Am I the only one who still uses a

[mountaineer maniac0823]

I really appreciate all the good info yall have given me, I think im going to head to the local golf store and hit some in the simulator just to get an idea of how they feel and all. Again thanks everyone.

[Shindig]

holy cow! ive never heard anyone say that (not sayin they didnt). whoever said that is just ridiculous. nothing longer than a 6 iron??? puhleeez!

I'm not 100% sure where this came from, but I think Zach Johnson was asked about the strategy the amateur should take for the GD Challenge at Torrey, and I think he suggested that the amateur use nothing longer than a 5-iron. I could be way off. If I'm right, I think his comment was more what an amateur trying to break 100

at a US Open setup should do, not what amateurs should do always. The other origin could have been Dana Quigley, who in his "my shot" article in GD a while back mentioned the number of hybrids he has (I think his irons start at 7 or 8) and wondered why amateurs don't use them. And then, of course, there's the "Tiger uses knock-off Cleveland Hi-Bore irons" sarcasm that pops up now and then. Some pros have interesting bag makeups. At the Mercedes last year (2008), I think Byrd put a 2-iron into play one round, used it once, and hit the ball rather fat. I think the decision had something to do with the wind, and I could have the details wrong. This spawned a discussion - I think on XM - a few tournaments later about which pros start their irons where. There was some discussion of Furyk's missing 4-iron (he carries 3 and 5, with slight loft changes), some professionals using SGI for long irons, others carrying a large number of hybrids. Implicit (and sometimes explicit) in it is "if most of the best players aren't carrying long irons, why are you?"

[Laxplayer201092]

In my case, it was Brandt Snedeker, in a "whats in the bag" article who said it, but it has been echoed many times by others.

But it comes down to what you can hit.. i played a guy once whose longest iron was a 7.. 6h 5h 4h 3h 2h. 3 wood driver. That guy gave me the best run for me and my 2-PW irons. Its whatever works for you..no pro can tell you what you should and should not do..

Personally, i dont hit my 2 hybrid all that much higher than my 2 iron, (were talkin 5 feet here..) because i get enough clubhead speed to get it up in the air so that it can get some distance on it..my 2H really doesnt stop all that much quicker than my 2 iron.. the hybrid might land, release 8 feet, and the iron may release 12 feet, not a big deal for me personally.

For me, the 2 iron fits my eye, and fits my game well, so i carry one. if it doesnt fit you very well, i cant imagine your losing anything by not having one.

Off to school! :(

Brian

[ScruffyScraper]

Two irons are are getting rare, but not anymore rare than the old fashioned oval faced sand iron. And I still play one of those. Couldn't do without it.

In the end, we're allowed thirteen conforming clubs plus a putter which has separate requirements. That's any thirteen, so the trick is to maximize the effectiveness of your set configuration for yourself.

[Paradigm]

I don't use a 2I, but I have recently used a 10 iron (yes, I actually have one. Never seen another one).

[golferman]

I don't use a 2I, but I have recently used a 10 iron (yes, I actually have one. Never seen another one).

On Big berthas? Thats the same as a p wedge...just with a 10 instead of p.

[ks8829]

Did Tiger take out the 2 iron and put a 5 wood in his bag? He did just turn 33 if I am not mistaken.

I think if you can hit a 2 iron up in the air and landed it softly on a green why not, I can't and hit a hybrid.

[MI Rob]

I replaced my 2-iron with a 2-hybrid last month. I am able to hit it much more consistantly.

[Shindig]

Did Tiger take out the 2 iron and put a 5 wood in his bag? He did just turn 33 if I am not mistaken.

He has a 5-wood sometimes and a 2-iron sometimes. It depends on the course and the weather, I think.

[mountaineer maniac0823]

Thanks again for all the replies but since im not real familiar with the clubs, do yall suggest steel shafts for them or graphite shafts or is this just a feeling opinion?

