Low Handicap - Replace 5i?

[Sparty4202]

Boy…you guys have just described my 2021 season. I’ve been struggling with consistency with the 5 iron all season. I’m struggling to find the right replacement for my bag. I have a 25* Titliest H1 I’ve been testing…but not loving. I’m thinking of trying a Cleveland Turbo Halo 5 iron like Mark Crossfield. I really need to find an answer before next season starts.

[puttingmatt]

I still strike my 5 iron well, so its not going anywhere soon. But , if I  lost confidence in my ability to play any iron, I would not hesitate to make changes and  I no longer play a 4 iron, found that the 24* hybrid delivers everything I need.  Many options available, if you are willing to experiment.

[animalgolfs]

So I spent some time today- as my swing was really dialed in....

iBlade 5i Recoil 95 F4 ssx1

i210 6i Recoil 110 F4 

s56 6i Recoil 110 F5 ssx1

G425 5h 26* Lin-Q Black 100 F4

 

iBlade & s56 are +1/2" the i210 is only +1/4" 5h = 38.50

 

Came away with everything except the s56 6i making the bag.......which really surprised me as I hit the s56 so pure nowadays[i59 7-9 irons on order].

 

So I now carry 5i[27*] & 5h[26* set flat -1*] - do not carry a traditional lofted 3wd - 17* is my 1st fw = 5wd 7wd 9wd 5h 5i 6i+9i 46 52 58

 

It came down...do I carry a 3wd? No! I will never hit off tee & I'm too short to reach par 5 in 2......maybe 215yd 2nd shots into 435+yd Par 4 Makes ZERO sense to carry 3wd

 

Or

 

So I add wedge to go 46 50 54 58 - all this does is add an xtra club under 110yds... do I need 3 instead of 2? Not a chance

 

Or

 

As it stands- I actually added the traditional 5i back into the bag, along with the 5h.  I have way more shots in this yardage range- it just makes sense . I do have a high lofted 5h to cure the forced carry issues - which is the topic at hand. 

 

HDCP is 4.3[🤯] presently from 6800yds

 

So I didn't replace my 5i.....but I sorta did😃

Edited October 7, 2021 by animalgolfs

[abenjami]

I've been contemplating the same thing myself but I already carry 3 hybrids so this swap would make it 4.  My conversion to hybrids has occurred over the past 4 years or so.

 

Initially I dumped a traditional 5 wood for a 19 degree hybrid and considered that an equal trade.

 

Next I dumped my 3 wood for a 16 degree hybrid.  I can hit the 16 degree hybrid almost as far but I'm way more consistent with it.

 

After that, I swapped my 4 iron for a 22 degree hybrid.  Again, way more consistency.  The 22 degree hybrid immediately became my favorite club in the bag.

 

For whatever reason, my latest struggle is hitting a 5 iron off the turf on a consistent basis.  Sure, I can still hit it well, but only like 50% of the time.  The other 50% is a fairly bad miss.  I'm fine with it off the tee but rarely do I need that shot.  I'm considering swapping out the 5 iron for a 28 or 31 degree hybrid (whichever one fills the distance gap my 5i occupies).  I've tried choking down on the 22 hybrid and that works sometimes but other times I still crush it too far.  It's hard (at least for me) to take less than a full swing with a hybrid.

 

 

[geochitown]

10 hours ago, abenjami said:

I've been contemplating the same thing myself but I already carry 3 hybrids so this swap would make it 4.  My conversion to hybrids has occurred over the past 4 years or so.

 

Initially I dumped a traditional 5 wood for a 19 degree hybrid and considered that an equal trade.

 

Next I dumped my 3 wood for a 16 degree hybrid.  I can hit the 16 degree hybrid almost as far but I'm way more consistent with it.

 

After that, I swapped my 4 iron for a 22 degree hybrid.  Again, way more consistency.  The 22 degree hybrid immediately became my favorite club in the bag.

 

For whatever reason, my latest struggle is hitting a 5 iron off the turf on a consistent basis.  Sure, I can still hit it well, but only like 50% of the time.  The other 50% is a fairly bad miss.  I'm fine with it off the tee but rarely do I need that shot.  I'm considering swapping out the 5 iron for a 28 or 31 degree hybrid (whichever one fills the distance gap my 5i occupies).  I've tried choking down on the 22 hybrid and that works sometimes but other times I still crush it too far.  It's hard (at least for me) to take less than a full swing with a hybrid.

 

 

 

I'm guessing a 25/26* hybrid would be the one to replace your 5 iron, but you would know best

[abenjami]

On 10/7/2021 at 8:37 AM, geochitown said:

 

I'm guessing a 25/26* hybrid would be the one to replace your 5 iron, but you would know best

I'd have to hit them and see.  I've never hit either. 

[geochitown]

what's the loft on your 5 iron?

 

maybe could make an educated guess from your 4 hybrid for 4 iron experience?

 

4H is 22*, what was loft of your 4 iron?

 

what is loft of the 5 iron, then does that same manufacturer make a 25* or 26* hybrid (or whatever loft compared to 4H for 4i)

Edited October 9, 2021 by geochitown

[jbandalo]

On 10/4/2021 at 1:43 PM, 2bGood said:

You could practice the 5 iron? 

