Let’s face it: we are the beneficiaries of significant advances in club technology. No longer does one need to fear the 1-iron, the 2-iron, the 3-iron, or even the 4-iron. Sweet-spots the size of neutrons are but a vague and unpleasant memory. Thanks to companies like Nickent, a recent and significant manufacturer of hybrid clubs, our confidence from about 170 to 230 yards has been restored.
Nickent released the 3DX Ironwood DC earlier this year along with the 3DX Utility DC. The 3DX Ironwood DC is an upgrade to the popular 3DX Ironwood. I’ve wanted to put one of these hybrids through its paces for some time and recently picked one up to see what all the buzz was about. I wasn’t disappointed.
There has been considerable buzz surrounding Nickent’s hybrids for some time. These clubs couldn’t be better for amateurs. Todd Hamilton may singlehandedly be responsible for pushing hybrids into the public’s consciousness when he used a Sonartec hybrid to win the 2004 British Open, but companies like Nickent have picked up the ball and run with it. A recent Nickent press release boasted, “At the Nationwide Tour’s Rheem Classic in Arkansas, 45 Nickent hybrids were in play,” which accounted for 36% of all hybrids. They have continued their popularity.
Nickent’s 3DX Ironwood DC has a hot face with a pleasing “tink” at impact. I love that sound!
Construction
Nickent’s original 3DX Ironwood was an excellent club, but in 2005 Nickent set out to improve upon their original design. To begin, a new, thinner face was implemented to deliver a higher CoR than the first Ironwood. CoR is an acronym for “coefficient of restitution,” which is scientific marketing lingo for “efficiency of energy transfer.” Basically the new Ironwood transfers more of your power to the golf ball than the original.
In addition to the new clubface, forty grams of weight have been moved to the bottom of the club to help you get the ball airborne and to either side of the club to help you hit it straight. The Ironwood has 24% more MOI or “moment of inertia,” which is a scientific marketing lingo for “resistance to twisting,” than the previous Ironwood. This club is designed to help you get the ball up in the air and hit it straight in the process.
Tungsten weights bring the center of gravity low in this club making it easy for you to elevate the ball.
Nickent further claims that the “inserts are also used to move the center of gravity of the head to insure proper weight distribution and eliminate the ‘pull hooks’ produced by many of the leading hybrid designs.” I have more to say on whether this is an effective technology or not later on…
Esthetics
This is one of the finest looking hybrids on the market. Many hybrids have a two-tone top-line that gives you the general impression of what an iron looks like at address with the wood part of the club tacked on behind. The 3DX Ironwood is all wood and no iron in the looks department, and I like it. It doesn’t have a scooped out body or anything that makes it look quasi-high-tech at address. It looks like a hybrid should: simple and functional. The only other clubs that achieve this (to my knowledge) are the Sonartec hybrids, but they come at a higher price point. These are beautiful and uncluttered at address.
One of the best looking hybrids on the market the 3DX Ironwood DC looks as good as it performs.
The back and sole of the 3DX Ironwood DC looks more high tech and are an improvement esthetically over the original Ironwood. The tungsten weights are a visible reminder of what Nickent has done to make this club forgiving and high flying. The face is simple and confidence inspiring. Put a decent swing on this club and the face does its job.
The Winn V17 series grip and trademark green Aldila NV shaft both look great and complement the club-head nicely. No complaints there.
Like I’ve said, I feel this is among the best looking hybrids on the market right now. They fill an esthetic gap left by most other hybrid manufacturers.
Aldila’s NV Hybrid shaft gets the ball in the air with a fairly boring ball flight. It provides plenty in the feel department.
Performance
This club performs very well. I believe it does what Nickent promises. It is easy to get the ball up in the air and on line without much effort. It responds well to a smooth swing. There is no need to get aggressive with this club. I tried to think “swing it like an 8-iron” every time I looked down on it. More often than not I got pleasing sound and feel, high trajectory, and long ball flight. Swing easy and hit it long. I have the 20° 3-iron replacement, and it nicely filled my 5-wood gap during testing.
Hybrids are well known for hitting the ball high with less roll than an iron, making it easier to hold greens on approach shots and long par threes.
