5W vs 2 iron

[PhillipG78]

Who uses a 5W vs a 2iron, and who uses both? My 5 W is 18* and my 2I is 19* so they go about the same distance. Who uses one vs the other or both and why?

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I don't always carry a 2i, but when I do, I just carry 2 wedges (PW and SW) and keep the 5w in the bag. 

 

The 5w is easier to hit, and better out of the rough. The 2i is a challenge to hit, and doing those challenges is part of what makes persimmon golf fun. Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I don't...

 

If I am just carrying a driver and 4w (or 2w and 4w), I'll carry a 2i because there's space in the bag.

[BIG STU]

29 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

I don't always carry a 2i, but when I do, I just carry 2 wedges (PW and SW) and keep the 5w in the bag. 

 

The 5w is easier to hit, and better out of the rough. The 2i is a challenge to hit, and doing those challenges is part of what makes persimmon golf fun. Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I don't...

 

If I am just carrying a driver and 4w (or 2w and 4w), I'll carry a 2i because there's space in the bag.

When I was still able to play steel shafts on my vintage rounds I always carried the 2 iron or 1 iron. It was not about the score anyhow--- I carried them just for the sheer joy and fun of hitting them. Oh I could hit a 5 wood great and will agree if shooting at a score it is easier to score with and more verisitile. But I swear the 1 or 2 iron are more fun. And always on vintage rounds I only carried 2 wedges because it was all we had back in the day.

Edited January 13, 2022 by BIG STU

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

 According to the PGA Training Manual from 1977, that date being in the heart of our classic era, stock lofts quoted are ; 2 iron 19 degrees (so you are spot on there) and 5 wood 24 degrees. Your 5 wood appears to the victim of loft creep and possibly underpins your entirely logical question.

In classic golf the 5 wood is intended to provide loft, stop and control. The 2 iron is more suited to the running game of 50 years ago or standard links conditions today.

To answer your question, I have always played my long irons better than my handicap, so if I can find an excuse to put a 2 or 1 iron in the bag I will. The 5 wood also has a place in my bag, although in a typical 4 woods set-up standard until the early 70s , for 5 wood , read 4 wood. 

Like Catchy I only use 2 wedges, sometimes only one. This gives me a bit of leeway.

[miamistomp]

2 hours ago, BIG STU said:

When I was still able to play steel shafts on my vintage rounds I always carried the 2 iron or 1 iron. It was not about the score anyhow--- I carried them just for the sheer joy and fun of hitting them. Oh I could hit a 5 wood great and will agree if shooting at a score it is easier to score with and more verisitile. But I swear the 1 or 2 iron are more fun. And always on vintage rounds I only carried 2 wedges because it was all we had back in the day.

 These were monsters

 

[BIG STU]

55 minutes ago, miamistomp said:

 These were monsters

 

Back in the 70s and early 80s I carried a little Northwestern 6 wood. A friend of my old Man's from Florida carried one and showed me some tricks with it. I ordered on through the shop. I guess it looked downright odd in the top end of my bag with a Old Spalding Robert T Jones 4 wood and either a 985 Custom of Ping Karsten  1 iron. On lush fairways I did not carry the 4 wood because if really needed I could hit the persimmon driver off the deck or the 1 iron. I also at the time had a little fairway finder knock down about 200 yard with the 6 wood

[Forged Hack]

Both. 2 iron for very tight tee shots with rollout, 5 wood for missed tee shots on a less then favorable lie. Also the 5W for a particular uphill par 3 that I need height on.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

Back in the 70s and early 80s I carried a little Northwestern 6 wood. A friend of my old Man's from Florida carried one and showed me some tricks with it. I ordered on through the shop. I guess it looked downright odd in the top end of my bag with a Old Spalding Robert T Jones 4 wood and either a 985 Custom of Ping Karsten  1 iron. On lush fairways I did not carry the 4 wood because if really needed I could hit the persimmon driver off the deck or the 1 iron. I also at the time had a little fairway finder knock down about 200 yard with the 6 wood

 

I've a Mizuno persimmon 6w that I sometimes play. It's got quite a soft shaft and so it isn't always the easiest to control (i.e. it occasionally wanders off a little further left than I'd like), but it's great when I need to advance the ball about 200 yards. I call it the Joker, because I never quite know if it's going to play tricks on me.

