How to fill gap between 3H and 5I

[hlca]

I currently have a gap between my 3H and 5I.  My 3H usually goes around 230 yds and my 5I usually goes around 200 yds.  I heard that hybrids go farther than their iron counterparts so I bought a Callaway Apex 21 5 hybrid and turned it down 1 degree to 23 degrees.  It was not only harder to hit than my 5I, but also went the same distance.  

 

I'm thinking of going to a nearby golf shop soon to try out some clubs.  Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should try out?  I imagine 4 hybrid.  Open to suggestions.  I think it would be weird to go 3W, 3H, and 7W.  Maybe a 4I?  But I would then just get the one that matches my irons.

 

I don't think I liked the Apex 21 hybrids.  Any other brands / models I should try?  I prefer used, especially since this club won't be used all that often.  My brother has a TS2 hybrid that I like.  I plan on trying either the TSi2 or TSR2 if I can.  

Edited June 29, 2023 by hlca

[TheBiles]

Why don’t you get the same brand as your 3H?

[Moonlightgrm]

I love or should I say, loved long irons. That said, a 4-iron would be my choice. At my age, 65-years old, I reluctantly took my 2-iron and 3-iron out of my bag this year. Now that I am retired I am trying to get back to scratch. I haven’t been a scratch player since I was in my late forties.  My club pro told me to put a gap filling hybrid in my bag and an extra wedge. Driver, 3-wood (15*), hybrid (21*), 4-PW, 50*, 54*, 58*, putter. I have benefitted from this setup. Your carry yardages are similar to what mine were 15-years ago. With your club head speed, learn to hit and love your long irons. They are so satisfying. I began the year at a 4.0 hdcp and have cut that in half with more practice and my extra wedge. Good luck!

[dokex]

54 minutes ago, hlca said:

I currently have a gap between my 3H and 5I.  My 3H usually goes around 230 yds and my 5I usually goes around 200 yds.  I heard that hybrids go farther than their iron counterparts so I bought a Callaway Apex 21 5 hybrid and turned it down 1 degree to 23 degrees.  It was not only harder to hit than my 5I, but also went the same distance.  

 

I'm thinking of going to a nearby golf shop soon to try out some clubs.  Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should try out?  I imagine 4 hybrid.  Open to suggestions.  I think it would be weird to go 3W, 3H, and 7W.  Maybe a 4I?  But I would then just get the one that matches my irons.

 

I don't think I liked the Apex 21 hybrids.  Any other brands / models I should try?  I prefer used, especially since this club won't be used all that often.  My brother has a TS2 hybrid that I like.  I plan on trying either the TSi2 or TSR2 if I can.  

Choke up on the 3H?

[Mrgreen36]

I have 5w, 4H 3i and 5i. 

 

3i and 4H are almost redundant, until I need what my 3i (driving iron) has to offer. 

[jarediogolf]

I’d vote 7 wood or matching 4 hybrid. 
7 wood is not that odd. Nothing wrong with having a super high launch spinny option in the mix. 

[blades_are_life]

Uh like if you can hit a 3H 230 you have the swing speed to use a 4I. That said I agree with the argument the previous post is making so either would be a good idea depending on the course you are playing. What you absolutely don't need however is another hybrid.

[hammergolf]

First question, what model hybrid and 5 iron do you have? I’d say a 22* or 23* hybrid to match your 3H or driving iron with the same loft. The Srixon, Mizuno, and Cobra driving irons are get great reviews

Edited June 29, 2023 by hammergolf

[renobleiii]

I’m thinking about going with a wood between my 19 degree hybrid and 27 degree 5 iron. Yes, larger gaps, but it’ll work out. 

[bvanlieu]

At the top of the bag, usually we are less in the middle and a bit more front/back dispersion. Hybrids tend to be at least 1" longer stock, some of us cut them down to help with the gapping based on loft. 

 

The flight windows will be different, and in general loft is still king so a 23d hybrid vs a 23d are in the same ball park. 

 

I have done exactly what you did: I replaced a 23d 4H from 2018 or so with a Apex '21 5H turned down to 23 to get about the same gap as I had before (195-205 club for me, 25.5d 5i 180-185). For some the design of the club helps launch them higher, but for me I was hitting the apex 21 4H turned to 22d just too far, more like a 3H then a 4H. 

 

Data really helps here: curious if that style of hybrid you were just launching a bit too high and it really wasn't carrying enough past your 5i or not.  There are other styles, bit different CG to launch lower. On paper I would suggest a 23d pro style cally like Rogue or Mavrik on the cheap. Titleist makes a great club. Don't sleep on Mizuno. 

 

Happy testing. 

[Bobb3rdown]

A 4 udi of some kind.

[FirePro]

I have a 20 yard gap between my 5i and 7 wood then go to a 2 driving iron then back to a 3 wood.

 

What gap are you looking for?, have you tried delofting the 3H to fit the gap a little better?  not knowing the rest of your clubs you could add another club between the 3H and your I assume 3 wood.

 

This is what I play with and just have to hit different shots to hit different in between yardages

 

3 wood 275

2 utility 260 off the tee 245 to 255 off the deck

7 wood 235

5 iron 215

 

220-230 what does the shot allow, can I run it up or is there trouble in front?  Hood a 5 iron or cut the 7 wood if I need it to stop quick

[Velcade]

13 hours ago, hlca said:

It was not only harder to hit than my 5I, but also went the same distance.  

