A 3 iron is usually favoured by players looking for precision or else to work the ball with a draw or a fade. It can often be used on par 3’s, shots from the fairway and light to mid rough along with shots looking for the green from a distance of about 180 yards.
Why do they put 3 irons on the PGA Tour?
They did this surreptitiously in an effort to demonstrate how their irons hit the ball farther than the competitor’s clubs. This trend created a 2-iron with the same loft as a 1-iron of old and the 3-iron is now equivalent to the old 2-iron and closing in on a 1-iron.
Can you use an iron off the tee in golf?
Irons can be played from the teeing ground, using a golf tee, and it is often appropriate to do so. On a par-3 hole, for example, you will probably use an iron on your tee shot. Or you might use an iron off any (or even every) tee in order to have better control over the shot.
What is the difference between a 2-iron and a 3-iron Golf Club?
This trend created a 2-iron with the same loft as a 1-iron of old and the 3-iron is now equivalent to the old 2-iron and closing in on a 1-iron. Clubs are now about 4 to 5 degrees stronger than the same numbered clubs of the 1960s There are no loft standards for clubs as these are now somewhat dependent on the club head design.
Can you hit a 3 iron straight?
In addition to the loft creep, fewer golfers can hit a straight 3 iron. Besides hybrids, there are now driving irons (U-500-510) that can fill the role of a 3 or 4 iron with better results. The T-100 and 620 irons still have a 21 degree three iron but are generally considered to be for more skilled users.
What is a 3 iron in golf used for?
Generally speaking, a 3-wood is used for a shot in the range of 210 yards, while a 3-iron is used for a shot in the range of 180 yards. A 5-wood is used for a shot of about 180 yards, while a 5-iron is used for a shot of about 160 yards.
Is a 3 iron necessary?
Should You Carry A 3 Iron? For mid to high handicap golfers, having a 3 iron in the bag is not recommended. The low amount of loft and thin face makes a 3 iron hard to hit and is why you'd be better off playing a 4 hybrid. Just like with a 2 iron, most of the golfers you'll see on your local course won't have a 3 iron.
What club does a 3 iron replace?
hybridTypically, a 3-iron is replaced by a 19 degree hybrid or a 5-wood, a 4-iron is replaced by a 22 degree hybrid or a 7-wood, a 5-iron is replaced by a 25 degree hybrid, and a 6-iron is replaced by a 28 degree hybrid.
Is a 3 iron easier to hit than a 2 iron?
Given the additional loft on a 3-iron, it is easier to hit. And it aids you in getting the ball in the air, compared to a 2-iron.
Do PGA pros use 3 irons?
Hell, only 20 percent of PGA Tour players carry a 3-iron that's not a utility iron. That number fades to almost nonexistent on the LPGA Tour.
Why is a 3 iron so hard to hit?
This bulkiness means that the Moment of Inertia (MOI, which is the forgiveness factor) is greater but not as forgiving as an equivalent lofted Fairway wood or Hybrid. This makes the 3-iron more difficult to hit.
How far should a 3 iron go?
between 125 and 250 yardsThe 3 iron can typically hit the ball between 125 and 250 yards. It should go further than most irons and slightly less distance than fairway woods or drivers.
Is a 3 iron a driving iron?
Yes and no. A 3-iron can certainly be used as a driving iron but it's not specifically designed in the same way. Three irons are usually 20-23 degrees in loft while driving irons have less loft. Plus, driving irons are also usually more forgiving and meant to be hit off the tee.
How do you hit a 3 iron?
0:262:27Billy Horschel demonstrates how to use a 3-iron to attack the courseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll i'm going to do is move it back i'm just going to move my feet shift up a little bit move theMoreAll i'm going to do is move it back i'm just going to move my feet shift up a little bit move the ball back about a ball maybe a ball and a half and make the same swing.
Does a 3 hybrid replace a 3 iron?
Hybrid clubs are numbered and are generally designed to replace the iron with the same number – for example, a 3-hybrid would replace a 3-iron. However, a typical golfer will likely hit the ball a bit farther with a hybrid than with an iron of the same number.