[Hickory4ever]

I carry the 2 iron when I play my classic clubs because that is what I carried in those days. I only carry two wedges for the same reason and so have room for three woods. I have several choices in persimmons, some 1,3,4 and others 1,3,5 and usually like to play the brothers together.

 

I still score well with them, although that is not the most important factor. I just love playing the historic clubs. 

[Forged Hack]

Then is it safe to assume that this is the appropriate classic set up?

1,3,5W

2 thru PW, SW

 

[Foozle]

6 minutes ago, Forged Hack said:

Then is it safe to assume that this is the appropriate classic set up?

1,3,5W

2 thru PW, SW

 

Certainly a very nice Wilson version of it! 😍

[AndersUK]

I carry a putter, driver and 12 irons (2i down to 58*).  I just struggle with fairways and hybrids.  My P790 2i is a weapon off the tee and I am a short hitter on here compared to some.  7i around 90.  I can achieve around 140 ball speed with that 2 iron off the tee with a more penetrating trajectory than any fairway and is not far off 3w distance for me.

 

Modern driving irons are so much easier to hit with all the technology and forgiveness crammed in.  You just need a little speed to get it airborne.

[nitram]

3 hours ago, miamistomp said:

 These were monsters

 

Lee Trevino told my uncle that the 6WD was his favorite club in the bag. This was around '70-'71 and  so of course he was a firm believer after that, and when I ended up with his old clubs I had one too.

[vandyfan]

31 minutes ago, Forged Hack said:

Then is it safe to assume that this is the appropriate classic set up?

1,3,5W

2 thru PW, SW

 

That is a beautiful set of clubs. The wedges look incredible. 

[Gsea]

[Hickory4ever]

43 minutes ago, Forged Hack said:

Then is it safe to assume that this is the appropriate classic set up?

1,3,5W

2 thru PW, SW

 

A very nice classic set. A lot of classic sets had a 4 wood instead of a 5 wood the further back you went. I will shortly be getting a set of Wilson Staffs from the early 70’s to go with my 60’s Hogans. Finally convinced a friend to sell them to me.

 

I favour the 1,3,4 as I found that I preferred using a 2 iron over a 5 wood. 

[NRJyzr]

1 hour ago, Forged Hack said:

Then is it safe to assume that this is the appropriate classic set up?

1,3,5W

2 thru PW, SW

 

 

I would only add that there's always an option for 4w in place of 5w, depending on each person.  You know, "seasoning to taste"  🙂

 

[PhillipG78]

8 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

 According to the PGA Training Manual from 1977, that date being in the heart of our classic era, stock lofts quoted are ; 2 iron 19 degrees (so you are spot on there) and 5 wood 24 degrees. Your 5 wood appears to the victim of loft creep and possibly underpins your entirely logical question.

In classic golf the 5 wood is intended to provide loft, stop and control. The 2 iron is more suited to the running game of 50 years ago or standard links conditions today.

To answer your question, I have always played my long irons better than my handicap, so if I can find an excuse to put a 2 or 1 iron in the bag I will. The 5 wood also has a place in my bag, although in a typical 4 woods set-up standard until the early 70s , for 5 wood , read 4 wood. 

Like Catchy I only use 2 wedges, sometimes only one. This gives me a bit of leeway.

I tend to carry more modern woods and driver, and keep the weaker lofted irons I do have a 23* 7 wood I might put back in the bag. 

Edited January 13, 2022 by PhillipG78

[Forged Hack]

1 hour ago, Hickory4ever said:

A very nice classic set. A lot of classic sets had a 4 wood instead of a 5 wood the further back you went. I will shortly be getting a set of Wilson Staffs from the early 70’s to go with my 60’s Hogans. Finally convinced a friend to sell them to me.

 

I favour the 1,3,4 as I found that I preferred using a 2 iron over a 5 wood. 

Agreed. I have that option as well!

excuse the peeling poly on the JP Persimmon, somebody dunked it years ago:)

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

3 hours ago, PhillipG78 said:

I tend to carry more modern woods and driver, and keep the weaker lofted irons I do have a 23* 7 wood I might put back in the bag. 

Never mind! It's given us golfers with classic sets to shoot the breeze. Hope you got the answers to your question.

[PhillipG78]

39 minutes ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Never mind! It's given us golfers with classic sets to shoot the breeze. Hope you got the answers to your question.

