A couple questions on distances and long irons....

[Tex]

Currently a 15.5 handicap, here are my club distances, as best I can tell, on purely struck shots:

Driver - 270
3W - 250
3 hyb (21) - 215
3 iron - 210? (I NEVER hit it...I'll choke down on my 3H before I'll swing a 3I)
4 iron - 195
5 iron - 185
6 iron - 175
7 iron - 165
8 iron - 150
9 iron - 135
PW - 120
52 - 105
56 - 90

A couple questions:
1. Note the increments between clubs on the short irons vs. long irons. Is this a normal progression down through the list or am I getting too bunched up on my long irons?

2. Do you think a 4 and 5 hybrid would be a suitable replacement (distance wise) for my 3 and 4 irons? I think it would greatly improve my confidence if I could replace those two clubs.

I'm sure the last question has been asked a million times on here, but I'm new, so any advice is appreciated.

[saevel25]

Go get your clubs fitted, if you did, then they did a poor job. The main thing about getting fitted is to get the maximum distance, maximum playbility, and to make sure the gaps are the same.

My irons are as follows,

3i: 226
4i: 213
5i: 200
6i: 187
7i: 174
8i: 161
9i: 147
PW: 134

Almost all my irons are 13-14 yards gaps, give or take a yard. to go from 15 yards than only get 10 yards difference is an issue. You might want to see if those clubs are fitted right with regards to loft and club length.

[sean_miller]

Go get your clubs fitted, if you did, then they did a poor job. The main thing about getting fitted is to get the maximum distance, maximum playbility, and to make sure the gaps are the same.

What are you talking about? The OP has decent yardage gaps, but doesn't feel confident with hit mid-long irons. Sounds like he needs more practice and a lesson or two to boost his confidence. 12-15 yard gaps on short irons is a blessing - fewer wedges to put in the bag. If anything I'd say he might need a 5 wood rather than a 3-hybrid.

[double_j]

Your range looks OK - it's possible that your yardage estimates are just a bit off. This happens all the time, especially if (like me), you generally figure out your yardages by referencing the on course yardage markers. I just establish a range of usability for each club and as long as I have overlaps I feel OK. The club that I pull for each shot will depend on whether it's better to be long or short, uphill/downhill, etc. and how hard I want to swing.

Given your yardage estimates, I'd guess that your club ranges are very similar to mine (all estimates are off the turf, add 5 yards if off the tee). If you take the average of each range, that's what I'd call my yardage with each club. All else equal, I generally prefer to take more club than I need provided that a pure hit won't get me into trouble.

3 wood (225 to 245)
19 degree hybrid (200 to 210, yes I could stand to carry a 5 wood but I don't encounter this gap very often)
3 iron (190 to 205)
4 iron (175 to 195)
5 iron (165 to 180)
6 iron (155 to 170)
7 iron (145 to 160)
8 iron (135 to 150)
9 iron (120 to 140)
PW (105 to 125)
52 (50 to 110)
56 (50-90)

The wide gap in the wedges and 9 iron just means that I like to use 3/4 or 1/2 shots quite often from 120 and in depending on how much spin I want on the ball, etc. and I usually do not like to hit wedges to 100% of their maximum distances.