Should I replace my 3 & 4 iron with a 3 hybrid?

Question

OK, this may seem an odd question, but I have Taylor made RAC OS2 irons and am going to be replacing my 3 iron with a three hybrid. I have a 2 hybrid, a nike CPR3 2 (18 degree) and am looking at the cpr3 3 hybrid (22 degree). My 3 iron is 20 degrees and my 4 is 23 degrees. I can hit the 4 ok, but have trouble with the 3. Would a 22 degree hybrid be a good replacement for the 3 & 4 iron (because of loft?) What I am basically getting at is would there be any reason to keep the 4 iron with its 23 degrees in the bag if I have a 22 degree hybrid? This would free up another slot for a wedge and keep me at the 14 club limit.

What say you.

Answer 1

If you want to score better....then yes

Answer 2

I would try the hybrid.

First, buy the hybrid then if you don't like it, return it back.

Answer 3

I would.  

One-the hybrid is a better club.

Two-Less clubs in the bag=easier to carry.

Answer 4

Your dilemma is due to the 1-degree difference, correct?  My answer is that the hybrid would probably be a good replacement for both the 3 & 4 (BTW, I use the TM RAC TP Set - I use the 5 - PW, and use a Rescue 22 and have 4 wedges).  It would give you some flexibility, in that choking up an inch gives you the 4 Iron, and full length would be the 3.  

I guess the better way to think about this is would you use the hybrid for the 3/4 shots more or less than an additional wedge?  The club you use the most, is what you should concentrate your thoughts on.

Answer 5

I will tell you my experience and I am a low handicap, I put an 18 and 22 degree hybrid in my bag about 6 or 7 years ago and for me they made a big difference in my long game.  I can hit them much higher I can it them low to make them run they just made that part of my game that much better.  They have given me that much more confidence and that is a huge part of the game so I hope this helps good luck and try them.

Answer 6

I replaced my 3 Iron with a hybrid 4. I could never hit the 3 very well and needed a club for 185-200 yards. I hit the 4 hybrid in the simulator and bought it. I kept my 4 iron in the bag.

Answer 7

I agree with Gman, but golf is a different game for everybody.

Bottom line is that if you have any doubts about your 3 and 4 irons, trying out a hybrid probably won't hurt your game.  From my own experience, they're more forgiving and easier to hit out of difficult lies - thick rough especially.

For me, switching clubs isn't a simple task and I'm a hack.  What I carry in the bag serves a purpose that isn't always called upon during a round.  Going to the range and learning how to hit a new club is one thing, but you have to feel good about using it during a round.  It takes time to develop that trust in a club and the only way I know how to do it is to give it an honest chance and work with it for a while.  Magic comes later.

5 iron is the lowest iron I carry and it hasn't changed my game significantly better or worse.

golfingg has a good point of view also.  No point in carrying multiple clubs in your bag that do the same thing.

Ahh what do I know.

Answer 8

If you have difficulty hitting the four or if you can't accomplish a consistent distance with the four, I'd replace it. The loft is of little consequence. The hybrid will give you a different ball flight and give you a different yardage than your iron.

I'd focus more on filling yardages. You want your clubs spread over a range of yardages. If you hit your 3 iron 225 and your 4 iron 220 and your 3 hybrid 220 you can use just one (I just made up yardages...).

Answer 9

I would use it to re-place the 3 iron, but I would keep the 4 iron until you get a wedge to replace it.  My Cobra 20* hybrid hits 20-25 yards further than my 3 iron so my 3 iron is staying in my bag for now.  That cobra is the easiest hitting club I've ever hit.

Answer 10

It all depends how you swing the golf club.

If you like to hit the golf club on the steep angle, then I would go

with the hybrid.

If you are one of the people that hit the ball on the upward swing,

then you should stick with the long irons because you have better chance of hitting the ball better.

Trust me. I am a 2 handicapper

I personally don't like the hybrid.

It just doesn't look right.

Hope it helped

Answer 11

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.