If you have replaced a 21* hybrid with a driving iron . . .

What are the pros and cons?

I have had a TM SLDR 21* hybrid for years and it has bitten the dust over the weekend and for some reason a driving iron intrigues me. If you have given up a hybrid for a driving iron. What did you go with?

How well do you hit a 4 iron?

He plays both depending on the course, weather and how he is swinging. Hybrid is easier to put a solid strike on, but it flies high and can get slapped by the wind.

Today he used his 909h at 21* and it was great.

... I did not drop my hybrid for a DI but instead dropped my 22* 4 iron for my 21.5* hybrid. I use my UDi 2 iron just like the initials indicate ... a Driving Iron and use it exclusively off the tee on some very long par 3's but mostly for shorter par 4's. On my favorite course I will use it 3 or 4 times depending on the wind. My hybrid otoh, is just too valuable from the rough so I reluctantly dropped my 4 iron.

I hit my 4 iron pretty well, but tend to hook a hybrid off the tee. Have been trying a DI of late and like it, just seems to be a different animal than a hybrid.

> @"Jack Pearsall" said:

> How well do you hit a 4 iron?

> He plays both depending on the course, weather and how he is swinging. Hybrid is easier to put a solid strike on, but it flies high and can get slapped by the wind.

> Today he used his 909h at 21* and it was great.

Went the other way. dropped my DI for a 19 hybrid. Love the switch. Way more versatile and forgiving

I switch back and forth between a hybrid at 23 deg and a 21 deg DI. While hybrids are so much easier to hit and versatile from the fairway / rough, there is something very satisfying about striping a DI off the tee.

I tried a Cobra Utility, but I found it too hard to be really worth it. Apex hybrid was much better in every aspect. Not all hybrids are equal...

I'd say it really depends on what type of shot you are looking for and the distance you are trying to fill. I rarely found myself hitting my hybrid off the deck to reach greens, and for me it was high and hooky, so less reliable than a 3 wood or even my driver off the tee. Went to a DI and love it. Monster off the tee, accurate with tons of roll. Definitely not as forgiving as a hybrid off the deck, but I rarely need it so it's much better for me primarily as an off the tee club.

I didn't drop, but added the iron, adjusted to 18 degrees. My hybrid was 21 degrees and still went a bit further than the iron. (even from the tee).

I'm trying out with both, the iron for tee shots and fairways, then the hybrid is a nice tool from the rough, divots, tough lies and bump 'n' runs.

I guess it also depends on the clubs, brand, weight, shaft, etc as well. Reaplcing my TM M3 rescue with a one length cobra hybrid, curious to see the difference in distance.

I don't hit my hybrid much from fairways, mainly off of tees. I think the DI gives much more control off the tee than the hybrid.

> @jkim27 said:

> I'd say it really depends on what type of shot you are looking for and the distance you are trying to fill. I rarely found myself hitting my hybrid off the deck to reach greens, and for me it was high and hooky, so less reliable than a 3 wood or even my driver off the tee. Went to a DI and love it. Monster off the tee, accurate with tons of roll. Definitely not as forgiving as a hybrid off the deck, but I rarely need it so it's much better for me primarily as an off the tee club.

Haven't had a hybrid in quite some time now. Went with the Mizzy MPH5 4 iron. They specifically engineered the long irons with High Launch/Low Spin. I threw in a mid/high launch graphite shaft and never looked back. Great off the tee and in the fairway too with the wider sole.

I hit utilities/DI's more consistently than hybrids, period. I gamed hybrids in the 21-ish degree range for several years but they never got comfortable for me. Since I picked up my first utility/DI I haven't looked back.

In terms of ball flight differences, on well struck shots, hybrids tend to fly a little higher and go a little farther than utilities/DI's at the same loft setting. Since I already hit the ball fairly high, this is not an issue for me -- if anything I like the confidence that I am more likely to be able to keep my 21-deg DI out of the wind when necessary. Regardless, I am more consistent with the DI which is the primary factor for me.

