The lost art of hitting a long iron?

[theothertwo]

Nothing against hybrids, I carry a 3 hybrid and my longest iron now is a 4 iron which is rarely used.  When I first started playing golf in 1990, a regular set of clubs would consist of a driver, 3 and 5 woods, 2-PW set of irons, a sand wedge and a putter.

 

I had to learn to hit the long irons because there was no other choice but in retrospect, some of the best shots I remember from those days are well struck 2 and 3 iron shots.

 

Now that art is gone except in the pro and maybe the single digit handicap range of golfers.

 

I remember when the challenge was learning how to hit a long iron because once you learn that, all other shots seem easier to hit.

 

I just miss the 3 and 2 iron sometimes but to score better nowadays, hybrids are a must.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2021 by theothertwo

[ezpz]

There is no lost art, just replaced by clubs that give more output on the same input. Though replacement clubs are easier to launch and offer more forgiveness you still have to manage the face and lowpoint so it's not like it takes 0 skill to do, you can give low swingspeed players their long irons back and they will just be hitting it d*ck high all day 🙂 it's not like players, before hybrids, were puring 2-3-4 irons on every hole they just couldnt get anything out of them.

[PEI_Golfer]

They just changed the number on the bottom and made the clubs longer.  So not sure how the art is lost.

 

Sure design and new materials have change things, but loft is loft is loft.  Same with the length of clubs, it's not like things are getting shorter in length.

 

I think your complaint is with balls going much further due to less spin and more tech, so it is easier for people with slower SS's to still produce good distance unlike 30-40 years ago.

Edited March 29, 2021 by PEI_Golfer

[Myherobobhope]

I’m a decently high swing speed player, and the longest iron I carry is a 5... my 4 utility and 3 hybrid simply offer more value and better options for me on the course.

 

A perfectly struck 2 iron isn’t going farther than a well hit 3 hybrid... the return simply isn’t there... 

[cgasucks]

It's not really lost.  They just changed the numbers from a 3 iron to a 4 iron and 1 and 2 irons are now called driving irons.

[theothertwo]

2 minutes ago, cgasucks said:

It's not really lost.  They just changed the numbers from a 3 iron to a 4 iron and 1 and 2 irons are now called driving irons.

Maybe I should have said the "redefined" art of hitting a long iron.

[Pepperturbo]

OP is right.  Most people taking up the game over the last ten plus years are oblivious to long irons.  Their sets consist of 5i or maybe even 6i as their longest club, balance are hybrids and utilities then woods.  A few of my buddies have bags like that.  They will never know the joy of hitting a pure 3 iron or 2i.  We never say WOW what a strike when one of them hits a solid hybrid because we all know it's designed to accommodate. 

 

I disagree with the sentiment that suggests a pure 2 iron isn't going further than 3 hybrid.  Depends on who is behind the club and how proficient they are at ball striking.  Hybrids to me are like strong lofted irons, neither is needed to score low nor hit the ball well.  Even when I took up the game, I never felt the need to hit the ball as far as humanly possible, and I am physically strong, still.

 

I am 70yrs old, and still play more traditionally lofted 620 series irons, 21' 3 iron, that flew 205yds on a short Par 4, yesterday, also 24' 4i to 200yd Par 3, plus 2 iron 230+yds down the middle of one fairway, and 240yds on another, yesterday.    I walked off with an easy 74 thanks to good ball striking and thinking my way around the golf course.   While my opponent didn't find fairways with his chosen hybrids and woods as he looked for distance, in hopes of out-driving this ole man. LOL 

 

Mind you, I am NOT telling anyone to play my choice of clubs or do what I do.  What I am saying is simple, it's more about ball striking than hitting the ball as far as possible.

 

PS

2i has AV White AM2 Iron S 90g HIGH bend shaft

3i has AV White AM2 Iron S 92g HIGH bend shaft. 

4i has AV White AM2 Iron S 94g HIGH bend shaft.

Edited March 28, 2021 by Pepperturbo
PS...

[cardoustie]

Not a lost art

 

lofts used to be higher and the ball spun more

 

current 5i is the old 3 iron

 

this from a guy that carried 1, 2, 3 and 4 irons from ‘89-99

[NoTalentLefty]

Thank God and hybrids there gone.

[lefthack]

I can hit my 18* 3h a bit further than my 20* 3 iron, but I feel like I have better control with the iron and it is appropriate for the yardages I need it for.

Edited March 28, 2021 by lefthack

[m d g]

I think it's just because the driver goes so far, nobody (especially pros) needs to hit a second shot very far.

 

Even many par 5s are driver-5 iron for the big boys.

 

And if you do want to hit the equivalent of a 1-iron (maybe on a tight driving hole), then hybrids are much easier to hit...why kill yourself?

[boggyman]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

OP is right.  Most people taking up the game over the last ten plus years are oblivious to long irons.  Their sets consist of 5i or maybe even 6i as their longest club, balance are hybrids and utilities then woods.  A few of my buddies have bags like that.  They will never know the joy of hitting a pure 3 iron or 2i.  We never say WOW what a strike when one of them hits a solid hybrid because we all know it's designed to accommodate. 

 

I disagree with the sentiment that suggests a pure 2 iron isn't going further than 3 hybrid.  Depends on who is behind the club and how proficient they are at ball striking.  Hybrids to me are like strong lofted irons, neither is needed to score low nor hit the ball well.  Even when I took up the game, I never felt the need to hit the ball as far as humanly possible, and I am physically strong, still.

