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What is the benefit of a driving iron?


berkeleybob

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I don't really get what it is. Why would I use it? Is it a modified 3-iron?

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DRIVER Cobralogo.png.5257fd97d99f057b9bfc81c06d7fcc62.png AEROJET 10.5°  |  FAIRWAY Callawaylogo.png.c084288fc4a8ed17e2f93c60b519702c.png ROGUE ST MAX 3/15°
HYBRID Pinglogo.png.11947cc88c8641d62e0a99c26da08b18.png G410 21°  |  UTILITY Untitled-9(1).png.4964fe6cb2103eef562fd832a625b0d5.png 699 V2 U 5/23°
IRONS Untitled-9(1).png.4964fe6cb2103eef562fd832a625b0d5.png 699 V2 6-PW
WEDGES Clevelandgolflogo.png.9b2e702587cd5230010a835ced0f97a0.png CBX 2 50°, 54°, 58° PUTTER Untitled-8.png.42ad9734db415b5a132df0574137f4f0.png KS1

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30 minutes ago, berkeleybob said:

I don't really get what it is. Why would I use it? Is it a modified 3-iron?

lower and straighter than a hybrid or wood.   There are a variety of lofts that make up the utility iron spectrum.   

This may give you some more details:

 

 

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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I use mine to 'get out of the weeds'.  When I find myself in the trees and need a low trajectory shot to get back in the fairway, I use my 2 iron.

  • Bag             1590477705_SunMountain.png.3391233ea391e8b6fde951d09bc76f6b.png  C130, 14 way Cart Bag
  • Driver         Titleist2.png.8b09d3ee0000870a77d83dce357a0efd.png      TSR1
  • Fairway      default_callaway-small.jpg.aef84328349c576af498d3d5dca1addb.jpg               GBB Epic 5
  • Hybrid        default_callaway-small.jpg.aef84328349c576af498d3d5dca1addb.jpg               Epic Flash 4H
  • Iron             lazarus.png.24092c99689747a2f7bd9cb786badde7.png              2 iron
  • Irons          635785482_Cleveland3.png.bafd9f7d003e9f8afcafc6c28e307467.png      Launcher HB, 4 through PW
  • Wedges     635785482_Cleveland3.png.bafd9f7d003e9f8afcafc6c28e307467.png      CBX2, 54 & 60 degree
  • Putter        Seemore3.jpg.1cb64ec83d2511c1ee1a386340a04d4e.jpg    Seemore Si1 Putter
  • Ball            Titleist2.png.8b09d3ee0000870a77d83dce357a0efd.png       Titleist pro v1x
  • Other        2000014788_ArccosSig.jpg.af5434230b907b708eb89aebd4125f95.jpg

 

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6 hours ago, berkeleybob said:

I don't really get what it is. Why would I use it? Is it a modified 3-iron?

 

... Pretty much. Or a modified more forgiving 2 iron. I am more accurate with long irons than I am with a hybrid or fairway wood. So I have 2 DI's I use depending on conditions. A 19* DHy that is excellent from the fairway as well as the tee and produces a nice high trajectory. I also have a 18* UDi #2 iron that produces a lower trajectory and isn't quite as friendly from the fairway but can be used successfully in windy conditions advancing a 2nd shot on a par 5, but mostly very accurate off the tee where I use it quite a bit. 

Driver:     :taylormade-small:  Qi10 10.5* ... Ventus Red Velocore 5R
Fairway:  :cobra-small: Aerojet 3/5 ... Kai'li Blue 60R
Hybrids:  :ping-small:      430 Hybrid 22*... Steelfiber 780Hy 
                  :taylormade-small:  DHy #4 ... Diamana LTD 65r 
Irons:       :titleist-small:         '23 T200 5-Pw ... Steelfiber i95r
Wedges:  :taylormade-small: Vokey 50*/54*/58* ... Steelfiber i95r
Putter:     :cobra-small:  Sport-60 33" 
Ball:           Maxfli     Maxfli Tour

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I use mine off the tee on shorter and tighter par 4s. It’s great for keeping the ball low if you’re in the trees. I’ve even used mine on longer chips. They are versatile clubs. I use mine for a lot more shots than I thought I would

D- Tour Edge EXS 220

4W- Sub 70 949X

Hybrid- Sub 70 949X

Utility- Sub 70 699 U  21 degree

Irons- Sub 70 749 5-PW

Wedges- Sub 70 286 50+54, Tour Edge 1 out 58 degree 

Putter- Cleveland Huntington Beach soft # 11

Ball- Titleist Tour Soft

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21 hours ago, chisag said:

I am more accurate with long irons than I am with a hybrid or fairway wood.

