Anyone played a round with only irons?

[duncan mackie]

At my previous club, which was fairly short, I carried only irons, including a 1 and 2 iron (they are still in the garage). I was somewhat younger then.

indeed - although I don't have a garage so they are in the golf shed!

I also won Captains Day one year when I accidentially left my long clubs at home, largest club in the bag was a 3 iron and I birdied 3 of the last 4 holes (still remember it all these years later...).

Currently I find it difficult not to get into a habit of forcing a 3 iron off the tee when heading out with just irons on the main course - which isn't the best way to settle into a tempo

 

[WideEyedFox]

Played Newcastle-under-Lyme last September where the longest club I hit reasonably straight was my 4 iron. That was 6395 long, long yards that day.

I've also played my local 9 hole municipal a few times with just a 3i, 5i, 7i, 9i, Wedge and putter in a pencil bag. Also done it with the even numbered clubs too, but don't hit my 2i as well as my 3i.

 

[Evesdad]

Not as often as should would be my answer! I experimented with it last summer during the evening. My back nine is long and straight and after struggling with the driver I tried the back nine without it and scored 13 stableford points of the 7 holes as I ran out of light. Why don't I do it more often!

 

[kid2]

Last year at the end of the season my Dad and myself played 18 after work one evening..... We played off the whites (Our comp tee's)...
We played the front 9 with the whole bag but decided to play the back 9 with just irons......
I was 9 over gross for the front 9 and finished the back with a 1 over gross score.......

Was it down to me playing just irons...Not sure....
Was it down to be just getting warmer as the round went on......Dont know.....

But from time to time what i do now when im on my own practicing on the course is i will hit odds and evens with the irons....If i normally hit driver off a tee.....I will pull a 9 or an 8 iron even on a par 5......Doing this will focus your mind better on the shot in hand and to be honest makes for a very interesting plan of attack on a hole that measures over 500 yards :lol:
Plus you get to use every club in the bag and you'll never have to worry about not being able to hit a long iron off the fairway.

 

[Andy808]

I do it quiet often when my iron shots aren't as good as I want them. Not having a wood in the bag makes me concentrate on my irons off the tee more and forces a longer iron into the green. I would say I do it about every 2 months or so.

 

[drawboy]

Not strictly irons only but I have taken all my fairways and hybrids out so just driver and irons for me from now on. I just cannot see the point in carrying clubs that I have zero confidence with just to look pretty in the bag.

 

[Sharktooth]

I heard a story a few years ago about a pro doing a round with only a 7i and a putter and scored only a few over par. Anyone else heard this, or did I dream it? By the way, I have some weird dreams...

 

[Jay Gee]

I only started playing in January and just carried irons to begin with as I couldn't hit the longer clubs. I started taking woods and hybrids out once I had a bit more confidence in them, but my scores have not improved yet. Maybe I should go back to irons only for a while longer?

 

[One Planer]

Did this a little while back and really enjoyed it.

Longest club I hit all day was a 3 iron and really made me think about where I put the ball.

I might try it again soon

 

[bernix]

i did not own a wood until i got down to 20. 2iron off the tee and on we go!
my wife currently does not use her metalwoods and tees off with a 5iron. course much shorter from the lady's tees though

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Did it for a couple of molnths last year as my iron play was generally poor - and I wasn't getting any practice. And to be honest my scores were pretty consistent with what I'd been getting using woods. These days might not be the same as seem to be consistently good off tee. But I bet I wouldn't be that much worse. The experience has got me usuing my 3i and 4i much more these days than I have for years and really enjoying the strikes and general accuracy and better consistency I get when compared with hybrid and 4 wood - which I still use - but less so.

 

[JustOne]

Interesting replies (thanks chaps)....

Personally I don't think it's a good idea to go out and only play irons. In truth I had NO CHANCE of shooting a decent score. On the long par 4's I simply couldn't reach the green in two, so even if I didn't catch my tee shot properly I wasn't worried as I already knew I would be laying up.

