Driving iron or Hybrid ??

[Djnz]

I know this comes down to personal preference a lot of the time, but I have decided to put a Titleist U505 3 Iron with a 80g Hazrdus RDX Smoke Shaft in the bag.

The main reason for this is have a club in the bag that I can rely on as a fairway finder.... 

If there is anyone out there that has used one of these or can recommend a better option, I am all ears 

[Fongle]

I think it definitely comes down to preference. I use a Cobra Utility 2i, and I absolutely love it. Can't stand the sight of a hybrid at address, and it gaps between my 3w and 4i, and works well in windy weather with it lofted down to 16°.

You'd have to claw it from my cold dead hands to take it away from me too, there's no better feeling than absolutely crushing a ball off a long iron, it feels like the world almost pauses for a moment before the ball just rockets off of the face.

[GolfSpy_APH]

My I guess backup tee Club is my 3 wood. While I have found success with some different driving irons and hybrids it's it's just another tee Club hard to beat s good reliable 3 wood.

[Big moose]

When they came out with the hybrids Jerry Kelly said it was like stealing money because they are much easier to hit, and I agree with him. I have a 3,4 and 5 hybrid in my bag and if I need to hit a fairway on a short par 4 it's my 4 hybrid every time. 

[Splatt]

I rarely use my 3-wood, and my hybrid is my go-to if the driver isn't working too well, or if it's a short par-4 or dog-leg. 
I'd like to give a driving iron a crack, but I assume they're much harder to hit than a hybrid

[Threeputtgame]

I have taken my 3 wood out of the bag, and put an adjustable 2 hybrid(set to 15 degree) and 3 hybrid(set to 18 degree) in the bag.  
 

By doing this, it has improved my play at 250 yds to 200 yds, and improved consistency off the tee on those short dog leg tee shots.

[cnosil]

7 hours ago, Djnz said:

I know this comes down to personal preference a lot of the time, but I have decided to put a Titleist U505 3 Iron with a 80g Hazrdus RDX Smoke Shaft in the bag.

The main reason for this is have a club in the bag that I can rely on as a fairway finder.... 

If there is anyone out there that has used one of these or can recommend a better option, I am all ears 

The better option is what meets your needs.  That option could be a utility, hybrid, or fairway wood.   Typically, utility is lower ball flight and fairway is highest ball flight.  Does the utility iron do what you want?  If so, no other option needed.  

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

I’m gonna kind of have all three at some point. Versatility. 4w/7w (apex uw, some call it a hybrid)/ and then the Caley DI for forum testing. Like cnosil, you need to find what works for you. Some days my 4w is a monster, other days I need to rely on my UW. Good luck with figuring out the toughest part of the bag since there are so many options 

[Donn lost in San Diego]

for me, I play where therei isn't much rough, there is hardpan, trees & tree sticks, mud, swamp, but very little rough so I benched my 2 hybrids and use a Mizu MP18 MMC driving 3 iron a lot. 

[Snowmonkeys1310]

Tried driving irons many times in an attempt to convince myself that I can make them work because I think they look awesome, but haven't ever found them to do as good of a job as a hybrid. Hitting a driving iron off the tee is a lot of fun. The issue arises when you've got a 220 yard approach shot and you don't have the ball teed up as hitting a driving iron out of the rough, off a side hill lie in the fairway, etc. is not a lot of fun. 

The exception is going to be if you are trying to work the ball or are really keen on getting a low ball flight. In those instances you will have more success with a driving iron. An additional exception would be for players in the scratch or better realm. 

The question to answer is, "Why am I not using a hybrid?" If there is a really good answer to that question then, by all means, go for it.

[Djnz]

You all posed some really good points. 

Tonight after work I played 9 holes with the 3 iron in the bag.

Off the tee it is extremely solid and I was able to work the ball left and right. Playing from the rough did not seem to be an issue, I was still able to get good height and launch angles. I will use it for another few rounds and keep you all posted on how it is performing. If I was going to try a hybrid, what are some brands that you would recommend?    

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

5 hours ago, Djnz said:

You all posed some really good points. 

Tonight after work I played 9 holes with the 3 iron in the bag.

Off the tee it is extremely solid and I was able to work the ball left and right. Playing from the rough did not seem to be an issue, I was still able to get good height and launch angles. I will use it for another few rounds and keep you all posted on how it is performing. If I was going to try a hybrid, what are some brands that you would recommend?    

Callaway pre owned can get you some deals. Sub70 is great. Otherwise if you want something tuned for your game always best to get fit somewhere before dropping money on a new club. 

[B-rad]

I personally love my hybrids.   They are the easiest club in my long iron arsena to hit.  In fact they are some of my favorite clubs.   I have a 4 and 5 hybrid Rogue.   

[tony@CIC]

15 minutes ago, B-rad said:

I personally love my hybrids.   They are the easiest club in my long iron arsena to hit.  In fact they are some of my favorite clubs.   I have a 4 and 5 hybrid Rogue.   

I agree. I've got 3 very dependable hybrids: 410 26*, 410 22* and the most recent addition a 19* Stealth2.   

[Hacker60521]

I carry D, 3W, 4H, 4I at the top of my bag.  While the 4H and 4I are similar in total distance, the carry, height, and the turf where I like to hit them are all a bit different. But like others said, play with what works for you. 

[MIGregB]

On 7/27/2023 at 8:47 AM, cnosil said:

The better option is what meets your needs.  That option could be a utility, hybrid, or fairway wood.   Typically, utility is lower ball flight and fairway is highest ball flight.  Does the utility iron do what you want?  If so, no other option needed.  

