Off the tee: 3 wood VS. 2 iron ...

[inthehole]

I'm struggling with the 200-210 yard distance off the tee.     I hit my 3 iron around 185-190 from the tee.     I hit my 3 wood very sporadically - it's awesome when i catch it right & carries a bit over 200 yards, but it's way too unpredictable off the tee.      Anybody use a 2 iron in lieu of a 3 wood (at the stage I'm at, I won't be hitting either off the fairway, so I'm talking off the tee only) ?      For what it's worth, I love my 3 iron off the tee (have much more control with the 3 iron than my hybrids off the tee).      I'm thinking I'd probably like a 2 iron, but game improvement cavity backed 2 irons are few an far between I'm finding out.     Just looking for opinions & if I'm on the right track ?       Thanks

(PS - one thing I should mention as it might be important to understand where I'm coming from ... my goal in life right now is to hit fairways (the game is so much more enjoyable when playing from the fairway & not fighting my way out of the deep rough), not overly concerned with length ... I'm taking easy swings & trying to make solid contact with all my clubs, rather than spray it all over the place & lose a half dozen balls a round - been there, done that, it sucks).

[GaijinGolfer]

Whats wrong with using your 17 degree hybrid off the tee when its a tight fairway?  Unless youre crushing the ball, your dont have the swingspeed for a 2-iron.  I hit my driver about 275 yards and even I dont swing hard enough to get the ball up in the air with a 2-iron.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Whats wrong with using your 17 degree hybrid off the tee when its a tight fairway?  Unless youre crushing the ball, your dont have the swingspeed for a 2-iron.  I hit my driver about 275 yards and even I dont swing hard enough to get the ball up in the air with a 2-iron.

Is that off the deck or off a short tee where you can't get a 2 iron in the air ?

I just don't have the accuracy with the 17* hybrid (as compared to my 3 iron off the tee - I actually like hitting that hybrid off the fairway, so who knows ?!?!).     I definitely don't have alot of swing speed - 88 mph on the monitor.    Good info, maybe a 2 iron isn't a good choice for me & I should focus on learning to hit the hybrid more reliably (I just really like the 3 iron off the tee ... figured a 2 iron would just give me more length, but controlled length as compared to a hybrid)

[RyderJ]

Are you addressing your hybrids like an iron or fairway wood? Just a thought...

Originally Posted by inthehole

I just don't have the accuracy with the 17* hybrid (as compared to my 3 iron off the tee - I actually like hitting that hybrid off the fairway, so who knows ?!?!).

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by RyderJ

Are you addressing your hybrids like an iron or fairway wood? Just a thought...

I honestly don't know the difference - would you mind explaining how the address set up should differ from a iron to fairway wood (at this stage of my development, I line everything up pretty much in the center of my stance with the exceptoin of the wedges which go farther back & the driver which goes farther forward) ?      One thiing that helps me greatly is to slow down my swing with the hybrid - nothing good ever comes from swinging the hybrids as hard as my irons.       Thanks ...

[dhanson]

Originally Posted by inthehole

I honestly don't know the difference - would you mind explaining how the address set up should differ from a iron to fairway wood (at this stage of my development, I line everything up pretty much in the center of my stance with the exceptoin of the wedges which go farther back & the driver which goes farther forward) ?      One thiing that helps me greatly is to slow down my swing with the hybrid - nothing good ever comes from swinging the hybrids as hard as my irons.       Thanks ...

everyone sets up to the ball differently with different clubs. earlier this year, i messed around with ball positioning from Hogan, where ball position was pretty static and the only thing that changed was the width of your stance and how open/closed you setup. personally, i never setup closed because i try to eliminate the left side, but do setup progressively more open as i move into mid-short irons. i'm also not a fan of putting the ball that far forward because of my inability to maintain forward shaft lean through the shot, which causes me to hit a lot of shots fat/thin when i put the ball that far forward with mid-irons of scoring clubs. most people move the ball back in their stance progressively through their clubs.

Driver/Woods: Off the front heel

Long to Mid Irons: Left-center of your stance (if your right handed)

Scoring clubs: Center to back

these sorts of things are something that you have to mess with to figure out what's most comfortable.

most people would say that you should hit your hybrids much like a long iron instead of a wood, hitting more down on the ball as opposed to the feeling of sweeping the ball off the tee/ground.

[RyderJ]

Well, I'm by no means a pro, but....

Basically, if you're standing as far back from the ball with a hybrid as you would a fairway wood, then you are wrong...imo. Generally speaking, at least from my experience, a hybrid whether it be a 2,3,4 hybrid has the same length shaft as any standard 2,3,4 iron would. So, having said that, if you are addressing the ball with your hybrid and standing too far back from the ball this could be a reason for your inconsistency, by causing your weight to be on your toes through impact. I was too far back from the ball when I first started hitting a hybrid and couldn't hit the thing worth a darn. Now that I address the ball as I would a 4 iron I'm hitting it straighter, longer and more consistently. Hope this helps. I'm actually off to the range right now and will try and get some video to show you what I'm talking about...it'll give me a chance to fiddle around with my new camera...lol.

