Do I need a 4 Iron

[WardenGolf 26]

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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[Mr. 82 3,858]

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.

[revkev 22,571]

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.

 

 

 

 

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[cnosil 15,616]

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

[GB13 7,778]

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.

[russtopherb 6,046]

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

[Shankster 25,697]

Yes.

 

Depending on your ball striking and confidence level with it.

 

I loved my 4 iron before I bent the shaft.

 

Now I go D, 3W, 2H, 3i, 5-PW, 52, 56, 60 Putter

[newballcoach 866]

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 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.

[Shankster 25,697]

Good call newball. I definitely could use the 5,7,9 woods as I am more of a sweeper with the long clubs. Maybe I should give them a go some time.

[GB13 7,778]

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.

[tehuti 557]

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.

 

 

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[Kanoito 2,336]

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.

[PlaidJacket 7,725]

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.

[srooch2 249]

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.

 

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