I couldn't agree more! I've not found a wood style hybrid that I can hit consistently, but I use my Srixon 23 deg Hybrid Iron when I need to keep the flight down, whether in the fairway or on the tee, and fairway woods (5 or 7) when I want it elevated. 

[cnosil]

7 hours ago, Djnz said:

If I was going to try a hybrid, what are some brands that you would recommend?    

This is a pretty good place to start:  https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guides/hybrids/best-hybrids-2023/

 

I am one of the testers and believe that the list is a good place to start.  

[Snowmonkeys1310]

8 hours ago, Djnz said:

You all posed some really good points. 

Tonight after work I played 9 holes with the 3 iron in the bag.

Off the tee it is extremely solid and I was able to work the ball left and right. Playing from the rough did not seem to be an issue, I was still able to get good height and launch angles. I will use it for another few rounds and keep you all posted on how it is performing. If I was going to try a hybrid, what are some brands that you would recommend?    

Typical course conditions that you encounter matter when choosing the right tools for the job (grass type, fairway firmness, height of the rough, prevalence of side hill lies, etc.). That's a bit nerdy though so if it's working for you then that's awesome.

As for brands, it depends on what you want

• PING is the best all-rounder. The G430 is so, so good. Had the G410 before that and it was great too.
• Titleist would be my second choice, but they have 3 different lines based on what you want
  • TS1/TSi1/TSR1: Marketed towards slower swing speeds, but that's unfair. It excels at getting the ball up and is the easiest to hit.
  • TS2/TSi2/TSR2: Middle of the road choice that's plenty fast but still has some forgiveness
  • TS3/TSi3/TSR3: Definitely for better players and would be the closest to a driving iron of the bunch in how the ball flies and the ability to work the ball; however, there is a lack of forgiveness that detracts from why you might opt to play a hybrid in the first place...
• Srixon's ZX is another good option that can be found relatively cheaply

[Shrek74]

For me it's hybrids over utility irons. Mainly due to the fact I'm trash with long irons. I'm getting ready to start with a swing coach so hopefully that improves, but the look at the hybrid and the extra pop I get makes it more valuable to me. I put away my 4-iron for a hybrid for that reason.

I'm all HZRDUS in my woods/hybrids, so I'm totally on board for that part of your decision.

[Haro]

Tried  a Utility 

Good off a tee but I find it very  difficulty off the fairway 

Years ago Tried a hybrid but hooked all the time with them   but since have changed my mind 

Have been using 7 wood for many years then my swing is stronger and better I replaced the 7 wood with hybrid 

the hybrid  is more versatile  Can control the hook now and can fade it and easier from all type of lies in  the fairway then a 7 wood 

Many days I use the hybrid more than 5 wood from shorter dogleg par 4  off the tee and  2nd shot par 5s 

I use the fairway wood more like a driver now a days  and hit up on the ball 

Edited July 28, 2023 by Haro

[CudaKota66]

Adams Idea AOS12 3-hybrid when it absolutely, positively has to be straight & 200 yards+
Great off the tee & out of the rough

I've tried a few driving irons, but the 3 hybrid has the mass advantage at my swing speed.

Your results my vary

 

[MNMGA2023]

It's a hybrid for me all the way...although i've never used a driving iron.  I have a hard enough time hitting my 4 iron, i'd imagine a 2i/driving iron would be even more difficult.  

[Big moose]

My first few sets of clubs had 3 and 4 irons in them, my swing speed was not high enough to properly hit these clubs. The only time I used them was to punch out from the trees. Then the hybrids came out and what a game changer those are, I hit them 100 times better than the long irons. In my opinion they are the best clubs ever made for us mid to high handicap players. 

[Brooky03]

I haven’t tried a driving iron but I’m not eager to, either.  I tend to hit my hybrids well, especially now that I have some ‘pro’ (anti-hook) hybrids in the bag.  Hybrids are more versatile and should be longer loft-for-loft, at least in theory.

I don’t play in strong enough wind usually to worry about keeping the ball low. 

[Ayay091]

I really want to give a driving iron a crack I use sim 2 hybrids (2 and 4dialed down one notch) but realising as my striking gets better I might have a chance with a utility.

I definitely have the wrong shaft in my 3w for now x stiff hazrdos Green (small batch) I like the hazrdos black black rdx in my hybrid 2.

I'm keen to try the ping crossover but I'd like to get on a launch monitor to try a couple out first as I think being fitted for the right one is key.

 

[JoshuaAlden]

Recently made the switch from a Titleist 505 driving iron to a Stealth 2, 3 hybrid.

Matched them side by side on the trackman and on the course. Blinded a few friends to all the data, and every single one of them chose the Hybrid. 

In the end it came down to the numbers. Take them both for a spin and see what you like and don’t like. I agree with personal preference, as long as the numbers sing the same song. 

 

[TG8]

Be sure to do a bag mapping.  I had to swap my u505 for a hybrid because the driving iron only went a couple irons farther than my 4 iron.  

[Byrnzee]

I have had a 3 hybrid in my bag for as long as I can remember. I typically like hitting it off the tee on tighter fairways and using it to attack reachable Par 5s in two. However, sometimes it can be inconsistent, especially off the fairway. I recently played with someone using a driving iron and he was so consistent with it that I started questioning whether or not I could benefit from owning one.

Long story short... I found a Ping iCrossover on Facebook Marketplace for a really good deal and decided to pull the trigger. I still think I'll be using the hybrid more often, but I think it will be nice to switch it out for the driving iron depending on the course, wind conditions, etc.

Looking forward to testing it out once it arrives! Might be a permanent addition to the bag if it makes a good impression 

[GolfSpy_APH]

This I go back and forth on way more than I would care to admit. I have had better success with the Driving iron though.

[rosshopper]

Driving iron off the tee box, hybrid or 7 wood in the fairway