Driving iron with most forgiveness?

[fastswinger]

Tried my friend's gapr low and didn't love the feel (or lack thereof) but the shots were money.

 

I'm looking at the srixon ZX 18 for an off the tee club, but there seems to be a ton

of die hard u85 gamers out there.  I'd like to try both!

[stimpmeterp]

Don’t sleep on Tour Edge - the EXS Ti utility is insanely long and forgiving.

[SamGreeman13]

If you can get over the chunky looks at address, titleist u505 is very easy to hit

[bqe323]

Another Vote for U505, super easy to launch, a little chunky but still looks like an iron and launches like a hybrid. 

[TJ83]

I have a 20* Srixon Zx and it's pretty forgiving to me! 

[Dr.Frankenputz]

On 4/19/2022 at 9:18 PM, stimpmeterp said:

Don’t sleep on Tour Edge - the EXS Ti utility is insanely long and forgiving.

Think OP is lefty; looks like a lot of other TEE clubs that aren’t available left handed. 

[jgolf215]

OK, I'm a Callaway guy, so I'm biased for sure. I have the original Apex UT in 24*. I like to look at a hybrid or lofted fairway in the 19*-20* but prefer an iron in the 23*-24* spot. That being said I have a Mavrik Pro hybrid 23* in that spot because it is easier to hit. I bought my Apex UT with the KBS Tour V shaft. I found it to be more forgiving than it looks. Later I had a KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype installed which made it even better. 

[Jjones519a]

im playing a 505u right now.  It's legit amazing so far - long easy to launch .. might be a 1 trick pony though good for tee and perfect lies only.  I dont think its must use from the rough !

 

[Starched]

Titleist U510 hands down and not even close. I’ve tried them all 

[CLEVELAND59]

Threw an LTDx Cobra 4 iron into the bag after seeing one in Dufner's witb a couple months ago.  Have an $taper Stiff in it.  Totally forgiving and insanely long.

[wag75]

If you’re including “utility” irons, I have tried the latest from Taylormade - both the Stealth DHi and the DHY, the Cobra adjustable, the latest Titleist, and Srixon ZX.  Stumbled across a used Srixon Z U85; for me that was by far and above the most forgiving, best feeling, and easiest to hit of them all.  I have both the 2 and 4.   

[Mike_Honcho]

or grab a TE HL 4i.  forgiveness for days

[Tre4ISU]

On 4/19/2022 at 1:21 AM, Frank_Kasule said:

P790 3 iron loft is 19°, I don't think you will find anything better than that in terms of forgiveness imo. 

 

This is a bingo. Put a hybrid shaft in it and prosper. It's by far my favorite club in the bag. So much so, that I built a 4 iron with a little softer spec shaft. 

[6R35]

For a cheap older option I recently built a Mizuno MP-H5 2i with a Modus 105 shaft and it has been fantastic. I never got along with graphite shafts in driving irons for some reason so I built this as a test and it's so good that it's staying in the bag for now.  

[opensupoverthere27]

I have a friend that plays a stealth 2i and that thing is a trampoline'd rocket. Highly recommend giving that a shot if you haven't made a decision yet. Off the tee and the deck the thing just goes 

[jorellanes]

Srixon ZX MKii utility is like cheating. 

[ChunkMeDaddy]

The PXG gen 5 X iron. Its the most attractive and forgiving DI that I have trialed.......I've trialed most of them too. Can't recommend more. Its really cheap now too. Low offset, thin topline, no extra back chunkyness, sounds amazing.....idk what else you need

[golowgolf801]

The new King Utility is very good 

[Buschlight]

I love my t200 2 iron, its not chunky as hell to look at.

[Tinkerer]

Titleist u505, works great. Any love for a Wilson Staff model 18 degree, which I have with the stock KBS S shaft? 

[POKeefe]

Anyone have thoughts on the DHY, U505, and any other clubs similar? Looking for a 5 Wood replacement as a par 5 knock it up the fairway and narrow par 4 tee club. Considering those or perhaps a small headed hybrid.

[Big_hitter_The_Lama]

On 4/17/2022 at 3:46 PM, Rodder said:

I know the title may sound like a bit of an oxymoron but I'm looking for suggestions on a larger and chunkier DI for a tee club. The courses in my area are pretty short making driver pretty useless off the tee most of the time. As much as I've tried I've never been a fan of hybrids or fairway woods.  I'm a 16hc but my irons are the best part of my game and am currently gaming P790's with the 3i acting as my current tee club. Swing speed is 101 with the 3i so I have the speed for a DI but would rather look at something more in line with my P790's than a blade. 

 

If I wasn't a lefty I would probably pick up the P790 2i and call it a day but that's unfortunately not an option. I would love to try a few different clubs out but there's not much in stock within an hour of me even if I go the fitting route. At this time the G425 seems to fit my requirements but I'd like to hear of any other options if they're out there. 

The P790 3i is already a great option for iron off the tee. You can always order a custom 3i that is bent to a stronger degree.

[g_nw]

6 hours ago, POKeefe said:

Anyone have thoughts on the DHY, U505, and any other clubs similar? Looking for a 5 Wood replacement as a par 5 knock it up the fairway and narrow par 4 tee club. Considering those or perhaps a small headed hybrid.