 

I am 70yrs old, and still play more traditionally lofted 620 series irons, 21' 3 iron, that flew 205yds on a short Par 4, yesterday, also 24' 4i to 200yd Par 3, plus 2 iron 230+yds down the middle of one fairway, and 240yds on another, yesterday.    I walked off with an easy 74 thanks to good ball striking and thinking my way around the golf course.   While my opponent didn't find fairways with his chosen hybrids and woods as he looked for distance, in hopes of out-driving this ole man. LOL 

 

Mind you, I am NOT telling anyone to play my choice of clubs or do what I do.  What I am saying is simple, it's more about ball striking than hitting the ball as far as possible.

 

PS

2i has AV White AM2 Iron S 90g HIGH bend shaft

3i has AV White AM2 Iron S 92g HIGH bend shaft. 

4i has AV White AM2 Iron S 94g HIGH bend shaft.

You my man are definitely a rare breed. Age 70, still bang ya 2 and 3 iron. I’d like to see you hit them both! That’s be awesome. I still love long irons. Only hybrid I don’t hook off the planet is an old antique Precept 18* that is long gone. It’s all me I know, just give me a 3 iron please!!

[Kyle M]

Still play 3 and 4 irons and can’t stand the thought of not doing so. I went so far as to specifically buy t100-s irons because I can go 3-AW and it’s really just 2-P. 

[MtlJeff]

My last two 4 irons were 20.5 degrees and 21 degrees, and you should see me hit them. I hit them so pure locally in Quebec they changed the name of "butter" to "Jeff hitting 4 irons". It made the local vendors VERY angry to have to do this as it cost them a fortune in new labels

[jvincent]

10 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

My last two 4 irons were 20.5 degrees and 21 degrees, and you should see me hit them. I hit them so pure locally in Quebec they changed the name of "butter" to "Jeff hitting 4 irons". It made the local vendors VERY angry to have to do this as it cost them a fortune in new labels

So you're the one behind "buttergate".

[dlygrisse]

I haven’t carried a 1 iron since the 80’s, 2 iron since the 90’s, 3 iron since 00’s and a 4 iron since the 10’s.  
 

bout ready to ditch the 5.  Although I can still hit a GI 5 iron without issue. 

[SylvesterLundgren]

I feel your sentiments although I didn’t grow up during these eras of 2-pw. I do get the sentiment of having a skill set some people don’t subscribe to. My one team mate has ap3s and hits a couple clubs 200+ even tho we know those 4-5-6-7 are literally one higher than stated.  
Where as when I played my mizunos mp62 I remember how some would have reaction to how small profile and thin at address. Then hear that strike/compression sound and be surprised I just put it out there with their clubs.  I will admit my tmb(23) is close to that mizzy 3i (21) but I approach striking it the same I would as any players club. 
 

errbody is a pro hitting 8-pw,  it’s 6i and up where you show real prowess. 😉

[mogc60]

It is a lost art. Those who have never hit this first thing in the morning wouldn’t know that. 

[ALIF]

Balls don’t spin like the used to. The game has evolved. If we were still playing wound balata, then yes 1, 2, & 3 irons would still be in the bag.

[lefthack]

There is a KZG CB 2 iron for sale I thought about getting and putting a graphite shaft in for fun.

[GolfTurkey]

Yep, balata is the lost ball. Mid-low drawn long irons with lots of bite that would hold greens; that's no longer possible

[GolfTurkey]

The other thing is that to stick greens with long irons these days you probably need to be 120+ with driver. How often is someone that long going to need a 2 or 3 iron off the deck?

[nostatic]

30 years ago I used to carry and hit a DCI 1-iron and my 3i got used regularly. In addition, my back didn’t creak, my knees didn’t grind, and I didn’t have to ice my elbows after hitting.

 

As they say, it is the miles, not necessarily the years. And I’ve got a few... 

 

I do miss balata balls sometimes though. Always nice to have the ball smile back 🤣

[Nard_S]

2 minutes ago, GolfTurkey said:

The other thing is that to stick greens with long irons these days you probably need to be 120+ with driver. How often is someone that long going to need a 2 or 3 iron off the deck?

I've done it a number of times with a Pro V  ball and I'm no where near 120.  

[raynorfan1]

As others have noted, I still carry and hit a club that's the same loft and length as an old 1 iron. It has a 3 stamped on the bottom.

[raynorfan1]

11 minutes ago, GolfTurkey said:

The other thing is that to stick greens with long irons these days you probably need to be 120+ with driver. How often is someone that long going to need a 2 or 3 iron off the deck?

 

The other thing is that nobody sticks greens with a long iron. Never did.

 

If you look at the Trackman stats, a PGA Tour player hits a 3 iron (basically what a one iron used to be) with half the spin and 10% less landing angle than a 9 iron. On a fast and firm course...that's not 'sticking' on the green.

[aenemated]

Ya know ... I've done a lot in this life. Enviable to some. I've played drums for tens of thousands while behind music gods, done every drug, had all the booze, been with some smokin babes, lived all the life. 

 

Not saying this as a humble-brag internet post. It's just simply the truth. 

 

To this day, there is no sensation I love more than the feel of a purely struck 3 iron. 

Edited March 28, 2021 by aenemated

[lefthack]

My Ping Zing 2 2i is 17.5*. 

[sociojeje]

It sure feels good to hit a blade 3 iron clean. I will never bring it to the course but I still think it is a valuable training aid at the range. 

[ALIF]

My lowest lofted iron that is in my bag 100% of the time is a 23° Ping G700 5 iron. Anything lower loft would be a driving iron.