 

I am about the same cap as you and had similar issue with my 4iron and a hole at my course that it needed be hit very well to by successful at. One day I went out and just hit 4 irons for 15 holes as much as I could. Every tee expect the short par 3 I hit 4 iron. If I had more than 180 in I hit 4 iron. I was not trying to shoot a score, but trying to hit 4 irons out on the course. Hitting at the range is different (you don't have a 5min walk between shots for instance). After that round I left feeling great about the club and it carried over into my play for months.

This. I grew up playing 3 and 4 irons and went to the hybrids two years ago and although I hit them great (2016 Apex 2-5H), something was missing. 
 

At the end of last year, went back to long irons and just hit them as much as I could on the course and fell back in love. There’s nothing like a flushed straight high flying long iron.
 

I score better now as it forces you to be a great ball striker.

 

Learn to hit them. 

Edited October 9, 2021 by jbandalo

[ousuxndallas]

I use a 5w high loft (21*) for those 200 yd shots. Use it probably 3 or 4 times a round. Launches high, hits soft, and very forgiving. Maybe try that?

[Lefty_3Jack]

Played on Friday, hit the 5i, looked great off the face, little low contact, tracking at hole and hits the rocks in front of the green. I’m sold that my 5i as it sits now isn’t the right club for me right now at that distance.
 

It’s not that it’s the distance in general, it’s the distance from those tees at the two courses I play more times than not. There are those three holes that has a very small room for error on the short end and a tough road to go if you play it long.

[animalgolfs]

2 hours ago, Lefty_3Jack said:

Played on Friday, hit the 5i, looked great off the face, little low contact, tracking at hole and hits the rocks in front of the green. I’m sold that my 5i as it sits now isn’t the right club for me right now at that distance.
 

It’s not that it’s the distance in general, it’s the distance from those tees at the two courses I play more times than not. There are those three holes that has a very small room for error on the short end and a tough road to go if you play it long.

5h will pretty much be hole high - regardless of strike.....other than low toe>those will still hit the rocks 

 

I've yet to be water hazard short since going 5h vs 5i.....not that it can't happen- it just hasn't in 20 or so rounds

[joostin]

On 10/8/2021 at 9:14 PM, geochitown said:

what's the loft on your 5 iron?

 

maybe could make an educated guess from your 4 hybrid for 4 iron experience?

 

4H is 22*, what was loft of your 4 iron?

 

what is loft of the 5 iron, then does that same manufacturer make a 25* or 26* hybrid (or whatever loft compared to 4H for 4i)

+1 on lofts and also what lengths are the 4H and 5I?  I'm a fan of 4H with the same shaft and length of a 4 iron matching the iron set (and dialing feel in with lead tape on the head)

 

Currently carrying a 4 iron - Fli Hi utility like MP-H4, 24° - and no 5 iron.  6° gap to 6 iron.  For 5 iron range I practice less than full swings.  For me that's normally cutting off the backswing a little but swinging as hard as normal or choking up 1".  The club hits pretty high so no problem knocking off a little.  Even going to experiment with a 22° hybrid, at 4i length and weighting, and see how full and partial distances go (23° hy worked well too but wife stole it).  Personal distance reference sheet below. 

 

So other than 5 hybrid, consider a utility iron or hybrid of similar loft to your set's 4-5 iron at 4-5 iron length and shaft.

 

[Potch]

I went to a 25* hybrid this year, replacing my 4 iron (play blades with traditional lofts). One of the things that unlocked it for me was going with a stout low/low shaft. No concerns about excess spin or ballooning with that shaft; its a very playable ball flight. That's my 200 yard club and it's really made a difference for me.  

[abenjami]

On 10/8/2021 at 10:43 PM, jbandalo said:

This. I grew up playing 3 and 4 irons and went to the hybrids two years ago and although I hit them great (2016 Apex 2-5H), something was missing. 
 

At the end of last year, went back to long irons and just hit them as much as I could on the course and fell back in love. There’s nothing like a flushed straight high flying long iron.
 

I score better now as it forces you to be a great ball striker.

 

Learn to hit them. 

 

How old are you?

[jbandalo]

9 hours ago, abenjami said:

 

How old are you?

LOL. I’m 50. 

[aquapig]

I'm playing to about a 3 index now and I ditched my 4iron for a 9 wood this year. Best decision I've made. I also added a 7 wood and it's now my favorite club in my bag. 

 

My 9 wood flies about 185. Soooo much easier to hit than a 4 or 5 iron for me. 

[Jack Pearsall]

.... it is hard forJack Pearsall to watch this hybrid and fairway wood onslaught as it seems like an abomination to the very foundations of iron decency.  

 

 

[animalgolfs]

27 minutes ago, Jack Pearsall said:

.... it is hard forJack Pearsall to watch this hybrid and fairway wood onslaught as it seems like an abomination to the very foundations of iron decency.  

 

 

Stubborn old coot

[cardoustie]

I have not once stood 200 out with a forced carry and wished my 5i was in my hands !!!

 

apex 16 5h is money … 200 yard club all day

 

see my sig

 

7w … 230 carry

4h … 215

5h .. 200

6 DI … 190