The par 5's were out of reach... and if I didn't absolutely flush my 4-iron off the tee or with my 2nd shot the the greens were even more out of reach.

It wasn't fun, and it wasn't clever, it certainly ISN'T the way to play this game, or how to make a score.

 

[fundy]

Interesting replies (thanks chaps)....

Personally I don't think it's a good idea to go out and only play irons. In truth I had NO CHANCE of shooting a decent score. On the long par 4's I simply couldn't reach the green in two, so even if I didn't catch my tee shot properly I wasn't worried as I already knew I would be laying up.

The par 5's were out of reach... and if I didn't absolutely flush my 4-iron off the tee or with my 2nd shot the the greens were even more out of reach.

It wasn't fun, and it wasn't clever, it certainly ISN'T the way to play this game, or how to make a score.

meh, you need to learn to hit it further with your long irons Only 1 par 4 at ours I cant reach with 2 irons on a still day and thats borderline

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I have been doing this for a few months now after a bad run of form with my woods and hybrids.I tend to play within myself and rarely miss the fairway so I will stick at it for the time being! It helps with my course management too.

Absolutely. Get the good striking with the 3i off the tee going - you really canne beat it - sod mega length - accuracy for me.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Interesting replies (thanks chaps)....

It wasn't fun, and it wasn't clever, it certainly ISN'T the way to play this game, or how to make a score.

Really don't get you on this though at all - since when did anyone ever say that there was a way to play the game? And who ever said that the be all and end all of playing golf is making a score. Sometimes when I am out I'm just looking to get accuracy and a good strike. If a good score results then great - if not then I'm not fussed. For me as a medium handicap player a good score will only happen if lady luck runs my way - but I AM in contrrol of my ball striking.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

's***k' and '3 iron' YES

Please - no golf profanities - it's upsetting.

 

[Deke]

Absolutely. Get the good striking with the 3i off the tee going - you really canne beat it - sod mega length - accuracy for me.

This chap knows what he is on about! :thup: As soon my I get more consistent with my longer clubs I will add them back to the bag one at a time, but I totally agree with accuracy over distance!

 

[bernix]

Interesting replies (thanks chaps)....

Personally I don't think it's a good idea to go out and only play irons. In truth I had NO CHANCE of shooting a decent score. On the long par 4's I simply couldn't reach the green in two, so even if I didn't catch my tee shot properly I wasn't worried as I already knew I would be laying up.

The par 5's were out of reach... and if I didn't absolutely flush my 4-iron off the tee or with my 2nd shot the the greens were even more out of reach.

It wasn't fun, and it wasn't clever, it certainly ISN'T the way to play this game, or how to make a score.

Tiger won THE OPEN playing only with irons

 

[Piece]

Interesting replies (thanks chaps)....

Personally I don't think it's a good idea to go out and only play irons. In truth I had NO CHANCE of shooting a decent score. On the long par 4's I simply couldn't reach the green in two, so even if I didn't catch my tee shot properly I wasn't worried as I already knew I would be laying up.

The par 5's were out of reach... and if I didn't absolutely flush my 4-iron off the tee or with my 2nd shot the the greens were even more out of reach.

It wasn't fun, and it wasn't clever, it certainly ISN'T the way to play this game, or how to make a score.

It is definitely the right way to play if you're not worried about distance. The driver and woods are only there to get the best length off the tee. If you are able to hit a decent ball and the course is not too long, then it's very sensible to use just irons.

 

[slicer79]

Tried this earlier this morning, 4-PW 52 & 58 deg.

Went around in 75 gross (par 70). So played to my handicap. There was only 4 holes I couldn't reach really ( all par 4's over the 400 yard mark)

It certainly felt I was in the fairway more often. Not sure I'd have scored any better with my woods in the bag. About the max I could get out of two well struck 4 irons was 370 yards so this covered most of the par 4's

Found it an enjoyable exercise and would try it once a month to help my iron play