Driving Iron

[NewFish]

Alright lads?


Im considering replacing my driver with a 'driving iron' as i find i am much more comfortable and more consistant off the tee with my 3 iron than with my driver, but obviously I dont get the distance i would with a driver.. So someone mentioned to me i should get a driving iron, as ive not been playing that long i have never came accross one of these before but just wondered what people thought of them? Reccomendations on which one to get etc? and would I lose alot of distance in comparison with using a standard driver?

Any advice appreciated,

Cheers.

 

[brendy]

Hi, I think you would be committing a cardinal sin in getting rid of your driver. A driving iron is, in my opinion, harder to hit 200 yards well than a badly hit driver going 230. It can also still slice and hook badly. I think if you can hit a driving iron you can hit a driver.
Can I ask if you have had any lessons with the driver or are you comfortable hitting the 3 or 5 wood? any of these would be better than hitting the Driving iron as its just so bloody hard to master.
I used to own a Bronty driving iron and I jarred my fingers more often than hit a goodun and just couldnt get on with it. Good luck with whatever you choose however I have a feeling you wont be buying one and will give a driver or fairway wood another chance.

 

[Doh]

Agree with brendy driving Irons are not easy to hit and to be honest where never the best idea in the world anyway.

What are you like with your three wood, five wood, Hybrid ?
off the tee, sorry i'm just repeating what brendy said but dont get one. Rather spend the money on a lesson.

 

[ricardodaintino]

Driving irons are more of a source of income to manufacturers then a genuine solution to your problem. As above, I'd recommend taking a 3 or 5 wood and working up to the driver.

Also there are some really simple fixes in this months GM (see Mr X feature). Basic set up pointers which I found helped me think about going back to basics and thinking about my stance and set up. I think these will help minimise your faults with the driver - give it a go.

 

[birdieman]

I think a driving iron is now a relic.
They came about in the 80's when driver was the hardest club in the bag to hit - a tiny piece of persimmon on the end of a steel shaft. People that couldn't hit them took a long low loft iron off tee - 1 or 2 iron which got termed a driving iron. They gradually added a bit of bulk on the back of the club to perimeter weight it better.

Driver is now arguably the easiest club in the bag to hit because the club head is so big and the corresponsing sweet spot is so big too so the driving iron is redundant.

Teeing it way up high you can put all sorts of mad swipes on a driver and you'll still get the ball further out there than a driving iron. Just use a 3wood or hybrid if the driver is misbehaving or if you are laying up or playing for position rather than length or if the tee shot is especially tight.

As the others say, stick with driver - tee it high, ball off the left heel and swing smoothly. Can't fail....can it?

 

[Macster]

You do have to be striking things well to hit a 1/2 iron, cos if you dont, you'll rattle your fillings loose !!

Mind you, they can be extremely effective. I still have my Zing2 2 iron, and it comes out occasionally.

I played a lad off 1 in a Club match last summer, and to see him strike his bladed 2 iron was a thing of beauty, it went like a feckin bullet and with the precision of a surgeon, awesome.

However, thats a different game to what most of us play.

 

[John_Findlay]

Hi NewFish.

I think the advice given about the driving iron is sound. I have a 2 iron driving iron, favourite club in the bag, and even when I cream it it doesn't go as far as a well struck 5 wood, except maybe against the wind.

 

[birdieman]

I played a lad off 1 in a Club match last summer, and to see him strike his bladed 2 iron was a thing of beauty, it went like a feckin bullet and with the precision of a surgeon, awesome.

As someone once said on this forum some time ago -
"Never play against a man with a 1 iron and a tan!"

 

[Herbie]

If you get on really well with one then great and good luck, but golf is still about % when it all comes out in the wash though %golf is not something discussed often here or elsewhere. Unless you take to a driving iron exceptionally, you will find your % of play fall with frequent use. I used to love my old 2 iron but I just dont need it anymore, if I hit it well it was a beautiful club to have, if I hit it badly (and there was rarely anything else, it was good or bad) I would be in trouble and the loss of 2 or even 3 shots after it makes you think a bit about % golf.

 

[Smiffy]

I bought a 2 iron a long time ago. Played one Sunday with it, had tried a few shots off various tees without success. Got to the 11th and that hole really suited a nice 2 iron shot.
Gave it a go but ended up helicoptering the bloody thing over an adjacent garden. Good job it only cost a few quid

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Your better off getting a driving lesson and learning to control your 3 wood or a hybrid off the tee until your driver behaves. Out of interest what loft is your driver as a lot of beginners use 10.5 or lower when they may get a better result with 11, 12 or even 13 degrees of loft.

 

[USER1999]

I used to have a 1i, as I too preferred irons to woods. Eventually I realised it was too unforgiving, and went over to woods.

One of the guys I play wih has a bladed Titleist 695mb 2i, which he had c/f'ed at Titleist. They had to search the factory to find a head, as it is so non standard. They don't even make a ZM 2i anymore.

In my opinion, choke down the shaft a bit on your driver, it will make it easier to hit, and will be more forgiving. In the long term you will always want to be able to hit a driver.

 

[mrmotorbikeman]

As someone once said on this forum some time ago -
"Never play against a man with a 1 iron and a tan!"

perhaps i'll have to dig my 1 Iron out again. used to send that 220/230yrds down the middle with very little effort. god knows how though

 

[OldWindy]

I've seen a couple of players use them, particularly when it's blowy - they are low 'cappers, tho. Try one and find out for yourself.

 

[birdieman]

Old Windy, I imagine a low flying 2 iron would be useful at your course?
I had the pleasure of driving past Aberdovey back in October, alas with the family and no clubs but I was mightily impressed with the course especially the holes near the clubhouse end of the course, the other end looked much flatter? The road offers a good view.
I have to say that drive from Machynlleth to Aberdovey is some of the finest looking country I've seen in the UK.
I also have to admit I took a wander up the hill just north of Machynlleth to see the Led Zeppelin cottage (even though the owners ask you dont! ). Shame on me but had to pay homage to the greatest band ever!
Kind of got the idea of all Robert Plants hippy substance-induced strange Tolkein-esque lyrics when up there - very beautiful place.
Ramble finished or should I 'ramble on'? Get it?

 

[Cernunnos]

I've a Benrose driving Iron, that I can callupon toput in the bag if I wish, though not used it for some time. Might pop it in the bag again at some stage.

Now someone mentioned that drivers are easier to hit because they have such big faces. Well quite frankly I think all the hype of large faced drivers is just twaddle, bunkum, tripe... etc. Give me asmall faced compact club any day of the week. I love my Irons & I love my fairway woods...

There is just something really wrong about essentially waving a canoe on a stick about imo.

The driving iron I'vegot is probably loftwise eqivelent to a 2 iron or 5 wood, so wouldn'texpect it to go much further, though I was oft pleasently suprised when using mine.

Yes its going back in the bag, or I might look for another example... lol

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I know a lot of manufacturers (Cally TM Ping etc) offer 1 and 2 irons on most cavity back sets (X20 G10, Burner as well as the corresponding tour versions). Up until this thread I hadn't really thought about it but I could see the use of a 2 iron even if it is only used when I play links courses or on particularly windy days. Much to ponder