What's your highest iron?

[progolf4life]

What irons do you play (3-PW, 4-PW, 5-PW, etc...)

As I picking out my new set for next year I have noticed a few things. A lot of pros have been switching over to hybrids. Phil for example only plays 4-PW with a 3-iron replacement. A lot of pros have even switched over to 5-PW with a hybrid replacement. My question to all of you is what do you play and why?

Is one more accurate for you?
Do you get better distance for one over the other?
Is one more playable for you?
Do you like the look of one over the other?
Is one more consistent over the other for you?

During a lesson with my club pro he was telling me that I was one of the only people he knew that still plays a 3-iron (for now). He then told me that he doesn't even play a 3 iron. He said that with as many hybrids out there they would be a better and a more consistent option. He hit my 3 iron about 7-8 times and hit almost all of them solid (1-2 were a slight fade that was unintended) but he said that to him the hybrids were more consistent especially in tournament play.


So, what do you play and why?

[daveh55]

im a 12 handicap, play 2-9, then a seperate 48* pw. no hybrids. I dont play hybrids because i can't control them. for some reason i always slice the crap out of them, but i dont slice anything else. i know i hit the 3h better than mine 3i, but i wasnt sure when that nasty slice would come up. so i take the 3 iron. i never said what i play is smart, its just what i like.

[Swingtheclub]

2.3 index

I play a 4 PW SW LW 1 3 5 wood.

and my Rescue hybrid it is basically my three iron.

I would like to have a better Hybrid three iron and probably a seventeen degree hybrid to replace my fivewood.

I am working on it but have not decided what.

Basically just a lot easier to hit. I can no longer hit a three iron from a bad lie I can my hybrid.

Ken

[TM golf guy]

You left off 2-PW and 0 replacement clubs. i still throw in the 2 iron once in a while.

[StugyGolf]

low hdcp (scratch), play 2-9, and a seperate pw for specialty shots. 2i is easily my fav club in my bag. no iron replacements. have not found a single one that works better and more versatile than my 2i.

Have never liked the looks of hybrids, but would play it if it could beat my 2i, but i love the clean look of a 2i and it is much more accurate for me. My 2i, especially in tourney play is my go to club, off the tee it is clutch and is a good club to have into a mid length par 5.

should add 2-pw and 0 iron replacements.

[gentles]

Set makeup is based on where you play, wait till some the folks from britain on the links courses post here, you wont be seeing many 4 hybrids there!

[hodsy811]

I am a 6 hdcp and play 3-pw with a 1/2 iron replacement. Right now, it is a 16*. I like my 3 iron, and am more confident in direction with irons vs. woods, so the forgiveness of a hybrid to replace my 3 iron isn't justified.

[jshel]

I'm a 4 and my bag setup goes like this:

13 degree TEE 3w
16 degree TM Dual Rescue
19 degree TM Dual Rescue
Cally X-18 4-pw
Vokey 54
Vokey 58

I don't hit it far. I can hit the 3w about 220-225. I can hit the 16 degree hybrid 190-205. I hit the 19 degree in the 180-185 range and when I have a bad lie or if I want to make sure I'm in the fairway on a second shot on a par 5. I'm comfortable with the 4iron up to 180 (if there's no wind).

I'm not opposed to dumping the 4i for a hybrid, but I always want to spend my cash on something sexier like a driver.

[MrJones]

12 handicap- I carry 3 thru wedge. I like hybrids and they definitely give me an advantage when it comes to distance but as far as control, I prefer irons.

[mat562]

I can't vote as I'm not covered in the poll.

I play 3-LW and carry either a 1 or 2 iron too.

Currently, and for most of the summer and autumn, the 1 iron.

I'm a low handicapper.

[golf9596]

I have messed w/hybrids for the last couple of years and have found one I like, Cleveland Hibore. I have removed the three iron and added the hybrid. I still play 4-pw in my standard set. The hybrid is very versitle, but it does carry too far. I do enjoy the high and soft landing, great club to drive with. The group I play with are all low hdcpers, and there is at least one or two hybrids in every bag, a buddy of mine who is a 4, plays dr,3w,5w, 2h,3h,5h, 6-pw. He just says that it is easier to hit them. Walking off the long par three today one of the guys said to me, "I see you still use long irons", now I have never consider a 4 iron a long iron, I still hit my Ping 1 iron at the range, Just to remind me of how great technology is.

[Mr.I302]

Im a 5 index and I have been using 4-pw,50,54,58. My hybrid is a 17* which leaves a big gap but I just choke up on it and hit it 3 iron length. I keep trying to put a 3 or 4 hybrid in but so far I havent found the right one.

[progolf4life]

Poll updated!!!

[Sean2]

I'm a nine and recently bought new clubs. First time I've ever owned a 4-iron. I prefer it to a 4 hybrid. Distance might be a little less, but I'm more accurate/consistent. I also have four wedges (including PW).

[ezra76]

10.8 cap. I play 3iron and 5-PW. My set has been delofted with a 25.5* 5iron and a 45.5* PW. The 3iron is a full cavity and 21*. I have a 17* fw wood with steel shaft as the 2iron replacement. I've played a few different hybrids and just have trouble controlling them. I strike them well, just push and pull them "yikes!!" yards offline. I made the decision to dump my 21* when I had 210 into a par 5 and hit it about 2 blocks down the street left off the golf course. I've never hit shots that far offline with anything, ever, not even trying to kill a driver my first week playing and hitting the biggest slice on earth. So, yeah, I'll take a fat or thin 3iron over a 140yd. yank offline OB any day.

