2 Iron vs Driving Iron

[PhillipG78]

Who here uses a classic 2 iron vs a driving iron in their bag in this group? I have a 19* 2 iron and a 21* 3 iron, but am considering on of the new UDI in the 17-19* range. Want to get everyones thoughts on it. 

Edited August 14, 2021 by PhillipG78

[Robert L.]

My son has one of the old Controller driving irons which I got him for last Christmas. He hits it pretty well, generally over 200 yards.

[Foozle]

I always carry a 1 or 2 iron in my bag; fairly essential for Scottish links golf. Some of these like the Wilson below are marked as Driving irons but are pure blade in design.

I am not entirely sure I know what a UDI is and if I was told I had one whether that is something I should be worried about 🤣 but guessing it is one of these larger headed more forgiving easier to hit irons?

My current 1 iron is a Taylormade Tour Preferred TD which was probably the first step in that direction. It mildly offends the purest in me by having a hollow core behind the sweetspot - sweetspot being another golfing term I am not familiar with! It is pictured below beside the Fg17 1 iron I played last season. 

Off the tee I find no difference but thought the TD may be easier to hit of the deck. Not sure that is the case either so anticipate a return to pure blade soon. 

 

[PhillipG78]

5 minutes ago, Foozle said:

I always carry a 1 or 2 iron in my bag; fairly essential for Scottish links golf. Some of these like the Wilson below are marked as Driving irons but are pure blade in design.

I am not entirely sure I know what a UDI is and if I was told I had one whether that is something I should be worried about 🤣 but guessing it is one of these larger headed more forgiving easier to hit irons?

My current 1 iron is a Taylormade Tour Preferred TD which was probably the first step in that direction. It mildly offends the purest in me by having a hollow core behind the sweetspot - sweetspot being another golfing term I am not familiar with! It is pictured below beside the Fg17 1 iron I played last season. 

Off the tee I find no difference but thought the TD may be easier to hit of the deck. Not sure that is the case either so anticipate a return to pure blade soon. 

 

What model is that Wilson 1 iron?

[Foozle]

1 hour ago, PhillipG78 said:

What model is that Wilson 1 iron?

The first club pictured is simply labeled "Driving Iron" on the sole - no other markings. It is similar in style to some of the '80's"Fluid Feel" sets so guess it is of that vintage. It is not to hand so I can't provide more pictures at present.I have seen other variations of this Driving iron.

The Fg17 us of course also by Wilson.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Don't know about America, and your best answer would probably come from classic players in your country, but here in the UK with tightly mown fairways, heavy rough and a boisterous climate there isn't much room for passengers in the bag. I don't pack anything I can't/ won't hit off a fairway, be it a driver or a long iron. I don't have room for a 'specialist' driving iron.

[Jiggered]

If the set I'm playing comes with one then it's in the bag.

Quite a few of my older 1950s or 1930s sets have 2 irons and sometimes 1 irons.

The only stand alone 1 iron I have is a Petron TPX TP200 from the 1980s.

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

5 hours ago, Foozle said:

The first club pictured is simply labeled "Driving Iron" on the sole - no other markings. It is similar in style to some of the '80's"Fluid Feel" sets so guess it is of that vintage. It is not to hand so I can't provide more pictures at present.I have seen other variations of this Driving iron.

The Fg17 us of course also by Wilson.

 

 

I've an FG-17 2-iron, which is pretty formidable to hit.

 

With the 1-iron, I can only imagine that your hands start stinging even before you've swung the club.

 

31 minutes ago, Jiggered said:

If the set I'm playing comes with one then it's in the bag.

Quite a few of my older 1950s or 1930s sets have 2 irons and sometimes 1 irons.

The only stand alone 1 iron I have is a Petron TPX TP200 from the 1980s.

 

 

That's got to be pretty rare. Nice looking 1-iron.

