Is ditching my 3 wood for a 1 iron stupid?

[gopherlover]

I currently bag a 917 15.75* d2 3 wood that goes about 260-280 and a 20* u500 3 iron that goes about 240-250. Previously I had a 17* p790 that I traded in for the u500 because it was going too far. I've always struggled with a bit of a flip at impact and I can't seem to get any confidence with my 3 wood because sometimes I flip and top it 50 yards. With every other club in the bag I might miss it left or right, but I never duff it.

So I know the proper thing to do is take a few lessons and focus on correcting the issue, but I feel much more comfortable hitting a long iron vs. a 3 wood. I'm considering purchasing a 2 iron and bending it down to 15 or 16* and ditching the 3 wood all together. While it will be more difficult to hold a green it's not like I'm being held back by my ability to stick a green from 270 yards out. Has anyone else tried this?

 

[Chuck905]

I once bagged a 15* UDI, because I was a poor 3 wood player at the time. The issue is launching the ball to a playable trajectory.

Many lessons later, the 3 wood is a stable in the bag for me because at the end of the day, it’s second longest club to my driver.

I say give the 1 iron a shot.

[bnperrone]

I really think that carrying a club you lack confidence in is a mistake. Been there done that with 3-woods and a 1-iron, and I'd recommend only carrying what you like, at least until you figure out how to be consistent with a 3W.

[NoFancyUsername.]

I see a bigger issue here. Those distances off a 10 cap, you have no short game.

[farmer]

You have a lot of speed, so a 1 iron would be feasible. It would depend on how well you can get it into the air. A 1 iron is not as forgiving as a three wood, so that could be a problem.

[ChipNRun]

@gopherlover said: "So I know the proper thing to do is take a few lessons and focus on correcting the issue, but I feel much more comfortable hitting a long iron vs. a 3 wood."
Sorry to bring up that hateful GolfWRX question... but... did you get fitted for your 3W?
But more likely, it's an issue of flipping the wrists. General golf instruction says this is a bid to get extra distance than can lead to topped shots. So, try this: find some 4Ws and try them out. A little extra loft and a slightly shorter shaft can help greatly with launch.
Once upon a demo day, the Tour Edge rep had us hit the 3W and 4W for a new edition of the Exotics. Most of us hit the 4W more reliably - and sometimes longer - than the 3W. This included some big hitters that carried the driver 280+. It depends in part on how you come into the ball.
I'm willing to bet that a controlled 4W will have better distance and less runaway than a 2i going into a par 5 green. And... a 4W gets you out of the rough better than a 2i.

[ClubHoNumeroUno]

A 1-iron is feasible, but the question is turf interaction. Getting the proper 3-wood head and shaft combo is going to be waaayyy easier to hit and will give you more ball speed too.

If you hit it so far, you shouldn't have too many 3-woods/1-irons to play. Lay up on Par 5's, practice your wedge distances and watch your scores drop. Playing a 1-iron may get you ooo's an ah's on the first tee but it'll destroy your confidence with your irons after a few bad shots.

More practice with both clubs will reveal the answer anyhow.

[Dpavs]

I think misses will be punished more with a 1 iron than a 3 wood. Have you thought about a 2 hybrid as a compromise?

[bnperrone]

To be fair, an MP-H5 is the 1-iron I have and sometimes play, and it's easily as forgiving as many other clubs. If we're talking about a butterknife 1-iron then yes, it's going to be nearly futile.

[Myherobobhope]

There’s a reason 2 irons have been mostly phased out... I wouldn’t call you dumb, but I will say you probably aren’t playing the odds.

[ckay]

I dropped a 3 wood because I never hit it. I play a 2 iron mainly off of the tee.

[Mahamilto]

Your story is mine about 3-5 years ago, and I dropped 3 wood at that time for various 1/2 irons. I was about a 12hcp, incredibly long (300+ carry on driver, 275 3w but rarely hit it well off the deck, and SMASHED long irons). Had flippy hands

Some things I learned:

1) You absolutely can swap the 3w for a 1/2 iron and be fine, assuming you are using it as an off the tee option, or you play courses where you can run the ball up on greens. I went thru a bunch (g400 crossover 2, original UDI 1, 790UDI 2, mizzy h4 1, T-MB 2, some others I don’t recall) And never found the silver bullet. All of them did something well, but lacked badly elsewhere. One thing I liked was better directional accuracy, as in my misses curved offline less.

2) If you can find a 3w that works, it will be better IMO. Granted, during my this period I never actually succeeded in this, but as easily as last season I bagged a U510 1-iron... Which had mixed results (it was STUD OFF THE TEE, decent on the deck, but didn’t hold greens well). I recently got an M5 15* that is absurdly good.

3) Work on your swing and game. Sorry to say it, but as rude as that one poster was, he’s not exactly wrong. I know this because I, with very little range time (more watching more swing videos and taking dry swings and playing rounds hitting a second shot when I flipped or badly missed to correct my error) went from a 12hcp to about a 4.5 now. And this is with having lost 20 yards off my drives (prior career was pro sports and I was always in the gym, now I’m in medicine and haven’t seen a gym in 4 years). So it can be done, and I rarely go to the range.