Same here. I played golf (woods and irons only) for about 40 years before hybrids even came on the scene and I’m still more comfortable with a long iron than a hybrid of the same loft. Didn’t buy my first hybrid until 2017. I carry and use a 19* 3H, I’ve never really liked it, but I force myself to use it - it’s the only choice in my bag between a 15* 3W and a 21* 4i.

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  • Titleist TSR2 16.5º HZRDUS Red 60 CB 6.0 & TSR2 21º HZRDUS Black 4G 70 6.0 w Lamkin UTx Midsize
  • Mizuno JPX923 HMP 4-GW, T22 54.12WS, T22 58.04DC w Lamkin ST+2 Hybrid Midsize
  • Evnroll EV5.3
  • Maxfli Tour & ProV1
  • Ping Pioneer - MGI Zip Navigator AT
  • Payntr X 002 LE, Ecco Biom C4, FJ DryJoys
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For me mine is more course dependent. There are a handful of courses here that are must at all cost find fairway courses or give the benefit of more roll which i find my ping 2 crossover very handy for. 

It's not one i use everywhere, but one that I do enjoy having as well as having the ability to hit well generally.

⛳🛄 as of Nov 6, 2023 (Past WITB
Driver:  :callaway-small: Paradym TD w/ GD ADDI 6X Driver Shootout! 

Wood:    :cobra-small: F7 3 wood 14.5* w/ Motore F1 Shaft

Irons:   :titleist-small: T Series - T200 5 Iron
                                          T150 6-9 Iron
                                          T100 PW/GW

Wedge:  Toura Golf - A Spec 53,37,61 degree 

Putter:  Screenshot 2023-06-02 13.10.30.png Mezz Max!

Balls:     Vice Pro Plus Drip (Blue/Orange)

 

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Thanks all. Next time at the store, I’ll look for one to try out. In the past, I’ve struggled hitting any iron lower than a 5, so I’ve just relied on my hybrid. But I’m willing to give it a go.

WITB 2024

DRIVER Cobralogo.png.5257fd97d99f057b9bfc81c06d7fcc62.png AEROJET 10.5°  |  FAIRWAY Callawaylogo.png.c084288fc4a8ed17e2f93c60b519702c.png ROGUE ST MAX 3/15°
HYBRID Pinglogo.png.11947cc88c8641d62e0a99c26da08b18.png G410 21°  |  UTILITY Untitled-9(1).png.4964fe6cb2103eef562fd832a625b0d5.png 699 V2 U 5/23°
IRONS Untitled-9(1).png.4964fe6cb2103eef562fd832a625b0d5.png 699 V2 6-PW
WEDGES Clevelandgolflogo.png.9b2e702587cd5230010a835ced0f97a0.png CBX 2 50°, 54°, 58° PUTTER Untitled-8.png.42ad9734db415b5a132df0574137f4f0.png KS1

BALL WilsonStafflogo.png.d0d70a74fad1e8f9c4d9f0581e24d31e.pngMODEL | Vicelogo.png.ac8ca0040252d91a9cdaef9d94e6284b.png PRO | Callawaylogo.png.c084288fc4a8ed17e2f93c60b519702c.png SUPERSOFT
BAG Sunmountainlogo.png.2555e0c0e8e49c09ea72c6df224aa0f2.png 3.5 LS  |  PUSHCART Roviclogo.png.ebc800ac4238271b0253c238793522de.png RV1S

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7 hours ago, berkeleybob said:

Thanks all. Next time at the store, I’ll look for one to try out. In the past, I’ve struggled hitting any iron lower than a 5, so I’ve just relied on my hybrid. But I’m willing to give it a go.

 

... Just keep in mind there are reasons to play a DI as well as reasons not to play one. 

DI's generally produce a lower trajectory than a comparable hybrid/fairway wood. 
Hybrids/fairway woods generally carry farther, especially for slower swing speeds.
You have enough club head speed to maximize carry and roll.
Unless you are a very elite player, most usually hit better shots with a hybrid/fw OR better shots with a long iron than a hybrid/fw .

