Is the 4 iron in danger of extinction from most club players bags....

[Bratty]

The 4iron is my go-to club. I love it. Can hit some lovely low raking hooks out of the trees at Westerham and get some good distance. Okay, it doesn't work so well out of thick rough, but then nor does my hybrid (mind you it's a 17 deg!).

 

[Fish]

I used to you use my 4 iron always off the tee at a previous course I was at for only a short time as it was that narrow I just couldn't take any wood for fear of a power slice, especially as there was so much OOB on the right.

Now at my current club which I will stay out, I can afford to tee off with my 3 wood and fade or even slice and be on another fairway but still recover well enough to score.

As such my 4 iron now is possibly the least club used unless punching out from behind tree's which I could do with my 5 iron which is possibly the 2nd least club used!

With a 22 degree hybrid in the bag, that gives me far more options than the 4 iron which in those early days, I actually could hit very well off the tee and fairway.

I think unless your a single handicapper or at least fast approaching those single figures, the long iron is becoming a dinosoar in most bags and being replaced with a more forgiving hybrid.

 

[chris661]

I think unless your a single handicapper or at least fast approaching those single figures, the long iron is becoming a dinosoar in most bags and being replaced with a more forgiving hybrid.

I would reckon its to do with the fact that folk just dont want to practice getting the long irons right.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Male golfers are definately morphing into women golfers. How long before they start playing with 7 and 9 woods. AND chippers

Proper mens clubs like the Brassie, 1 and 2 irons seem to be in the golfing museum now. Vey sad.

 

[shewy]

I went to the range last night and put in some practice with the 4i,what I concluded is this,the 4i does not go much further than a 5i,a 4h goes 20 yards further and is easier to hit despite the longer shaft. With this in mind I'm thinking of getting a 4h as well,but on windy days the 4i would go back in the bag as it's trajectory is lower.

 

[Fish]

I would reckon its to do with the fact that folk just dont want to practice getting the long irons right.

Whilst I agree with you in part. Do you not think that its human nature to go with something that can feel more comfortable and as such create more confidence which is a huge part of the game.

Do you not think also that a hybrid like a 22 degree can offer more options than a 4 iron leaving room for something else in the bag?

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I would reckon its to do with the fact that folk just dont want to practice getting the long irons right.

It's drummed into high handicappers that short game will bring down your handicap faster than learning to hit a 4 iron. Ultimately, I don't have time to spend on learning to hit a club that I'd maybe use once in a round. If a hybrid or a 7 wood would make things a bit easier and allow me to get away with a less than perfect strike then it would be in my bag.

I only keep my 4 iron to use in practice to help with ball striking because I know if I can hit a 4 iron with any degree of proficiency I can hit a 7 iron with ease.

 

[chris661]

Do you not think also that a hybrid like a 22 degree can offer more options than a 4 iron leaving room for something else in the bag?

How is swapping a 4 iron for a hybrid going to leave more room in the bag? And no I dont believe it can offer more options, I can hit my 4 iron high or low if needs be, struggle to keep a hybrid low as they are designed to get the ball up.

 

[chris661]

It's drummed into high handicappers that short game will bring down your handicap faster than learning to hit a 4 iron. Ultimately, I don't have time to spend on learning to hit a club that I'd maybe use once in a round. If a hybrid or a 7 wood would make things a bit easier and allow me to get away with a less than perfect strike then it would be in my bag.

I only keep my 4 iron to use in practice to help with ball striking because I know if I can hit a 4 iron with any degree of proficiency I can hit a 7 iron with ease.

I think with higher handicaps initially a long game will help more as there is no point in taking 4 shots to get close to a green to let your solid short game work. If you can hit a 7 iron with ease you can hit a 4 iron with ease just stand a little further away.

 

[Fish]

How is swapping a 4 iron for a hybrid going to leave more room in the bag? And no I dont believe it can offer more options, I can hit my 4 iron high or low if needs be, struggle to keep a hybrid low as they are designed to get the ball up.

What I'm trying to say is, If I can take my hybrid off the tee or fairway as good if not more confidently that a 4 iron and I can get out of light rough with my hybrid and get decent distance but couldn't attempt to do that with a 4 iron, then the hybrid is more universal for me which then rather than carrying the 4 iron around when I would always reach for the hybrid first, I could carry something else which I think I might get more use from.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

If you can hit a 7 iron with ease you can hit a 4 iron with ease just stand a little further away.