 

I'm not sure how I'd feel about trying to hit that now. The strange thing is, back when I was an high handicap junior and picking up the game, I had no fear over hitting a long iron (well, may be a little off the deck, but not off the tee), and even hit them pretty well--at least, in my own rose-tinted memories.

[elwhippy]

I hit a 17 degree G400 hybrid and can drill it under the wind. Tempted by matching Eye 2 + 1 and 2 irons in our local store to see how they play with a modern ball. 

[Pepperturbo]

Since early 2018 I have carried a 718 T-MB 17' 2 iron, and love it.  Before that carried 716 T-MB 2 iron, earlier an original Callaway X-Forged 2 iron to match the set.  And have two other 2 irons that match iron sets, and a Mizuno MB 16' 1 iron that I learned with. 

[PhillipG78]

18 hours ago, Jiggered said:

If the set I'm playing comes with one then it's in the bag.

Quite a few of my older 1950s or 1930s sets have 2 irons and sometimes 1 irons.

The only stand alone 1 iron I have is a Petron TPX TP200 from the 1980s.

 

How’s it play looks like a beaut

[Jiggered]

6 hours ago, PhillipG78 said:

How’s it play looks like a beaut

 

You need to hit it out the middle, it takes no prisoners.

[PhillipG78]

5 hours ago, Jiggered said:

 

You need to hit it out the middle, it takes no prisoners.

Obviously but when you hit it flush?

[PhillipG78]

Anyone here got recommendations for a real butter knife 1 iron? The 2 iron in my bag is a 19° might consider a 16-18°

[elwhippy]

Hogan Apex 2 or Staff FG17. Best of luck finding the sweet spot. 

[PhillipG78]

I’ll check em out 

[Jiggered]

2 hours ago, PhillipG78 said:

Obviously but when you hit it flush?

 

When hit flush it goes like a rocket, so I'm told.

[Swingingk]

I've got a couple of Wilson "buttonback" 1 irons from the early 70's and they are about as butter-knifey as it gets.  I won't go saying that I like to play them but they are super cool.  I find I hit a 2 better and further as a rule though.

As for an actually playable 1 iron I fairly regularly use a Hogan Radial of the earlier non-underline variety.  I've found it to be quite reasonable to use really.  Lots of weight down low where it counts with such a tool.  

[PhillipG78]

I currently have a 19° degree 2 iron in my bag, I’m considering strengthening it 1-2° to 17-18. Anyone have thoughts on it

[Pepperturbo]

28 minutes ago, PhillipG78 said:

I currently have a 19° degree 2 iron in my bag, I’m considering strengthening it 1-2° to 17-18. Anyone have thoughts on it

Don't often see mid-handicaps carrying long irons, much less a 2 iron.  Good to see.  Whether bending it strong is prudent, depends on its stock offset, bounce and leading edge.

[PhillipG78]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

Don't often see mid-handicaps carrying long irons, much less a 2 iron.  Good to see.  Whether bending it strong is prudent, depends on its stock offset, bounce and leading edge.

Im still struggling with the short game, once that's under control I should be a single digit handicap

[Pepperturbo]

On 8/19/2021 at 12:00 PM, PhillipG78 said:

Im still struggling with the short game, once that's under control I should be a single digit handicap

From a 14 to single digit is a big drop.  Good luck.

[BIG STU]

On 8/15/2021 at 3:32 PM, PhillipG78 said:

Anyone here got recommendations for a real butter knife 1 iron? The 2 iron in my bag is a 19° might consider a 16-18°

Macgregor 985 Tourney Custom ---- You are welcome

[Pepperturbo]

On 8/19/2021 at 9:59 AM, PhillipG78 said:

I currently have a 19° degree 2 iron in my bag, I’m considering strengthening it 1-2° to 17-18. Anyone have thoughts on it

Look for a Mizuno MP 29 I iron... Great club to learn with.