... Finally a DI can be a solution without a problem. Most of us love to experiment and find new ways to play our best so we leave no equipment stone uncovered but I think many more will find a hybrid/fw more useful than a DI. 

Driver:     :taylormade-small:  Qi10 10.5* ... Ventus Red Velocore 5R
Fairway:  :cobra-small: Aerojet 3/5 ... Kai'li Blue 60R
Hybrids:  :ping-small:      430 Hybrid 22*... Steelfiber 780Hy 
                  :taylormade-small:  DHy #4 ... Diamana LTD 65r 
Irons:       :titleist-small:         '23 T200 5-Pw ... Steelfiber i95r
Wedges:  :taylormade-small: Vokey 50*/54*/58* ... Steelfiber i95r
Putter:     :cobra-small:  Sport-60 33" 
Ball:           Maxfli     Maxfli Tour

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8 hours ago, berkeleybob said:

Thanks all. Next time at the store, I’ll look for one to try out. In the past, I’ve struggled hitting any iron lower than a 5, so I’ve just relied on my hybrid. But I’m willing to give it a go.

 

I try to fit myself into a driving iron/utility iron almost every season. I don't play in high winds often, or really at all, and our climate typically has fairly neutral conditions most of the year (never super baked out around these parts). So a utility iron would be mostly a tee club and I find, for me, they are less forgiving than hybrids. A hybrid has the added benefit of more launch and spin so, for me, it has a better chance of holding a green. 

All that said, I see players that wield a driving iron and use it well and I am very envious. There is something very cool about being able to hit a laser 2 iron on a tight par 4. For my game, I have tested and found the last few years that I am better off with a 4 hyb and a 5hyb instead of a 4i and 5i. Bad swings seem to survive much better with a hybrid than an iron. 

:mizuno-small: STZ 230 9.5* "Std" setting ➖ :mizuno-small: STZ 230 Hybrid 18* "lower" setting➖ :mizuno-small: Pro Fli-Hi 21.5* ➖ MALTBY TS1-IM 5-GW ➖ :benhogan-small: Equalizer II 54* ➖ :ping-small: Glide 4.0 (S) 58* ➖ L.A.B. Directed Force 2.1 
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I use to carry a true driving iron when I played Ping Eye 2 irons.  We called them one irons.  Not everyone could play them.  I really loved that club and off the tee it was a monster down the middle and long.  Just another iron that was difficult to hit, but when hit pure, you know you had found the motherload.  Think most people have gone to hybrids because they are easier to control than a one, two or three iron.  If I need to get out of the trees in my senior years and playing from the senior tees, I just hit a hooded five iron.  😃

 

Driver - TSi3 10.75* - Fujikura Speeder 661 TR

Fairway - TSi2 14.25* - Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 6.1 

Fairway - TSR1 17.0* - Fujikura Vista Pro 65S

Hybrid - TSR1 20.0* - Fujikura Atmos Red Tour 75  

Hybrid - TSR1 23.0* - Fujikura Atmos Red Tour 75

Irons - T350 (2023) - 6-48W - True Temper AMT Red 95g-107g

Wedges - Vokey SM9 - 52.08F, 56.10S - True Temper AMT Red 94 

**  GolfPride MCC +4 Midsize Grips  (all woods/irons/wedges)

Putter - 2023 Scotty Cameron Super Select Squareback 2 35" 

**  Superstroke 1.0 Pistol Grip  

Golf Ball - TITLEIST - Prov1s (2023)                                                         

Golf Bags - TITLEIST  - Cart 14 (black), Mid Size Tour (black/white)

Golf Glove - FootJoy (StaSof), Shoes, Apparel and Outerwear        

Rangefinder - Bushnell Pro XE

 

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A benefit I haven’t heard discussed yet and the reason I carry one is some days I struggle to find my driver swing but my iron swing is in a great spot. Having my u500 allows me mentally to feel confident I can’t still find the middle of the fairway if need be. 

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My course has some nasty woods out of bounds.  I give up 20 or 30 yards distance to stay in play and low trajectory.  and on a particular long par 3.

Driver: PXG 0211, A flex Evnflo Riptide (2021). And an old Callaway 454 TI (2004) on regular flex.

