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How to fit a driving iron in the bag?

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SpartanLife

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This is kind of a weird question as I've wanted a driving iron for a long time just because I enjoy hitting them and I'd like one basically as a backup club for if I'm hooking my longer clubs or maybe for a tight course or something, but I can't seem to be happy with how it could fit into my set. (Also I'm just a hoe and want something new lol)


The thing is, I don't play any fairway woods, so it makes the set up kinda odd IMO.


I go driver (290 carry)
16.5* hybrid (260 carry)
20* hybrid (240 carry)
4 iron (220 carry)


So for a day where I feel like I needed the accuracy of a driving iron, I feel like I'd want a lower lofted one (17-18*) for max distance. But then it would be awkward as I have a hybrid that's shorter than the iron


Or I could get a 20* one and pull out the 20* hybrid, but then that seems like it doesn't make sense because why not have the driving iron go as far as possible?


What do you guys think?
 
SpartanLife said:
This is kind of a weird question as I've wanted a driving iron for a long time just because I enjoy hitting them and I'd like one basically as a backup club for if I'm hooking my longer clubs or maybe for a tight course or something, but I can't seem to be happy with how it could fit into my set. (Also I'm just a hoe and want something new lol)


The thing is, I don't play any fairway woods, so it makes the set up kinda odd IMO.


I go driver (290 carry)
16.5* hybrid (260 carry)
20* hybrid (240 carry)
4 iron (220 carry)


So for a day where I feel like I needed the accuracy of a driving iron, I feel like I'd want a lower lofted one (17-18*) for max distance. But then it would be awkward as I have a hybrid that's shorter than the iron


Or I could get a 20* one and pull out the 20* hybrid, but then that seems like it doesn't make sense because why not have the driving iron go as far as possible?


What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I say take stock as to where you use the other clubs. If you don't use one of them all that much - the DI goes in that spot. Gaps only matter if you use the clubs or have a tendency to get to that yardage


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My gut reaction would be in place of the 20 hybrid


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Wicked Cool Bearded Man said:
I say take stock as to where you use the other clubs. If you don't use one of them all that much - the DI goes in that spot. Gaps only matter if you use the clubs or have a tendency to get to that yardage


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Click to expand...

Another thing I thought of which also points to a 20* is the fact that it could be a wind cub. I hit the ball very high so a driving iron would be better in the wind than the hybrid
 
SpartanLife said:
Another thing I thought of which also points to a 20* is the fact that it could be a wind cub. I hit the ball very high so a driving iron would be better in the wind than the hybrid
Click to expand...

Yup- with presumably better control


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SpartanLife said:
Another thing I thought of which also points to a 20* is the fact that it could be a wind cub. I hit the ball very high so a driving iron would be better in the wind than the hybrid
Click to expand...

Do you hit your 4i high also? If so I’m not sure a driving iron is going to be any different. Most of today’s driving irons are hollow bodied and perform more like hybrids for folks who don’t like looking down at a hybrid.
 
I’d replace the 20* hybrid. I carry two driving irons and no hybrids. The driving irons are more accurate for me and are easier to flight as well.
 
What are all your club gaps? I fit another club in the top end by going 4H 6H 7i instead of 4H 5H 6i 7i. That let me have a low spin 3H and a high spinning 5w(ish)
 
I would go for something that carries a similar distance to your 16.5 hybrid, as you seem to have good gapping and if the DI is a tee-only Club then why mess with the rest of your bag setup.
I would recommend reading the Callaway UT thread. Canadan’s posts about the 18 & 21 deg versions are worth seeking out.


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JohnSinVA said:
Do you hit your 4i high also? If so I’m not sure a driving iron is going to be any different. Most of today’s driving irons are hollow bodied and perform more like hybrids for folks who don’t like looking down at a hybrid.
Click to expand...

I hit everything high. Right now I'm playing a new set of King Forged Tours. But my previous set was a nearly 10 year old set of TM Tour Preferreds. They were 1* strong so they had a 23* 4 iron. I tried the Taylormade UDI 4 (also 23*) and put the same shaft in it (C-Taper S+ 125) that I have in my irons. I compared them on a launch monitor 3 different times, and every time, I lost 5-10 yards with the UDI because of higher launch and higher spin. And the UDI is supposed to be a long hitting club with a hot face.

So you may be right, maybe instead of a driving iron, I should just get the 3 iron from my set? I was hoping for more forgiveness tho that driving irons provide with all the tungsten they have in them, but you're right in that I don't need any help getting the ball up, and that can even hurt as I did with the UDI.

I think the play would be try to find a DI that carries the same as my 20* 3 hybrid, but it may take some experimentation to figure out what loft and model I do that with, and that's also good in the wind
 
strawboater said:
I would go for something that carries a similar distance to your 16.5 hybrid, as you seem to have good gapping and if the DI is a tee-only Club then why mess with the rest of your bag setup.
I would recommend reading the Callaway UT thread. Canadan’s posts about the 18 & 21 deg versions are worth seeking out.


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Click to expand...

But then the set would be weird with an iron longer than a hybrid :D

Also for a windy day the 20* hybrid can be too high while the 16.5* isn't
 
How to fit a driving iron in the bag?

SpartanLife said:
But then the set would be weird with an iron longer than a hybrid

Also for a windy day the 20* hybrid can be too high while the 16.5* isn't
Click to expand...

Surely the #1 purpose of the driving iron is to 'get it out there' with a modicum of accuracy when hit off the tee? If this is the primary purpose of the club, then why sacrifice 20-30 yards by going for a higher lofted one? Practically should win it over looks every time.

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In theory, according to the above, your peak heights on correctly struck shots shouldn't be too different, so your 16.5 shouldn't go much lower than the 20 (maybe 3-4 yards). Spin numbers will be different though. You could choke down on the lower lofted DI to achieve a variety of results in windy conditions. Or, if you like shiny things, you could always pick up 2 utility irons of differing lofts for use on windy days!




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