Hybrid or long iron / driving iron?

[backtees]

With the launch of Hybrids long irons became obsolete for a lot of golfer.

 

With the new driving irons and the improved long irons the trend to bag no long(er) irons might have stopped or even reversed.

 

So I really take into consideration to bag an iron 3 (cavity bag) again – how about you?

[Stillboard]

I'm not a low handicapper, but I'm more comfortable hitting long irons over hybrids and even fairway woods. I play a 3iron (cavity back) and an 18* 2i driving iron.

[Milesy]

I've recently swapped out my long irons for hybrids and wished I'd done it years ago. Haven't tried any of the new style driving irons though will do so at some stage. The improved accuracy I've achieved with hybrids has now turned my focus to green-side play, where I'm now wasting 3-6 shots each round. If I can sort that out I might finally break 80!

However everyone is different in terms of their swing and what they are comfortable using. There are so many options available nowadays. Get out and try them.

[Spoon]

haha this is my dilemma every time i play golf.
i hit my hybrids ok but bad shot is a pull hook
which happens on a regular basis.

i shifted to driving irons but the sole is too
thick for my liking and that tad amount of offset
gets me in trouble usually a hook as well.

long irons was doing this for a year had a 2 iron
and 3 iron i could bomb but decided to compromise
and get a 20* driving iron which is relatively small and
compact with minimal offset. so far so good.

also experimenting with smaller more compact hybrids
ala adams pnt2 but still hook on those!

[Msaxen]

I swapped irons last month and it has dropped me to 13 clubs in my normal bag. I play an i20 3h that I hook bad off the tee and I'm thinking about a driving iron or adams Dhy to tee up for shorter holes. I'm interested to see what more WRXers say on the topic.

[Jump]

[quote name='Msaxen' timestamp='1390181528' post='8492189']
I swapped irons last month and it has dropped me to 13 clubs in my normal bag. I play an i20 3h that I hook bad off the tee and I'm thinking about a driving iron or adams Dhy to tee up for shorter holes. I'm interested to see what more WRXers say on the topic.
[/quote]

I just sold my i20 20* hybrid and picked up an Adams Super 9031. I felt like i could hit down on the Adams because of the smaller profile. Always tried to sweep the i20 and had a lot of inconsistency last year. Usually choked down on the 3 wood or went after a 4 iron. Demoed the DHY and Super 9031. Preferred 9031 but Ive seen a lot of love for the DHY around here too.

Mizuno H4 with a Matrix Program shaft is my next choice if the Adams doesn't give that spot some more consistency..

[Msaxen]

[quote name='Jump' timestamp='1390184440' post='8492525']
[quote name='Msaxen' timestamp='1390181528' post='8492189']
I swapped irons last month and it has dropped me to 13 clubs in my normal bag. I play an i20 3h that I hook bad off the tee and I'm thinking about a driving iron or adams Dhy to tee up for shorter holes. I'm interested to see what more WRXers say on the topic.
[/quote]

I just sold my i20 20* hybrid and picked up an Adams Super 9031. I felt like i could hit down on the Adams because of the smaller profile. Always tried to sweep the i20 and had a lot of inconsistency last year. Usually choked down on the 3 wood or went after a 4 iron. Demoed the DHY and Super 9031. Preferred 9031 but Ive seen a lot of love for the DHY around here too.

Mizuno H4 with a Matrix Program shaft is my next choice if the Adams doesn't give that spot some more consistency..
[/quote]

Jump, thanks for the feedback. A friend recommended the mp 4h to match mi Mizzy irons. I'll have to add that to the potential list.

[RocketballzTP]

Driving irons are a gimmick. OEM's are making some quick cash because people see tour guys playing them. But these clubs offer very little in terms of performance and versatility for the average guy. 95% of them will be on the used club rack at Golf Galaxy by the end of the year.

[Donnierparker]

The Krank formula 5 hybrids are awesome. The best I have ever touched

[backtees]

[quote name='RocketballzTP' timestamp='1390192122' post='8493373']
Driving irons are a gimmick. OEM's are making some quick cash because people see tour guys playing them. But these clubs offer very little in terms of performance and versatility for the average guy. 95% of them will be on the used club rack at Golf Galaxy by the end of the year.
[/quote]

That was also my impression. If you really have a decent swing and know how to hit let's say a 3 or 4 iron than this might be something. Might! For all the mortals, we better stay with a hybrid or wood.

[baylorlefty]

I've had a 910 19* hybrid in the bag for the past 2 years. Ball would balloon and my misses were all over the place. Recently picked up a 3 iron 712u and am more consistent with it. Works great on long par 3's into the wind and great for layups on par 5's.

I would agree that the driving iron is for a smaller market, but it works for me.

[etotheo]

The problem for many out there is they try and play a hybrid like a driver... at least that was my problem. It took a year of hooks and f-bombs before I drilled it into my head that it's just another iron that I have to try and compress into the ground - and that thought was a game changer for my hybrid that I bag.

