who still uses a 3 iron

Does anyone still use a 3 iron over a hybrid? My new set of irons came with a 3 iron but I have always used a hybrid so how easy is the iron to hit well regular?

Gave up my 3 and 4 irons long ago in favour of an 18 and 20 degree hybrid. I've never looked back. Distance AND acuraccy. Hooray!

I have never owned a hybrid, so I am a long iron player myself. As David said, into the wind your hybrids won't come near.

I currently have 16 degree hybrid that I use as my 3 wood for fairway lies but also carry a 3 wood for tee shots.

Reason im asking is that im considering buying a new 21 degree hybrid to match my other one whilst I have chance as they are discontinued stock but that not giving the 3 iron a chance I guess

Looking at the handicaps of the pro 3 iron players, they are clearly the better players. For an oldie like me,  (20 handicap now) the hybrids are a godsend.

Could you see anyway or justify carrying both a 21 hybrid and a 3 iron or would this just be a wasted club?

I'm only banging on about this because i've never used a 3 iron

Most unusual for a single figure handicap player to not use the long irons. I used to have a 1 and 2 iron, but as I don't hit the ball far enough I have stopped using them and replaced them with two extra wedges.

A striker of your ability, Mark, would get real benefit from using the long irons.

John

I love hitting my 4 iron but like I said ive never had a 3 iron. The only reason I carry a 16 degree hybrid is because my fairway wood play is terrible

Hi Mark, one does not get to single figures by hitting poor shots.

The only difference between your 16 degree hybrid and a three wood is the length of the shaft. My 3 wood is 16 degrees and I have trouble getting it airborne so usually use the 3, 4 and 5 irons.

If you can hit your 4 iron well you would have no trouble hitting a 3 iron. My eldest son can hit a 1 iron off the floor so high it is almost obscene, that requires strength.

I love my long irons, my game sort of revolves  around my iron play, best part of my game, while I do have a rescue, my 3 iron is used more, I have just invested in a 2 iron but need to get it fitted.

I can see why people don't use them because unless you hit them out of the centre the hybrid goes further but a good ball striker like you must be,should have no problem.

Well thanks for the help guys sometimes it just helps to talk with people for different opinions.

John - Regarding the length of my 3-wood you are spot on, I just dont seem happy looking at the ball sat there on a tight cut fairway but get me onthe tee with it and i'm fine.

Tony - The hybrid like you say just seems to offer more confidence, i'm starting to feel its in my head. Off the range tomorrow so we will see

I love my long irons. I have no trouble getting them airborne. Never tried a 1 iron.

Chris, competency with any club can oly be attained by using it regularly. If you are happy to take the easy way out by using hybrids, then that is your choice, but I have never seen a good player unable to use the long irons, in fact that is the difference between them and you.

Into a strong wind the long irons will go further than any of your hybrids, simple as that.

Haven't got a 3I and rarely use my 4I, prefer my 21deg hybrid.  Have got a 'Ben Hogan -1 iron' from a previous set which I used to try and use which looks and plays like it has about a 10deg face, a real stinger when (or mostly if) I ever hit it cleanly.

I could never get on with my hybrids. Now stick to my 3I and 4I. Have always found them easier.

I Carry a 18* highbrid and also a 3 iron, I seem to be able to take the 3 iron off the tee much better/cleaner than a hybrid. Altho off the fairway and light rough the hybrid comes into its own.

Thats just me and its most prob all in my head!

I also have a real mental block with my 4 iron, i just cant seem to play it at all! again all in my head!

Just to give another perspective - I don't use my 3 or 4 irons, and during the winter I don't carry my 5 iron either (not enough room in the carry bag).  I also don't own any hybrid clubs.  What I carry instead is 5 woods - Driver, 3,5,7 and 9 woods.

I read a while ago that someone on the Senior tour was quoted as saying "If you're over 50 and don't have at least 4 woods in your bag, then you're leaving shots out on the course."

I took it to heart, and my handicap went down from 12 to 10 during the year I started carrying woods instead of irons.  I haven't continued to improve, but everyone comments that I am more consistent with the woods.

