Best 3 iron or driving iron

[btmoney]

My buddy said T-MB so I bought one...thats how it works right?

[Sir edward of putternut]

Imo, titleist makes the best long iron in their cb range. I still keep my 690.cb in the bag regardless of rest of set. I think the 710cb 3 iron is easier to hit than any ap2....they just sit perfectly for me

[wam78]

MP h5 2 iron for me as well. So easy to launch and really fun to hit.

[Andyylowe]

I use the Titleist 716 T-MB 3 iron with a Graphite Design tour AD DI 105x and it is a rocket ship.

Low stingers, towering high draws and fade, off the tee and off the deck this club does it all, still a relatively narrow sole so tuff interaction is no issue, strongly recommend!

[Ivyguy]

Thing has killed some gophers.... (“if I do that, they’ll lock me up and throw away the keys”)

 

[matchavez]

Just be aware that the discussion may also want to address ball flight. In theory, driving irons will have a lower flight and more rollout, compared to a 3i with a higher flight and steeper descent angle.

 

Lots of people find what works for them, but please note that the “category” can produce all sorts of combinations. Some DIs aren’t friendly off the deck, others are. Hollow 3i go higher and farther than standard 3i. Some 3i are very thin soled, and some 3i are very widely soled. And then there are shafts...

 

Even the same head with different shafts can perform very differently. Imagine a recoil 780es vs a TTDG x100. Vastly different properties.

 

This isn’t to put you off; it’s to make sure you know what you want. Otherwise, you can end up with several failed experiments until you find what’s right for you.

 

Good luck.

[Fresh Greens]

Mizuno MP-H5 2 or 3 iron. Easy to hit, feel fantastic and you only pay as if your ordering a single iron from the H5 set. (Set costs $1000/8 clubs = $125 per iron)

[Lijka]

One club I have fallen in love with is the Maltby DBM 3 iron. I have mine bent to 19* and it still launches fairly high. It is a better long iron replacement than driving iron, but if that’s what you’re looking for than it’s great. Also it’s like $30 for the head and then your shaft of choice. My combo was about 60 dollars.

[manima1]

Just be aware that the discussion may also want to address ball flight. In theory, driving irons will have a lower flight and more rollout, compared to a 3i with a higher flight and steeper descent angle.

 

Lots of people find what works for them, but please note that the "category" can produce all sorts of combinations. Some DIs aren't friendly off the deck, others are. Hollow 3i go higher and farther than standard 3i. Some 3i are very thin soled, and some 3i are very widely soled. And then there are shafts...

 

Even the same head with different shafts can perform very differently. Imagine a recoil 780es vs a TTDG x100. Vastly different properties.

 

This isn't to put you off; it's to make sure you know what you want. Otherwise, you can end up with several failed experiments until you find what's right for you.

 

Good luck.

 

This guy nailed it.

 

"Driving iron" should more often be replaced with the word "utility iron" the way most of these clubs are packaged.

 

Hollow heads with wide soles + graphite shafts will produce moon balls - not necessarily the low penetrating flight you would assume from a club labeled a "driving iron". This also makes them easy to play off the deck, but they will difficult to flight down to produce the "wind cheaters" you might have envisioned.

 

On the flip side, a more narrow soled driving iron that produces tee bullets, might not be an option off of the deck.

 

Determine what you are looking for in the club and go from there with your selection.

[kyle316]

I have the 716 T-MB with a hybrid shaft which I am very pleased with. Removed the bronze color on the sole too for a cleaner look!

 

Do you have any pics of that with the bronze removed?

[gandor]

P790 is crazy long and easy to hit with the stock recoil es shaft

[Rosco1216]

Your OP seems to be asking for multiple scenarios that will fit some criteria but not the other. First off you said you love how an iron feels..you probably aren’t going to like the cast and hollow design driving irons. Secondly the idea about about getting a 3i just for a practice club to help groove the swing seems like a traditionally smaller head that need being used for a range club to keep the swing sharp. These kind of throw out the bigger, forgiving, hollow design clubs that are great as strictly tee clubs.

[Jack Pearsall]

He doesn’t hit a 21* hybrid anything like a DI in terms of ball flight. As was wisely noted, you need to decide what ball flight you want.

JP has both but each round has to make a determination about the course he’s gonna play and whether high shot or lower shots from his 21* club.

Same with his 2 driving iron, 17* hybrid or 18* 5 wood...he chooses according to course and conditions.

 

At least that’s what JP tells the wife unit when she’s asking why he has all these clubs in the dining room.