[BIG STU]

At 64 with a broken repaired back I can still hit a 1 iron but no where as good as in the past. I was as recently as a month ago carrying my Ping Eye 1 iron for one hole at my course. Then I ressurected an old 3 wood. Found out it was easier for me to hit a cut stinger with that 3 wood now which is what that hole requires. Now days I am a lot more consistant hitting that stinger 3 wood. So I pulled the 1 iron out. But on my vintage rounds I carry my old Tournry Custom 985 for the sheer joy of hitting it. On my vintage rounds I could care less about the scorebut it is all about the feel and the experiences of the past for me. I have had foks ask why I hit a 1 iron I tell them because I still CAN. Yeah I can still hit one but no where as good as I used to

[PhillipG78]

8 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

From a 14 to single digit is a big drop.  Good luck.

My chipping game has been pretty atrocious, I’m the classic 30 yards off the green in 2 on a par 5 and still Bogey guy 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

On 8/19/2021 at 5:59 PM, PhillipG78 said:

I currently have a 19° degree 2 iron in my bag, I’m considering strengthening it 1-2° to 17-18. Anyone have thoughts on it

I'm sensing that there may be issues about high ball flight generally in your game and these long irons may provide a fix. Anything in that?

 

[PhillipG78]

11 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

I'm sensing that there may be issues about high ball flight generally in your game and these long irons may provide a fix. Anything in that?

 

Not particularly high, I’m actually quite adept at the stinger

Edited August 22, 2021 by PhillipG78

[BIG STU]

On 8/21/2021 at 11:59 PM, PhillipG78 said:

My chipping game has been pretty atrocious, I’m the classic 30 yards off the green in 2 on a par 5 and still Bogey guy 

Need to practice the short game because it is a stroke saver. IMHO one needs to develop their own short game with what ever methods they feel comfortable with.

Me for example on my current course it is a lot like the muni type courses I grew up on. I utitilize my 5 iron quite a bit. One of my buds has gotten to be a master of chipping with a hybrid. On a good manicured course I will get that putter in my hand anytime I can. Like anything else in golf there is not a set in stone proper way to get it done. Another bud of mine who I grew up with is a master around the greens with a 56 or 60 wedge. On the short game one must be creative. I also stress the importance of good putting. When I played comp and such I believed I could make any putt on a green. The guys on Tour are very creative but also think. Saw JT the other day on a chip where close or in was darn near impossible. He actually had 2 options in that case to get it up and down. He hit the chip and left it where he needed to get up and down. Those guys constantly do that. 

Personally when I practice I will practice several club options from the same lie. Someone asked me about that and I told them that leaves me several options on every shot depending on how I feel that day. Good putting and confidence will translate and take pressure off your whole game. IMHO the short game around the greens is the most important part of the game

[PhillipG78]

7 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Need to practice the short game because it is a stroke saver. IMHO one needs to develop their own short game with what ever methods they feel comfortable with.

Me for example on my current course it is a lot like the muni type courses I grew up on. I utitilize my 5 iron quite a bit. One of my buds has gotten to be a master of chipping with a hybrid. On a good manicured course I will get that putter in my hand anytime I can. Like anything else in golf there is not a set in stone proper way to get it done. Another bud of mine who I grew up with is a master around the greens with a 56 or 60 wedge. On the short game one must be creative. I also stress the importance of good putting. When I played comp and such I believed I could make any putt on a green. The guys on Tour are very creative but also think. Saw JT the other day on a chip where close or in was darn near impossible. He actually had 2 options in that case to get it up and down. He hit the chip and left it where he needed to get up and down. Those guys constantly do that. 

Personally when I practice I will practice several club options from the same lie. Someone asked me about that and I told them that leaves me several options on every shot depending on how I feel that day. Good putting and confidence will translate and take pressure off your whole game. IMHO the short game around the greens is the most important part of the game

I’ve actually gone back to an old chipping technique I used to use that every coach has tried to cure me of but it worked for me.