I did thank you Sir

[scomac2002]

I couldn't hit a 2 iron if my life depended on it.   A 3 iron maybe, but I  doubt I would pull it enough to warrant the practice required to be proficient.   Still,  there's little in golf more rewarding than flushing a long iron.  Pretty handy off the tee if the woods are twisting all over the place.  I guess I should practice...🤔

[Gsea]

carry them both don't leave home without them

 

[Forged Hack]

1 hour ago, Gsea said:

carry them both don't leave home without them

 

8802 and Speed Slots, nice bag!

[Forged Hack]

1 hour ago, scomac2002 said:

I couldn't hit a 2 iron if my life depended on it.   A 3 iron maybe, but I  doubt I would pull it enough to warrant the practice required to be proficient.   Still,  there's little in golf more rewarding than flushing a long iron.  Pretty handy off the tee if the woods are twisting all over the place.  I guess I should practice...🤔

Give it a try. Tiny little blade makes the ball look huge!

[Forged Hack]

On 1/13/2022 at 11:17 AM, Hickory4ever said:

A very nice classic set. A lot of classic sets had a 4 wood instead of a 5 wood the further back you went. I will shortly be getting a set of Wilson Staffs from the early 70’s to go with my 60’s Hogans. Finally convinced a friend to sell them to me.

 

I favour the 1,3,4 as I found that I preferred using a 2 iron over a 5 wood. 

Played today and on an empty hole I did some 5W,4W, 2 iron vs comparison. As Aspidistra noted, the loft creep is noticeable. 2 iron is my bullet fairway runner and the 4 wood is for higher trajectories. I was overlooking that my 5 wood was giving me 3/4 sometimes 5 iron carry and distance.  
For the OP (Phillip G78) I’m now Driver, 3W, 4W 2 iron etc. 

[Hickory4ever]

3 minutes ago, Forged Hack said:

Played today and on an empty hole I did some 5W,4W, 2 iron vs comparison. As Aspidistra noted, the loft creep is noticeable. 2 iron is my bullet fairway runner and the 4 wood is for higher trajectories. I was overlooking that my 5 wood was giving me 3/4 sometimes 5 iron carry and distance.  
For the OP (Phillip G78) I’m now Driver, 3W, 4W 2 iron etc. 

 

That is my preferred classic lineup. A classic 5 wood has so much more loft than current offerings, I prefer the 4W instead. The importance of knowing the lofts and then factoring in your comfort in hitting long irons. Most classic 2 irons were around 20 degrees, I still enjoy playing it although I confess my younger, stronger self did a better job with the 2 and 3 irons.  The old me is better with the short game so my scores from the proper tees have not changed much, but that is not important. A high 70’s round with the classics is so much more satisfying than doing it with the new tech toys. The woods in my classic sets are actually made of wood, what a novel concept .😀😀😀

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

On 1/14/2022 at 3:00 AM, Forged Hack said:

Give it a try. Tiny little blade makes the ball look huge!

We should have stuck with the 1.62 golf ball, it made the head look bigger and also the hole in putting. Lol.

But seriously, there were always players who were good with long irons and those who were good with woods dependent on swing characteristics I suppose. Strength or suppleness didn't come into it.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Great topic! Something I have not given much thought about till now, and thanks to you guys I can't wait for the ice to thaw to try this out.

 

Last year was my first full year of golf and it was 100 percent vintage.  I play 75 percent of my golf at a par 3 course and basically just carry short irons and a 2i for 1 long hole.

I found woods terribly difficult to hit.  As I said last year was my first full year of golf.  I've probably golfed 10xs in high school, never in my 20s and 5-10xs my early 30s.  Always at the par 3 with the short irons.  I think this is why I find woods difficult to hit.  I've always associated golf with irons.

 

As this golf bug sunk in at the end of 2020 I played a few longer courses and it was utter disaster with the driver.  Most times I'd hit it to the ladies tee or just past into some rough.  Where I'd find myself with the 2i.  Same issues early in 2021.  Things got better when I tried a 2w or 3w.  I never went down to anything past the 3w as to I got so used to using the 2i as a recovery club.  

 

Maybe I've been torturing myself? LOL

[Forged Hack]

Also, this must have been the reason why I was having a hard time finding a Cleveland Classic’s 5 wood on eBay. 

Plenty of 4 woods!