[Nateshot]

I just got a 790 3i shafted with a KBS FLT X flex and I only hit it once and from the tee yesterday when I played, but consider me smitten with this thing. I hit it off the range of the deck and off the tee and had no problems either way. Small sample size, but I wouldn't hesitate recommending the 790 to anyone.

[Kscarguy]

Pxg 0311x 2 with and OTI tour 80x is money. My go to for keeping by the ball low and straight

[JonnyKrasnodar]

Well I've just got my MP18 fli-hi 3 iron and was hitting balls at the practice area. It's so easy to hit, can get it up higher if needed but it's exceptional for low stingers. Good alternative to my 19 hybrid and can hit more shots with it. First round this week with it!

[Cmiller6866]

I have a TM LIFT M2 with a graphite design 85 gram driving iron shaft which is amazing off the tee.

[NYCGolfNut]

Well I've just got my MP18 fli-hi 3 iron and was hitting balls at the practice area. It's so easy to hit, can get it up higher if needed but it's exceptional for low stingers. Good alternative to my 19 hybrid and can hit more shots with it. First round this week with it!

 

Which shaft do you have in it? I have the same club and had a heavy-ish steel shaft (Modus 120) but found it hard to get the flight up when I wanted it. Switched to a KBS hybrid Proto and loving the added versatility.

 

[JonnyKrasnodar]

I've got the Project X 6.5 rifle in the 3 iron. I have the LZ 5.5s in the irons. Just felt much better with the 6.5 in it, not sure why. Feel, trajectory is perfect for when I use it.

[LCP]

I like the U65 3 iron so much I just snagged a U65 2 iron on fleabay. Hit the 3 iron 265-270 on a couple of holes with a big tailwind yesterday and today. Needs lower flight off the tee for distance into the wind though, hence getting the 2 iron.

[Chuck905]

My everyday set-up is the set 3 iron Mizuno 900 tour bent to 20*. Prefer the iron off the tee on windy days and firm fairways.

 

I do occasionally swap for the Srixon U45 20* depending on the course set-up and conditions. Prefer the utility off the fairway and rough whereas the 3 iron is next to dead which means I’m resorting to advancing it forward with an 8 iron.

 

I also carry the 18* utility as well which I swap between my steelhead xr 5 wood.

[LowAndLeft32]

On 1/15/2018 at 3:09 AM, iteachgolf said:

Love my Miura ICL-601. Easy to launch, forgiving and plenty long. Similar to Srixon U45 but you can’t see the back of the club from address. It fits perfectly between T-MB, more forgiving, and the U45, cleaner look.

Iteach you still gaming this icl-601? Thinking about trying to track one down. Thanks 

[iteachgolf]

On 6/24/2023 at 6:58 PM, LowAndLeft32 said:

Iteach you still gaming this icl-601? Thinking about trying to track one down. Thanks 

No I play the Titleist u505.

[stocker08]

PXG discounted their 0311 X Gen 5 driving irons so I scooped one up as I have been looking to expand my options off the tees.  Love the feel and the weight.  I've only taken it to the range once.....but I've had zero issue making good contact and getting the ball airborne.  I'm almost wondering if I was getting too much air.  Anyways....I'm taking it out for the first time Friday morning.

[BagofToast]

50 minutes ago, stocker08 said:

PXG discounted their 0311 X Gen 5 driving irons so I scooped one up as I have been looking to expand my options off the tees.  Love the feel and the weight.  I've only taken it to the range once.....but I've had zero issue making good contact and getting the ball airborne.  I'm almost wondering if I was getting too much air.  Anyways....I'm taking it out for the first time Friday morning.

It's still on their site

[stocker08]

1 hour ago, BagofToast said:

It's still on their site

 

They have the GEN 4 DIs even a little less expensive.  Pretty big discounts considering what the MSRP was on them originally.

[Ger21]

Honma TW-X 3 iron is outstanding. I think you can still find new ones on Ebay for dirt cheap.

[Jut]

I don't currently game one of these, but I always had good success with the GAPR Mid.  Easy to hit (plenty of forgiveness), hot, and solid sounding/feeling.  

[COL_B]

(Recognizing this is a 5 year old zombie thread)

 

I've been experimenting with a T200 3 iron with a PX LZ 6.0 shaft. It is long when I center it up, but I'm having a tougher time hitting it than the MP33 3 iron blade I swapped it for.

 

I have no idea where it is hitting on the face -- may try a different shaft.

[Dan Drake]

I LOVE the look of the current Cally X Forged UT.  The minimal offset is beautiful, as is the rest of the club.