Is the 3 iron the new 1 iron?

[Rekklss]

Wow. Seems most on this blog bought into the marketing speel. I have to admit I replaced my 3 iron with a 5 Wood. Hitting a 4 iron & holding the green is easy enough. But I carry a modern 2 iron for wind ... still play Titleist 681's or my Miura 'retro' blades - 4i thru pw. Always Miura wedges though ... 53 & 58. Swap a 60 - 5° bounce wedge vs 3 wood depending on course conditions. Something sweet about USA or Japanese forged irons ... compared to the modern Chinese castings. Just ugly castings ... thick topline. Wide soles. Lofts jacked up. To feed egos ... wow ... I hit my 7 iron 200 yards ... kind of thing. What is next ? PW of 40 degrees ???

 

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[bens197]

To feed egos ... wow ... I hit my 7 iron 200 yards ... kind of thing. What is next ? PW of 40 degrees ???

 

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In my lifetime PW has gone from 50 down to 44/45.

 

It will happen.

 

Easy to hit technology is replacing the theory of teaching a proper swing. If a player can hit a PW 130-160 yards who needs a long iron?

 

Keep in mind this is also the same generation that is too busy to grocery shop for themselves, sit down and have a family dinner or portion out their own food and meals for bagged lunches.

 

If they're too busy for the routine necessities how would they care to find time for any proper instruction.

 

 

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[perseveringgolfer]

I still use my old Mizuno T Zoid Pro 3 iron, thin top line and normal loft. I'm off the opinion if I need more distance I'll use the appropriate club. I had a spell with a set of clubs with stronger lofts, it just meant I hit 7 iron instead of 6. Theres a club in the bag for all distances.

[justnred]

I have been thinking along these same lines for a while.  I carry a 3 and 5 wood, then I jump to 4 iron.  The 3 wood rarely comes out of my bag because I am super confident in my 5 wood, so I have been mulling over the idea of pulling out the 3 wood and getting a 3 iron to fill the gap between my 5 wood and 4 iron.  And like many here have said it is about spacing and loft more than the number on the bottom of the club.  

[mdumble21]

My Dad had (I think he just sold them) a set of Cobra King OS Irons (no idea when they were made - circa 2000?), which included a driving iron. Back in the day, this would've been the equivalent of a 2 iron, but the loft on my 4 iron is similar loft. Just shows you how much stronger irons have gotten in the last decade or so.

[bogolf]

Hit my only remaining 1 iron the last week. 200 yards, 10 feet of the ground.

[fixyurdivot]

I purchased my PE2's (2-PW) brand new in 1988 and am still playing them today. I use to be able to hit the 2 iron well and frequently opted to use it over my 3w which, at that time, I was not hitting very consistently.  I don't know the specs on these as compared to new iron technology; but it sounds like there's been a shift in numbers? 

 

Is the term "driving iron" fairly new?  I just always referred to them (2 thru 4) as "long irons".  I now choke up a wee bit on the 2 (which I don't hit much these days) and my 3 as it seems to help consistency in making good contact.  But, I think I'm giving up a little distance doing so which is making the yardage distance darn close to my 4 iron.