DappaDonDave
Journeyman Pro
Fond of my 4i, may even get. 3i
Is the 4 iron in danger of extinction from most club players bags....
- Thread starter kid2
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HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
Rubbish
Why?
Dave B
Q-School Graduate
After reading this thread it sounds like the 4i is the new 7i
However I wonder how many people can shape their shots and vary the trajectory as easily with a hybrid, or do most concentrate on a good strike.
In addition I wonder how many lose distance and get little gain over their 5 iron because they do not hit the 4 iron purely?
However I wonder how many people can shape their shots and vary the trajectory as easily with a hybrid, or do most concentrate on a good strike.
In addition I wonder how many lose distance and get little gain over their 5 iron because they do not hit the 4 iron purely?
ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
My 4 iron is a regular fixture, I have a hybrid too but generally like the iron.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
After reading this thread it sounds like the 4i is the new 7i
However I wonder how many people can shape their shots and vary the trajectory as easily with a hybrid, or do most concentrate on a good strike.
In addition I wonder how many lose distance and get little gain over their 5 iron because they do not hit the 4 iron purely?
How many can actually shape shots with any club? I can't
In looking over the positive replies to the 4i, it seems that they fall in the category of 12 handicappers and lower. OK there are some exceptions but I'm talking averages.
As such the 4i comes across as being one of the toughest clubs possible to master, connect with, be consistent with, shape or generally be confident with unless your a pretty accomplished golfer.
Would that be a fair assessment?
As such the 4i comes across as being one of the toughest clubs possible to master, connect with, be consistent with, shape or generally be confident with unless your a pretty accomplished golfer.
Would that be a fair assessment?
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Until you try a 3 iron.
There will always be room in many bags for a 4 iron.
Some prefer a hybrid of the same loft - that's their choice.
It's a fact that as loft lowers the club is harder to hit consistently - how many 7, 8 or 9 hybrids do you see? Not many because we can all hit them reasonably(?) consistently.
Lower the loft and people try to hit the ball rather than swing the club.
If you can hit a 5 iron reasonably well then you can hit a 4 and a 3.
If your mind lets you.
You look down on that face and it looks almost vertical - how the hell can I get that in the air? You try to help it by scooping and Hey Presto - you've blown it.
The reason I don't have a 3 iron is because my mind won't let me.
I have a 4 iron because my mind lets me.
User 105
Journeyman Pro
For me being able to use the 4i was a confidence thing.
I could hit my 5i well, but as soon as I pulled the 4i out I just couldn't put a decent strike on it. I'd either swing to fast or quit on the shot trying to guide it.
Once I got my head around the fact I just need to put a normal swing on it, I can hit it as well as the rest of my irons and now I love it.
I could hit my 5i well, but as soon as I pulled the 4i out I just couldn't put a decent strike on it. I'd either swing to fast or quit on the shot trying to guide it.
Once I got my head around the fact I just need to put a normal swing on it, I can hit it as well as the rest of my irons and now I love it.
One Planer
Global Moderator
I play off 18.
You can't really asign a specific club to a specific handicap or lower.
That would be like saying you can't buy a 3 iron until you are Cat 1.
If you hit long irons well, use them. If you can't try a hybrid :thup:
mashleyR7
Journeyman Pro
I think that the lack of 4i use is just down to the progress in golf kit. I'm sure the same discussions were had back in the day when people stopped using hickory shafts, started switching to graphite shafts, moved away from wooden woods to metal woods and so on.
People just starting the game wont know a 4i exists soon as all the sets they are likely to buy will include a hybrid instead.
People just starting the game wont know a 4i exists soon as all the sets they are likely to buy will include a hybrid instead.
I personally think you can but as I did state, there will be exceptions.
I think the majority of higher handicapper will not find irons 5 and below a comfortable club and will adopt a hybrid whilst they develop their game and practice with lower irons more.
Most sets now also start at 5i to P/W, why is that?
Pro's promote the hybrids as mine did also but I purchased the 4i as an extra as I hoped to use it in the future.
Its just an observation.
S
Snelly
Guest
88 replies and the answer is the same as it was at the start.
Is the 4 iron in danger of extinction from most club players bags....?
Probably. But so what? I would bet just about every tour pro carries a 4 iron and the chances of that changing are slim. That said, for 90% of golfers, a hybrid would probably be easier to hit. Pay your money and take your choice.
And I disagree with Gareth about certain clubs and handicaps. It is pretty clear to me that someone off 2 is going to hit more good 1, 2 or 3 irons than someone off 18. The ratio of of good shots between the two would lessen with a hybrid.
Therefore hybrids are easier to hit. More high handicappers (10+ let's say) will and perhaps should choose hybrids.
Personally, I prefer a 4 iron and would not change it. Although that said, if I could find a 3 iron hybrid like the 2 iron one that I already have then I think I would buy it.
Is the 4 iron in danger of extinction from most club players bags....?
Probably. But so what? I would bet just about every tour pro carries a 4 iron and the chances of that changing are slim. That said, for 90% of golfers, a hybrid would probably be easier to hit. Pay your money and take your choice.
And I disagree with Gareth about certain clubs and handicaps. It is pretty clear to me that someone off 2 is going to hit more good 1, 2 or 3 irons than someone off 18. The ratio of of good shots between the two would lessen with a hybrid.
Therefore hybrids are easier to hit. More high handicappers (10+ let's say) will and perhaps should choose hybrids.
Personally, I prefer a 4 iron and would not change it. Although that said, if I could find a 3 iron hybrid like the 2 iron one that I already have then I think I would buy it.
D
Deleted member 15717
Guest
I will keep my 4-iron. Where I play is fairly long, and sometimes you just have to hit a 4-iron as your second on a par 4. I also have a 2-iron instead of a hybrid, as I hit that a lot better, and have done since I was a 21 handicapper! Just can't get on with hybrids for some reason
OldMate
Head Pro
For those of us who learned to play with long irons I don't think many will switch to hybrids. At most I might ditch the 2 iron one day if there is some benefit with whatever the equivalent hybrid is, but I'll probably stick with 3 and 4 iron until old age kicks in.
Lawrence22
Challenge Tour Pro
As a high handicapper I am a very inconsistent striker of the ball. As I said earlier I have tried long irons and practised with them a lot. I think the main advantage with the hybrid is that it slides along the ground easier. Generally if I duff it with a long iron I have hit the ground before the ball and it goes nowhere, if I have the same duff swing with the hybrid the result, while not perfect, is better than it would have been with the long iron as the club will make a firmer contact with the ball. This is how I see the club being more forgiving, my bad shots are still bad, but the ball seems to advance further with the hybrid.
Hope this makes sense.
Hope this makes sense.
beggsy
Journeyman Pro
I will never replace a 4 iron for a hybrid actually just bought a 2 iron that I out drive 95% of the people I play with
The 3 iron is one of my favourite irons, I start all practice with it. The 4 iron gets used maybe once a round so in my case I could technically get rid of it not because it's hard (it's easier than the 3) but because it doesn't get aired much.
RGDave
Money List Winner
will and perhaps should?
Couldn't disagree more.
I'm not enjoying being a high handicapper now as well.....
