Driver, 4W, 4i

[Force_Majeur]

Does anyone have this setup at the top of the bag? Thoughts?

 

Lofts would be [email protected], 4W@16, 4i@22. I drive the ball about 265, and my 4i goes about 210. I currently have a 3w and hybrid in between. I find the 3w slightly tough to hit, and the hybrid not much further than the 4i.

 

Thinking getting a 4w would simplify my long game and practice. and if I’m over 210 yards from my target I’m pretty much crossing my fingers to hit the green anyway.

[cardoustie]

I like going Driver, 4w, 7w, then 4h or 4di ... ymmv

 

hybrids are very useful for many types of shots

[MPSgolfs]

I go 17 degree 4w, 19 degree 3 hybrid, 22 degree 4 iron. Carry distances would have a huge gap for me personally without the hybrid. Probably 30-35 yards. Hybrid sits right in the middle.

[swing33]

Currently Driver, 4W and Heavenwood - then 4 iron

[Chadwickog]

Yep, need something between the 4w and the 4i. Typically a 7w or a 4h in my case. Though I currently pack a 3i too for those penetrating fairway shots..

[robcha]

Have currently driver (9.0), 3 wood, 7 wood and 4 iron. I have about a 20 yard gap inbetween the clubs starting with 4 iron @210yds.

 

Finding that 7 wood was the hardest part for the past couple months.

[zzyzxx33]

I play that set up right now (driver 9*, 3HL 17*, then 4 iron), not that I play much do to the 3 feet of snow that came last week. I tried a heavenwood last year and a hybrid in years past but they have not panned out yet.

[mcs4]

I have basically this same setup, except I use a 21 deg 3 iron versus your 22 deg 4 iron. It works for me, for basically the same reasons you are thinking.

[llewol007]

Currently for me its 14.5 3 wood and a 17.5 5 wood then my 4 iron.

[Z1ggy16]

IMO those are slightly larger than ideal gaps but it depends what kind of carries you need for the courses you play the most. I personally wouldn't love a 25-30 yard gap between my longest iron and next wood but I also only find myself with approach shots of longer than 210 only about 2-3 times per round anyway and I often play fairly conservative.

[geochitown]

I do, for when I play longer courses, except I use a 22* hybrid instead of a "4-iron"

 

For my shorter league course, I use driver, 18* 5W then 4H at 22*

 

Thinking of swapping driver for a shorter mini-driver, XCG7 Beta 11.5 fairway or E8 Beta 12* fwy built at 42.75" or maybe 43"

[asKaasa]

Agree with previous posters, you will need something to fill get gap between the 4w and 4i.

 

My setup:

 

Driver 9,5

3W 14,5

3h 19

4h 22

5i 26

 

The gapping works perfectly. Only thing I would consider changing is changing out the 3h and replace it with a DI or 3i.

 

Edit: Wrong loft on the 5i.

[pak]

I play Driver, 4 wood and 22 4 iron. I agree about the gap and am thinking about replacing the 4 iron with 22 degree hybrid.

[geochitown]

Depending on your swing speed, you could also go Driver, 17-18* fairway, then 22* iron...

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I'm like Cardoustie: Driver, 4w, 7w then 4i, but I'm also looking for a 23~24* hybrid to swap with the 4i at time.

There's actually a reasonably big carry gap between my 7w and 4i, but I can take a bit off the 7w. It's a versatile club. Also, if I'm not hitting the 4w well from the fairway, I can still manage with the 7w and not lose that much distance.

[BearQ]

No way dude!

 

When I’ll carry my 4w, the plan is a 18-19* driving iron then 4i.

 

[offwhite]

I have that set up. 17* 3HL, 20* UDi, 23* 4i.

[Ripper859]

I go driver, 3hl, to 21 degree “4-iron”.

[weavej1]

IF You are smashing your 4 iron 210...it’s time for Q school.

[matchavez]

IF You are smashing your 4 iron 210...it's time for Q school.

 

Don't "if" that. I had an i500 4-iron Sunday that went 214 metres. I didn't expect it, but it carried 200.

 

I'm nowhere near Q-school. But I find it very odd that people constantly second guess others' numbers.

 

And if you're wondering, I missed the eagle putt. :/

[Pi5seeker]

IF You are smashing your 4 iron 210...it's time for Q school.

 

Don't "if" that. I had an i500 4-iron Sunday that went 214 metres. I didn't expect it, but it carried 200.

 

I'm nowhere near Q-school. But I find it very odd that people constantly second guess others' numbers.

 

And if you're wondering, I missed the eagle putt. :/

 

The I500 4 iron is really a 3 iron but impressive anyway.

[BearQ]

IF You are smashing your 4 iron 210...it's time for Q school.

 

Don't "if" that. I had an i500 4-iron Sunday that went 214 metres. I didn't expect it, but it carried 200.