Do any pro golfers use a 2 iron?
31 of the top 100 PGA Tour players use driving or utility irons with 4 of those players having more than one in their bag. The most used driving iron within this elite group is a 4-iron with 15% using one. 5% carry a 2-driving iron, 13% use a 3-iron with only three players using a 5-driving iron.
Who should use a 2 iron?
Many low-handicap golfers consider a standard 2 iron to be a “driving iron” because of its distance off the tee. Golfers with a high swing speed and who can easily make contact with the ball are ideal candidates for a driving iron. If facing tight fairways, a driving iron will be ideal because it will go straighter.
What is a 3 iron golf club?
The 3 iron is a club that requires good ball-striking to perform well, but don’t let this put you off. This club will tend to produce high spin and a low launch to create a strong ball flight on windy days. Hybrids spin slightly less but launch higher, both can be great for long attacks at a green.
What is the best substitute for a 3 iron?
The 3 wood is the best alternative to a driver from the tee and from perfect lies on the fairway. The 3 hybrid is the perfect substitute for the 3 iron for golfers who struggle to hit the strong iron.
Which iron gives you the most feel?
If you are a good ball striker, then the 3 iron will give you the most feel. This is a reason many prefer them, they will also give elite players more control and accuracy. For other golfers, the hybrid will give you the most control and accuracy, they certainly develop the most spin.
Can hybrids replace low irons?
Hybrids can be a great replacement for low irons, especially for golfers who struggle with these. They can also be a good replacement for clubs like the 5 wood and up, I don’t think they are a replacement for 3 woods. Those clubs are too different, you shouldn’t choose between them.
Is the 3 hybrid a good club?
The 3 hybrid can be played from the tee, the fairway and the rough, it actually becomes a better club in bad lies . It is also the most forgiving club of the three, a factor that can be of huge benefit to many golfers.
Can you hit a 3 iron from the fairway?
It can be a difficult club to hit from the fairway but, if you can hit it well you can hit any iron. The 3 iron is a great club to be able to hit accurately as it can open up holes for you like a surgeon’s knife.
Is 3 wood and 3 iron good?
If you like to play it lower and run the ball more, say you’re a links player, then the 3 wood and 3 iron approach is good. Hybrids certainly have their place if you like to play it high. It’s no secret that even masters winner, Dustin Johnson is carrying hybrids now, a time he thought would never come in his career.
What is the lowest loft iron in the PGA?
At 22.5 degrees, it is typically the lowest-lofted iron in the golf bag of the best iron player on the PGA Tour in 2019. Of course, he has the skill to play an iron with lower loft, but the point that history reveals to us is that the effective loft of playability for an iron is about 22 degrees and higher.
When did the 1-iron go extinct?
At this point, the 1-iron was virtually extinct, and in 1975 , Lee Trevino was immortalized by his joke about how God couldn’t hit a 1-iron, which typically fell in the 18-degree range at the time. 2-irons were standard issue in the set, and the lowest loft you might find is 20 degrees.
Is the 3-iron extinct?
The 3-iron is almost extinct. It sounds like an odd statement, but it’s very true. Don’t believe me? Go try and buy one in a set. They are not easily found.
3 Iron Vs 4 Iron – Which Club To Use And When
The 3 and 4 Iron are similar clubs, separated simply by loft in most cases.
4 Irons Overview
A 4 iron is very similar to a 3 iron, it just has more loft in the club.
3 Iron Overview & First Impressions
3 Irons have long slender heads and come in various styles from players irons, game improvement irons to distance irons.
4 Iron Overview & First Impressions
The 4 iron is an impressive mid to long range club with a slender compact head, aimed at precision and accuracy.
Who Are 3 Irons For?
Being honest, you wouldn’t be surprised to see a 3 iron in any golfers bag for it’s versatility and usefulness.
Our Favorite 3 Iron – Callaway Mavrik
Callaway are a mammoth when it comes to high performing golfing irons and the Mavrik is one of the more forgiving clubs they have made, available in a max forgiveness, normal and pro version to suit all players.