3 W: Callaway Steelhead Xr A flex Tensei CK 55 gram. The rest are Regular flex.

5 W : Titleist TSi 1 on Aldila Ascent regular flex.

Driving Iron: Mizuno MP 18 MMC 3 18 degree, on Mamiya Recoil reg flex.

4 iron:  Mizuno Fly-Hi, 24 degree hybrid iron, GFF, even tho it is a hollow body iron.

6,7,8,9,wedge: Ping I 500, on Recoil reg flex shafts.

Gap wedges: 52 x 9 Mizuno forged S5, wedge shaft; 60 x 6 Mizuno forged T7, wedge shaft.

Sand: Old original Hogan Sure Out on Apex original shaft, probably 56 / 12.

Chipper:  (yep I carry a chipper) old Don Martin "Up n In" bronze? copper? 🙂

Putter: Just switched Jan 2024 to a Odyssey Stroke lab "R" Ball with the 2 piece, multi material shaft.🙃

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I can’t do anything but hook a hybrid off the planet. My U-505 2 iron is great on tight par 4’s, doglegs, and in windy conditions. Some days the driver isn’t cooperating, and the 2-iron is a more accurate club for me than my 3 wood. Being relatively new to golf I can’t comment on how hard it was to hit a traditional 2 iron, but my driving iron is as forgiving as my 5 iron, imo.

 

Driver - Cobra LtDxLS

3 Wood - Ping g410 LST

2iron - Titleist U505

Irons - Ping i59

Wedges - Vokey Sm9

Putter - Mizuno Mcraft IV

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 7/6/2022 at 7:20 PM, Paul Hedrick said:

I use mine to 'get out of the weeds'.  When I find myself in the trees and need a low trajectory shot to get back in the fairway, I use my 2 iron.

I have an old Ping G 7-wood and love it. It feels that 50% of my shots come out from under trees 😅. I’ve got a Srixon ZX 3-iron coming the mail. Soon, my prayers will be answered 🙏.

 “They call it golf because all the other four letter words were taken.”

‒ Raymond Flyod

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have tried a number of different setups at that position, starting with the adjustable Cobra and then a Gapr...along with several hybrids. I will have stretches where I am on fire with my DI, and then stretches where I stink. Not all that different from the rest of my bag to be honest...the life of a weekend golfer. The difference is there are so many options at this part of the bag that it invites more tinkering, and really endless tinkering if you are already prone to try out new shiny objects...

My latest was an i500 3 iron with an MMT 125tx shaft - bought it to try out the MMT knowing it wasn't really the right fit, but I figured with how popular the MMT is at the moment that I would be able to sell it without taking much of a hit (it ended up costing me $40 for about 10 months of use). That thing was a monster when I was on - as someone who fights a left miss this was truly anti-left and with San Diego conditions I could carry 230 and easily roll it out past 250 which made it a major weapon at my tight home course with a lot of white stakes on the left side; but the i500 head was a bit too penalizing IMO, and the shaft was too heavy/stout for my swing speed, so it was only a sometime-major weapon, with thin misses losing a ton of distance and peeling right. After seeing how forgiving my P790 4 iron is compared to it, I sold the i500 and picked up a P790 UDI head that I am getting a KBS PGI 100 shaft on that seems to pair well with my beloved $ taper iron shafts. Picking it up later today at the KBS shop in Carlsbad; if this one isn't the goldilocks driving iron for me I will officially give up on the idea of a DI. I think 🙃

Driver:  :titelist-small: TSi 3 10* w/ Graphite Design AD IZ 7X 

Fairway/Hybrid: :titelist-small: TSi 2 15* & 18* w/ Graphite Design AD IZ 7X, AD IZ 95X

Irons: :taylormade-small: P790 4i, P770 5-7i, P7MC 8-P, $ Taper 120

Wedges:  :vokey-small: SM7 52F/54 S, 58 M w/ Modus 125

Putter:  :cameron-small:  California Hollywood 34" Circle H

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On 7/6/2022 at 2:50 PM, berkeleybob said:

I don't really get what it is. Why would I use it? Is it a modified 3-iron?