 

I'm nowhere near Q-school. But I find it very odd that people constantly second guess others' numbers.

 

And if you're wondering, I missed the eagle putt. :/

 

my mid level private club alone, There are 20 under 16 juniors who hit 4i 210+. It’s nothing rare.

[Tasals]

IF You are smashing your 4 iron 210...it's time for Q school.

 

averages! How do they work?

 

If only golf was played on a launch monitor.

 

Edit:

 

For a while I played with a 4wood and a 4 iron. I got a new set of irons replacing my starter set of X14s and 3/4/5 hybrids. When I got the new set of irons and bought myself a used driver from a club pro buddy and new adjustable 3 wood. I turned the 3wood to a 4wood because the old hybrids were going nowhere close to where I needed them too and was to bridge a gap. I dunno if it was psychological, but it was felt easier to hit a 4 wood well instead of a lower lofted 3wood.

[naws-golfer]

Driver about 110-105 4 iron is 210-200. With the right loft and club combo, it’s not that tough, but it’s on the longer end of the spectrum

[rkelso184]

I like going Driver, 4w, 7w, then 4h or 4di ... ymmv

 

hybrids are very useful for many types of shots

 

Hey this is what I game in woods then have a 1 iron (purely for knock outs) then 5 onwards. I'm looking at swapping the 2 iron for something else but. Do you find your DI and 7 wood to go the same distance? Or just have both for different shots?

[BiggErn]

Rarely do I have an approach over 200 but almost never over 230. For this reason I don’t carry a 3wood anymore. My setup is driver, 4/5wood 17.5, 4 hybrid 22*, 5-AW irons, wedges 54* 58* 64*. If I have anything over 230 my odds of hitting the green let alone anything close is not very high. Proximity to the hole from 175+ is around 30’ on tour and 200+ is around 50’. I focus on the lower end of the bag to give me more options to score with the short game.

[ThreeBoxers]

OP, I go Driver - 5W which is basically a 4W due to the longer shaft (nice try Taylormade) - 22* hybrid - 4i. The hybrid fills the gap between the 4/5W and longest iron.

[Force_Majeur]

Thanks to pepo who gave helpful feedback.

 

 

IF You are smashing your 4 iron 210...it's time for Q school.

 

Definitely not going to Q School, although I am tall and have a high swing speed for an amateur w/ a double digit handicap. My 22* AP3 4 iron is probably more like a traditional 3 iron. it goes 210. The 5 iron goes 195. 6 iron 180. 7 iron 165. etc. The AP3 lofts are basically one club stronger than traditional. Anyway, it is nothing close to the distances 300yard drive guys are getting.

[Force_Majeur]

Rarely do I have an approach over 200 but almost never over 230. For this reason I don’t carry a 3wood anymore. My setup is driver, 4/5wood 17.5, 4 hybrid 22*, 5-AW irons, wedges 54* 58* 64*. If I have anything over 230 my odds of hitting the green let alone anything close is not very high. Proximity to the hole from 175+ is around 30’ on tour and 200+ is around 50’. I focus on the lower end of the bag to give me more options to score with the short game.

 

This was my thinking - seems that most disagree though.

[Z1ggy16]

Rarely do I have an approach over 200 but almost never over 230. For this reason I don’t carry a 3wood anymore. My setup is driver, 4/5wood 17.5, 4 hybrid 22*, 5-AW irons, wedges 54* 58* 64*. If I have anything over 230 my odds of hitting the green let alone anything close is not very high. Proximity to the hole from 175+ is around 30’ on tour and 200+ is around 50’. I focus on the lower end of the bag to give me more options to score with the short game.

 

This was my thinking - seems that most disagree though.

At your length, unless you are playing courses over 6800 yards, you really shouldn't need anything over a 5i for any par 4 approaches. That leaves the fairway wood to par 5 approaches, and lay ups off the tee.

 

You need to look at the courses you play the most and go through a yardage book and plan our an entire round based on how you typical strike the ball. If you're the type who uses driver a lot and you're comfortable with it, you can easily carry a 4w then 4i as your next clubs after driver if you're not playing longer courses. Par 5's should be no longer than 550, and unless you find a straight down wind par 5 at that length, you aren't getting there in 2 anyway unless you murder your driver if they are more than that. The courses I play are about 6400 yards and there aren't any par 5's over 550, so a good drive usually leaves me a hybrid in if I want to risk it.

 

If you're like me and you do tend to get wacky with the big stick... I prefer a lower spin 3w because I will use it off the tee to get balls in the fairway but still get some decent yards. So in that case a 4w doesn't quite fit the bill. I also play traditional lofts so I need another club between the wood and my 4i to fit my gaps. If I ever get my driver under control, I will probably end up going D 4w 3-PW instead of D strong3w, hybrid, 4-PW.