Originally Posted by inthehole

I honestly don't know the difference - would you mind explaining how the address set up should differ from a iron to fairway wood (at this stage of my development, I line everything up pretty much in the center of my stance with the exceptoin of the wedges which go farther back & the driver which goes farther forward) ?      One thiing that helps me greatly is to slow down my swing with the hybrid - nothing good ever comes from swinging the hybrids as hard as my irons.       Thanks ...

[RyderJ]

This...this is essentially what I was trying to explain...great post dhanson!

Originally Posted by dhanson

everyone sets up to the ball differently with different clubs. earlier this year, i messed around with ball positioning from Hogan, where ball position was pretty static and the only thing that changed was the width of your stance and how open/closed you setup. personally, i never setup closed because i try to eliminate the left side, but do setup progressively more open as i move into mid-short irons. i'm also not a fan of putting the ball that far forward because of my inability to maintain forward shaft lean through the shot, which causes me to hit a lot of shots fat/thin when i put the ball that far forward with mid-irons of scoring clubs. most people move the ball back in their stance progressively through their clubs.

Driver/Woods: Off the front heel

Long to Mid Irons: Left-center of your stance (if your right handed)

Scoring clubs: Center to back

these sorts of things are something that you have to mess with to figure out what's most comfortable.

most people would say that you should hit your hybrids much like a long iron instead of a wood, hitting more down on the ball as opposed to the feeling of sweeping the ball off the tee/ground.

[WWBDD]

You're obviously not obsessing enough.

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by inthehole

Is that off the deck or off a short tee where you can't get a 2 iron in the air ?

I just don't have the accuracy with the 17* hybrid (as compared to my 3 iron off the tee - I actually like hitting that hybrid off the fairway, so who knows ?!?!).     I definitely don't have alot of swing speed - 88 mph on the monitor.    Good info, maybe a 2 iron isn't a good choice for me & I should focus on learning to hit the hybrid more reliably (I just really like the 3 iron off the tee ... figured a 2 iron would just give me more length, but controlled length as compared to a hybrid)

For me it was moreso off the deck but even off the tee I didnt get a whole lot of height with a 2-iron, certainly not enough that Id be very confident with it.  Theres a reason why 2-irons and even now really 3-irons are pretty much a dead club.

My advice would be to focus on working with the hybrid.  Theyre clubs that are so easy to hit once you master them.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Theres a reason why 2-irons and even now really 3-irons are pretty much a dead club.

This is interesting ... didn't know the long irons were so out of favor with todays hybrids.    I guess I need to revisit the hybrid - it just seems that off the rug, even the lightest bit fat with the hybrid & the shot veers way to the right for me (its like the club rotates with any contact with turf) - that problem just doesn't happen with the 3 iron - can be a little fat & it at least stays on course.

Curious if this is the general consensus - that the longer irons are essentially obsolete with todays hybrids ?      If that is absolutely the case, I'll be looking for a new hybrid ...

[RyderJ]

I'm not sure if those clubs are "dead" because I still actually would prefer to hit a long iron over a hybrid, but I'm just weird like that. For me personally, I carry 3 and 4 irons and a hybrid. I took my 5 wood and used it as a tiki torch staff to make room for the hybrid..lol. Long irons are hard to hit, and in particular, 4 irons, I believe are the most difficult iron to hit consistently (don't have any stats to back this up, just what I've observed). Hybrids are great rescue clubs, but I don't like hitting it unless I'm in a tough spot...they are like a utility club imho.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by RyderJ

I'm not sure if those clubs are "dead" because I still actually would prefer to hit a long iron over a hybrid, but I'm just weird like that. For me personally, I carry 3 and 4 irons and a hybrid. I took my 5 wood and used it as a tiki torch staff to make room for the hybrid..lol. Long irons are hard to hit, and in particular, 4 irons, I believe are the most difficult iron to hit consistently (don't have any stats to back this up, just what I've observed). Hybrids are great rescue clubs, but I don't like hitting it unless I'm in a tough spot...they are like a utility club imho.

It's a funny game & we all have our different takes on how to best get it done ... my 4 iron is by far my favorite club - ball just sails with a nice baby draw.       Just goes to show, there's more than one way to make a par !!     I'm with you on trying to hit a 5 wood off the deck - a tiki torch is a great idea !!

[RyderJ]

A par is a par...on any scorecard. As for a 5 wood, I literally NEVER had a use for one...so it only made sense for me to remove it from my bag in favor of a club that I would actually use on occasion.

Originally Posted by inthehole

Just goes to show, there's more than one way to make a par !!     I'm with you on trying to hit a 5 wood off the deck - a tiki torch is a great idea !!