Advice on 3/4/5 iron replacement hybrid?

[hairypeanut]

Hi everyone Only been playing a couple of years but have just changed my job and i will have more opportunity to play now so looking at changing a few clubs in my bag to help me out. I play with an old, but great condition, set of Callaway X12s. I'm happy enough with them to be honest as I don't think spending a £1000 on a new set of irons is gonna make any difference to my game! I've just bought a 52° Cleveland 588 rtx wedge to help fill the gap between my pw & sw and I already have a 60° ram wedge. I've borrowed a titleist 910 driver off a mate and like it so I may look to buy a used one of those. It's the long irons in looking at now. I'm hit and miss with my 3/4/5 but don't mind admitting I do struggle with them and often chicken out using them. I don't own a hybrid but lots of people recommending this and that but I want to get the right one so thought I'd come on here and see if anyone could give me their thoughts? The X12 lofts are listed as 3- 21°, 4- 23° and 5- 26°. I'm wondering if it's sensible to pick up a hybrid to add to bag or even replace these clubs? Is there 1 club that would do the job or would I be better getting say 2 hybrids and losing the 6 as well?? All advice welcome!! I'm guessing someone is going to tell me to spend my money on lessons and learn how to hit a 3 :-) I have taken lessons and I will go back for more in the future but I just wanna practice what I've been taught so far. I should be getting 2/3 rounds a week now. Thanks in advance and apologies for droning on!

[Sante TwoGloves]

I would get a 4 iron hybrid only and replace the 3 4 and 5. Get good with that before getting another. You may only need one depending on your gap in distances.

[tefunk]

I agree with only picking up one hybrid to start with. However, I'd say start with replacing the 3 iron with a 3h... Proper gaps are less of an issue in the longer clubs (for most golfers). What I mean by that, is most amateur golfers aren't very accurate from that far out, either with direction or distance. So start with replacing the longest iron, and work your way in if necessary. Give the 5 & 6 irons an honest chance (before thinking about replacing them with a hybrid). I think you'll be happy you did once you get more consistent with them

[Sante TwoGloves]

I never hit a 3ihybrid. My thinking was if the 3 iron is harder to hit than a 4 iron than a 3 hybridis harder to hit than a 4. Just starting out master the easier one first?

[Mr. Desmond]

If you are a 30 hc, I like the Callaway XR Hybrid 25.  It should get you between 4 and 5i distance.

For a 3i, I would get a 7 wood - Callaway makes a nice one in the V Series that is easy to launch.

If you are in the States, they are available at Callaway PreOwned.

[Sante TwoGloves]

I pulled my 7 wood earlier this year. It was the same loft as my 4i hybrid. A high handicapper might hit those similar distances like I seemed to be doing.

[Mr. Desmond]

I will say it is different strokes for different folks -- the 7 wood typically goes higher and farther than the comparable hybrid since it is 1.5 inches longer in shaft length and it is generally a more forgiving club and easier to launch -- good for the mid to high capper, and skilled players. A handful of current players on the PGA Tour have carried a 7 wood.

[hairypeanut]

My hc is 24 now, still high, but slowly coming down :-) Not bothered about staying with Callaway, the only reason I got the X12s was because my mate got a new set so I bought them cheap. Never thought of a 7 wood, I'll see if I can borrow one for a round and see how I go on with it as an alternative. As Mr Desmond says different clubs suit different players I guess. I'll have to see if I can borrow and try the different options out and see which I'most confident with. Cheers guys

[Patch]

I carry a 7 wood, and use it  quite a bit. It's my combo money, and go to club when the need arises. It's has helped get me out of some jams, and is right there with my putter as a stroke saver. I also carry a 4i, and a 5i. Sometimes those irons work better than the 7 wood. I just added the 4i, after taking out my LW. I found I did not use the LW as much as I use to, and  it joined the pile of other clubs I don't use anymore.

I don't know that much about hybrids, but I do know folks play pretty well with them.

[WUTiger]

You might try a 4W and 4H as bridges between driver and irons. I would work a little on the 5i, see if it comes around.

A 4W is easier for many golfers to hit than a 3W, and a 4H would be a good general-purpose club. Various club fitters and pros have told me that a 3H it difficult for some players to hit.

If you focused on 4W and 4H, you can get comfortable with these clubs. Adding in too many "bridge clubs" would only lessen your practice and playing time with each.

[RGoosen]

I would replace the 3 iron with a forgiving 3 hybrid. The one I carry probably would not suit a beginner. It has a small rectangular head with no draw bias. I would try hitting a bunch of hybrids in the golf store. It seems to me that almost all hybrids have some degree of draw bias to one degree or another. I have had to return several hybrids back to the store b/c it was making me hit a hook or pull hook when I prefer hitting a fade.