Tommy Armour Atomic vs Tommy Armour 845
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | Atomic loft | 845 loft | Atomic lie | 845 lie | Atomic length | 845 length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 19 | — | 60.5 | — | 39 | — |
| 5 | 21.5 | 22 | 61.5 | 61.5 | 38.375 | 38.25 |
| 6 | 24 | 25 | 62 | 62 | 37.75 | 37.625 |
| 7 | 27 | 29 | 62.5 | 62.5 | 37.125 | 37 |
| 8 | 31 | 33 | 63 | 63 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 36 | 38 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 41 | 43.5 | 64 | 64 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
| AW | 46 | 49 | 64 | 64 | 35.25 | 35.25 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- Atomic
- 845
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the Atomic is 27° and the 845 is 29°, a 2° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the Atomic should carry roughly 6 to 8 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the 845. Across the 7 clubs both sets share, the 845 averages 1.9° weaker, with the largest gap at the AW (46° vs 49°). The pitching wedges are 41° and 43.5°; the stronger one leaves a 9° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the Atomic 7-iron is 0.12 inches longer (37.125" vs 37").
The sets are built differently: the Atomic runs 4-iron to AW (8 clubs), the 845 5-iron to AW (7 clubs).
The Atomic is a super game improvement iron and the 845 a game improvement iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The Atomic is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for high handicaps, beginners and slower swing speeds. The 845 trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits roughly 10 to 25 handicaps.
The Atomic is listed as brazed hollow body with titanium cup face and the 845 as cast two-piece hollow body. Both use hollow-body heads, so both trade a little feel for face flex and launch help. Both use tungsten weighting to lower the centre of gravity and steady the head on off-centre strikes.
The 845 came out 1 year after the Atomic, but it is a different line rather than a direct replacement, so the two were designed for different golfers as well as different seasons.
Which should you choose?
The 845 is the weaker-lofted set — up to 3° weaker than the Atomic. That trades raw distance for a steeper landing angle and more predictable stopping power into greens.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Tommy Armour Atomic specs and Tommy Armour 845 specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tommy Armour Atomic stronger lofted than the 845?
Yes. The Tommy Armour Atomic 7-iron is 27° against 29° for the 845, 2° stronger, which is worth roughly 6 to 8 yards of extra carry with the same swing.
What is the loft difference between the Tommy Armour Atomic and 845?
At the 7-iron the difference is 2° (27° vs 29°). The largest gap on a shared club is 3° at the AW, and all 7 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Tommy Armour Atomic or the 845?
The Tommy Armour Atomic. As a super game improvement iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to high handicaps, beginners and slower swing speeds. The 845 is a game improvement iron, better suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps.
Do the Tommy Armour Atomic and 845 have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Tommy Armour Atomic is 62.5° lie and 37.125 inches, the 845 62.5° and 37 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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