Tired of People Hating on the 3-iron

[TourSpoon]

A well struck 3i is one of the most satisfying shots in golf.

This is how I felt about my two iron. Nothing like puring a 2 iron down a tight fairway, but I recently went hybrid. For a recent scramble I pulled the 3 and added a gap wedge and then played 2 rounds without the 3. I almost felt naked. Luckily I didn't need it but I did hit the gapper a couple of times. If I know that it will be windy and there is a par 3, I will put it in the bag.

[powerfade]

Agreed.

I guess we're all entitled to our opinions, after all they're a lot like armpits...everyone has 'em and they all stink

Actually, you are right...it does take proper technique to hit any long iron. I can probably only hit a decent 3-iron once for every five times I hit the hybrid. Like the metal woods and cavity back irons, these manufacturers keep coming up with ways to make the game easier. Shame on us for buying this stuff. I admit that the hybrid has allowed me to spend more time developing my short game instead of worrying so much about the long game. I haven't completely abandoned the 3 iron. I'm going to order Ping I10's soon and will be ordering 3-PW. I'll put the 3 iron in the bag on those particularly windy days.

[RichF]

I guess we're all entitled to our opinions, after all they're a lot like armpits...everyone has 'em and they all stink

Strange - I now find I use my 3-Iron quite a lot as originally, I couldn't it it to save my life: kept shanking tee-shot after tee-shot. Then my golf-pro pointed out 3 major flaws and I've worked on them solidly for the last 2 months.

At no point did I say, " Bah. I can't hit with this club....I'm going hybrid!" Also, it's quite a common trap to say, "I'm a golfing traditionalist - I won't use any hybrids or cavity-backs", only for someone to counter with, "so why are you using a 460cc driver?" . Thing is, if you want a brand new driver of decent quality, 460cc is pretty much all there is on the marketplace.

[Stuart]

I use both, depending on what I'm in the mood for. The hybrid is easier, but the 3i is a lot more satisfying to me. I'm thinking of getting a 2i just to be able to have the option like i do with my 3i.

[RichF]

I use both, depending on what I'm in the mood for. The hybrid is easier, but the 3i is a lot more satisfying to me. I'm thinking of getting a 2i just to be able to have the option like i do with my 3i.

The 2-Iron 'Stinger'!

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

Interesting topic and good points. Funny, last year I pulled my 3 iron in favor of a hybrid and it's strange because I now hit my long irons (3 & 4) probably better than I ever have. I carry a 20 degree Cobra Baffler now and it sort of covers my 3 iron, 5 wood range and allows me to carry the extra wedge. In general though, and I've said this in other threads, I haven't had a ton of success with the hybrid. It is not the automatic club everyone makes it out to be. I miss hit it just as much as my 3 and 4 irons. Still, I think the 3 iron is a very difficult club to hit for the average golfer and for them, switching to a hybrid I'm sure has been helpful. I recently switched from a Cleveland Halo to a Cobra Baffler and am hoping I hit that hybrid a little better. However, with that said I am flat out sick of reading articles that recommend we all put a handful of hybrids in the bag. Seriously, they are all over the place! Erik mentioned people saying the 5 iron should be the longest, well, I've read ridiculous articles suggesting the 6 or even 7 iron be the longest. Yep... pull your 3, 4, 5irons and get a bunch of hybrids. C'mon, give me a break. That's what I'm sick of hearing. I understand getting one utility club but more than that I'm not so sure. I mean, if you struggle hitting long irons maybe get a 3, 4 or even 5 iron with a bigger cavity back (mixed bag). While my 3 iron remains in storage (perhaps not a permanent move) I refuse to remove the 4. I just will not go lower than that!

[Elvisliveson]

I've always hit a 3 iron well and couldn't imagine life without it. I guess having to play blades growing up 25+ years ago was a good thing.

[RichF]

Erik mentioned people saying the 5 iron should be the longest,

That's what I mean by 'lazy' golfers or those just not wanting to learn how to hit a golf ball with a low-iron.

