@Patrick Anlauf I do have a 4i I bent down to a 1i. I also have a 3utility/driving iron.
i don’t hit any of the irons far enough to be a legit driver replacement. However, I do have two clubs people make fun of me for having.
12 degree Teton hybrid driver
15 degree Teton Hybrid driver
These clubs are billed as oversized hybrid drivers…a hybrid with a driver face. I hit the 12 degree hybrid 265-270. I hit the 15 degree club 235-250.
It was a game changer for me, and I removed the fairway wood. I often use the hybrid instead of driver now. Basically, any par 4 that is 400 yards or less, becomes a real option. Also, par 5’s if I am not going for it in two, it becomes an option. I also use a hybrid if there is trouble I might reach on a big drive, but the hybrid will leave me short.
While I typically play the tips with my regular group, I go and play a lot during the week where my buddy and I get paired up. We always play whatever tee the people we are paired with will play. If I move up from tips, then the hybrid probably gets hit 2-1 over my driver.
The Teton is awesome off the tee. The one warning is, if you aren’t a good iron player, the big face makes it harder to hit off the ground. If you hit your irons well...it’s a legit option.
They claim it was designed by a former club designer from Nike. He designed the club specifically for people who are slowing down with their clubhead speed. The shorter shaft and big clubface makes it easier to control, the additional loft from driver they say, let’s people with slower swing speeds hit the ball further than their driver.
I just bought a 2 driving iron with 18 degrees of loft. and love it. So far I just use it off the tee but it’s a real fairway finder that goes in the 220-230 yard range for me. I play in Texas where it’s always windy and have always found hybrids go too high. My setup now goes Driver, 5 wood, then driving iron. I have two game improvement 4=5 iron that are chunky and can get me out of most situations. I love the driving iron off the tee but haven’t figured it out off the fairway. At a Callaway fitting they suggested only using a driving iron if you have a pretty fast swing Speed. I want something for super tight fairways and an option when Driver isnt my friend and I want to get it in play. I would go to a demo day and try it out to see if it works for you or not.
@Matt Kelton you will probably want to rethink the 5 wood because a 5w and a 3i should be about the same distance. May have to think about going with 3w to make your gapping right.
@Patrick Anlauf Man, I wrote a really long and detailed response on this post the other day and apparently never posted it. I have played the driving iron, hybrid, fairway woods 3, 4, 5). I like them for different things.I guess, I would say it depends on your game. 3 Driving iron, 3 hybrid, or 5w should all be pretty close to same distance, but the way it gets there is different. Meaning, they have different launch, trajectory, descent profiles.Advantage of the iron is the shorter shaft. The driving iron has some bulk behind the head so it’s more forgiving than a standard long-iron. Great club to hit low lasers and get runout…I usually swap out hybrid and driving iron because of wind or wet. Windy day, I take the driving iron every time. Keep it low and let it run out. On a wet day, I take the hybrid every time (opting for more carry since runout isn’t happening). The course also changes my selection. During the summer, my home course has very thick rough. The hybrid goes in the bag at that time. Here’s my last thought, the 1i will have less loft. Will it go further than say a 3i? Depends. We might run into a physics problem. Meaning, depending on the speed you swing the club, less loft creates less backspin, which means ball doesn’t stay in the air as long. The lower the ball speed the less value in decreasing loft. Ultimately, the utility iron is a great club, the question is where does it fit in your bag?
Might be time to embrace the new technology, Patrick. I think you may be quite surprised. If there's a Golf Galaxy or some other place nearby that has a hitting/fitting bay, give it a try. I could be wrong, but I believe GG refunds the fitting fee if you purchase a driver from them within a certain amount of days after the session.
@Steven longest iron in my bag goes between a 4i that I have loft jacked to make it more like a 1i or the 3utility.
The 4i i have lofted stronger than my 3utility. I hit that club about 225, but I hit low missiles that run out. Love it on tight fast fairways. The 3utility, I fly about 220, but it doesn’t run out as much. Overall, the two clubs probably play about the same total distance, but the 4/1i doesn’t fly as far…but runs out further.
I am probably a bad example however, since my irons are all the same length. :)
@GolfLivesMatter I will give the 3 Wood a try when I go out this Friday for 18-Hole play. Have to decide to place ball on a Tee or hit from the turf. I will go to the Practice Green and try both.