As most have said above - each to their own, and if you can use a 3 iron with consistency - that's a useful tool.  Personally, I've always been pretty good with woods off the fairway, but I know many of the members at my club don't feel the same way, and only carry Driver and a single wood or hybrid, some of which are rarely used.

Well went the range and boy are these clubs going to need some working on, seemed to be lacking distance and developed a weak slice. I'm putting this down to the reduced offset the irons have compared to my previous set therfore it felt like I wasnt releasing correctly plus I do hate those darm mats.

On a plus side regarding the 3 iron I hit any many good shots with it as a did with the any other

I felt a complete birk out there today, lashing down with rain close on freezing temps and I am on my todd hitting balls with 3 layers of clothes on.

Wonderful game aint it David

Mark, you will have gained nothing from that exercise at all, and yes, it is a wonderful game.

On reflection, I just could not imagine my life without having played it.

David, I can just about manage the half swing back and through, no chance whatsoever of getting a full swing ever again.

John I couldnt agree more, it did cross my mind but I was just over eager. Forecast nice tomorrow so I'm off for a round at Styrrup Hall, never been any good on the range put it down to being lazy.

You carnt beat ranges where you can hit from the grass but there isnt many of them around this time of year

My experience tells me that very few golfers in the world attain a level of accuracy with woods that they can with irons, this is mainly because it requires a high degree of skill to work the ball with the woods as opposed to the irons. You, Stuart, are finding this with the number of greens that you are hitting with your 9 wood, then three putting, probabaly because even though you may have hit the green, you are leaving yourself a long way from the pin causing the three putts you are talking about.

You are no mean player yourself, so I would have thought, that if your intention was to improve, then going the way with woods is not the answer. That is completely negative IMO.

Regarding your 60 degree wedge which can be used out of sand, if it suits you, then fine. Personally I have found that bunkers are a nightmare and no one, in their right mind, should go in one. I play to avoid them at all costs.

My game has improved of late and it may not be coincidence that I have "rested" the 21* hybrid and brought the 4 iron off the bench....

The 3 iron gets a run out when I think the course requires it. Take say Stockfield up in Northumberland. The front 9 require straight tee shot down narrow tree lined fairways. The 3 iron works a treat.

 NWOT.................

Ive been reading this topic with great interest. Personally I carry and use both a 3I and a 19 degree hybrid. I hit both about 180 yds but with different flights. The 3I with a low flight and hence is ideal for windy conditions when I want tocutthe ball through the wind. On the other hand my hybrid has a high flight with asoft` landing and hence is ideal for attacking the pin when playing in perfect conditions. I hope that this is of help to anyone thinking of purchasing either of these clubs, they both have their respective merits. However I must admit that the hybrid is easier to hit than my 3I - Ian

I do have to agree with John regarding gaining better results using the irons. When i'm playing at my best the length/flight & accuracy are far better with my 4 iron than the hybrid its just you have to take the bad days aswell.

My Iron game has ups and downs but considerably more of the later than i would like. I only seem to play well in conditions when the ball can be taken cleanly of the deck but at this time of year when the ground is softer i struggle with lack of distance and find that reverting to my 3 wood or hybrids improves my chances of shortening the distance between me and the pin. I am ok from the 7 upwards creating massive height and usually stopping the ball within feet if not inches but with the 5 down i have a massive slice.

This looks like it may be one of my last post for a considerable time as a sub 20 handicapper (shot 111 at the weekend) so have just purchased a 5 wood and 7 wood of the same brand as my 3 hoping that i may again someday get back under 20. I understand that in order to get into single figures i need to hit my irons well but for now middle teens would be nice and woods seems the way forward for me. I will report back on my progress.

Stuart, it is most unusual to find a player of your ability having a poor short game. You would not want to play with me as I would drive you round the bend with my short game. Mind you I have been practising it for over fifty years.

Perhaps at nearly 71 I haven't yet become a Senior as I only carry a driver and three wood, 3 - 9 and four wedges.

