Driving iron v 3 iron

[manxytag]

Looking to put a club between my 16.5 4 wood and a I200 4 iron.

What are the main differences between a crossover #3 and a i200 3 iron(these are just for an example)

[gopherlover]

So shaft choice in a driving iron plays a large role in this as well. You are going to get pretty different performance with a driving iron with a graphite vs. steel shaft. I have a steel shafted i500 4 iron that I use with my s55's and the i500 flies higher and with more ball speed than the s55 4 iron. The differences I notice between the two are the i500 is about 50-10 yards longer at the same loft and more forgiving, but the s55 spins more, holds on greens better, and has a tighter directional dispersion.

[Hit em good]

I have a mizuno fli hi 3 iron and an MP 54 3 iron to compare. The MP54 is similar to your 200's.

FYI, my driver swing speed is 100 mph.

The main difference for me is the trajectory. The MP54 is a more piercing trajectory, high enough, but barely. It's also a little more workable than the fli hi. It makes it a great club in to the wind.

The fli hi goes straight, and is higher. It lands into the green at a better trajectory.

For me, if its a windy day, I put the 54's in the bag. On more normal days, the fli hi is the better club for me.

Hit em good

[ex0dus]

I also put a Mizuno MP Fli hi in the bag last year.  It gives me a good distance gap from my 4 iron and goes high enough to land softly.

[Ram6]

Are you ruling out hybrids?

[MtlJeff]

I'm a big truther to the "SGI 3 iron for half the price is just as good as a driving iron" movement.

They all try to silence me though. This is my struggle

[Jack Pearsall]

JP can’t believe it but he’s never hit a DI with a graphite shaft.

 

[Valtiel]

Hah, this is a good point. There are lots of killer GI and SGI long irons out there that fit the bill, even some that aren't too chunky to look down at. The M2 Tour iron was a big sleeper in this category I think.

[manxytag]

no

[GMR2iron]

I agree with you, the only issue I see with your movement is that many SGI and GI irons stop at the 4 iron, with many models not offering a 3 iron, and almost zero offer a 2 iron.

[MattyO1984]

It would maybe be worthwhile to think whether you would be using the club from the tee or off the deck. If it was a tee club then I would go with the driving iron. I think you would get more out of it and find it a little more forgiving than a 3 iron from the set. If it was something off the deck, I personally find that the driving irons tend to have a wider sole and that for me makes it a little more difficult to hit off the deck.

[MtlJeff]

You are probably right on the loft options. I haven't checked a ton lately but there should be a few options in the 18 range, and a lot in the 21 or so range

But 17 degrees , like true hybrid territory, probably less

In the past I have ordered two 4 irons and bent one strong. For example with my mizuno JPX825 I had a 22 degree 4 iron and a 19.5 degree 4 iron

[ex0dus]

I bought my Fli Hi for $50. It does have a wide sole but very little bounce so it is great off the deck. It is from maybe 2010.

 

 

[Big Fudge]

Agree with this comment. Driving irons are pretty great off the tee, but once you get off the tee, it may be a little more difficult to hit. This is why I went back to a hybrid. Most of the difference will be wider sole, and graphite shaft(though you do not have to have a graphite shaft). If you hit your 4 wood pretty good out off the deck and tee then a 3 hybrid would be a good gap between those two. However, if you are more confident with your 4 iron than your 4 wood off the deck then the 3 iron is probably your choice.

[manxytag]

I ended up with a hybrid, no idea how this has happened but it does look very nice

[Doyouevenblade]

What hybrid found a spot in the bag? Why did you end up going this route?

[manxytag]

went with an 20° Apex.

It was only £99 new

Looks really nice

Just think it's a bit more versatile

I did have a Mizuno MP H5 1 iron which I've literally sold which was a great club but I think I will have more shots with the hybrid. Dont struggle losing them right like some people do.

just need a putter now haha

[bodhi555]

I tested a U500 and Apex UT earlier in the season against an MP20 and 620 MB 3 iron, and ended up ordering the MP20. I find it far more versatile, able to be used off a low tee or the deck, and found I could manipulate the trajectory much easier with the normal 3 irons - so if I need to keep it low under the wind, I just knock it back in my stance and swing as usual. I found the dedicated DI's only had one real easy trajectory and that was high - great for most people, but the course I play is at the end of a 15 mile wind tunnel so gets a bit breezy, so high is less useful for me. Feel was also night and day between the two types in favour of the 3 iron.

[CanadaCal]

Tried both, and the P790 3i stayed in the bag (doesn't match my irons).

 

Looking to kick it out with a properly fitted hybrid this year.

[fixurpitch]

Like others have mentioned, the DIs I’ve tried/owned have one predominant ball flight. And that wide sole is a hindrance off the fairway me. With future sets, I’ll stick with the irons through 4. Then I’ll think about a hybrid or FW.

[chippa13]

Color me confused; the "wide sole" of the driving iron is a hindrance off the fairway but the size of a hybrid or FW isn't?

[fixurpitch]

It may be different for others. But the longer shafts in the hybrids and even more the fairway woods puts the ball position further forward than a DI. More of a sweep than a descending strike.

If I was a 2hcp, I might have a different experience. But I’m not.

[bnperrone]

I have an Mp-H5 1-iron and my experience is similar. It's great for a low bullet, partly because of the shaft I chose. That's exactly what I want it for, but that's all I can do with it. I live on the coast, so I can carry it for really windy days and for me its the most reliable option off the tee for hitting tight fairways regardless of conditions. I've played all my life but family time, career, etc makes it tough now so I definitely have "used to be good" syndrome. If I get the chance to play and practice more then I might adopt a super-reliable bullet 3-wood or hybrid shot and then not need to take up a spot in my bag for a purpose-built club. For now it works.

[SDG90]

With a hybrid/FW it's more of a sweeping/upward motion. With a DI you'd want to hit down on the ball like you're hitting an iron.

In my experience a DI is a great option from the tee and when you have a fluffy lie. That chunky sole of my ZU65 gets the ball up in the air, even with a moderate swing speed. Can't seem to get it up in the air from the fairway though because of that same chunky sole. If only my swing speed was fast enough for hitting a 2 iron