I have tried multiple times and I just hit a hybrid much more consistently.

I had a 712u 3 iron in the bag but switched out for 21* hybrid. I love the versatility of the hybrid. Occasionally I’ll break out the DI on very windy days. I enjoy the options of both clubs.

> @"eleven bravo" said:

> I had a 712u 3 iron in the bag but switched out for 21* hybrid. I love the versatility of the hybrid. Occasionally I’ll break out the DI on very windy days. I enjoy the options of both clubs.

Pretty much the same thing but I switched in a 17.5 hybrid for my 712U 3 iron. Just much more versatile and without the usual worries of hitting it left that made me get rid of hybrids way back when. That said with the U500 and U510 coming out, I am not looking at them and thinking that they make sense.

I don't use hybrids because I feel much more comfortable with irons in my hands. I do have a 5 wood and that helps when I feel like I need some distance from the rough on a par 5. Only hit the DI from the tee and never really need it from the fairway. Not a better feeling in golf than ripping a 2i from the tee and seeing that low, penetrating ball flight. Some times, I will purposely pull the 2i instead of a wood because I know I will get a straight ball in the fairway on par 4. Just learned to play to my strengths over time and not force it. Driver and 3 wood is my biggest opportunity for improvement.

I picked up a Ping Crossover 3 today and am going to give it a shot. I had one of these a while back and liked it, but for some reason got rid of it. I have started not using a tee on tee shots that I hit with irons and believe it or not I like the ball flight and the "towards" seems to be more to my liking, as well.

bob

> @JStang said:

> I have tried multiple times and I just hit a hybrid much more consistently.

Hybrids are definitely more consistent no matter who you are. Some players just hit them too high and spinny. I consistently hit a high snappy hook with a hybrid - went to a DI and will never go back to a hybrid!

I’ve done past testing in the range my 21* 3 iron won over a hybrid and UDI. I preferred the control (especially when it’s windy), tight dispersion pattern and yardage gapping.

Also replaced my 2 UDI with a Callaway MB 17*, again more control and proper gapping off my 3 iron. This does leave me handcuffed if I am 215 yards out in the rough where’s as the UDI could manage hitting out of the rough.

So at this point I’ll advanced a 6 iron and leave myself a 30 yard pitch.

> @jkim27 said:

> I'd say it really depends on what type of shot you are looking for and the distance you are trying to fill. I rarely found myself hitting my hybrid off the deck to reach greens, and for me it was high and hooky, so less reliable than a 3 wood or even my driver off the tee. Went to a DI and love it. Monster off the tee, accurate with tons of roll. Definitely not as forgiving as a hybrid off the deck, but I rarely need it so it's much better for me primarily as an off the tee club.

Spot on with my own observations and thoughts! Went from i20 Hybrid to G410 Crossover this season and has easily been my best club replacement ever, suddenly Im in the fairway again! Just like jkim27 I'm a high launch player fighting a left miss which heavily improved with the switch. The DI is not as easy to launch high into greens from fairway nor as easy to hit from the rough, but that has not been the weak part of my game. I'd say it all comes down to needs and identifying improvement areas in your own game.

Interesting thread as I’ve been thinking of switching from hybrid to DI as well. My launches are high and misses go left,,,wouldn’t mind having a lower ball flight option off the tee...

> @fundustrial said:

> Interesting thread as I’ve been thinking of switching from hybrid to DI as well. My launches are high and misses go left,,,wouldn’t mind having a lower ball flight option off the tee...

I tend to hook hybrids. A bad shot with my G400 crossover is too low. It still rolls. It's still in the fairway. I stopped it on the green on a long par 3. Hybrid is much better off the fairway.

Got them both 19*h & 22*c - - carry a 23.5* 9wd occasionally

Hybrid over 5w for consistency at that yardage for me.

Crossover over hybrid - Hybrids spin uncontrollably into the wind for me at that loft. Also an easier transition from my irons with much better control