The 3DX Ironwood DC has a pleasing but high “tink” sound when struck on the sweet spot. The sound brings a little smile to my face every time I hear it. The face felt thin and hot the first time I hit it, and it is easy to get the face on the ball in all kinds of conditions. Moderately thick rough, tight lies in the fairway, and off the tee are easy with this face and sole.
The view at address insires confidence and is pleasing to the eye.
I requested the wildly popular Aldila NV Hybrid 75 gram stiff shaft over the higher launching UST SR2. Club makers are trying to kill as many birds as possible with one stone and Aldila’s hybrid shaft does a good job in that respect. My aggressive swing overloads this shaft when I’m warmed up, so I’ll be keeping the club and looking for a replacement shaft. The Aldila NV shaft delivers a high ball flight, getting the ball up in the air quickly, and responds to a smooth-as-creamy-peanut-butter swing. I have to hold my swing back more than normal to get pleasing results with this shaft. Smooth swings produce wonderful results.
The resulting ball-flight of 3DX Ironwood DC was high and long. I completely trust this club to get the ball up in the air quickly. There is a dog-leg left par-four on the front nine of a local course with a big tree right in the middle of the fairway. It has cause me a fair amount of frustration with my woods as you have to get up fast to get over it. Generally I have to play it as it was designed (darn it) with a 6- or 7-iron to the fairway on the other side. I started using the Ironwood as it gets the ball past the trouble and further down the fairway. I like that.
This is a forgiving and yet workable club. While I can’t work the ball like some of my fellow staff members, I got some cuts and draws out of it during testing but you will have to work at it a little more with a higher MOI. The weighting of this club means that off-center hits aren’t going to penalize you as much as they might an iron of similar loft.
Nickent’s headcover fits well and looks good in your bag. You can’t miss it with that green.
The Ironwood is easy to hit off the tee, fairway, and out of the rough. I found it useful to use chipping around the greens from time to time.
I’m not sure whether it was the clubhead or the shaft but an aggressive swing produced some pull hooks for me. Nickent was trying to do away with them by moving the internal weight around. You need to remember that you can’t play a hybrid like a fairway wood. Hybrids are meant to be played like a mid-iron. Place the ball too far forward in your stance and you’re in for some pull hooks. I made sure that the clubhead was square to the target line and that I swung easy with proper ball position and the ball stayed on line. It was mildly annoying to have to change my swing even slightly.
Specs
The 3DX Ironwood DC is available in lofts from 14° to 26° in 2.5° increments. Left handed clubs are available lofts 14° to 26° in 3° increments. There are enough loft choices to meet a variety of needs from fairway metal to long- and mid-iron replacement.
The 75-gram Aldila NV Hybrid and higher launching UST SR2 graphite shafts are available. The Nippon 950 steel shaft is a third stock option.
Conclusion
The Nickent 3DX Ironwood DC is a go-to club. It works well off the tee when you have to put the ball in play, performs out of the rough, off of the fairway, and looks great in the process. Having confidence is a club is important because golf is tough enough without fighting your equipment. This club is likely one that I’ll have in my bag for a long time and I recommend it without hesitation. Make sure that you hit as many shaft options as you can to find the right one for your swing and you will obtain a very reliable and good looking hybrid.
I agree completely with the above review of the 3DX Ironwoods. Using the 2H,4H and 5H UST shafts, I have replaced all of my fairway woods and 3-5 irons. I am 66 and having a little trouble with my driver, I am using the 2H on many holes instead and get 220 of the tee with a very high number of hit fairways. Scores have dropped about 3 strokes per round since I started to use the Nickent 3DX Ironwoods — Ken
On all but the longest of courses, lower lofted hybrids are an excellent choice off the tee. I notice a significant drop in strokes when I hit the fairway with my hybrid. If the driver is off I have no problem hitting a hybrid off the tee.
anyone know the difference between the ironwood and the utility? ball flight and yardage?
I’d stick with the Ironwood DC not the Ironwood utility. I play the DC’s and the ball flight is more penetrating. The Utility seems to upshoot more. I think the Nickent Ironwood DC’s are the best on the market and I’ve tried them all.
Good clubs, better than most, but cheap grip and headcover did not put it on top of my list. Assembled in China. How great a quality can that really be?