If only it were that simple Chris

(I know, in theory, it is that simple... but that doesn't explain the results I get :rofl

 

[chris661]

What I'm trying to say is, If I can take my hybrid off the tee or fairway as good if not more confidently that a 4 iron and I can get out of light rough with my hybrid and get decent distance but couldn't attempt to do that with a 4 iron, then the hybrid is more universal for me which then rather than carrying the 4 iron around when I would always reach for the hybrid first, I could carry something else which I think I might get more use from.

Well why not take the time to practice using it?

If only it were that simple Chris

(I know, in theory, it is that simple... but that doesn't explain the results I get :rofl

:rofl:

 

[One Planer]

When I changed to my MP32 blades I had a choice to make as the set I brought ran 5-PW.

Do I:

a) Buy the matching 4 iron.

or

b) Buy a hybrid to plug the gap.

I opted for the 4 iron over the hybrid in the end.

Yes, it's a blade so it will be harder to hit (.....Allegedly) but I, as Chris said, I get more benefit from a long iron as reagrds to flight over the hybrid.

Turns out, after a little practice, I can hit the 4 iron, just as well as my 5, 6, or any of my other irons and I play off 18, so by no means a low handicapper.

To my way of thinking it's whatever you feel confident playing. If you're more confident playing hybrids over long irons, or vice versa, then that's fine. There really is no right or wrong answer.

 

[shewy]

lets be honest while we are at it,it may have a 4 stamped on the bottom but in reality it is a 3 iron of 10 years ago,and how many of us could hit a 3 iron consistently well?

 

[Dellboy]

I may be only a 20 H/C but I have a 4 iron and can hit it very well, if only I could hit a wood like it maybe I would been down in the teens by now

 

[chris661]

lets be honest while we are at it,it may have a 4 stamped on the bottom but in reality it is a 3 iron of 10 years ago,and how many of us could hit a 3 iron consistently well?

So whats my three iron then? My 4 iron is around 24 degrees what was a three iron from 10 years ago?

Its all about the practice you put that in and you can manage.

 

[One Planer]

lets be honest while we are at it,it may have a 4 stamped on the bottom but in reality it is a 3 iron of 10 years ago,and how many of us could hit a 3 iron consistently well?

My MP32 4 iron is 24*, the RBZ 4 iron is 20* so I understand what you're saying.

I think someone (Imurg I think) yesterday stated why lofts on GI clubs are stronger than previous models. Something to do with high launch from memory.

 

[FairwayDodger]

My four iron used to be my go to club. When I couldn't hit a wood straight I used to tee off with it and think nothing about using it for the second shot as well.

When I came back to golf last year after a few years away I just had no confidence with it. Can still hit it OKish at the range but tense up too much on the course and at my course I just don't have enough call to use it so I'm not building any confidence up.

Recently bought a hybrid to fill the gap between 5 iron and 5 wood and I hit it brilliantly. But I still feel bad ditching the 4i.

It's been suggested when I get new irons fitted that I only go up to 5i. That's maybe practical but I'm not convinced, think I'll still get a 4i.

The 3i is another matter - I've never been able to hit that properly and it's been out the bag for a long time.

 

[6inchcup]

i have never had a hybrid or rescue in the bag and carry a 4i and a 3i has these were the clubs i was brought up with and feel comfortable using them, i get some odd looks from the youngsters when i pull a 3i out of the bag for a second on the par 5's but i hit it long and straight,i sometimes put mu dads 1i in for a laugh ( circa 1965) impossible to hit and the head is like a butter knife,he tells me golf was a more skillful game back then a smirks at my new fangled clubs,golfers were golfers in my day is his normal quip mind you he was a 3 h/c player.

 

[shewy]

My MP32 4 iron is 24*, the RBZ 4 iron is 20* so I understand what you're saying.

I think someone (Imurg I think) yesterday stated why lofts on GI clubs are stronger than previous models. Something to do with high launch from memory.

Thats nuts,no wonder they are claiming extra yardage,thats a 2i in old money!!