Do you still use a 3-iron?

[NJpatbee]

I gave up my 3 iron about 10 years ago and replaced it with a 7 wood.  I have since replaced my 2,3,4,5,and 6 irons with hybrids and at 64 I am back in the game as far as distance, and the % of well struck shots is better than ever, but then again I was never lower than  a 15 HCP. 

[9wood]

18 minutes ago, NJpatbee said:

I gave up my 3 iron about 10 years ago and replaced it with a 7 wood.  I have since replaced my 2,3,4,5,and 6 irons with hybrids and at 64 I am back in the game as far as distance, and the % of well struck shots is better than ever, but then again I was never lower than  a 15 HCP. 

You mentioned that you replaced your 3 iron with a 7 wood, but what I am interested in is what are you using as a replacement for your 5 and 6 irons.

[NJpatbee]

3 hours ago, 9wood said:

You mentioned that you replaced your 3 iron with a 7 wood, but what I am interested in is what are you using as a replacement for your 5 and 6 irons.

Callaway X Hot 5h and 6h.  I have the Nike Sumo 2h, 3h, and 4h.  The 7 wood has been replaced with the 3h.  I hit the hybrids at least as far as I hit the corresponding irons 15 years ago, and the success rate is much greater with the hybrids.  I do still carry my 4 iron for low running shots that need some distance.  

[colin007]

Yup. It's my "under a tree" iron.

[David in FL]

Nope.  Went to hybrids several years ago to replace my 3 and 4-irons.  I didn't find it that difficult to learn to flight the 18* hybrid down for the relative few times that I need to....generally because I've put myself in a position that I shouldn't have in the first place.

[tcnbtx]

My longest iron is 6 iron.  I use Ping G30, 22 and 26 degree hybrids to fill the gap between my 19 degree 5Wood and 6 iron.. I find the hybrids much more forgiving and I can hit them much higher and longer than the 4-5 irons. If I need a low punch, I'll use my 6 iron. I practice that low 6I shot each time at the practice range.

[9wood]

5 hours ago, tcnbtx said:

I'll use my 6 iron. I practice that low 6I shot each time at the practice range.

I personally get high loft off my 6 iron. If I want low loft I use my 3 iron

[vangator]

Just got my new 4 iron for my set.  Those 190+ par 3's are dog meat now!

[9wood]

56 minutes ago, vangator said:

Just got my new 4 iron for my set.  Those 190+ par 3's are dog meat now!

I use my Cobra Baffler 18 degree 5 fairway wood for those holes

[vangator]

2 hours ago, 9wood said:

I use my Cobra Baffler 18 degree 5 fairway wood for those holes

I'm just not as accurate with woods or hybrids.  With my irons, I have a small draw which I can navigate to hit greens fairly well, even the longer irons.  My 5 wood and 4 hybrid will hook.  I have to play the ball further to the right and every once in a while (too often really) the ball will not hook.  Plus, the 2 par 3's that are near 200 yards on my course have massive hazards on the right.  It's too un-nerving to hit a wood at a hazard and hope it comes back.  My miss with those clubs is a straight shot (right into the drink).  A miss too far left isn't any fun either.

[dak4n6]

On 12/15/2015 at 11:53 AM, vangator said:

I'm just not as accurate with woods or hybrids.  With my irons, I have a small draw which I can navigate to hit greens fairly well, even the longer irons.  My 5 wood and 4 hybrid will hook.  I have to play the ball further to the right and every once in a while (too often really) the ball will not hook.  Plus, the 2 par 3's that are near 200 yards on my course have massive hazards on the right.  It's too un-nerving to hit a wood at a hazard and hope it comes back.  My miss with those clubs is a straight shot (right into the drink).  A miss too far left isn't any fun either.

Me too. Every hybrid I have ever owned was a hook machine. My X2 Hot Pro is supposed to have a neutral face angle, but I still hook the crap out of it unless I feel like I'm really holding the face off through impact.

Anyone have any idea why this is?

[vangator]

I've never seen a hybrid with anything other than some pretty big offset.  The offset is there because those that use hybrids usually do so because they have troubles with long irons.  The OEMs cater to the crowd that usually play hybrids, which are higher handicaps.  I know there are low handicappers and pros that play hybrids, so it's not universal.  I'm sure manyhave their face angles adjusted.

I wish I would have bought that Nickent hybrid I found at Dick's on clearance.  It was adjustable.  I'm assuming the adjustability was to open or close the face.  Not sure.  That would have been perfect to avoid the "hook machine" syndrome.

[ZappyAd]

1 hour ago, vangator said:

I've never seen a hybrid with anything other than some pretty big offset.  The offset is there because those that use hybrids usually do so because they have troubles with long irons.  The OEMs cater to the crowd that usually play hybrids, which are higher handicaps.  I know there are low handicappers and pros that play hybrids, so it's not universal.  I'm sure manyhave their face angles adjusted.

I wish I would have bought that Nickent hybrid I found at Dick's on clearance.  It was adjustable.  I'm assuming the adjustability was to open or close the face.  Not sure.  That would have been perfect to avoid the "hook machine" syndrome.

Glad it isn't just me that has the hooking problem !  I bought a 3 hybrid a few months back on the basis that it was going to be easy to hit but have had real problems with it just hooking all the time.  If I make changes to my setup and concentrate very hard I can keep it straight but it always feels like it is on a knife edge which doesn't give me much confidence out on the course.  I'm back to using my old 3 iron in the interim and am thinking about getting a Ping I 3 iron or S55 3 iron for the start of next year.

[Grumpter]

On ‎12‎/‎4‎/‎2015 at 4:11 PM, 9wood said:

How many of you still use a 3 iron. If you don't use one any longer, what have you replaced it with?

Since my 4 iron is about the loft of an old 3 iron no need to replace it.

[TN94z]

Mine is still in the bag. I just never have used it enough to justify buying a hybrid. And there just isn't a better feel, to me, than hitting that perfect 3i!  The distance you get and the feel  puts a smile on my face!  Haha. But seriously, I like it because of the lower trajectory and distance.

[JxQx]

I still play a 3 iron which I actually hit pretty well. I tried using a 3-hybrid but all I do is hook it.

[Golf Grouch]

There is nothing more satisfying in golf than "pureing" a long iron.  Why give that up?

[GolfLug]

No, only because my current set Adams CMB, maxes out at 4. But I definitely would prefer it over hybrid if it came stock. Have 2 (17 deg.) which I use as a 'wood' and 3 (19 deg) in hybrids.