To 2/3 iron or not....that is the question.

[Tat14]

Haven't owned a 3I since three sets ago.

That all changes tomorrow when my "new" Eye 2's show up (hope that one dude doesn't see this...)

Of course, this 3I will be 21.5* loft.

[trickyputt]

I picked up a taylormade udi #3 which I think is more accurate but a bit shorter than the 4h it replaced. Really what I need to admit to myself is that my long irons are gonna get new shafts that are job specific, and they are probably, actually gonna be hybrid shafts and come out a bit longer than a metal shaft. The kbs c-taper lite shaft that is in the udi has been impressing the idea of club design into my mid game. My long irons need some action, and elevation, and though I like high bend shafts in the wedges and really even through the 6, I am feeling that irresistable pull to build a set with the 3,4,5 set up as hot swinging clubs that dont follow the idea of a higher bounce, divot mastering, ball digging iron or wedge, although they could be used for that purpose from time to time. I have a set of aldila low torque hybrid shafts that may do it, but I may just check out some c-taper lite Iron shafts, dependant on the weighting. The regular c-taper is a high bend low flight type design, where the lites are just the opposite, mid high type design. Why they named them similiarly is really confusing, but for those long irons I am gonna bias everything toward a high flight design. I am not done with the udi clubs yet though. I want to grab a #1 and bend it back to a 17 and check it out. How shafts behave in long irons is so different than in short irons that I think getting off the one shaft bandwagon is gonna help my long iron game.

[gmc1950s]

All good advice, but if you want the brutal truth you can find it yourself in 10 min.

At the range and after warm-up, hit ten shots with your 3 or 4 iron and give yourself 10 points for every solid shot.

Now hit ten shots with lets say a 7 or 9 wood, giving yourself the same 10 points for every solid shot.

My guess is by the time you get to your fifth wood shot you'll have your answer. If I took the test myself (and I have)

I would mishit almost all long iron shots to some degree or other but almost all the wood shots will be fairly solid.

[danL]

I used to really struggle with long irons but the 3i and 4i from my Mizuno MP H4 is crazy easy to hit! Even for a higher handicap.

[gmc1950s]

danL

You are correct and I have a closet full of them to prove it...........well not a closet full but I think I have three. They were easier  than the regular clubs but the older I got the easier it was to hit 7 9 11 woods.

[DrvFrShow]

I'm more confident with a 3H.

[gmc1950s]

Yeah lots of people agree with you.. I just never really cared for the looks of them. But if my life depended on it I'll leave the iron at home and borrow your hybrid...............if you  don't mind!!!!!

[onthehunt526]

Two points: 1) Why are you going to 3 or 2 iron instead of a comparable hybrid? Those irons are really hard to hit, much less hit consistently. Hybrids are much easier to hit. Since you're talking about a water carry, consistency seems to be of paramount importance. 2) None of your friends carry 3 or 2 irons for a reason. See point # 1. If you don't care about the $40 bucks, then sure, but in a bubble, it doesn't make sense. As a general rule of thumb, irons below a 5 iron are really best suited for fairly low handicappers. You're better off either working on your 5w or going with a hybrid club.

I actually own a 1, 2, and 3 iron and hit them well... But... 1) They are a part of my Tour Edge V-Blade set (1-PW) that isn't in the bag anymore. 2) I'm trying to get more versatility... Finally, I've upgraded to newer equipment... If you wanted to put the matching RBZ 3-iron in you have to ask yourself a question: How often are you actually going to use that 3-iron? Basically what I would honestly do is dump the 5w and get a 2/3-hybrid or dump the 3w and 5w, get a 4w and 3h then you wouldn't have a need to drop your gap wedge...

[mpb1472]

There are so many styles of 3 hybrids out there that I think you should sort through. Certainly, one of them will be easier to hit consistently well than a 3 iron. There are some more iron-like and some more wood-like, whichever you prefer. I like to hit an old 2 iron I have but it is not as forgiving and versatile as a hybrid so it's in the garage. Good luck.

[DrvFrShow]

15.1 HC? I'd look at last year's Cobra BioCell hybrids. They're around $99 right now. Grab a 3-4H in whatever color you like. I have mine set for 19*. Mark Crossfield gave them a great review.

[onthehunt526]

Haven't owned a 3I since three sets ago. That all changes tomorrow when my "new" Eye 2's show up (hope that one dude doesn't see this...) Of course, this 3I will be 21.5* loft.

Eye2 or Eye2+? Both 3 irons had the same loft, the 1, 2, and 3 irons for that matter... The difference is there are 3.5° gaps from 3 to 4, 4 to 5 and 5 to 6 in the Original Eye2 irons, before picking up 4° gaps from 6-8 iron, then a 5° gap to the 9 iron and 5.5° to the Wedge... The Eye2+ irons 3-5 were 3° gaps, then 3.5° to the 6, 4° to the 7 then 4.5° from 7-SW. That's why I asked if they were Eye2 or Eye2+... it's off topic but I'm gonna use it for the point I'm getting to, so send me a PM... The VCOG on most of the newer irons is so Damn low and back, that the loft of the SGI and UGI Irons have gotten much stronger... So that's why the 17° 3-iron in the RBZ line vs. 21.5° 3-iron in both Eye2 lines... Here's my point, if you the OP opted for a 4-hybrid (which with the RBZ line is basically and old 3-iron), why would you even consider a club you'd only maybe use a couple times a year? I'd get the RBZ 3-hybrid and be done with it... and dump the 5-wood, the GW is more important

[anthony]

I used to really struggle with long irons but the 3i and 4i from my Mizuno MP H4 is crazy easy to hit! Even for a higher handicap.

Agree totally. There are a few options available out there currently. Mizuno MP-H4/H5, Titleist 712U, and the Callaway X Utility iron.

I've actually just got a complete set of H4's, because I liked the 3 iron I've been playing so much. I think there is definitely a growing market for the hybrid iron, that feels like an actual iron. I could never get on with hybrids, but absolutely loved the H4 3 iron from day one. Can't recommend them enough.