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Do I need a 4 Iron


WardenGolf

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I currently have 5-PW Iron set, and a 19 degree Mizuno JPX Hybrid. I am curious if I should get a 4 Iron in my bag or if I'm wasting space. I'm currently looking at possibly adding a 4 Iron Nike Vapor Fly to my bag. Does any here have a recommendation? Or does anything a 4 Iron is all the useful or not?

 

 

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Rich

 

Irons: Mizuno MPH-4 (4-PW)

Driver: Ping G400 LST

Wedges: Cleveland 52, 56, 62

Putter: Rife

 

 

Orlando, FL

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Look at the distances of your other clubs around the 4 iron to see if there is a distance gap between the next highest club up and your 5 iron.  That would be the only reason to add the 4 iron.

 

I'll give you my clubs and distances and let you compare that to what you have.

 

Driver - 250

4 wood - 235

3/19 degree hybrid - 210

4/22 degree Ping G400 crossover - 200

5 iron - 185

6 iron - 175

7 iron - 165

8 iron - 155

9 iron - 140

PW - 130

GW - 115

SW - 100

LW - 90

 

My Ping G400 crossover is what I use in the 4 iron space.  It looks like an iron, but has a higher launch angle and distance then I get with a traditional 4 iron.

 

However, determine distance with your other clubs, and then you can see if you are missing something that you might need.

 

Honestly, it's all a personal preference thing, so there is not a yes or no answer, outside of what you think you need in your bag.

 

Hope this helps.

  • :ping-small: G400 Driver
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  • :mizuno-small: Fli-Hi Utility Iron - 21°
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Generally speaking you would do better with a 4 hybrid. But that's generally - we are all different. That's why it's good to have a teacher who knows your game and consult him or her if possible.

 

If not here are some questions you should think about,

 

1. How big is the gap between your 5 iron and the 19 (which is more of a 3 iron replacement)?

 

My guess is that it's significant enough to warrant a club.

 

2. How well do you hit your five iron?

 

3. How well do you hit your hybrid?

 

3. Have you thought about a driving type iron or a super GI club for this slot as well as hybrid?

 

Even touring pros often have a bit more help in their longest iron than the rest of their set. LPGA players are more likely to carry 4 hybrid than 4 iron and they are very good players - somewhere around a plus 3 or 4.

 

Good luck and let us know what you decide and how it works out.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60  Aldila  R flex   - 42.25 inches 

SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft

Ping G410 7, 9 wood  Alta 65 R flex

Srixon ZX5 MK II  5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex

India 52,56 (60 pending)  UST recoil 75's R flex  

Evon roll ER 5 32 inches

It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD   

 

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1 More question to ask yourself is how often do you think you would hit the 4 iron?  

Driver:  :ping-small: G400 Max 9* w/ KBS Tour Driven
Fairway: :titelist-small: TS3 15*  w/Project X Hzardous Smoke
Hybrids:  :titelist-small: 915H 21* w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype
                :titelist-small: 915H  24*  w/KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype        
Irons:      :honma:TR20V 6-11 w/Vizard TR20-85 Graphite
Wedge:  :titleist-small: 54/12D, 60/8M w/:Accra iWedge 90 Graphite
Putter:   :taylormade-small:TM-180

Testing:   SPGC_logo.jpg

Backups:  :odyssey-small: Milled Collection RSX 2, :seemore-small: mFGP2, :cameron-small: Futura 5W

Member:  MGS Hitsquad since 2017697979773_DSCN2368(Custom).JPG.a1a25f5e430d9eebae93c5d652cbd4b9.JPG

 

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As a generality at a 14 I would say hybrid.

Ask yourself do you feel more comfortable with a slightly harder to hit 5 iron or a slightly eaisier to hit 3 hybrid. That is what each of these clubs would be like.

For me even though "generalities" say I should play a hybrid, I play a DI. I could never hit hybrids.

You know your game best.

Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff

Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff

Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff

Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff

Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff

Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock

 

 

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1 More question to ask yourself is how often do you think you would hit the 4 iron?  

 

This is a big one. I rarely use my 4i, save for tee shots and punch outs. You may find yourself in the same boat, and preferring to leave it out of the bag in favor of a wedge, for instance.

 

At a 14 hdcp, if you might find yourself not able to hit greens consistently with your hybrid, and only a little better with your 5i, I say you don't need the 4i. Or, on the other hand, if you're very comfortable with your hybrid and your 5i, there's no reason you can't just choke up a bit on the hybrid to hit shots that you may have pulled the 4i for. 

 

Lots of possibilities :D

In my  :wilson_staff_small:  carry bag:
:mizuno-small: ST-X 10.5* Kai'li Blue R Flex
:mizuno-small: ST-Z 15* Kai/li Blue R Flex
:mizuno-small: ST-Z 4h Linq Blue R Flex
:cleveland-small: Launcher 5h
:cleveland-small: Launcher CBX 6i-PW
:cleveland-small: CBX 54* & 58*
:cleveland-small: Huntington Beach #10
:bridgestone-small: e12 Contact
CURRENTLY TESTING - Mizuno Long Game

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I think the answer for this topic, many have been saying almost the same thing, is that you don't NEED anything in golf. The best part about golf (especially at the longer clubs) is that a) everyone is different and B) there are so many options. Woods, DI's, hybrids, SGI irons, anything could fit into that slot you mentioned. Get fit, do some testing and find out what's best for you. That's part of the fun! Just think of the type of shot you play with that club and what you might need it for.

 

For instance, if you drive the ball well (but short) you might want to do what an LPGA or Sr. PGA player do, and add more woods into the bag (5 and 7 are popular). Michelle Wie can hit it like past many amateur men, and she hits a 3, 5, 7 and 11 wood, with only 5 irons (only 3 of which are player types). Seems to work out well for her.

