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Is the 4i on it’s last leg?


Solidstrike

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This is a funny thread. Just because we all use a 4-iron doesn't mean that it won't disappear from the modern set of clubs. I carried a 1-iron. I carried a 2-iron. I still carry a 3-iron and 4-iron, but my irons are getting old and in truth there are better options. None of the fellas i golf with carry an iron beyond their 5-iron. If I buy a new set it certainly won't have a 3-iron, and who knows about a 4-iron. Some of this is the people, some of this is the ball. The modern ball just seems to work better with a little more loft, and some of the new hybrids are pretty amazing...

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I am a low handicapper who plays a four hybrid. Makes total sense. Easier to hit, more consistent and forgiving. Higher launch to hold greens...

 

Take the ego out of play and a hybrid makes more sense in all forms in my opinion.

 

This is or was my thinking exactly and for whatever reason i burned way too much money trying to find a hybrid I could hit. Wood style hybrids, iron style hybrids, nothing worked.

 

I would happily game 14 Alien Wedges if it lowered my scores and I had a 9 wood for a while. I picked up a little speed and changed my swing a bit and became terribly inconsistent with the 9W. I duff my 4 iron sometimes but at least I duff it pretty straight. I struck hybrids and the 9W more consistently solid but direction could be appalling. Earlier this year I missed a par 3 with my 9W pin high left...by 68 yards!

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Don't think so, it might end up with a different number on the bottom, but don't see it going anywhere.

 

This. There will mostly always be a 38” 22-24 degree loft iron in most players bags. As for what number it says on the bottom, who knows?

WITB:

Driver: Taylormade SIM 9° 

Fairway Wood: Taylormade SIM TI 15°, Titleist 917F2 18°

Irons: Ping i210 4-UW

Wedges: Titleist SM8 S-Grind 54°, 58°

Putter: Nike BC-01 33"

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Pheenom may be channeling club designer Tom Wishon on this. Wishon has the 24/38 rule: The average golfer can't hit an iron shot off the deck with a club that has less than 24° loft and more than a 38-inch shaft.

 

In my three wedge set-up (see below), sometimes I carry a 4W, a 4H and a 4i. My old Calla X20 Tour 4i was good as a driving iron on really tight holes, and on longish par 3 holes where a 4H could fly the green.

 

On my new TE CB Pro irons, I'm still working on consistency with the 22° 4i. With a hollow iron head, this 4i goes about 190 yds. off a tee, and about 180 off the deck. This bumps into the low end of my 4H yardage.

 

In my former four wedge set-up, I would often vary 4i or 4H depending upon the course I was playing. On tighter courses, especially those with a couple of short par 4s from hell, I would choose the 4i as a driving iron. I gave up a little distance without the 4H, but avoided directional disasters on tight holes.

 

On wider open courses, the more versatile 4H would go in the bag.

 

For fellow golfers... when the 4i is iffy but sometimes really good, consider softstepping the shaft to help out with launch. Or, a hybrid shaft (if .370" parallel tip hosel) or a graphite shaft can do the same.

 

A veteran clubsmith told me that, years ago, he would always softstep the 2i and 3i shafts without telling his customers.

What's In The Bag (As of April 2023, post-MAX change + new putter)

 

Driver:  Tour Edge EXS 10.5° (base loft); weights neutral   ||  FWs:  Calla Rogue 4W + 7W

Hybrid:  Calla Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  Calla Mavrik MAX 5i-PW

Wedges*:  Calla MD3: 48°... MD4: 54°, 58° ||  PutterΨSeeMore FGP + SuperStroke 1.0PT, 33" shaft

Ball: 1. Srixon Q-Star Tour / 2. Calla SuperHot (Orange preferred)  ||  Bag: Sun Mountain Three 5 stand bag

    * MD4 54°/10 S-Grind replaced MD3 54°/12 W-Grind.

