Tired of People Hating on the 3-iron

[iacas]

You cant tell me that a 3 iron is easier to hit then a 3 hybrid. Its all personal preference but the 3 hybrid is easier to hit, hands down.

It's not as easy to control the trajectory and shot shape, no.

Easier to get airborne? I guess... but I don't have that problem with a 3-iron.

[Finn07]

Getting the 3 iron airborne is one of the problems Ive had with it, the hybrid works out nicer for me and I get a bit more distance with it, however mine is 19* where I think my 3 iron was 21*.

[Dyna]

I currently don't have a standard 3i, only my hybrid which I absolutlely hate. Can't hit that club nor the 4 hybrid yet I love my standard 4i & utilize it all the time. If I can find a decent cavity backed 3i I will snag it asap, haven't looked yet.

[WorkerOfTheBall]

Long irons are vital to my game, I rely on them the majority of the time off the tee on holes 400 yds or less ...in fact, I still carry my muscle back 2i (the chicken stick) and utilize it quite often doing a round.

I can see the need for hybrids, but for me personally I do not like the ball flight. I am a high ball player by nature and hybrids really balloon on me.

I will go the method of "game improvement" clubs one day but that's down the road.

Doug

[907golfer12]

I love my 3i and I also have a naturally high ball flight so hybrids usualy ballon on my too. Also I like that I can work the ball with my 3i more then with a hybrid.

[Philbo]

Don't actually carry a 3 iron purely because i carry a 4 hybrid which hits the same yardage for me. Thus, i carry a 4 iron as well as 4 hybrid. I completely agree with most posts in this thread in that the trajectory and added control of a long iron is both necessary and rewarding if struck correctly. Although i carry both a 2 and 4 hybrid, there is no way i will be dropping the 4 iron.

[BritBoy]

I play my 3i off the tee on tight or short par 4's a lot. I can count on it for 215 yards. I definitely don’t have a problem with flight. I have to work hard at keeping it low.

[J_Bone]

I no longer carry my 3iron. I can hit my 4iron 200-210yards and that seems to be the same yardage as my 3iron as well. So I removed it and have been trying a Adams hybrid for 8 months now and I've never gotten comfortable with it. I demoted it to the garage bag of storage and got a Titleist 503H. I seem to hit it pretty well.

[ChrisB]

Single figures and yes carry 3 Iron but can count on my hands how often ive needed it this year, hitting the ball as long as i do means my approach shots are mainly the 150-200 (apart from long par 5s) so not used the 3 iron much as I hit my 4 about 208-212.

[ripsid]

I broke out the 3iron at the range today and man I freaking just killed it! I may have to use it again, maybe..LOL...

SiD

[Fourputt]

I don't hate the 3 iron... I don't even own one, so how could I hate it? I simply cant hit one more than about once every 5 or 6 swings, so what's the sense of it. I also don't carry my 4 or 5 irons, because I hit the hybrids well from variety of uncomfortable situations where the irons just wouldn't work very well.

If I was always in the fairway, maybe I'd take the time to relearn those long irons (I used to even carry a 2 iron). Unfortunately, much of my time on the course is spent in places the designer never imagined a golf ball could be hit to. Thus, I need more flexibility in my set... , and the 3 hybrids I carry fit the bill nicely.

[powerfade]

I pulled the 3 iron 2 years ago as part of a double switch.
3I and 5W OUT
3Hy and GW IN

No regrets either.

Now, I'm thinking about yanking the 4 iron for a 5Hy. I'm just concerned about the lowest lofted iron being a 5. Low punches from the rough using the 3Hy may not be the best play.

One day I lost the plastic tuning port off my Ping I3 8 iron. I had to take it from my 3 iron.

[Nikegolfgal]

I don't know if I answered correct. I use a 3 hybrid and I replied NO to the survey. I like a 3-iron but seem to like the 3 hybrid better.

[RichF]

I'll never replace my 3-Iron.
I love hitting with it and I can hit it well, consistently.

[Xbmchs12X]

I replaced my 3i about a year ago with my bafler, but havent tried it sence about a year ago, and i have improved alot sence then, so im thinking of putting one back in the bag, and but a hybrid my bag to fill the 5wood, 2i gap, but im not sure yet.

[wachesawgolfer]

Try hitting a one iron for practice, makes the 3 seem very easy.

[RichF]

Try hitting a one iron for practice, makes the 3 seem very easy.

Agreed.

IMO, people who can't hit a 3-Iron are either lazy (and want golfing-shortcuts by using a hybrid) or just have bad technique.

[geezer]

Try hitting a one iron for practice, makes the 3 seem very easy.

If you are trying to hit a one iron in the same situation as a 3 (ie;in the fairway)then of course its going to be difficult! IMHO a one iron is for the tee only, and thats easy.

EDIT: No I don't use a modern one iron either, its a 1980-90's ish wilson TR-1200. So, no, not very forgiving.