You may well be right though, Chris and it is me that has got it wrong, but unfortunately my brain still thinks it is eighteen and is trying to still get the body to swing like an eighteen year old. As you well know, that is impossible. It is my wood play that has deserted me and I can only be thankful that my iron play and short game gets me round.

Will not take much to put your game back on song, David, you know that.

Stuart, I am always up for a game and don't even mind traveling, I don't like getting wet, but can take any other weather. Make a suggestion sopmetime.

Well done, David, you think of everything. Will be nice to get another game with you.

Im not a bad ball striker, with a lousy chipping game.

I don't think you have realised yet ,how good you could be, Danny. You have all the attributes necessary to become a very good player.

I'm not convinced John. 

One thing for sure, David, is that he should not be playing off the handicap he is with the natural ability he displayed when I played with him. It is not my fault, or yours, if he cannot recognise this fact.

I could probably transform his game after three or four games with him, as could you.

Not a problem for me, David, as I love to see all players achieve their potential and it is not very often that one comes across a player who has all the natural attributes needed to play this game well.

Motivation can only come from him, but we, as friends, should encourage all we can.

It is not as though he needs to change much as he has all the basics correct.

I can be there whenever you wish because as you say I am local.

Well just a update really, went for a round today and my iron play was hit & miss. Some crisp strikes but alot of fat shots, if it hadnt been for the driving and short game I wouldnt have got near 85.

Plenty of work to be done I think

D and J, I can't make that Sunday. I have most os this week off though.

Today I played South Winchester, 11 of us in total, £5 in the pot and winner takes all and pays for the drinks and a couple of plates of chips.

I managed 35 points and although I tied with three others I took the money on last 6.

Shot of the day for me was as good a three Iron as I have ever hit into a very strong wind and at a distance of 180 yds. The flight was perfect in trajectory and the very slight draw made the shot not only look great but helped in getting it home.

It is moments like these that keep on bringing us back.

My driving was a little better, but still pretty poor but I had an excellent Iron day today. Pity you could not make it, David, you might have won yourself some money.

Sadly, no, Graham but I did hole one on the last from 10ft.

Good shooting John, and good distance too, must have caught that one right out the centre, Its great to hit a good long drive down the pipe but I always remember the good iron shots, much more rewarding....

Not a lot, David, takes too long to recover.

You should book yourself in for one of those all over massages, on the Sunday night of the NvsS comp, John.

Please don't ever mention the word massage, Danny. I have only ever had one in my life and that was at the Marbella Club, when I was on a golfing holiday staying at the Incosol Hotel.

It was my friends idea and the massage was conducted by a far east gentleman of wiry build and afterwards I felt fantastic.

The next morning I could not move anything, so it ruined my golf holiday and I vowed that never again would I fall for that.

As I sit here typing this I am wracked with pain and stiffness. It is looking as though my golfing days are nearing their end.

So please, Danny, no more bright suggestions. Eh!

Use it or lose it John, if you give up you'll seize up all together.I'm like you getting on a bit and since i retired have become less flexable so i've started a little streching regime each day and i find that helps, i've also taken up practicing Tai Chi which is great mentally and physically, you might give it some thought. Anything to keep the swing going and as you can see from my handicap i need all the help i can get.

Brian, you are right of course, a defeatist attitude is not the way forward, but we both look at this game from different perspectives.

I have to admire your determination to keep playing the amount you do, yet see no reward for your effort.

I don't find shooting high eighties gives me any satisfaction whatsoever, because I know that it is not a lack of technical ability but of physical ability.

Probably in your case the opposite is true and I have no doubt that I would soon have you breaking 100.

David, I have no doubt you may be right about the wonderful properties of Cod Liver Oil, unfortunately, I destest the stuff and have done since it was forced on me as a youngster.

The problem with my lower back is that the bottom four vertebrae are now locked solid into one, so turning back is a problem and following through is very painful. I just cannot bring myself to find a compromise.

My right knee has now gone into meltdown mode joining, in sympathy with my right shoulder which has calcification of the ligaments and always hurts.

My heart problems pale into insignificance with these other problems, as they are vital to play this game well.

It has been some time since we last played and I am sure you will notice how my swing has deteriorated.