WITB

 

Driver- PING G400 LST w/ Project X Evenflow Black

Fwy- TM Aeroburner 16.5HL

Irons- Callaway Steelhead XR (3-PW)

Wedges- Callaway MD3 (50,54,58)

Putter- Cleveland TFI Satin Cero

Ball-  Snell MTB-X

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I am a digger with all clubs. I probably take a larger divot with a four iron than most of y'all do with a wedge. That is probably why I can't hit my woods super well. It really does depend on your swing.

Wilson Staff C300 9.0* Fujikura Pro 58 stiff

Callaway Rogue 3W Mitsubishi Diamana D+ LTD 80 stiff

Mizuno MP-18 MMC FLI-HI 2 iron UST Mamiya Recoil 95 stiff

Ping I200's 4-W Aerotech Steelfiber I110 CW stiff

Ping Glide 52* and 58* stiff

Bettinardi Studio Stock #38 Armlock

 

 

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I had such a struggle with my 4 hybrid that I got a 4 iron, which I hit slightly better. If I can figure out my hybrid though I'll probably drop the 4i from my bag.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

PXG 0211 12° driver w/Project X Cypher R flex  shaft
post-76102-0-38507100-1525284411.jpg KE4 TC 16° 4 wood w/Kuro Kage Black 60g shaft

post-76102-0-38507100-1525284411.jpg KE4 TC HyWay 21° utilitywood w/Maltby MPF shaft
post-76102-0-38507100-1525284411.jpg KE4 TC 22° 4 hybrid w/UST Proforce V2 Black shaft

post-76102-0-38507100-1525284411.jpg KE4 TC 25° 5 hybrid w/Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue shaft

Lazrus 27° 6 hybrid w/Lazrus  graphite shaft
PXG 0211DC irons 7-PW w/Project X Cypher graphite shafts

:cleveland-small: CBX2 50° wedge

post-76102-0-38507100-1525284411.jpg M-Series+ 56° wedge w/UST Recoil 660 graphite shaft
:wilson_staff_small: Infinite Bean putter

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Depends how well you hit it.

I like mine and hate hybrids. So I go from 4i to 5w.

 

Use the 4i for about 200 yards.

:cobra-small: SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S
:callaway-small: X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S
:taylormade-small: JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR :adams-small: Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S
:mizuno-small: JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S
:titelist-small: Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge
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My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT

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Look at the distances of your other clubs around the 4 iron to see if there is a distance gap between the next highest club up and your 5 iron.  That would be the only reason to add the 4 iron.

 

I'll give you my clubs and distances and let you compare that to what you have.

 

Driver - 250

4 wood - 235

3/19 degree hybrid - 210

4/22 degree Ping G400 crossover - 200

5 iron - 185

6 iron - 175

7 iron - 165

8 iron - 155

9 iron - 140

PW - 130

GW - 115

SW - 100

LW - 90

 

My Ping G400 crossover is what I use in the 4 iron space.  It looks like an iron, but has a higher launch angle and distance then I get with a traditional 4 iron.

 

However, determine distance with your other clubs, and then you can see if you are missing something that you might need.

 

Honestly, it's all a personal preference thing, so there is not a yes or no answer, outside of what you think you need in your bag.

 

Hope this helps.

My gaps are very close to the ones above that Swag posted. Our hcps are similar too with me playing through the season with a 3-5 hcp. I'm actually a little shorter but not by a lot. Like Swag I also carry a 4w that's good for about 225 yds. I also carry a 4i for low recovery shots, shots into a stiff breeze/wind. Under normal conditions I get about 200-210 yds. from it. 

The clubs I carry in my bag are selected specific to my home course where I play about 80% of my rounds in a year. My 4i doesn't match my Wishon's. It's an older TM Burner 2.0 I used to hit years ago. But it's an easy playing/forgiving club and quite reliable. During a normal round I will only play the 4i once or twice. That being a sharp dogleg par 5 off the tee and a short par 4 off the tee when wind is at my back.

My Sun Mountain bag currently includes:   TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png 771CSI 5i - PW and TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png PFC Micro Tour-c 52°, 56°, 60 wedges

                                                                               :755178188_TourEdge: EXS 10.5*, TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png 929-HS FW4 16.5* 

                                                                                :edel-golf-1: Willimette w/GolfPride Contour

 

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Just a note, make sure you know the lofts of your irons vs the Nike iron your shopping for. With lofts all over the place you could end up with a 20* iron, a 19* hybrid and a 27* 5 iron and accomplished nothing.

 

Sent from my VS988 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

Ping G410 LST 10.5 w/ Fujikura Motore F3 60X

Callaway X2 Hot 2 Deep 12.5* 

Adams XTD LSP 23* hybrid Aldila rogue black 85X

Nike VR Pro II Blades 5-PW w/ Modus 120X

Nike Wedges

PXG Putter

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  • 2 years later...

I switched to a 4H last year and really the only time I miss the 4I is on a real tight short par 4. I feel like I have more control and can swing faster with the 4I off the tee, with the hybrid I always try to swing easier and end up with a bit of a fade. Off the deck the hybrid is much easier to hit than the iron.

Driver: :cobra-small: Speed Zone 9* HZRDUS Smoke Yellow Shaft

3 Wood: :cobra-small: King Speedzone 13.5* HZRDUS Smoke Black Shaft

2 & 3 Hybrids: :cobra-small: Speedzone Recoil 480 ESX Shaft

Irons: :cobra-small: Speedzone 5-GW Recoil 460 ESX Shafts

Wedges::callaway-logo-1: PM Grind 54* & 58*

Putter: :odyssey-small: Dual Force Rossi II

Ball: Whatever I find in the woods

:Arccos:

HCP:18

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