I'd tee it up just a bit. Maybe an inch. However, I suggest concentrating on your driver because actually it shouldn't be that much harder to hit. If you're not hitting the driver well you may have one or more of the following common issues:
Ball position too back in stance
Too far or too close to the ball at setup
Moving off the ball on the takeaway onto your trail foot
Lead shoulder is not traveling down towards your lead knee on the BS
@patrick anlauf, if you can tee it up you should. It’s the one chance to take a more forgiving lie. I tee my hybrids or fairway woods just above the turf so it’s like having a fluffy easy lie.
@Patrick Anlauf I do have a 4i I bent down to a 1i. I also have a 3utility/driving iron.
i don’t hit any of the irons far enough to be a legit driver replacement. However, I do have two clubs people make fun of me for having.
12 degree Teton hybrid driver
15 degree Teton Hybrid driver
These clubs are billed as oversized hybrid drivers…a hybrid with a driver face. I hit the 12 degree hybrid 265-270. I hit the 15 degree club 235-250.
It was a game changer for me, and I removed the fairway wood. I often use the hybrid instead of driver now. Basically, any par 4 that is 400 yards or less, becomes a real option. Also, par 5’s if I am not going for it in two, it becomes an option. I also use a hybrid if there is trouble I might reach on a big drive, but the hybrid will leave me short.
While I typically play the tips with my regular group, I go and play a lot during the week where my buddy and I get paired up. We always play whatever tee the people we are paired with will play. If I move up from tips, then the hybrid probably gets hit 2-1 over my driver.
The Teton is awesome off the tee. The one warning is, if you aren’t a good iron player, the big face makes it harder to hit off the ground. If you hit your irons well...it’s a legit option.
They claim it was designed by a former club designer from Nike. He designed the club specifically for people who are slowing down with their clubhead speed. The shorter shaft and big clubface makes it easier to control, the additional loft from driver they say, let’s people with slower swing speeds hit the ball further than their driver.
I just bought a 2 driving iron with 18 degrees of loft. and love it. So far I just use it off the tee but it’s a real fairway finder that goes in the 220-230 yard range for me. I play in Texas where it’s always windy and have always found hybrids go too high. My setup now goes Driver, 5 wood, then driving iron. I have two game improvement 4=5 iron that are chunky and can get me out of most situations. I love the driving iron off the tee but haven’t figured it out off the fairway. At a Callaway fitting they suggested only using a driving iron if you have a pretty fast swing Speed. I want something for super tight fairways and an option when Driver isnt my friend and I want to get it in play. I would go to a demo day and try it out to see if it works for you or not.
@Patrick Anlauf Man, I wrote a really long and detailed response on this post the other day and apparently never posted it. I have played the driving iron, hybrid, fairway woods 3, 4, 5). I like them for different things. I guess, I would say it depends on your game. 3 Driving iron, 3 hybrid, or 5w should all be pretty close to same distance, but the way it gets there is different. Meaning, they have different launch, trajectory, descent profiles. Advantage of the iron is the shorter shaft. The driving iron has some bulk behind the head so it’s more forgiving than a standard long-iron. Great club to hit low lasers and get runout…I usually swap out hybrid and driving iron because of wind or wet. Windy day, I take the driving iron every time. Keep it low and let it run out. On a wet day, I take the hybrid every time (opting for more carry since runout isn’t happening). The course also changes my selection. During the summer, my home course has very thick rough. The hybrid goes in the bag at that time. Here’s my last thought, the 1i will have less loft. Will it go further than say a 3i? Depends. We might run into a physics problem. Meaning, depending on the speed you swing the club, less loft creates less backspin, which means ball doesn’t stay in the air as long. The lower the ball speed the less value in decreasing loft. Ultimately, the utility iron is a great club, the question is where does it fit in your bag?
@GolfLivesMatter - thank you. I will follow your tips.
My question what is the longest iron in your bag and how do you hit?
I am going to post in a minute on somewhat related topic with tag you.
I have no experience with a driving iron.
@Russell Hogue, PhD, @GolfLivesMatter, @burkholder.ronald, and anyone else out there in SG-Land - any thoughts or experiences you might be able to share with Patrick in this regard?
I do not personally have a Driving Iron.