Do you still carry a 5-iron?

[Shrek74]

As I just celebrated my 50th b-day (although celebrate might be a strong word), I'm starting to think differently about my bag make-up than I did just a few short years ago. I had a PXG fitting a few days ago and will have an OEM-neutral fitting next Monday. Those fittings will help me determine what the proper bag make-up should be along with the best options to fill those slots.

One of those slots in particular is up for debate, as I take a long-hard look at my game and my needs - the 5 iron. Looking at my Shot Scope data over the 7 rounds I had it for at the end of last year, I hit the 5 iron 15 times. I bet I hit it well, less than 5. The other 10? Thin, topped, and fat are the best way to describe them. Consistency goes out the window with that long iron for me, and has for some time. I keep thinking I'll figure it out, especially with the changes I've made in my swing to help with good contact and proper swing mechanics. But is it worth continuing to struggle with it and allowing bad shots to happen 2/3 of the time while I continue to work on my swing for a fix that may never fully come? I'm thinking no.

So I'm looking at a complete reset of the top of my bag and that transition point into the irons along with the iron set make-up itself. The main point being that I'm looking to dump the 5 iron and replace it with something more useful, but more importantly more consistent.

So my question to you all is this - do you still use the 5 iron, and if not what have you replaced it with? Utility club, hybrid, or high-lofted fairway wood?

Let me know your thoughts and experiences around this part of your bag. I'd love to get more thoughts than just my own.

[Parshooter36]

I also recently turned 50. I haven't carried a 5 iron for at least the last 5 years. Shoot, I don't even have a 6 iron in the bag right now. I have hybrids in both spots currently, although I my swap the 6 iron back in when I feel my ball striking has been really good.

[MaxEntropy]

I turned 56 earlier this year and had been on the lookout for something to address the gap in my bag from 6i to 4h. For the last couple years, when I need a 5i distance, I had been gripping down an inch or two on 4h with decent results, but I don't think that is a reasonable long-term solution. I still carried the 5i for punch shots. I made a small adjustment with irons this season and have been generally hitting them better, so I actually pulled my 5i a couple times on Sunday and was pretty pleased with the results. I may rethink its replacement, but finding a nice 9w still appeals to me.

[I like to hit bombs]

No, I switched it out for a 5 hybrid. I wasn't hitting my 5 iron great, but i hit my 4 hybrid well. My instructor was just like, "Well get a 5 hybrid then." Hardest part was finding a stiffer shaft in 5 hybrid, but I got a TSR2 and it went from one of my highest dispersion shots to one of my most consistent. It also gapped a little better between my 4 hybrid and 6 iron as well.

[bellken]

60+ and, I haven't owned a 5 iron for about 10 years. I prefer a hybrid, though, a more forgiving 5 iron could work, too.

[zstokes]

I also just turned 50.  I do still have a 5 iron in my bag, but that's the lowest iron.  I carry 5, 7, and 9 wood as lower iron replacements as I hit them much more consistently.

So, 5-7iron are TM p790, 8-P are TM p770.

[cnosil]

6 is my longest iron that I hit well.   I replaced the 5 with a hybrid because I hit them well. Lots of people go fairway wood.  

[Bossfan]

61 and I have a 5i in the bag. I did switch to graphite shafts this year.

[Northern Monkey]

I’m 52 and still have a 5 iron, and a 4 iron, in my bag although I have been thinking about swapping out the 4 iron

[TMG_Golf]

7 and 9 woods have made my lower irons things of the past including the 5 iron. Like you I looked at my Shotscope data and was hitting my low irons so terrible that the woods have been the best thing to find my way into my bag in a long time.

[zstokes]

24 minutes ago, TMG_Golf said:

7 and 9 woods have made my lower irons things of the past including the 5 iron. Like you I looked at my Shotscope data and was hitting my low irons so terrible that the woods have been the best thing to find my way into my bag in a long time.

Right there with ya.  So much easier to hit.

[russtopherb]

48 and I’ve had a 5h for 3 years now I think. One of my smarter bag decisions. 

[dbdors]

I just took my 5I out for a 5 hybrid.  Just too inconsistent with it.

[Rob Person]

I have not used my 3 4 or 5i at all after realizing I couldn't hit them for dog doodoo at the range.  Occasionally I will go back and retry them, with no positive results. Im not sure if it's the length, the heaviness of them, or what.  I use a 5 wood, and a 22⁰ utility club in its place.  

With the upcoming Stix test, I should be able to determine if it's me, or the club.  I sure would like to be able to utilize the 5i with consistency though!

[Wheelieb]

I have a 5 iron, but I rarely ever use it. I think I’ve hit it maybe 2 times on the course and those were just punch shots to get out from the trees and advance the ball. My 7 wood is my go to club for consistency, it used to be my 5 wood. I want to try a 9 wood, but I’m not sure they have them anywhere to try. At least not in a stiff or x-stiff shaft that I have seen. 