[dac]

i'm a 12-14 handicap or so (not official, just guessing), the longest iron is my 5-iron. can't get the soft landings on 3 or 4 irons, so i went to two hybrids and made a world of difference in 180-200 yards in shots. 5-wood is my longest fairway club and i play four wedges pw-lw. i figure scoring is done from 100 yards in, so i prefer to have more wedges for more options.

[ckguy914]

I play 3-pw because I've always felt that irons are more accurate than woods so I've never liked to carry anything more than a 3 wood, and with that I also have dislikes for hybirds that are more like woods. I am a high ball / high spin player so I don't have problems with my long irons, I don't feel like I am losing out on anything.

[bpalmer21]

+2ish

I just dont hit them that well, I still use a 2 iron on some days, but then I normally drop the 4 iron to make room. I like the 2 iron for alot of shots, esspically on tree lined courses.

Here is a question, if you carry 3 wood, 5 wood, and 2 hybrids, making your 5 iron the lowest you carry....what do you do in the wind, or when you have to punch out?

BP

[golfebj]

Trending to a 12 hdcp and currently play 3i-pw. This is until I can afford another Idea Pro. Probably a 23*.

[floyd]

+2.1, I play 3-pw and sometimes throw in the 2, I have tried hybrids but just cannot hit them well at all, I have tried all of them and tour issue ones. I am very comfortable with the long irons.

[idrive]

sig tells it all...

[golfernut78]

10.8 hdcp (mid) and for the last 5 months i've been playing a 4-pw set and a 22* hybrid to replace the 3 iron. this has been a great setup for me. the 3 iron was just not giving me enough consitentcy - i could hit pretty well, but those times i didn't were costly so i tried the experiment and it has been very succesfull.

prior to this setup i was playing 3-pw with a 18* hybrid to replace the 2 iron/5 wood.

[Matt727]

D,3,5, 3-PW, no replacements, 53,58, i tried out a titleist hybrid, hit a weird draw about half the time so i ditched it my dad uses it now...i like my 3i when i get into trees i can keep it low for a hell of a long time so i like it..

[parpar41]

The 5 iron is the questionable one right now:

I love my 23 degree hybrid ( 4 iron loft) and I love my 6 iron ( 29 degree loft).

I have hit some great shots with my 5 iron and I have hit some not so great shots with my 5 iron.

Can't really bring myself ( or my ego?) to replace the 5 iron with a hybrid though .

[hacker29]

I am a high capper, and play Dr, 3w, 5w, 3h, 4h, 5-pw. I play the hybrids cuz as my playing partner says "you hit your hybrids better then i've ever seen you hit any club" Tho I rarely hit the 4h lately...

[Shaitan]

Um, I play 3-P, 8 hcap and yet to get a hybrid in the bag, but that'll only be time and money. I have hit 2 irons before but I don't see the benefit in having a 2i in the bag over a hybrid where the hybrid is easier to hit. At that distance I just want to hit the green or at least have the forgiveness that if I miss it it'll still be near the green. 3iron is good for punching out of woods and everything (unless its the tee shot on my second hole , can't get it right lately) and very useful for shaping all over the course, and the 4i is very similar. But above those you want forgiveness and to know that you can swing without worrying.

[pgatour2010]

I carry 3-PW + 51, 56, & 60. I really like my 3 iron for working it l to r or r to l when necessary. I've always been a high ball hitter for the most part, so long irons work just fine for me. As for my hybrid listed in my signature it used to be my 2 iron replacement, but the 3 iron in my new MP-60s goes just as far so I'm dropping it for now.

My new experiment next season is to get a 15* or 1 iron replacement hybrid that goes about 3 wood type distance and drop the 3 wood. I do like carrying a hybrid for long shots out of the rough or for driving on tight holes. When I really think about it I don't hit my 3 wood that often, and from 250+ how accurate do I expect to be with it. If I can get a hybrid that goes 240-250 I'll be happy.

I'm a 5.0

[The Chicken Connoisseur]

I play 5-PW

1 replacement is a 4 iron.

I am a 0.8 handicap.


Reasons: I just prefer hybrids. I used to play 6-PW, but I stopped because I could not get the 5-hybrid low enough when I wanted to hit punch shots or long shots into the wind.

Hybrids are easier to hit. I don't have to "concentrate" on trying to hit them solid. I just make a swing and they go.

[mozgolf]

7 handicap play 5-PW. I like the hybrids, because they are easier to hit and land softly with their higher trajectory.

I bought the Adams on a whim and was about a 12 handicap at the start of the year, 5 shots is hard to argue with.

This reminds me of skiing in the late 90s when the shorter wide body skis came out. At first all the better skiers shunned them as being for beginners skis. Within 3-4 years you couldn't buy old school long narrow side cut skis

[bjackson]

Index: 2.4 and dropping
Set make up: 3-P
Replacement clubs: I carry a 2 iron replacement, which acts as a driving iron/ hybrid.