I mean, why not just kit your entire bag with hybrid-rescue-utilities/6-PW and be on your merry way? IMO, hybrids are for those who play maybe, 2-3 times a month and just like lowering their scores without actually learning the art of being able to hit a 3 or 4-iron correctly.

[TourSpoon]

OK, the three iron is back in the bag (after missing two rounds replaced by a gap wedge). I went to the range last night and hit it well. Then I practiced that knock-down wedge shot to cover the gap wedge distance. Now, if I can just talk myself into pulling the hybrid and putting the duece back in. Hmmmm.

[hawkeye]

Love the 3 iron, use it all the time off the tee. Don't use much off fairway - have a 19 degree rescue which does me for long approaches from tee and rough. Considering getting a 2-iron and leaving out the 3 (unless playing course with 3-iron distance par 3).

They're not for everyone, i'm not tired of people hating the 3 iron, i love standing up on the tee and hitting my 3-iron as far as their drives :p

[E.Hall]

I agree. Strange, but I have an easier time hitting a 3-iron than a hybrid.

[follyforhire]

I don't hit my 3-iron especially well, but it's more consistent for me than the hybrids with which I've tried to replace it. It's usually a pretty safe option off the tee on a par 3 or nasty par 4, and I find it to be more versatile than hybrids on trouble shots, i.e. punching out of or under something - happens more often than I'd like .

[Zakko]

I ditched the 3 iron in lieu of another wedge.

[wachesawgolfer]

Looking back through Wichon's book, "The search for the perfect golf club" and he discusses the changing specs of the golf club over the years. In the 1950s, the 5 iron was 37.5 inches long and 32 degrees of loft. Saw the Celebrity Golf reruns on the Golf Channel and Hogan hits a 5 iron from 150, the gold standard in the fifties for that distance. Today the 5 iron is approaching 24 loft and 38.5 inches. Guess what, that is a 3 iron of the 50s. Wichon points out, the rule of 24/38 which is the lowest loft and longest length iron a good golfer can hit well. 3 irons and 4s are gone because they are now too long to hit over the clubs of yesteryear. I think a set with a PW at 52 degrees loft made a lot of sense, gave you a 3 iron you could actually hit with a 38.5 length.

[jowlar]

I bought a hybrid to replace my 3 iron and quickly sold it on ebay. When the fairways get asphalt hard during an Alabama summer I often drop the 4 wood for my old 1 iron for tee shots.

[WilsonsRBest]

Looking back through Wichon's book, "The search for the perfect golf club" and he discusses the changing specs of the golf club over the years. In the 1950s, the 5 iron was 37.5 inches long and 32 degrees of loft. Saw the Celebrity Golf reruns on the Golf Channel and Hogan hits a 5 iron from 150, the gold standard in the fifties for that distance. Today the 5 iron is approaching 24 loft and 38.5 inches. Guess what, that is a 3 iron of the 50s. Wichon points out, the rule of 24/38 which is the lowest loft and longest length iron a good golfer can hit well. 3 irons and 4s are gone because they are now too long to hit over the clubs of yesteryear. I think a set with a PW at 52 degrees loft made a lot of sense, gave you a 3 iron you could actually hit with a 38.5 length.

Well said. After looking at the irons that many of you list in your signatures, the reason that so many of you hate your 3 iron is because many of you have what amounts to a 2 iron or even a 1 iron. Due to golf club marketing and player ego, manufacturers have been de-lofting golf clubs for years. Oh, yeah you really can hit that new PW 170 yards! They de-loft all of your clubs to make you believe you can hit them longer, which makes the longer irons virtually unplayable. Then they can sell you a hybrid and a 'gap' wedge. It's ridiculous really.

Just for reference, my 1967 set of Wilson Dyna-Powers (which I still play by the way) has a PW with 52 degrees of loft. Each iron drops 4 degrees and 1/2 inch from there. The new Wilson DI7's have a 43 degree PW! Are you kidding me!! WilsonsRBest

[iacas]

Case in point: http://www.golfdigest.com/equipment/...st-summit.html .

Ugh.

[hawkeye]

Case in point:

it's a sign of the times i guess - more and more people playing golf worldwide, Chris Riley trying something new to get his card. Am i mad going and ordering a 2-iron?!