive from the French word "massue", meaning mace, or from "mash", a Scottish word for a sledgehammer.
While the mashie is considered an obsolete golf club, the name is still sometimes used by modern golf manufacturers. For example, some companies produce a mid-mashie club, which is used like a modern 3-iron. The mashie iron is another club that falls between the mid-iron and mashie in terms of loft and shaft length and is roughly equivalent to a 4-iron.
The continued use of the term "mashie" in modern golf equipment demonstrates a connection to the sport's history and a recognition of the evolution of golf clubs over time. It also highlights the fact that, despite advancements in technology and design, the fundamental purpose and function of golf clubs have remained relatively consistent.
Some golfers may prefer to use clubs with names like "mashie" as it provides a sense of tradition and classic golfing style. Additionally, the name "mashie" has a distinct and memorable quality, which could be a marketing advantage for manufacturers.
While the use of the mashie name by modern manufacturers is not widespread, it serves as a reminder of the rich history and evolution of golf equipment.
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Frequently asked questions
A mashie is an old golf club with a wide blade that was used for medium-long approaches into the green.
The name "mashie" is thought to be derived from the French word "massue", meaning mace. Another theory suggests that it comes from the Scots word "mash", meaning sledgehammer.
Mashies were used in the early days of golf, before golf clubs were identified by number. They were used before 1924, when golf clubs started to be manufactured with metal shafts.
A mashie iron is a type of mashie with less loft than a standard mashie. It is roughly equivalent to a modern 4-iron or 5-iron in terms of its loft and position in the golf bag.