[TJ Hall]

I love my 5 iron…it is quite versatile for me.  The course I play has a number of shots that require a left to right shape and I don’t have that, but have learned with the 5 iron tonight a driven ball turning over that will run.  It is my go to shot now in many situations!

[JAYER38]

Carry... Yes

Use... Not very often. I try to set myself up for clubs that I have more confidence in. 4i & 5i are the bas kids in the bag right now

 

[Burton29]

On 5/7/2024 at 8:21 AM, Shrek74 said:

As I just celebrated my 50th b-day (although celebrate might be a strong word), I'm starting to think differently about my bag make-up than I did just a few short years ago. I had a PXG fitting a few days ago and will have an OEM-neutral fitting next Monday. Those fittings will help me determine what the proper bag make-up should be along with the best options to fill those slots.

One of those slots in particular is up for debate, as I take a long-hard look at my game and my needs - the 5 iron. Looking at my Shot Scope data over the 7 rounds I had it for at the end of last year, I hit the 5 iron 15 times. I bet I hit it well, less than 5. The other 10? Thin, topped, and fat are the best way to describe them. Consistency goes out the window with that long iron for me, and has for some time. I keep thinking I'll figure it out, especially with the changes I've made in my swing to help with good contact and proper swing mechanics. But is it worth continuing to struggle with it and allowing bad shots to happen 2/3 of the time while I continue to work on my swing for a fix that may never fully come? I'm thinking no.

So I'm looking at a complete reset of the top of my bag and that transition point into the irons along with the iron set make-up itself. The main point being that I'm looking to dump the 5 iron and replace it with something more useful, but more importantly more consistent.

So my question to you all is this - do you still use the 5 iron, and if not what have you replaced it with? Utility club, hybrid, or high-lofted fairway wood?

Let me know your thoughts and experiences around this part of your bag. I'd love to get more thoughts than just my own.

When I played p790 irons a few years back, I ditched the 5 iron altogether! I went 6 iron to 4 22* hybrid. It was functional.. But part of me didn't like the discrepancy (OCD) in the numbers haha. 

With that said, I now game Mizuno Pro 223, so loft's are dialed back. With that said, I ditched the 223 5 iron and game a Cobra Utility 5 iron instead. Followed by a 5 hybrid! My gappings are great with this setup. I got this idea from Nelly Korda's bag. 

With that said, perhaps a 5 hybrid is what you're looking for. Maybe followed by a 7wood? Instead of your current 4 hybrid?

[Tom the Golf Nut]

No 5 iron here. I go Driver, 3w, 5w, 7w, 5 hybrid, then irons starting with the 6.

[THE GOLF GUY]

This is my set up , I swap out the 9 wood for the 5 iron in the colder months 

[Prodigal Duffer]

I use mine fairly regularly, particularly on par 5s when I'm too short for my 3W but still a good distance out.

[Josh Parker]

I carry 4-pw. I use the 4 iron off the tee on 1 hole and occasionally hit the 5 iron. I have thought of swapping a few things around myself.  

[GolfSpy_KFT]

I went 6-GW with my Aerojet set and then replaced the 5 iron slot with a 7 wood. Easy to hit, launch high and a good club for approach into greens. Its worked well for me, but I wouldn't rule out a return to a 5 iron in the future as I have gotten more comfortable hitting my irons. I had always struggled with longer irons, so for me it was worth trying something different.

[THE GOLF GUY]

10 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

I carry 4-pw. I use the 4 iron off the tee on 1 hole and occasionally hit the 5 iron. I have thought of swapping a few things around myself.  

I’m considering a 5 iron hybrid (Titleist 200 Utility build ), I like the Titleist and Srixon samplings .

Edited May 9 by THE GOLF GUY

[Josh Parker]

1 minute ago, THE GOLF GUY said:

I’m considering a 5 iron hybrid , I like the Titleist and Srixon samplings .

Both are great options. 

[Eagle12]

I carry 3 and 4 irons because I prefer them to my 3 and 4 woods. I am trying to get better using the woods/ hybrids. I am more comfortable using my irons for now.

 

[LukeCageGolf]

I have a full set of clubs 2-Pw Wilson Ultra System 45s and I use the 2-5 iron a lot 

[Pinhi1]

54 and carry both 4 and 5 iron.  Have always hit long irons very well, especially off the tee on tight par 4s. 

I did take the 3 iron out of the bag and added a 5W a couple years ago.  

4-5 are ZX5s. (They are so easy to hit) 

6-PW are ZX7s.

 

[BallsLeon]

Don't carry a 5 iron, but the lofts on my T200 6 iron (27°) are the same as a T100 5 iron (27°)

[HoselFade]

Cleveland TA3, 3-PW (All irons 2 degrees strong), Tad Moore 53 bent to 51, Cleveland CG12 58 bent to 56.
I'm kinda proud of my Iron play, so it's gonna be a while before I change anything.
FWIW, I'm on the coast in N.E. Florida, and the wind blows pretty good here and high flying shots get blown all over Hell's half acre here. Irons just bore better.