Iron Vs Hybrid

[scrilla]

Hey guys, I'm very new to golf but have started playing and have become absolutley addicted. I recently bought a set of TaylorMade R7 irons from my friend, because he just got new clubs. He suggested replacing the 3 and 4 with hybrids because "they are easier to hit". Can someone explain why they are easier, or friendlier and why long irons are difficult to hit? I played yesterday and didn't hit below the 5 iron (which I was actually hitting quite well), so I don't really know how I hit the 3 or the 4 as of now.

Thanks

[BostonBrew]

My first bit of advice would be to learn to hit the long irons. There is no need to fear them. With that said, here is a video of Mark Crossfield explaining the difference, pros, and cons of the two.

[mdl]

I'd say a lot of it is personal preference.  As I've gotten better I've fallen in love with my 3i, and on shorter par 4s (< 400 yards) where the safest landing zone isn't strongly dictated by the layout (ie, the fairway's not way thinner in one zone, and you don't have to land at a specific distance to take all the fairway bunkers out of play, etc.), the 3i is my favorite tee club on many days.

That said, course type plays a role too, like was said at the end of the video above.  In SoCal I tend to play a lot of course with relatively dry, hard fairways, and with the lower launch for the 3i on some days I'll get an extra 20-30 yards of roll out of that.  I play my 3i to carry into a green 210-215, some days less and some more, depending on humidity, heat, etc.  But lots of days when my 3i is carrying 215 I can get 240+ total yards off the tee cause it comes in low to the hard fairway and gets tons of roll.  OTOH, I generally play my 2h (18˚ TourEdge) to carry 220-225, but I'll rarely get that to roll out as much as the 3i.

Lastly, as is pretty typical I think, I tend to be better with either driver/woods or irons and not as good with the other on any given day.  My hybrid is sort of in between, but tends to go more with how I'm playing the woods.  So I like having the length of the 3i as an option off the tee on days when I'm hitting my irons better than my longer clubs.

[arturo28mx]

I cannot hit hybrids well and I don't have time to practice more. So my set includes a 3i and 4i. I can hit the 4i quite well. No problem there.  And once in a while I hit great shots with the 3i. I'm sure with time  I'll learn to hit it better.

If I could hit both irons and hybrids well I would still prefer the irons. Why? I love the sound irons make on a well hit ball. Hybrids produce a metallic  sound I don't like.

[Jodastra]

well it is like everything. I started hitting 3 & 4 hybrids 7 years ago. I couldn't hit fairway woods, especially out of a rough. My 3 & 4 irons did not do so hot either. Originally hybrids were in the "rescue/utility" family of clubs..I guess that is what got my attention, and they have moved on to be just hybrids. I would however recommend that you try before you buy when looking at hybrids. I also suggest you hit them off the turf instead of the mat. I am on my 5th set now and I have had a couple that performed well off the mat, not so good in the fairway. They come in all varieties now also, big head, little head and cavity backed. I am not certain but a lot of manufacturers now offer a Utility iron from 18* to 25* that may be more forging than a standard iron...but they are new so you will have to shell out some bucks.

[Kletus]

I've played a 3 and 4 hybrid for years and found that I was more consistent with them than irons.   Last year when I got new clubs I dropped the 5 iron and switched that to hybrid as well.

I feel like by using the hybrids I lose a little bit in the following areas:

1.  My 3 hybrid will launch the ball higher off the tee... so while it's a decent tee club... a 3 iron is probably better when you want a low roller.

2.  When in low punch situations the hybrid again wants to launch the ball higher by design.  It can be harder to keep that low punch under tree limbs etc when using the hybrid.

Benefits to hybrids for ME:

1.  I'm much more consistent off of fairway lies with the hybrids.

2.  I hit the hybrids a little farther.... could be good or bad depending on what you need.

3.  I LOVE to putt from off the fringe and off the green with my 4 hybrid.   I've even used my 4 hybrid on super long putts when on the green so that I don't have to make a super exaggerated putter stroke.

If you move to hybrids I suggest that you keep them all the same brand and type.   Over the years I had created a collection of different hybrids... so each of my 3-5 hybrid was a different brand and swing weight.  Now that I've consolidated all 3 hybrids into the same type (Cobra Baffler) I've found that I am much more consistent with them.

[joekelly]

Hmm?  Putting with a hybrid seems outlandish, but not without merit. Those really long putts, up the slope and across the valley could use the loft and length of the hybrid. For me, since i putt from the opposite side, i would need more practice.  Practice greens here not big enough.

[BuckeyeNut]

On hitting hybrids........there are many variables to consider.  Playing the correct shaft is one of them.

With that said:

The offset varies greatly between different brands and models.  Some have lots of offset, and some have virtually none......  If you are struggling, it may be due to playing a club with an offset that doesn't match your swing.  I learned this from experience...

For me, I recently learned that I need a hybrid with offset.   I learned this by playing R11s (3&4-rescue). These had very little offset, and I always struggled to flight my ball down the intended line.  I fought these clubs for nearly 1yr!!  The ball flight didn't match the rest of my clubs.  I was bullheaded and kept telling myself that I'm a pretty good golfer and I can learn to hit them.  The Reality........ I was playing the wrong hybrids for me.

Now I play a different style hybrid with offset and I confidently launch the ball down the intended line with the ball flight I expect.  For what it's worth...I only carry a single hybrid now......a 4-Rescue.   I opted away from a 3i-Rescue and added a 5wood instead.  2013 is the first year I have carried a 5-wood since the mid-late 1990s, and I love it!!  Since making the change, I've never played better golf in club/range between 5i-3W..........

Now if only I can fix the rest of my game...LOL

[mvarley84]

I tried hybrids a couple years ago...didn't like them. Mind you, I have never been able to hit fairway woods off the turf either. My 3i plays on average 220 yards. I have never felt the need to fix what aint broke yet.

[scrilla]

Ok, thanks fro all the responses guys! I'm going to go play either today or tomorrow and test my 3i and 4i out. If I'm really stuggling to hit them I'll probably try out a hybrid. And I tend to agree with

• arturo28mx the sound and feel of a nice iron shot is pretty satisfying.

  Also BuckeyeNut, what do you mean by "offset"? (sorry I'm really new to golf and still learning)