Good review, I agree that these are solid hybrids. I replaced my 4 iron with the 23* version of the original 3DX Ironwood and I really liked the extra distance, directional control, and shot height that club has given me. I prefer it over the Callaway Heavenwood that replaced my 3 iron, as it is far easier to hit in my opinion. I swapped out my 5 iron late last year for the newer DC version in 26* and have enjoyed that club as well. I had to replace that green headcover with one of the silver headcovers from the earlier version however, horribly ugly headcovers those green things. I agree with JD on the cheap grip too, upgrade the grips and replace the headcover!
These are great clubs. I am preparing to take my P.A.T and I wanted something that I was more consitent with and confident with on pressure holes. I have the 1- 4 hybrid which I use to replace my long irons and fairway woods. I feel good because now I have the consistency I was searching for. Please change the grips I found them lacking a bit. These clubs may be older but I will play them until I find them lacking in the technology department. I was a guy that swore by the long irons until I hit these and saw the increase in distance and consitency. Its nice to have something you know will go down the fairway everytime. Good luck to all and do yourself a favor and get one.
I think Nickent makes the best looking hybrid’s out there. That said, it also says something about the quality of Nickent when it’s rapidly becoming one of the more popular hybrids on the PGA Tour.
Golf Drivers
I agree with the review. Grips are bad, but other than that great club. After messing around on the driving range with the hybrid, I also noticed the pull hook affect from swinging too hard. If asked I would recommend this club. The forgiveness is nice.
I replaced my offset 3, 5 & 7 Cobra LD fairway woods with the 1,2,3, & 4 3DX DC ironwoods. Although i hit them well, the offset was beginning to give me a few issues. Originally, I bought the offsets due to a major left erist injury followed by 4 surgeries to repair. Now, some ten years later, my wrist is stronger so i do not think i need the offset anymore.
I am extremely pleased with the results. Straight down the fairway…..last week I measured my #2 for a terrific 216 yards!
I just bought a 3DX as my first foray into the hybrid market. I’d looked around a fairbit for quite a while. Although I just reverted back to my old faithful titleist 990 irons (2-pw) that I hit great from Mizuno’s that I honestly didn’t hit that great, I decided it was time to buy one and decide whether I wanted to use it or my 2-iron which I still hit great. Results so far have been awesome. I bought the 20 degree which I hit about the same as my 2iron (250ish, i thought originally that the 20 degree would replace a 3iron, but it goes alot further, i only hit a 3 like 220). It hits it alot higher so I’ll try and work on keeping it down or throw the old faithful 2 iron in the bag on windy days. No complaints at all. I’m a feel player with a scratch or +1/+2 handicap give or take on the time of year and I like to work the ball. Anybody that says they can’t work the ball cause of MOI I give a stink eye too cause it’s just dumb, they’re not Tiger and they’re not that good haha. The hybrid is great and beautiful. I looked at the new 2009 titleists which if you like a clean look are the only competition for the 3DX, but they cost a bunch and at the end of the day, its a hybrid, not a wedge. I have a bunch of cleveland and titleist wedges, titleist woods and titleists and mizuno irons so i do believe in quality players clubs, but this is an exception. its a great club, with clean looks and plays great. Anybody looking to save some money and get a great club for cheap, this is the one to buy. Stay away from callaway or taylormade or nike, they’ re junk. Titleist is nice looking but you have to pay for it, and for a cpuple strokes or so a round, I can’t justify it; maybe you can. They way I look at it, if you’re buying a hybrid you’re buying it to hit it straight, not long. If you wanted to hit it long you’d hit a 3wood or driver. So grab a 20 degree 3DX, hit it long, hit it straight and make a couple more pars instead of scrambling for bogies or making doubles.
All the folks in the foregoing review commentaries are really, really on the mark.
I hit the 3H (Alida shaft) off the tee for consistently straight shots of 230yd or more. I use the 4H (UST shaft) and get about 200yd.
Accordingly, I’ve basically taken out my Sasquatch Sumo (Diamara shaft, stiff) 4 and 7 woods. The hybrids replace them.
In addition, if you have a steep swing, this club could be for you since the lie angle is not as steep as others, IMHO.