Our Favorite 4 Iron – The Taylormade Sim Max
If you are looking for a club set that has some of the very best technology and packs in forgiveness alongside distance and accuracy, the Taylormade Sim Max is a serious option.
Situation 3: On a long par 3
It seems like most golf courses have a par three that is 200 yards plus. I often dreaded these holes because I lacked confidence in the hybrid because of the fear of over drawing it left or hitting a pulled shot.
Measure What Is Best For Your Game
I would highly recommend a portable launch monitor to measure what is best for your game. Many golfers will need some testing to determine if a fairway wood, hybrid or driving iron is best for their bag and their game.
Final Thoughts: When To Use A Driving Iron
I believe you will find the driving iron to be more than just a “driving” club. The overall accuracy and confidence when standing over any of thee shots listed above is a game changer. You can now play with confidence from this distance!
What does MOI mean on a 3 iron?
This bulkiness means that the Moment of Inertia (MOI, which is the forgiveness factor) is greater but not as forgiving as an equivalent lofted Fairway wood or Hybrid. This makes the 3-iron more difficult to hit. If however you hit your 3-iron flush i.e. right on the sweet spot it is as sweet as a any shot can be.
When did the 1 iron lose its place in the bag?
The 1-iron lost its place in the bag about 35 years ago , soon after manufacturers started decreasing the unwritten standard lofts for irons. They did this surreptitiously in an effort to demonstrate how their irons hit the ball farther than the competitor’s clubs.
How strong are clubs in the 1960s?
Clubs are now about 4 to 5 degrees stronger than the same numbered clubs of the 1960s. There are no loft standards for clubs as these are now somewhat dependent on the club head design. You will find that the trend of decreasing the loft is reversing a little because of the mass distribution in the club head of the more forgiving heads.
Has iron technology changed?
Iron technology has not changed significantly in the last 10 years or so but it certainly has changed since Jack Nicklaus was at his peak in the early 1960s but he was able to hit a 2-iron very well. Ping introduced forgiving irons – cavity back clubs -- in the late 1960’s and this concept is now used in almost every iron club on ...
Driving Iron vs 3 Iron: Which One Should I Carry
The driving iron was designed with the tee shot in mind, but can be used from a variety of lies. Overall, the driving iron is typically easier to hit and provides more forgiveness and ability to launch the ball higher. While the 3 iron is ideal if you are looking for accuracy and precision in carry distance.
Next Steps: Test Out Both Clubs
We believe that golfers should have a place to test out and experim;ent what club is best for their game. Whether you head to the local golf store to hit in a similar or have your own launch monitor, we highly recommend hitting 10-15 shots with both clubs and comparing data on the following:
Final Thoughts: Driving Iron vs 3 Iron
Test out and figure out what is best for your game. Have a variety of hybrids, driving irons, long irons, wedges and putters. Matchup what is best for your game at the time and don’t forget to have fun! Part of the fun for us is testing out different options and trying to put together the perfect combination for that upcoming round!
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
Set Composition
Loft, Length, and Distance
- As you go through the set, from the 3-iron to the pitching wedge, each iron has a little more loft than the previous, and a little shorter shaft length than the previous, so each club (going from 3-iron to PW) hits the golf ball a little less distance than the previous. That is, a 5-iron has more loft, a shorter shaft, and produces shorter shots than the 4-iron; the 4-iron has more loft, a shorter sh…
Long, Mid-, and Short Irons
- Irons are generally categorized as long irons, mid-irons , and short irons. Long irons are the 2-, 3- ,and 4-irons; mid-irons, the 5-, 6-, and 7-irons; short irons, the 8- and 9-irons and pitching wedge. (Two-irons are becoming obsolete and are exceedingly rare for recreational golfers. Because of this, some sources now count the 5-iron as one of the long irons. We still classify it as a mid-iron…
Distances
- Learning your distances—how far you hit each club—is much more important than trying to hit each club to some predetermined "correct" yardage. There is no "right" distance for each club, there is only your distance. That said, a typical male recreational golfer might hit a 4-, 5-, or 6- iron from 150 yards, while a typical female might use a 3-wood, 5-wood, or 3-iron from that distance. …