Long Irons Versus Woods

[njrose51]

Dilemma! I have a real issue with woods - hybrid, 3 or driver - and often end up taking a 4 or 5 iron off the tee. I do obviously loose distance of the tee but I almost always guaranteed landing on the fairway.

Also, I have complete confidence in hitting a 4 iron / 5 iron of the deck but would struggle with a wood. I've had, and am having, lessons. I can't really afford to buy new woods with custom fitting etc.

Would appreciate The Forum's views on whether I look at a utility iron/2 iron type of club for driving (The new Ping G range has one for example) and be confident on the tee or should I persevere with the woods?

Thanks!

 

[patricks148]

personally i would lean to hit the woods, why not ask for a lesson hitting those next time?

 

[Vardon11LDN]

Strange dillemma as I am the opposite. I hit my woods / hybrids way better than long irons hence the 6 iron being the lowest lofter iron in my bag. I found that as my swing improved with lessons both longer iron and woods became easier to hit.

 

[shewy]

I've had similar issues, I've stuck a driving iron in at 20 degree's, lovely off the tee or deck,and am putting in a 5 wood shortly as well, just can't hit a 3 wood off the deck consistently enough to justify one

 

[the_coach]

if you got the issues you have with the woods/driver - {it's ain't the woods/driver}

(newer of either fitted or not are not going to cure the technical set-up, swing motion, issues - save that money to have continued lessons)

it's unlikely you will get to get bunch of real long term benefit from an 18º 2i, or utility - they still got to be delivered well through impact to get solid contact from the sweet spot - off the ground they for most folks are a bunch more difficult to really get optimum distance out of

hitting 2i/2i utility off of the deck requires consistent good delivery, impact conditions and also at a real good swing speed to get any distance in the shot outcomes
maybes there's some confidence got looking down at the 2i at address but it wouldn't take too many off key shot outcomes to dissipate that some

try one out, but under conditions you can really monitor the results so LM to give you real evidence, both off of the tee box and the turf

this is why a good bunch of index players find little discernible difference in 3i to 4i often times even 5i, the consistent club head speed and centered strike just isn't there to transfer enough energy into the ball speed to deliver the LA or peak height to get the travel through the air, so often times all the longer irons end up a similar distance, either no gaps or really small gaps

would spend the $'s on lessons and practice 'well' between them - that ways you get best 'bang' for the bucks

 

[drewster]

I'm half decent on my day (off of 12.7) and have never ever been able to hit fairway woods, I know it's a technique thing but it's also psychological now. I've found an excellent hybrid that i can trust and whilst I'm never going to make a par 5 in two, more often than not i am on the green in regulation after driver/hybrid. I bow to Coach's far superior knowledge but i find my 17 degree hybrid easy to hit off of the deck. Why not do what i've done, accept your limitations, find a combination to suit you and do you best to get the most out of it ?? If you're hitting 4 iron off of the tee then 4 off of the deck well and you're in play then i'd guess you're looking at 350-360 yards which should get you close on most holes. Maybe invest in a 3 iron before woods ??

 

[Billysboots]

I am long off the tee when I am hitting my driver well, but can be very inconsistent. For that reason my fall back is a 2 iron, which I hit about 220 to 230 off the tee but generally pretty straight. If the 14 clubs in the bag allows, it's always worth having a Plan B.

 

[Face breaker]

I've had similar issues, I've stuck a driving iron in at 20 degree's, lovely off the tee or deck,and am putting in a 5 wood shortly as well, just can't hit a 3 wood off the deck consistently enough to justify one

Opposite from me as I'm only just learning to take a 3-wood off a T, I learned to hit it straight off the deck when I first started playing and I still scuff the turf and sky the ball on the odd occasion as I start to revert back to my old playing style !...😊

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Rather than buying something new, why not pick something like a Mizuno MP-Fli Hi 2 iron or 3 iron for a few pennies and have a go with it.

I used to love long irons, and could hit them mustard and never got on with hybrids. After persevering, I now have 2 hybrids in my bag, and the lowest iron I carry is a 5 iron. The 4h I have can cover a greater distance range, launches easier and is so much more versatile

Test a cheap Fli-Hi (eBay is your friend) but learn to hit woods. I think they will be better for your game in the long run

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Get a couple of lessons. Much cheaper and a better long term option

 

[njrose51]

Thanks for the comments and views.