[RocketSauce]

I don't use a 2I, but I have recently used a 10 iron (yes, I actually have one. Never seen another one).

i had a 10 iron with a set of Yonex irons i used to have as well as an old set of Powerbilt blades i played back in the early 80's....

[PiKapp23]

Thanks again for all the replies but since im not real familiar with the clubs, do yall suggest steel shafts for them or graphite shafts or is this just a feeling opinion?

It's definitely a feel thing, but there are upsides and downsides to both. I have 3 hybrids - 2 with graphite (4H & 5H) and 1 with steel (2H). I have the steel in the 2 because this is my alternative driver and I like the extra control I feel I have with steel (I feel like I can swing as hard as I like with this club). It probably would get a bit more distance with graphite, but I feel like I'm more in control and the flight is a little lower, which is what I want for that club. I have graphite in the other 2 hybrids because I think the trajectory is higher (thus landing softer) and I do not have to swing as hard. I use these clubs primarily for approach shots and I want them to stop when they hit the green, so I like the high trajectory.

With that said, you kind of need to decide what you want the clubs for and what you like the feel of the best. I don't know how much different steel and graphite truly are in those clubs, but I like the configuration I have with them (I also carry a 3 wood with steel for same reason as 2H).

[pshizz]

Can you hit your 2-iron 235 yards.... from a nested lie in 3-inch rough.... and hold the green? If so, no you are not missing out on anything. If not, then yes, it could be suggested that you are missing out on something.

why would you be trying to do this though? Honestly, i cannot find a situation on the course where i am presented with this problem. If its on a par 5, then you could always lay up. 2 irons are great because they offer more control to people who can hit them, and have the ss to get good height on them.

[GaijinGolfer]

If you hit your 2-iron well, theres nothing wrong with carrying one. Hybrids typically have more loft and will hold the green better, but 2-irons work better on windy days because the keep the ball lower.
In the end, its all in what works for you. You should at least try out a hybrid just to be sure, but dont ever let anyone tell you what clubs you should be hitting. Youre the one who has to stand over the ball and hit the shot, so its all in what works for you.

[Blades4me]

Am I the only one who still uses a 2 Iron?? I hear a lot of people talking about hybrids and whatnot. Am I missing out on a lot here by choosing to still hit a 2 iron??

LOL. I have a set of irons 1-pw and I play them. I can get 210-215 out of the 2i pretty consistantly, but the 1i is hard to generate consistant distances with, but I still really like to play it. There are still some of us out here. With that said, if you like irons like I do, go and try the Bridgestone Air Muscle. Its a hybird iron, as in iron club head design thats a hybrid that comes in a 2 & 3 iron. These babies are great; I like them better than a regular hybird, and if you can hit your long irons well these guys will be "budda". Play well.

[Blades4me]

Thanks again for all the replies but since im not real familiar with the clubs, do yall suggest steel shafts for them or graphite shafts or is this just a feeling opinion?

Basic rule of thumb: for distance, graphite; for accuracy, steel. Personally I use graphite shafts in all of my hybrids and I spine all of my shafts before they go into the club head.

[TommyD69]

When I got my Titleist Tour models, they came with a 1 iron and 3 iron thru SW. The 1 iron was a driving iron, never intended to be hit out of the ruff.

I have since got , and retired my 2 iron, and now my 3 iron is in the closet with the 1 and 2.

Nicklaus said recently that he does not like the hybrids because "they are made to hit the ball straight", he wants to be able to control his shorts, and he also feels he can "do more" with a 1 or 2 iron, than he can with a hybrid.

Get a hybrid that fits you AND the rest of your set.

Consistency in shaft material, club length, and weight is really important, along with loft. You don't want your 2 hybrid to have the same loft as your 3 iron.

There is a lot of variety out there, and the "search" can be fun. I personally love my Cleveland hybrids, they to me setup best with NOT a lot of offset.

Good luck, and have fun!

[Smallville]

I wish I could use a 2-iron . . . I don't even hit a 4-iron any more!