3-Iron or Gap Wedge?

[2ironfrenzy]

My 3Iron is 19*, so I dropped it for the 5wood, unless I know i am playing a course where I will need my 3 iron for a par 3 or 2nd on a par 5. Love the feel of a pure 3-iron, but the 5wood is so amazingly consistent.  My Lob wedge is a lifesaver, I have lobbed over ponds, trees, high traps etc etc. I have even stuck one 3 feet from the pin from the deep woods. The lob wedge is an invaluable club in the arsenal of someone who knows how to use it. not to mention having a go to 75 yard club is pretty nice too.

[tomvk77]

I carry both.

3 iron is a score saver when struggling with the woods.

I have a 46 deg Pitching Wedge 52 Gapwedge and 58 sandwedge

this works for me.

[Spyder]

It depends on your playing style. I am a longer hitter, so I prefer to play with 4 wedges since I really can't justify a 3i and I am rarely in a position to need one (I use my 4i maybe once a round).

If you're longer in distance, 4 wedges may provide you with more flexibility, options and comfort in your round. I personally have a PW, GW, SW and LW (43°, 49°, 54° and 58°).

[SamGray]

I have a very similar setup except i have a hybrid rather than a 5 wood. Just skip the 5 iron! Thats what i do and it works great

[WUTiger]

To maximize your wedges, take a rangefinder and chart the distances of your wedges. When you do this, use the ball you play on the course - it likely goes farther than range balls.

Try quarter, half and 3/4 swing with each wedge. See where the distance gaps fall between wedges for each type of swing.

Another thing to consider: The standard shaft length change up and down your set of numbered irons is 1/2". For wedges, this often drops to 1/4" or occasionally 1/8". Clubfitters use rough measurements that + 1/2" shaft and + 4* loft = 10 more yards of distance (its greater for stronger swingers, less for softer swingers). So, if your wedges from same model are only 1/4" apart in shaft length, you may get less than 10 yds. distance difference. As long as you know this, it's OK and you can adjust.

The 1/4" shaft length difference may be why several TST posters have 6* loft differences between their wedges - to balance out the yardage.

[Stuffs]

More options around the green always works better than more options you'll face once in while.

Its a lot easier to take some off your 5w or hybrid, as well as it doesn't need to be as precise as short approach shots.  Because 5w and 2H have a much more relieved heel, its much easier to open the face to cut a high fade to mimic your 3 iron distance.  I leave out the 3 iron and play a 18* hybrid.  And if you have shots into the wind, hitting a low 4 iron or low hybrid isn't too hard to practice for.  And ofcourse, if you play a course that have certain holes which really favors the 3 iron for your style of play, you can always stick the 3i back in and take out anything from within the rest of your long/mid irons or even the 3wood to fit that specific course.

[Spyder]

Originally Posted by Stuffs

More options around the green always works better than more options you'll face once in while.

Its a lot easier to take some off your 5w or hybrid, as well as it doesn't need to be as precise as short approach shots.  Because 5w and 2H have a much more relieved heel, its much easier to open the face to cut a high fade to mimic your 3 iron distance.  I leave out the 3 iron and play a 18* hybrid.  And if you have shots into the wind, hitting a low 4 iron or low hybrid isn't too hard to practice for.  And ofcourse, if you play a course that have certain holes which really favors the 3 iron for your style of play, you can always stick the 3i back in and take out anything from within the rest of your long/mid irons or even the 3wood to fit that specific course.

I understand what you are saying here but in reality, since your ball is traveling a much longer distance, a few degrees of "mishit/misdirection" will result in a much worse shot than a shorter shot will. I think you may have that backwards.

I am also a 4 wedge player though and really only recall once this whole season (nearly 30 rounds played already) where I needed a 3i and was forced to play a strong/risky 4i.

[Stuffs]

Originally Posted by Spyder

I understand what you are saying here but in reality, since your ball is traveling a much longer distance, a few degrees of "mishit/misdirection" will result in a much worse shot than a shorter shot will. I think you may have that backwards.

I am also a 4 wedge player though and really only recall once this whole season (nearly 30 rounds played already) where I needed a 3i and was forced to play a strong/risky 4i.

That is true, but what I was referring to as options are chips and approaches, not so much on full wedge shots.  More options in terms of trajectory, simplifying having to hit 3/4 and 1/2 swings to just one "take something off it swing",  as well as chip to roll ratios.

Lets just say that if I take a 3 iron and hit it right 20yds into a bunker, I'd be bummed but not as bummed as leaving a 75yd approach short or long just 7 yds because that is when precision matters (atleast to me) the most to really get it close for a one putt.

So in the case of leaving a 3 iron in or not.  Mishitting a 3 iron 20yds to the right or mishitting a 5 wood 25-30yds, either way, I'm looking at the same scenario of getting up and down.  So those two options are almost the same should I mishit it.  But being forced to chip knowing if I dont' take just 1-2 yard off the carry, I'll be rolling past the hole, ..that's tough.  Thats what gives me the yips more than a long iron approach.