[Gbyeball]

[quote name='etotheo' timestamp='1390423453' post='8510901']
The problem for many out there is they try and play a hybrid like a driver... at least that was my problem. It took a year of hooks and f-bombs before I drilled it into my head that it's just another iron that I have to try and compress into the ground - and that thought was a game changer for my hybrid that I bag.
[/quote]

Everytime I read about someone pull hooking a hybrid I want to screamm "ball position". If you play it too far forward and sweep it the ball will go left and hook. As you said play it like an iron and things usually straighten out.

My initial thoughts on driving irons vs hybrids are driving irons are for more skilled players with higher swing speeds. But then there is my wife who hits one as well or better than her hybrid. As is usual you never really know what will work for you till you try.

[minteq]

[quote name='baylorlefty' timestamp='1390327155' post='8502021']
I've had a 910 19* hybrid in the bag for the past 2 years. Ball would balloon and my misses were all over the place. Recently picked up a 3 iron 712u and am more consistent with it. Works great on long par 3's into the wind and great for layups on par 5's.

I would agree that the driving iron is for a smaller market, but it works for me.
[/quote]

I agree with this, I have tried all the hybrids, and they were too inconsistent for my swing. I got the 712U 3 and am completely happy, easy to hit and very accurate.

[oregongolfguy]

I play 3 and 4 iron...I play mizuno mx-25's and just play the 3&4 in the set. I feel that I hit them pretty good. I know that I can hit equivalent hybrids a bit further, but I am definitely straighter with the irons. I hit a 712U 3 iron and I liked it, lower launching then my 3 iron, but again for me pretty easy to hit straight.

[warumnicht]

[quote name='oregongolfguy' timestamp='1393716943' post='8773876']
I play 3 and 4 iron...I play mizuno mx-25's and just play the 3&4 in the set. I feel that I hit them pretty good. I know that I can hit equivalent hybrids a bit further, but I am definitely straighter with the irons. I hit a 712U 3 iron and I liked it, lower launching then my 3 iron, but again for me pretty easy to hit straight.
[/quote]

I had a 3 iron fli hi with my MX-25s and it was a great alternative to the regular 3 iron. With the RBZ irons I have now I bag 3 through A wedge with no hybrid or utility club.

[hiflyer51]

Recently replaced my 4Iron and 17*XTD hybrid with Adams Dhy Pro 21* and 18*. Replace graphite shafts with KBS Hybrid S shafts. They play like easier to hit 4 iron and 3 iron with appropriate distances for gapping. Shafts are shorter than typical hybrids. I have 100ss and 1.5index.

[animalgolfs]

I do just fine with fairways up to, say 19*....after that they become problematic.
I do fine with hybrids between 16*-24*(though I do bag slap the 24* more than I like). Struggled mightily with hybrids for years.
Long irons I can hit fine, but not a lot of carry below 21*. Bests shots of my life are nutted 1-irons & 2-irons!

I guess what I'm saying is... I can hit them all well, but all crappy in the same sentence.

Long irons are the safe bet with me.... Whether I like it or not.

[Shooter32]

I have yet to meet a hybrid i like or that likes me back .. ... i play a Mizuno 21 degree fli-hi and it is great most of the time but i can miss it the same as the rest of the bag but it does set up better to my eye the the hybrid's do .

[kellygreen]

[quote name='backtees' timestamp='1388948704' post='8403049']
With the launch of Hybrids long irons became obsolete for a lot of golfer.

With the new driving irons and the improved long irons the trend to bag no long(er) irons might have stopped or even reversed.

So I really take into consideration to bag an iron 3 (cavity bag) again – how about you?
[/quote]

Depends on what kind of swing you have.

If you have a "digger" type swing, then I would keep the hybrids in the bag. These clubs respond well to these kinds of swings, and long irons respond poorly to them.

If you have a "sweeper" type swing, then there is a choice to be made. Sweeper swingers (like myself) generally don't get along with rescue-type hybrids...and can play either FWs or long irons. Which has been my experience. Every attempt I've made to put a hybrid in the bag has gone badly. I play FWs when I need high trajectory and forgiveness (summer golf, target golf) , and long irons when i need accuracy or low trajectory (narrow courses, wind).

The only long iron I have difficulty hitting at this point is a 2-iron...and even Tiger doesn't carry a standard 2-iron any more. But the Mizuno MP H-4 has lead me to create a space for a 2-iron-hybrid club. For the "sweeper" it is a great combination of accuracy, trajectory, consistency and forgiveness

[scratches]

[quote name='backtees' timestamp='1390304178' post='8499967']
[quote name='RocketballzTP' timestamp='1390192122' post='8493373']
Driving irons are a gimmick. OEM's are making some quick cash because people see tour guys playing them. But these clubs offer very little in terms of performance and versatility for the average guy. 95% of them will be on the used club rack at Golf Galaxy by the end of the year.
[/quote]

Amen fellas, these driving irons are meant for 1% or less golfers in the world. Too many people will buy the driving irons simply as a status item and can't hit them worth s***. There are so many different hybrids out there that can achieve the same or better result. If you cannot flush these driving irons 9 out of 10 times, swallow your pride and look else where for a hybrid. These driving irons always come out British open time and are forgotten by Sunday.

That was also my impression. If you really have a decent swing and know how to hit let's say a 3 or 4 iron than this might be something. Might! For all the mortals, we better stay with a hybrid or wood.
[/quote]