Check out these clubs while available. They’re a deal! 🙂
I recently bought a new 3dx dc 4 hybrid from a man at the flea market. i play highschool golf and ive been looking for a hybrid to replace my 4 iron. Ive been swinging this club for a couple months and i absolutely love it. When i swing it smooth it flies completely straight and a lil over 200 yards which is what ive been looking for. It looks great and isnt that hard to hit. The grip is already started to shred though im about to replace it but other than that its a great club. Im glad i bought the club it was well worth the money.
My less than 2 month old 3DX RC irons began falling apart. My 7 iron head came off first on August 11th. Sent it back to Nickent for repair. August 20th, my Pitching wedge head came off. Not snapping off, but the shaft pulled apart between the hosel and flange, just like my 7 iron. Nickent tells me to send my P-5 irons back so they can reshaft. What am I to do in the mean time, just wait for my clubs to come back they tell me. They also told me my 7 irons would be back to my by August 19th, this is August 25th, I have yet to get it back!!!!
My clubs are men’s right hand with standard flex graphite shaft. One of the managers admitted to me that they had an entire bad batch of these clubs that were made overseas. They seem quite laid back about the entire ordeal considering that it is their product quality that is deplorable. They refused to send me new clubs, even after the KNEW FOR A FACT that my clubs were on their way back to them via Golfsmith. Told me I had to wait until the fixed my original clubs however long that will be!
I have a clubhead speed of 114mph, moderate to quick tempo. I purchased the 2+ (15.5*) with the Nippon steel shaft. I got this combination because I play lower lofted clubs (8.5* driver (290-300), 13* 3w (270-280), Ping S59 irons, 54* and 60* wedges) and use a higher spinning, higher trajectory ball (Nike Tour) for workability and spin into and around the greens. I expected to get slightly less distance with this loft/shaft combo (as compared to what a normal 15*/graphite-shafted 3w would get) because of the shorter length of the club and the fact that its steel; basically I wanted to replace my 17* Hogan CFT, which I hit 250. This thing is unbelievable! Fits perfectly into my bag, from 230-260. Mid-high trajectory with soft landings into greens and plenty of carry/rollout off the tee. I use this off the tee on par 4’s under 450, and on 2nd shots into par 5’s when a 3w is too much. The control is amazing. I’ve tried just about all of the other hybrids out there, and this is hands down the best for me. I’m more of a feel player and work the ball one way or another on 99% of my shots, so when I need to hit a cut, I swing at about 80% and the ball falls softly into the green. I swing at 95% and setup with a slightly open clubface when I want to hit a draw and it works out perfectly. My biggest problem with other hybrids has been the dreaded pull hook, but this club has all but eliminated that (with good swings). And the best thing is…I grabbed it NEW for a mere $40 on clearance at Dick’s Sporting goods! Recommended 100%!!
Very good review. I have been using cobra DWS hybrids for a couple of years and dropped my handicap with them to a12. On a whim bought a Nickent 3 DX Ironwood DC , getting a 2+ , 17 .5 degrees.
Absolutely adored it , so much so that I did something I thought I never would , taking the Cobras out of my bag and replacing them now with a 3, 4, 5 all from Nickent.
Handicap is now at 8 and I cannot recommend these clubs enough . Have to also say they are in my opinion a far better product than the most recent hybrid derivatives that nickent has produced.
My Nickent 3DX Hybrids (3 and 4) are 5 years old and still in the bag. Too bad Nickent is out of business, these are outstanding clubs and you can find them at a bargain online.
No matter how hard I try or as hard as I hit it,. I can not get more than 130 yds. from this club. I’ve even tried different balls. Worked with it in the range and the course. What am I doing wrong? I really try my best with it. Roy
I started using Nickent hybrids a couple of years ago. I was a holdout / traditionalist who had stuck with long irons rather than hybrids. After assembling and then hitting the 2 hybrid first, then assembling a 3 and 4 hybrid, I realized how much playability I had been sacrificing with some of my existing clubs. The 2 hybrid hits the ball farther than my 5 wood so the 5 wood came out of my bag. The 3 hybrid hits the ball slightly farther than my 3 iron so I back off a little when I need the same distance as a 3 iron and have slightly more distance available when I need it. The 4 hybrid actually hits the ball a little too high so I with I had left the shaft in my 1 iron which I used only for practice since there is so little call for it on the course.