Many are hollow head and more forgiving than set matched irons. The flat face should make it more accurate than a hybrid. Throw a long graphite shaft on it and the ball go far…

 

46C92465-146B-48A9-8FA4-B11238DA3732.jpeg

:ping-small: G425 MAX Driver & 5W

:cobra-small: Baffler Rail-H 3H-4H

:Sub70: 699 Pro Utility V2 - 4i

:callaway-small: APEX CF19 6-AW

INDI Wedges 52, 56, 60 

 :edel-golf-1: EAS 2.0

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I use my driving iron off the tee only currently on 400 yard or less par 4 that may also have a narrow landing area. The trajectory of my driving iron is like a stinger and gets plenty of roll. I'm still working on hitting it off the fairway or under trees to get out of trouble. I do like using it now that I have one. 

Golfnut

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I use my 2 driving iron on long and windy courses with narrow fairway.  I find the lower trajectory and post carry rolling distances are great with a driving iron.  I also find it great off the tee when you want to hit it low into a narrow landing zone.  

I find a hybrid is better if you are looking at landing it on and stopping it on a long par 3  
 

:titelist-small:  TSR 3   9.0  GD Tour AD - DI 6S Stiff

:titelist-small:  TSi 3  15.0 GD Tour AD - DI 6S Stiff

:titelist-small: TS3  21 Hybrid Tensei AV Blue 65 HY Stiff

:titelist-small: U-510 19 Utility Iron HZDUS Smoke Black 6.0 Stiff

:Takomo:  5-PW 101T Irons - KBS Tour Lite Stiff - Official Tester 2023

:vokey-small: Vokey SM9 52 F - 12 Nippon NS Pro 950 Stiff

:vokey-small: Vokey Forged 56 M - 10  DG S200

:taylormade-small: MG3 60 - 12 NS Modus3 Tour 105 Stiff

image.gif.2bc8a27613a423a3721fd3b955802132.gif  Scotty Special Select - Squareback 2 - 35”  / Super Stroke Slim 3.0

 :srixon-small: Z-Star Diamond

 :titelist-small: Players 4 bag  image.png.939559f85230fe16347ecf2765438915.png    :redrooster:

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My bag used to be D, 3W, 3H, 4H, 5-9i. My hybrids were used fairly often but were never very accurate. Only used in fairways but never off the tee. I have since switched to D, 3W, 2DHY, 4-9i. I haven’t used the driving iron much anywhere but off the tee. When I do use it off the tee, it flies low, long, and straight! It’s a much better club for short/narrow par 4s than my Driver or 3W. It has earned a permanent place in my bag.

Driver: Callaway Paradym @ 10.5º (Fujikura Ventus Red Velocore TR Stiff)

4 Wood: Titleist TSr 2 @ 14.5º

Driving Iron: Ping iCrossover 17º (Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 80 Stiff)

Irons: Taylormade Stealth 4-P (Fujikura Ventus Blue Graphite 7 Stiff)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 Zipcore 48º, 52º, 56º (TT Dynamic Gold Tour Issue)

Putter: Odyssey AI One Jailbird Mini

Ball: Titleist ProV1X, MaxFli Tour X 2023, MaxFli Tour 2023, Titleist AVX

Tested: Tommy Armour Impact No. 3 (LINK)

Tested: Titleist Prototype Balls (LINK)

Tested: Stitch Golf SL2 Golf Bag (LINK)

Unofficially Tested: Odyssey One Black (LINK)

Shot Tracking App: Golf Pad GPS

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I will actually go out and say that I am thinking about putting a graphite shafted driving or utility iron in my bag as my 4 iron replacement. But in general their are those that can hit hybrids and those that cannot. Some just like the more appealing iron look vs a hybrid   

:taylormade-small: Stealth 2 Plus 9deg Kai' li Red

:taylormade-small:Stealth 2 13deg Aldilla Rogue Silver

:taylormade-small:Stealth 2 15deg Aldilla Rogue Silver

:mizuno-small: JPX 921 Hot Metal 4-PW Nippon Modus 120s

:vokey-small: SM8 54 and 58deg Dynamic Gold Wedge Flex

:titleist-small: Scotty Cameron Newport 2

Titleist ProV1

:ping-small: Hoofer Stand Bag

Stewart Q Follow Electric Caddie

:callaway-small: 300 PRO Rangefinder

Official Nippon Regio B+ Driver Shaft Review

Official Stewart Q Follow Review

 

 

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