I do want to persevere with the woods, and they are a key part of my lessons. It's just that age old problem of "Fine on the Driving Range - Crap on the Course!" I'll think I'll probably invest in a better long iron to gain those extra few yards whilst keeping pressure off of trying to nail wood (or get it past the Ladies tee!).

 

[WWG]

Dilemma! I have a real issue with woods - hybrid, 3 or driver - and often end up taking a 4 or 5 iron off the tee. I do obviously loose distance of the tee but I almost always guaranteed landing on the fairway.

Also, I have complete confidence in hitting a 4 iron / 5 iron of the deck but would struggle with a wood. I've had, and am having, lessons. I can't really afford to buy new woods with custom fitting etc.

Would appreciate The Forum's views on whether I look at a utility iron/2 iron type of club for driving (The new Ping G range has one for example) and be confident on the tee or should I persevere with the woods?

Thanks!

My pro is absolutely adamant that regardless of club the swing should remain the same. I am fully aware that other pros believe an iron swing is different to a wood swing. To be honest, I haven't been playing long, so I know no different, all I can do is go along with what I am being taught. I was petrified of using woods on the fairway, but after my pro got me using woods I haven't looked back. The additional distance gained from the same swing is quite amazing. With a cheap Dunlop 5 wood I can launch the ball a fair old distance. I have invested in a second hand (but mint) Callaway FTiz 3 wood, which should arrive in the next few days. I would strongly suggest you spend some time on the range whacking balls off of the mats, and then have a few rounds on your own.

 

[njrose51]

My pro is absolutely adamant that regardless of club the swing should remain the same. I am fully aware that other pros believe an iron swing is different to a wood swing. To be honest, I haven't been playing long, so I know no different, all I can do is go along with what I am being taught. I was petrified of using woods on the fairway, but after my pro got me using woods I haven't looked back. The additional distance gained from the same swing is quite amazing. With a cheap Dunlop 5 wood I can launch the ball a fair old distance. I have invested in a second hand (but mint) Callaway FTiz 3 wood, which should arrive in the next few days. I would strongly suggest you spend some time on the range whacking balls off of the mats, and then have a few rounds on your own.

Hi WWG, thanks for the comments. One of the challenges I face is that even with lessons, my range performance with a wood is completely different to when I get on the course, and I play in more competition's then I do friendly knock arounds. I can hit a great tee shot, off the deck etc with a wood on the range but get me on a course and the whole mental thing comes into play. BUT, with a long iron, totally different. So do I sacrifice yardage for a higher percentage of fairways hit.

I'll stick with the woods of course but its whether I get a driving style iron to tide me over until I can be confident/consistent with the woods - hybrid, 3 or driver.

 

[ShankyBoy]

I bought a 3 iron the other week and love it. Stopped using my hybrid off the deck for par 5s now, and use my 3 iron, just hit better from anything less than perfect lies.

 

[WWG]

I bought a 3 iron the other week and love it. Stopped using my hybrid off the deck for par 5s now, and use my 3 iron, just hit better from anything less than perfect lies.

I wish I knew, you could of had mine, it's presently sat on the garage

 

[WWG]

Hi WWG, thanks for the comments. One of the challenges I face is that even with lessons, my range performance with a wood is completely different to when I get on the course, and I play in more competition's then I do friendly knock arounds. I can hit a great tee shot, off the deck etc with a wood on the range but get me on a course and the whole mental thing comes into play. BUT, with a long iron, totally different. So do I sacrifice yardage for a higher percentage of fairways hit.

I'll stick with the woods of course but its whether I get a driving style iron to tide me over until I can be confident/consistent with the woods - hybrid, 3 or driver.

Absolutely, it's psychological. Spend more time playing friendlies, and don't worry about the scores, and don't even take a score card out. Persevere with the woods and things will get better. My guess is that you are scared of topping and scuffing the ball. Whilst you are adapting to the woods it really doesn't matter.

 

[shewy]

I went to the range with my 5 wood, hybrid and udi today, quite breezy and the udi was killing the other two big time. So tempted to pop in a 1 iron udi.

 

[WWG]

I went to the range with my 5 wood, hybrid and udi today, quite breezy and the udi was killing the other two big time. So tempted to pop in a 1 iron udi.

I thought a UDI was some sort of sexual disease

 

[shewy]

I thought a UDI was some sort of sexual disease

I love the club, it's not sexual (yet)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Who is this native North American who is taking on Tiger?