IF you are hell bent in a 1 or 2 iron, try the Titleist U510 1-iron. It was by far the best of everything I tried, but if you can find a 3w that works you will be happier in the long run... as good as the U510 was, I am much better with the M5 3w, which I can change the trajectory more and hold greens when I need.

‘Good luck!

[chipa]

I would look at a driving iron type of 2 iron that has good height. I have problems with a hook and fairway woods too because of my hands. In fact I am now running a 2 wood and 2i hybrid setup to see if it works. My home course is only like 6200 yards the longest par 5 is 550 yds.

[animalgolfs]

Yes

[Mahamilto]

Yes...

[steventoo]

I have a U510 1 iron as the only club between driver and 3 iron. It works for the way I play the courses I play. There aren't too many courses where I can't hit the par 5's in two with a driver followed by an iron or decide to go for the green with the 1 iron and try to hold it - at those ranges, all kinds of uncertainties come into play. I'll usually play for position on my second shot and have a full wedge in rather than just hitting it as far as possible and ending up in the weeds somewhere.

It's long enough off the tee and pretty good from fairways. I find I can leak it a bit right if I get lazy but about the only thing I'd do now is replace one of my wedges with a U500 2 iron...

[marmaduk]

yup

[gopherlover]

I did get fitted for it, but it was a 30-minute fitting for both a driver and a 4-wood. The shaft is a diamana white-board 80 gram x-flex, and I think it's fine. However, the head is a 16.5* f2 and it skies on me and spins like crazy.

[double_d]

 

If your 3 wood goes 260-280 and your 3 iron goes 240-250 and you are a 10 cap. I have a two pieces of advice:

Never lose that 3 wood or the 3 iron you hit those better than a 10 cap should expect to. You hit them like someone who is scratch. Figure out why you occasionally "top one 50 yards", you can't blame the club for that.Work on your game inside 60 yards.Those distances should be able to handle 7500 yards or more, work on that short game.

I know you won't like what I am saying but, I am being honest with you.

 

[JoeFrigo]

doing whatever is most comfortable for YOU is what matters more

 

as a suggestion, look at Callaway super hybrid 17*. can loft it down too. shorter shaft and its a ball speed monster!!!

[Tree Levino]

If you’re going to do anything go for a low lofted hybrid like Srixon H85 16*. A 1 iron is completely useless unless it’s off the tee. We have to play what works for our non-tour swings but I think a slight miss strike with a 1 iron compared to a 16 degree hybrid is going to result in a glaring difference in forgiveness.

[PixlPutterman]

There hasnt been a wood in my bag for 10 years. I just go driver 2i.

The amount of times Im 270+ out and NEED to hit a good shot just never occurs given the success rate I have with woods.

[Mahamilto]

Yes. The above is true.

3 wood into green is fairly rare for me too. 250ish carry... I probably score better laying up tbh.

That said, my current 3w I actually can play that shot when it’s the right move.

[thejuice]

Your game is your game. I’d say go for it BUT make sure you get PROPERLY fitted for that 1/2 iron. Get the right shaft with the proper launch characteristics for you. While you’re at it, also get fit for a 3 wood. Practice with them both and get to learn how to use them both to your advantage. You may find that you’ll play courses that might dictate one over the other. In true WRX fashion, it is better to have more clubs than you need versus not having a full arsenal of weapons!

[Mikeflj]

You think his short game is bad what about the above poster who carries it over 300 yards and is 12 handicap.?

[Tocgolfer]

If you’re in the the drive for show crowd then look at either 1 or 2 iron and blow your playing partners or opponents out of the park with your length. Handicap is only only an indication of your ability and being off 10 or 12 only indicates that you have a few bad holes each game and if you can reduce the mistakes then your handicap will drop to a level that shows your ability.

So work out where you lose strokes and work on that.

I have never hit 300 yards and play close to 10 handicap.

[Floris]

I would not recommend anyone use a 1-iron. I've played one for years and it's just too hard a club to actually hit good.

It's a long shafted, low lofted, almost no bounce iron with less MOI than you'd get in a fairwaywood. Honestly you'd probably be better of with a combination of: 5wood shaft, 3wood head (or 4wood), couple of lessons. (Less flicking of the hands, work on shaftlean, ball position, shallowing the swing a bit)

While you're getting lessons, you might want to look into short game too. Much more to win there :)

 

Edit: I actually hit mine yesterday on GCQuad indoor. It was God-awful :D That's all me though, I just don't like the offset on it, the low-MOI and the general looks don't actually give me any confidence :P

[double_d]

I guess his is probably bad too but, none of us have time to address everyone who carries it 300 yards and has a handicap over 10 :-)

That would be a full-time job.

[puttingmatt]

Do what you want, but a 1 iron?

 

How about a modern driving / utility iron.

It would serve you better, look to the srixon U85,

or mizuno fli hi. And numerous other offerings

[cugolf14]

I think you're a little crazy for trying to put a 1 iron in. Not only will it be difficult to launch with any trajectory, but accuracy will be difficult as well. I'd work on trying to fix the 3 wood issue or try another 3 wood. A quick thing you might try is moving the ball back in your stance with the 3 wood and maybe teeing it down a little bit. To top a ball, you are basically hitting the ball with the sole of the club, so you are probably swinging up at the point of impact. Move it back and little so you are hitting with more of a downward strike on it. See if that helps.