What should I do for a 4 iron???

So, I have a 19 degree titleist h2, and then my irons start at a 5 in the Ping i irons. I need help with what to put in the 4 iron slot...driving iron, hybrid, or set iron. So far I've come up with a few options...a titleist 712u which would be the cheapest, wait for the new ping crossover(don't like the current crossover), or get the ping i 4 iron to match my set. I think I'd rather go the driving iron route and another hybrid would probably be my last choice if I had to. Also, with the driving iron comes the topic of steel vs graphite. I need x flex so that leads to the problem of not a lot of places to demo driving irons especially in my flex. Simple option would be to go with the set 4 iron and forget about it. What would you do???

I've had the 712u 4i and recoil 110 shaft for me and love it. I had a hard time hitting the 4i consistent but it's now a solid club for me. off the turf or on the tee.

Hard to say ... a lot will depend on you. For the last two seasons I tried a 23 degree driving iron (Z-U45) and various hybrids in place of my 4i, but eventually this season I got good enough that I hit my 4i better than anything else and couldn't be happier - best of luck in you quest.

Having owned a 712u 2 iron and i20 irons, I have to say the Ping i series 4 iron is more forgiving than the 712u (what's traditionally considered forgiveness: bigger head, more offset, CoG lower and further back).

Thus I don't see a reason for going with the 712u outside of the price point.

Having owned a 712u 2 iron and i20 irons, I have to say the Ping i series 4 iron is more forgiving than the 712u (what's traditionally considered forgiveness: bigger head, more offset, CoG lower and further back).

 

Thus I don't see a reason for going with the 712u outside of the price point.

Thank you! This is the kind of info I was hoping someone would have.

Hybrid all the way.

Check my signature for my thoughts. 23 degree perfect 4 iron replacement!

I tried the 23° route and it wasn't for me. I struggled with consistency. I ended up putting an Aerotech graphite shaft in a 4 iron head that matched my set (JPX 850 Forged) and couldn't be happier.

I've tried a couple of dedicated driving irons (Taylormade UDI and Callaway Apex UT) and found that the PSi 4 iron from my set was the easiest to hit and delivered the most consistent results. Obviously this will be different for everyone, but I found it better to look at as well. I'd try that first and, worst case scenario, your set now runs from 4-PW instead.

Think you should at least try the standard 4 iron before a beefed up driving iron which limits you options.

What fills your yardage and flight gap best?

I have my 26º 5 iron I hit 180 yards, and then a 21.5º hybrid I hit 190 but high ... you can't base it off of degrees or numbers on the bottoms of clubs, it has to be on what works for you.

Snag a ping g series 4 iron if you don't want to go the hybrid route.

I use a 24* hybrid in place of a 4 iron.

Had a Srixon U45 23 as a 4 iron replacement ever since the first came out and it's indispensable for me. The true definition of a utility club. I use it multiple times a round to punch out of trouble, off the tee on short par 4s or long par 3s, and 190-210 yard approach shots. Sounds/feels awesome too

All these recommendations, but really it depends on your game.

If you have the swing speed and can hit the 4i well enough to get it 10-15 yards past your 5-iron, then the 4i makes sense. If not you should consider some sort of hybrid.

Descent angle is also important if you want to hold greens. Should be shooting for something with at least 45 degree descent angle.

Nike VRS 24* hybrid - incredibly long high and straight

Unless you desperately need the launch angle of a hybrid, I would go with a driving iron. I love my 2/4 combo

Unless you desperately need the launch angle of a hybrid, I would go with a driving iron. I love my 2/4 combo

I definitely don't need the height, I had a razr x hl 4 hybrid and it went way up in the air. Useless in the wind. What is better for lowering trajectory, driving iron or set iron?

I have kind on gone through this as well. I had a 712U driving iron (3i) and loved it. It was great off the tee and when playing tighter, shorter, holes it was critical for my game. But it wasn't that easy to hit off the deck. I learned to hit it off the deck and became pretty confident with it off the deck, but, it took some adjusting and it was never 'easy'. It was always a concentrated effort to hit it consistently off the deck (which is unlike most irons for me which feel effortless).

This year I got a new set of irons (went from AP2 to Callaway Apex CF16). And I opted to go with a set 4i, bent a degree strong and playing 1/4 inch longer. Basically a 'beefed' up set 4i. I believe now it's about the same loft as the 712u 3i or even a hair stronger. While I hit it a hair worse off the tee than the 712u (like A- vs. a B+), it is so much easier to hit off the turf than the 712u was. It's effortless like my other irons.

Ultimately it depends on your game. However, if you want a 4i for hitting off turf, I would opt for a set 4i or a hybrid. I think you will have more consistent results off turf with those than with a driving iron. If it's meant to be a reliable club off the tee on tight holes than I would roll with the driving iron and would figure out if you can hit it consistently off the turf.

Also I just saw your comment about height. I hit the the set iron and the driving iron pretty comparably in terms of height. Really not much a difference. A more apples to apples comparison would have been my 712u 3i to my AP2 3i... The 712u was a little higher but it wasn't by a big margin (or any one which would really make an impact).

Unless you desperately need the launch angle of a hybrid, I would go with a driving iron. I love my 2/4 combo

I definitely don't need the height, I had a razr x hl 4 hybrid and it went way up in the air. Useless in the wind. What is better for lowering trajectory, driving iron or set iron?

What I like about my MP Fli Hi 4 iron vs a "set" 4 iron. Its easy to launch if you want some height (not hear a hybrid though) but still easy to hit low too. For me its the best of both worlds (hybrid and set iron)

It is about a half club longer than my MB2 4 iron, about as easy to work too.

I never got along with hybrids. I have a 24º 9-wood, a 20º 7-wood, and a 16º 3-wood. They work well for me.

I'd go with the your set matching 4i. The i series are a progressive set, playing the long irons is kind of the point

Snag a ping g series 4 iron if you don't want to go the hybrid route.

UPDATE: Srixon u45 on the way. 23 degree

What shaft?

What shaft?

KBS C Taper 125 S+

M2 5iron

Hybrids (IMO) have a sweet spot for loft. They work from 19°-23°. Outside of that you fight odd ball flights, inconsistent distances, and the occasional hook. Can't say I have ever grabbed a driving iron and was head over heels about it either. I always regress to the set iron in long irons until I get into that 23° & under zone.

I will add that the closest affair to a club in that spot was a H4/H5 long iron. Tons of fun

Anyone know why this one has a 4 stamped on it and I see others with loft stamped on them?

BTW I love the arccos 360

i believe the u45 series had club number on it but he u65 series has loft and club number