Does game a 3 iron anymore?

[cloume77]

I game Srixon zu85 3i which comes in handy when I'm playing a course with tight fairways and lots of trees. It keeps me from turning into a lumberjack. I do switch to using 4H with same loft but just can't seem to hit hybrid as pure as my 3I. Plus, my 3I gets more after carry distance so I love teeing it off on downsloping drives. Typically, I get consistent 200 carry with 15 ish additional run. Best drive so far was 250 yards hitting downsloping 400 yard par 4 right down the middle of fairway.

[dmecca2]

3 wood, 2 iron hybrid, 3 iron. 4 iron goes 200-210 so there would be a large gap in my 210-260 range if I stopped at a 4 iron and went to a 3 iron hybrid. 

 

Additionally I don't get to practice a whole lot anymore and becoming an expert with my 58 degree wedge is more valuable than being okay with a 60 and a 56. 

[JohnKHawk]

3 & 4 iron are long gone for me. Last few years also stopped carrying a 5 iron. My irons start at 6 but at 26.5 degrees it's somewhat close to traditional 5 iron. I play what works best for me.

 

I play with guys who carry 3 & 4 irons but they don't hit them very consistently. They would probably be wise to switch to a hybrid or even a 7 wood but ego seems to stop them from doing so.

[sheppy335]

I do not have an iron in my bag with a 3 on it. Havent in years. 

[PFET]

I used to have a set of Titleist DCI 981s that I took all the way down to a 1 iron, though I rarely carried anything longer than the 2i or 3i. I have always had a difficult time with fairway woods, so 10 years ago when I started playing Mizuno MP-H4s I special ordered a 3i (which is actually a hollow-head iron-based hybrid,.looks.like a thick iron) and I loved THAT so much I special ordered the 2i. So now I carry a driver, 2i-PW, GW, SW, LW and putter for my 14 clubs. Love this set, though it's probably time to upgrade.

 

So not exactly a 3i but a lot closer than most hybrids.

 

[Chuck905]

3 (20*) iron mb is my true longest iron now after swapping my 2 (18*) mb for a 17* driving iron; more versatile.
 

The 3 is great for tee shots where I need tight dispersion or a certain yardage.

Edited December 30, 2020 by Chuck905

[NRJyzr]

15 minutes ago, Chuck905 said:

3 (20*) iron mb is my true longest iron now after swapping my 2 (18*) mb for a 17* driving iron; more versatile.
 

The 3 is great for tee shots where I need tight dispersion or a certain yardage.

 

I still carry an iron in the 1i/2i slot (17* or 18*), but I admit I've not tried a utility in that slot.  It's something I should explore at some point.

 

[DH1234]

I got fit a couple  of years ago for Ping G400 irons.  They only came 4-pw. I found 2 options from Ping a hybrid- I've never liked hybrids,  or what they called a crossover.  The 3 iron looks like a driving iron and only comes in graphite but I can smoke it.  Would have enjoyed a traditional 3 iron option but I certainly enjoy this without needing a hybrid 

[Bye]

I put mine back in a few weeks ago after loaning my hybrid to a friend to try. I love it, but it just doesn’t fly far enough. The hybrid I have (3i & hybrid both 20 degrees) is just fits a bit better distance wise between 4i & 3 wood.

[Feelingofgreatness]

My old Miura 3 iron was 22* loft and my new PXG 5 iron is 23* loft, so it's basically the same thing.

The numbers on the clubs are meaningless these days, all the matters is the number is flies and if your gapping is correct.

 

[BallerNate]

I still believe in the value of a 3-iron...just can’t get the same consistent accuracy from a Hybrid off the Tee! I actually wanted a 3-iron so badly for my set that I drove 5 hrs round trip to buy one used, Lol!!

[DaveGoodrich]

I'm known as "Hybrid Dave" among my playing buddies, so no, no 3 iron for me.  They laugh and call me that as my ball flies high and lands soft on (or safely nearby) the green, but for whatever reason, they don't seem to think that says anything about whether they ought to use hybrids in their  3 and 4 spots. They stubbornly continue to carry and hit their 3 and 4 irons, mostly with poor results.   I think hitting that long iron pure 1 out of 10 times provides a better "rush" than hitting a hybrid "adequately" 8 out of 10 times.  I'm fine with "adequate" from 3 and 4 iron distances.  

[BallerNate]

18 minutes ago, DaveGoodrich said:

I'm known as "Hybrid Dave" among my playing buddies, so no, no 3 iron for me.  They laugh and call me that as my ball flies high and lands soft on (or safely nearby) the green, but for whatever reason, they don't seem to think that says anything about whether they ought to use hybrids in their  3 and 4 spots. They stubbornly continue to carry and hit their 3 and 4 irons, mostly with poor results.   I think hitting that long iron pure 1 out of 10 times provides a better "rush" than hitting a hybrid "adequately" 8 out of 10 times.  I'm fine with "adequate" from 3 and 4 iron distances.  

For me it has nothing to do with stubbornness, just get better consistent results from the 3-iron than the Hybrid. If I could get the same results from the Hybrid, I’d have no problem dropping the 3!

[ChipNRun]

I carry my set 22* 4i that came with a KBS Tour 90 shaft (~95 grams trimmed). I refit it with a 75-gram hybrid shaft and use it primarily as a driving iron. The lighter weight gives a medium launch, with some straight rollout.

 

It also makes a good approach club from the fairway, into the wind.