That makes sense if you're not making good contact on the 5hybrid.  Why not try a uw? 

[hlca]

Thanks for all the good feedback.  I went to our local golf shop (Golf Mart) today, ready to try out a lot of these suggestions.  I brought along my 5I to hit for comparison purposes.  After I warmed up, one of the fitters came up and talked to me for a bit.  He wanted to see me hit a ball.  So I hit the 5 iron 220 yards (total), 195 (carry), which is pretty much as good as I can hit it.  He was like well if you can hit the 5 iron so well, don't bother with a hybrid.  Just get a 4 iron in the same model.  My 5 iron is an X2 Hot from 2014 that I reshafted with NS Pro 950 GH.  So I guess that might be a better/cheaper idea for filling my gap.  Welp, now I have to figure out how to use the store credit I have...

[ChipNRun]

3 hours ago, hlca said:

Just get a 4 iron in the same model. 

 

And consider softstepping the shaft, or going to a slightly lighter shaft.

[AverageFrenchGolfer]

If you have a 3W and a 3H, the 4 iron (or utility) is the club you want (usually). 

 

Not a lot of player have both a 3H and a 4H in their bag. They're too close in distance (they're basically the same club with half an inch shorter and 2 degrees)

 

Personally I had 3W-3H-5I  (I could have placed a 4I in that configuration) and went with 5W-4H-5I, less clubs at the top, more wedges.

Edited July 1, 2023 by AverageFrenchGolfer

[67VIP]

Maybe a utility iron in 21* like the Wilson Staff or Srixon. Fitted with Recoil Dart 75 or 95 they are phenomenal!

[Louis_Posture]

19* 3 hybrid and 22*4 hybrid is my suggestion.

[IsThatGood17]

7w is my suggestion. Different launch windows and easy to hit compared to many low lofted options

[jdotmill]

Don’t know why people are saying get a 7 wood when a 3H is essentially the same loft and you already have one.

 

I’d go 9 wood. It’s 24 degrees and will blend in nice with your 5 iron. 
 

I personally go 5w, 7w, 9w, 5 iron and have no issues with gapping. It’s also a cheat code out of a fairway bunker.

 

Beware, it will go extremely high, so if you want a club with a lot of rollout you’re better off with a hybrid or iron.

 

I play a G430 9w with a Tensei Blue X stiff shaft

[Louis_Posture]

On 7/1/2023 at 10:05 AM, AverageFrenchGolfer said:

 

 

Not a lot of player have both a 3H and a 4H in their bag. They're too close in distance (they're basically the same club with half an inch shorter and 2 degrees)

 

 

 

In my bag is both a 19* 3H and a 22* 4H.  The 22* is  very useful ; played from some par 3 tee boxes, lies within light or medium rough, , if the lie is good a fairway bunker, and some par 5 second shot lay up shots.

The 19* produces a more driving shot than the 22*, including some bounce and roll. I play it mostly as a par 5 second shot lay up club, and sometimes from par 4 tee boxes.

Even though the 19* 3H does not get swung often I still find it more useful than would be a 5-wood or 7-wood.

[AverageFrenchGolfer]

1 hour ago, Louis_Posture said:

 

In my bag is both a 19* 3H and a 22* 4H.  The 22* is  very useful ; played from some par 3 tee boxes, lies within light or medium rough, , if the lie is good a fairway bunker, and some par 5 second shot lay up shots.

The 19* produces a more driving shot than the 22*, including some bounce and roll. I play it mostly as a par 5 second shot lay up club, and sometimes from par 4 tee boxes.

Even though the 19* 3H does not get swung often I still find it more useful than would be a 5-wood or 7-wood.

 

I think when we talk about gaping around 200 yards, there should be at least 15 yards difference between the clubs. 

Personally I tend to have only 10 yards or so between a 3h and a 4h. (also because I tend to hit better the 4h as it is a shorter club)

 

But that's just me maybe

Edited July 3, 2023 by AverageFrenchGolfer

[Louis_Posture]

11 minutes ago, AverageFrenchGolfer said:

 

I think when we talk about gaping around 200 yards, there should be at least 15 yards difference between the clubs. 

Personally I tend to have only 10 yards or so between a 3h and a 4h. (also because I tend to hit better the 4h as it is a shorter club)

 

But that's just me maybe

Level lie at sea level with no wind I guess my stock 22* 4H carry distance is 185 yards and the 19*3H is only 10 yards more carry, or 195. But the 4H stops where it lands and the 3H has a lower trajectory which bounces and rolls, so the total finished difference is 15 to 20 yards.

More so than distance difference, I find it useful to have a higher trajectory soft landing club as well as a more piercing lower trajectory club.

[J_Tizzle]

I have had the exact same issue and I think I've finally found the club that works for me, its the Sub 70 699U pro.  I tried hybrids and driving irons a lot, but I need that club more for par 3 tee shots or short par 4s, so I prefer the iron over the hybrid.

 

I hit my hybrid 225-230 and my strong 6i about 200-205, and the Sub70 goes about 210-215.  I've been crazy impressed with it for the 6-7 rounds I've played with it.