3 Iron or Rescue

Depending on how well you hit each one, I would go with the rescue as hit is most likely easier to hit and probably has more distance than an iron.

 

General guideline on numbered iron distance differences:

 

4* stronger loft and 1/2" longer shaft increases distance by about 10 yards. (Higher clubhead speed could mean 12 or more yards).

 

One of the problems with ever-stronger lofts is that when 3i is only 2* stronger than 4i, probably ony 7 yds. difference between clubs.

 

Another thing: some golfers play a 3i from November until March when the grass is thinner and the wind is stronger. Then, they switch to a 3H when turf is fluffier and the wind is tamer.

Rescue all day long.  Higher launch, more forgiving and more versatile in a variety of lies.  Theres a reason why GI iron sets dont come with a 3-iron anymore.

Sure they do.

 

There's just a 4 on the bottom and not a 3.

 

Regarding distance/gapping....

 

It seems that most hybrids hit the ball farther than their same numbered/lofted irons.  Is there a rule of thumb regarding the hybrids?

As a 12 handicap I'd definitely go for the Rescue at 18/19*. Maybe if you were lower single figures or pro it could be worth considering the 19* iron but probably not advisable as a 12 handicap. I think the majority of pros have Hybrids or 5 Woods as their 18/19* clubs rather than strong irons.

 

I'm a 14 handicap (targeting 10) and in the process of selecting my 18/19* Hybrid. I was even thinking of taking my 21* and 24* irons down to my golf pro to see what my distance gap is. If my gap between them is less than 10 yards I might even switch the 21* for a Hybrid as well.

 

Ultimately it depends how you hit your irons compared to rescue clubs, however I would definitely recommend at least one Hybrid for blasting out of the rough after a wayward drive on par 4s and 5s.

Hybrids appear to fall into two classes:

 

Free-standing: These "traditional" (early) hybrids have shafts shorter than FWs but longer than long irons, often with lofts a bit stronger than similar numbered irons. Generally, free-standing hybrids fall between FWs and irons in distance they generate.

 

Iron-replacement: These hybrids are made to blend with an iron set. So, these have shaft length and loft designed to go about as far as the numbered iron it replaces. Mizuno 2102 line featured the JPX Fli-Hi hybrids, billed as DLRs (direct long-iron replacements). Lofts and shaft lengths pretty much match the long irons they are designed to replace in either the JPX 800 or JPX 800 Tour model. You specify when you order the set if you want Fli-Hi replacements at the long end of the set. Several other OEMs offer similar choices.

My 4i is 24* loft, so basically your 4i is already a 3i.  I'd try out a 19* or 20* hybrid.  Chances are you'll hit it 10-15 yards longer than your 21* iron due to the hotter face and lighter shaft.

As said, you pretty much already have a 3 iron in your bag, its just numbered wrong. As for which club to fill that gap between your longest iron and your 3 wood, that's something only you or a fitter watching you can realistically answer.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of hybrids, I've tried one to replace a 3 iron, hated it and switched back to the 3 iron after a few rounds. I had one that replaced my 5 wood/2 iron, again...hated it, and the 5 wood is back in the bag.

A 19* 3 iron is relatively strong. If I had a 3 iron for my set it'd be 21* which is the same as your 4 iron. I'd recommend a 3 hybrid and possibly 4.