[DaveGoodrich]

2 minutes ago, BallerNate said:

For me it has nothing to do with stubbornness, just get better consistent results from the 3-iron than the Hybrid. If I could get the same results from the Hybrid, I’d have no problem dropping the 3!

 

Sorry, I'm not meaning to imply anything about anyone posting here.  I know guys who hit their long irons well, the guys I play with (mostly high single digits) aren't them.  

[Arn]

Love my 3i. I’m a little obsessed with hitting the ball low, so that might account for it.

Edited December 30, 2020 by Arn

[BallerNate]

40 minutes ago, DaveGoodrich said:

 

Sorry, I'm not meaning to imply anything about anyone posting here.  I know guys who hit their long irons well, the guys I play with (mostly high single digits) aren't them.  

For sure, no offense taken. Just saying maybe the guys you play with have similar experiences with tighter dispersal with the 3-iron or 4-irons vs Hybrids. I’ve found my Hybrid much more difficult to control than irons off the turf and off the Tee, but obviously can’t speak for your buddies.

[chazpet]

Use a 20* Nike Vapor Pro Combo 3 iron and loving it, can hit consistently off the tee and the fairway if need be. It is perfect for when I can't stop duck hooking the woods and need something in play!

[kiwihacker]

I have a 21° 3 iron that I bag once a year for our "irons only" tournament. I'm too scared to hit it off the deck but have hit some great drives with it off the tee. 

Edited December 30, 2020 by kiwihacker

[MattyO1984]

Yes sir! I interchange between it and a hybrid but since putting a Tour AD in my 3 iron it has become an absolute rocket launcher off the tee and it has been in the back more often than not.

[ReidThompson]

Yes, but it says 5 on it for some reason.  Ha

[mang_gustin]

7 hours ago, Rapidcat said:

I play a Srixon Z565 3 iron and love it off turf or tee.

 

In times past I always gamed a 1 or 2 iron, particularly liked a BeCu Ping Eye2 2 iron.

 

The Srixon is so easy to hit, very forgiving, I've thought about a driving iron but figure this does a similar job, probably a little better off turf.

 

Not a hybrid fan.

Same here. I can’t hit a hybrid to save my life. 

[Bill Moss]

With so many options available now - 18-degree fairway woods, adjustable hybrids - I don't play the 3-iron any more, and it's nice to know that I don't have to. 

[Rich Douglas]

I gave up the 3-iron when I switched to single-length irons. The manufacturer (Wishon) didn't even make one for the set (Sterling) because you can't get proper gapping with one at the length Wishon builds them (36.5"--an 8-iron length). 

 

I did have a Ping driving 3-iron in my bag for awhile, but that's been replaced with Ping G410 3- and 4-hybrids. (My Sterling set has been replaced with Wishon's new EQ1-NX, 5-iron through SW.) I liked the Ping driving iron, but the need for the 4-hybrid caused me to add the 3-hybird as a replacement.

 

I also dumped my 3-wood in favor of the TM Original mini-driver because of the presence of those two hybrids. A better choice off the tee than the 3-wood, still able to hit it off the deck, but I almost never do because of the hybrids.

[Pomps]

I have a 716cb 3 iron that was part of my last set that were replaced by srixon 785 The 716 has "traditional" 21* of loft but the 785 4 iron is 22*, so essentially the same with a different number. It would be interesting to know % of "3" irons still being gamed that are non-driving iron, non graphite shafted or have matching shaft to the irons or non < 20* loft.

 

Side note...as I write this, I realize my first order of business tomorrow will be to hit MP14 3 iron on the sim. 

[Nixhex524]

I bought my 785s as a 3-P set but immediately put the 3i in the garage bag.  I hit my 21* 915h well so I don't think much about even attempting to game the 3i, but I might now.  My home course's 18th is a par 5 that dog legs right to the green but has a good size body of water in front.  A good drive usually leaves me in the 200-210 area so getting the ball in the air and having it land somewhat soft is imperative there... I just dont think my 3i pulls that shot off consistently although the 785 3i feels really nice and seems like it could be super friendly.  I will have to take it out one of these days, but maybe not on that course.

[Phireside]

Love the 3i. I don't see myself dropping it. No idea what I would replace it with. 

[joostin]

Yes, 20° Z545 3 iron. Love it at address, feel, flight, workability, accuracy as an old trusty tee club.  4 utility type iron or hybrid after that.  All have matching steel shafts to my iron set. 

[jds101086]

I didn't believe it, but P790 3 and 4 iron are game changers. I used to play blade 4 iron and 3 hybrid. hit the 4 iron well for years but it's just cheating with the 790. I'll never hit another traditional 4 iron or hybrid again. I got my MP-4 Yoro's 3-PW, the 3 and 4 haven't even been shafted...

 

 

Edited December 31, 2020 by jds101086

[Chuck905]

On 12/30/2020 at 12:43 PM, NRJyzr said:

 

I still carry an iron in the 1i/2i slot (17* or 18*), but I admit I've not tried a utility in that slot.  It's something I should explore at some point.

 

The big pluses are being able to hit the utility iron off the deck, fairway bunker, touchy fairway (ball below you’re feet or downhill lies) lies and decently out of the rough consistently; where as my blade 2 iron was not even an option on advancing the ball. It’s the difference in playing a long par 4 in 2 shots vs 3 shots in my game.

 

Secondly and worst, later in the round or playing a double header when I am fatigued and need a solid tee shot into a dog leg becomes too daunting. A slight mishit with a utility off the tee isn’t punishing.

Edited December 31, 2020 by Chuck905