 

Probably been said many times over but there are multiple styles of irons suitable for a fairway finding / controllable tee ball (that are not simply a set- long iron) and that can help into longer par5s from the fairway… and look I’m just riffing here, to others: feel free to build on this, I’m no authority, just a common junkie who spends an unhealthy amount of time in this category and prefers a utility over a hybrid.

• Driving irons such as U505, Mizuno Fli Hi, TM DHY… all are good, folks seem to favor the Titleist and Mizuno as being exceptional. These are generally easiest to hit (CG is low and back and these are intended to be high launching and easy to hit), provided you don’t have an issue visually at address (these are chunkier, you will be able to see their large sole and back of the club at address and the topline is thicker; same applies to the next bucket below but to a much lesser extent). These generally have the most technology in them (hollow face, ball speed is most consistent across the face, more forgiving than other options), these may not have the best turf interaction simply because they’re chunky (your preference and delivery matter) but are great options from a tee. Generally these are fitted with graphite hybrid shafts that are a bit heavier than a comparably lofted hybrid might be for the same player (but that’s obviously preference, people put all kinds of graphite/iron shafts in these).
• Hotter face forgiving clubs that are more flexible from tee and turf and marketed as a “utility iron.” These are generally hollow but may have a forged face or even some modest amount of technology in them. These may be used to gap between your set- irons and fairway woods, or may be a long iron replacement, or may be intended to be a hot/chasing club from a tee that can also serve as a less clumsy (for certain guys’ club delivery) from the fairway option. Examples are Srixon ZX Mkii Utility, Cobra Utility, Callaway UT, Titleist T200 Utility, Tour Edge Titanium, Taylormade’s UDI and P790 UDI 2i, PXG’s utility, Ping’s iCrossover, etc. Popular/frequently mentioned ones from this group are the Srixon, Titleist, and Ping iCrossover (adjustable). But, all of these perform exceptionally well, comes down to preference/access/desire for adjustability/fitting outcome on a launch monitor. Typically are fitted with a shaft that’s 10g more than a comparable hybrid you might be fitted into -up to your iron set shaft weight, depending on preference/stability/swing speed.
• Forgiving/complementary tech/distance irons such as: P790, T200, Mizuno 245, etc. These are typically a bit more forgiving than your set iron, a step up in an OEM’s product range as example in the way that a combo set would be. Common denominator being that they are hot clubs and somewhat forgiving so should get good ball speed across the face while still having most of the playability your set- irons have, in general.

 

For what it’s worth, this is a category where you’d probably benefit from seeing a bunch of these at address and going from there. Hitting a larger techier iron may not be your preference from the fairway on a par5 though they’d be great from the tee and you may see more balanced performance in another style/category. You also may have feelings about the amount of offset in many of these.

For me, I focused on a thin sole like my irons (basically stepped up the product range) until I decided I was dissatisfied with the ball speed on mishits given the category, and then I became more comfortable with a larger sole — but not the largest of soles — and I’ve landed on what many recommend: the Srixon ZX Mkii… but any club in that second bullet above would have performed well… I decided that I like a shorter blade length with good mix of tech and turf interaction and I built like three of these before I felt I had the best setup for me. As far as shaft goes, I experimented until I landed on a heavier graphite shaft — that I was sure was too heavy at the outset, a Ventus 10X. I think it’s worth trying several utility irons in a big box store or fitter if you can (I actually don’t really have a good store nearby but I have an exceptional fitter and looked at several of theirs; but because I was shy about it, I also bought several online without trying/regretted/sold them)!

 

Hope something in this post resonates/ helps dude 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼… the trick being to find something that performs in fairway and from tee while matching your preferences and delivery! Many guys like the ones you mentioned so I’d go try them to compare vs. your preferences, knowing they’ll perform generally comparably.

Edited February 18 by g_nw

[Tinkerer]

Ive got the u505, the Srixon Mkii with a steel shaft, the Apex UT and the DHY … for me the DHY is the winner, great off the tee and off the deck. Shaft clearly makes a difference. 

[medic170979]

I went with the u505 over the Sim DHY when I tried both 2 years ago. For me it was just a better feel and was a bit less funky at address. I also use a Z85 utility as my 5 irons and like the performance and feel, but the junk in the trunk at address is a bit more jarring to my eye than the u505. If they made a u505 in 5, I’d probably have gone with that. I agree with the comments above regarding the look at address potentially being a big factor.  I didn’t hate the performance of the DHY, but the u505 just fit my eye better. I use it a ton when I play shorter courses. 

Edited February 19 by medic170979

[ConstantineJr79]

Tour Edge EXS TI driving iron and it isn't even close. Rocket launcher that is unbelievably forgiving. 

[cpadave]

Lefty here playing the ZX utility and find it to be very forgiving

[chasingneil]

I currently have a tm dhy in the gap between irons and a 5 wood, but it can launch a little high. Great for par 5’s but not ideal off the tee or when windy. 
 

 I’m considering going with a t350 after noticing will zalatoris put one in the bag.  Been looking for an old cobra f9 4 iron.  I still remember how easy to hit and good they felt for a g.i. Iron. 

[Gsea]

Haven't hit them all but my favorite and gamer is the Ping icrossover. Very forgiving

[Whiskey_fire]

On 4/17/2022 at 6:05 PM, Redbird said:

The new Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi. 

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