     Ψ  Backups:

  • Ping Sigma G Tyne (face-balanced) + Evnroll Gravity Grip |
  • Slotline Inertial SL-583F w/ SuperStroke 2.MidSlim (50 gr. weight removed) |
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I have both 4H and 4 iron. I specifically got my 4i in the Z585 vs. my irons in the z765s, as I wanted as much forgiveness in it as possible. When it gets sloppy up here, I put in the 4 hybrid. It is an old Nickent, but it has a nice enough Proforce V2 shaft. It seems to perform better in the wet conditions.

My 4 iron has been good and especially in the light of my recent swing changes, it will stay in the bag. I went for a wedge lesson and this has translated to all my irons, include No. 4.

Callaway Rogue Max LS Driver, 9 degrees, Tensei Blue shaft

Mizuno ST180 5 wood

Ping G425 Max 7 wood
Srixon ZX4 4 iron
Srixon ZX5 irons 5-PW, Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 shafts

Cleveland RTX6 48* wedge

Cleveland Zipcore 54* wedge
Cleveland RTX 58* full face wedge
Nike Method Core Drone 2.0 putter 34"
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I am a low handicapper who plays a four hybrid. Makes total sense. Easier to hit, more consistent and forgiving. Higher launch to hold greens...

 

Take the ego out of play and a hybrid makes more sense in all forms in my opinion.

 

This is or was my thinking exactly and for whatever reason i burned way too much money trying to find a hybrid I could hit. Wood style hybrids, iron style hybrids, nothing worked.

 

I would happily game 14 Alien Wedges if it lowered my scores and I had a 9 wood for a while. I picked up a little speed and changed my swing a bit and became terribly inconsistent with the 9W. I duff my 4 iron sometimes but at least I duff it pretty straight. I struck hybrids and the 9W more consistently solid but direction could be appalling. Earlier this year I missed a par 3 with my 9W pin high left...by 68 yards!

 

Yep definitely the hybrid’s fault

 

?

TaylorMade Qi10 10.5* 
Callaway BB Alpha 816 16*
Srixon Z H45 Hybrid 19* 
Srixon ZX Utility 23*
Srixon ZX5 Mk II 5-AW

Callaway Jaws Raw Black 54 & 58
TaylorMade Spider Tour Black
Bridgestone Tour RX

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I am a low handicapper who plays a four hybrid. Makes total sense. Easier to hit, more consistent and forgiving. Higher launch to hold greens...

 

Take the ego out of play and a hybrid makes more sense in all forms in my opinion.

 

This is or was my thinking exactly and for whatever reason i burned way too much money trying to find a hybrid I could hit. Wood style hybrids, iron style hybrids, nothing worked.

 

I would happily game 14 Alien Wedges if it lowered my scores and I had a 9 wood for a while. I picked up a little speed and changed my swing a bit and became terribly inconsistent with the 9W. I duff my 4 iron sometimes but at least I duff it pretty straight. I struck hybrids and the 9W more consistently solid but direction could be appalling. Earlier this year I missed a par 3 with my 9W pin high left...by 68 yards!

 

Yep definitely the hybrid's fault

 

 

Absolutely, a hybrid once sat in the same bag as the 9W and infected it! At least the 9W miss somewhat resembled a golf shot, unlike my typical hybrid line drive tunnel-boring hook or push.

 

And doesn't matter whose fault it is. I can continue to burn money and waste practice time on clubs that suit me better in theory or use those that I hit better with a tighter dispersion that lead to lower scores in practice.

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just ordered a 4i, taking out the 4 hybrid.

Tour AD XC 6S Callaway Smoke 3D 9deg
Kali' White 70x shaft Ping 430LST 3W

Accra TZ6 M4 Hybrid Shaft Ping 430 3H
C-Taper L:ite S T150 4-Gap
SteelFiber PR Wedge Ping Glide 4.0 46, 50, 54 and 58 degree
Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 Slant Neck

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