Poll: From fairways and light rough, 4 iron or 4 hybrid?

Hi all

I hope to get some views from fellow GRians.

I note that many use hybrids to replace long irons or shorter woods, especially 2/3 iron and 5 wood, etc.

But, I was wondering how many would replace a 4 iron in the bag with a 4 hybrid? (assuming both are in the region of 22 to 24 deg loft) I am thinking specifically of the purpose of hitting from fairway or light rough (i.e. not tee-off).

Responses would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Wouldn't your shot choice be dependent upon how you want to control your shot?

Personally, I will always take a 4i cos I know that I've got a better chance of my shot landing softer and rolling less due to the higher spin rate..

I am assuming this poll is only for people who have the ability to hit a 4 iron right? Otherwise the hybrid is the automatic choice.

4i. Not feeling comfortable with my hybrids of late.

Actually, I would just take a 5i and lay-up

I don't carry a 4i in my bag now when playing in Singapore...

i am not good enough to carry a 4i.
so the hybrid is an auto choice for me.

if 4i works that day, it will definitely 4i. easier to shape and control the trajectory.

assuming if i can hit both 4i and 4h, i would go for 4i, still like the feel of hitting iron than hybrid...but sad to say..i still cannot hit 4i yet....haha !!!

Light rough take 4i, irons are the best

so the idea is have 4i and 3H.. so u wont have to make this decision

I seem to power fade my hybrids Maybe it's a shaft issue. But more likely a LOFT issue.

Technospaz wrote:

4i. Not feeling comfortable with my hybrids of late.

Actually, I would just take a 5i and lay-up

Adams A12 are good.

recently my hybrid sucks but my iron is doing me some good shot...especially when i need to get out of rough..so i would definitely go for iron...

Thanks guys for the responses.

I guess what I am trying to find out is, at the 4i/4h level, what is the proportion of people that find a 4h easier than a 4i to hit from fairways and shallow rough, and vice versa. Also, I am referring to just getting the ball in the air and straight, not so much shaping shots and reducing roll, increasing/reducing spin, etc.

well Mox, I can't get a 4i to launch properly, but I can hit the green or somewhere close with a 4hybrid.

However, I also have a very slow swing speed.

So I guess the question is, what is your swing speed and ball striking ability?

Derek wrote:

well Mox, I can't get a 4i to launch properly, but I can hit the green or somewhere close with a 4hybrid.

However, I also have a very slow swing speed.

So I guess the question is, what is your swing speed and ball striking ability?

My ball-striking ability could be classified as 'inconsistent' and generally 'not so precise'.

My swing speed varies between 82-89mph on a 6 iron.

Hi Mox,

My personal opinion, your swing speed means u have the potential to use the 4i.

If you are inconsistent using both the 4i and the 4h, then the club of choice boils down to which one is less inconsistent, and which club you feel more confident with.

Conventional wisdom dictates the hybrid, since it is designed to be more forgiving and to launch the ball more easily ... however, the choice is still yours.

Big question mark since u say 4H n 4i level. I dunno if anybody carries 2 clubs of the same loft on the course. If both are level, I would rather have a iron cos still can use in deep rough to punch the ball out

In my case

everything depends on what kind of lie...

if the ball is covered 50% I would rather used an 8th iron, which is 150yards

if the ball is covered like 1/8 or 1/4 I would used a 4 hybrid.

I can hit my 3 and 4 iron but the distance is shorter than my 4 hybrid
so my 4i stays home.

i can only hit up to 5 iron...hybrid i realize is not that good in rough, unless the ball is sitting up and on a flattish ground. The longer irons are surprisingly easier to hit from the rough and the fairway (or is it just me). Maybe the expectation is just to get it out, instead of accuracy and distance.

Thanks again for the responses and votes guys.

the results show an even spilt between 4i and 4h, which is surprising cuz the hybrids are being touted as much easier to use than long irons.

NB: i agree that if one is choosing which one to put in the bag and which one to leave at home, other considerations come in - e.g. the objective of not having 2 clubs of the same loft, etc. And also 4i being better out of deep-ish rough etc.

My intention was actually a hypothetical situation where a ball is on the fairway or shallow rough (1/4 or less) within an individual's 4i distance to the pin (more or less), and one can try the same shot 50 times, which club would one choose (4i or 4h) to get the most consistent result of a good launch and straight ball. I hope this makes sense.

I am asking cuz whilst a 4h is supposed to be easier to launch and get more distance, I somehow feel more confident at address looking at the iron (which of course does not necessarily translate into a good result).

Thanks for everyone's patience!

No one except your coach or clubfitter should be telling you what to play. Decide for yourself which club gives you more confidence when standing over a ball in the rough. Trust your own gut feel and realistic knowledge about your own swing. Keyword being realistic.

mox wrote:

Thanks again for the responses and votes guys.

the results show an even spilt between 4i and 4h, which is surprising cuz the hybrids are being touted as much easier to use than long irons.

NB: i agree that if one is choosing which one to put in the bag and which one to leave at home, other considerations come in - e.g. the objective of not having 2 clubs of the same loft, etc. And also 4i being better out of deep-ish rough etc.

My intention was actually a hypothetical situation where a ball is on the fairway or shallow rough (1/4 or less) within an individual's 4i distance to the pin (more or less), and one can try the same shot 50 times, which club would one choose (4i or 4h) to get the most consistent result of a good launch and straight ball. I hope this makes sense.

I am asking cuz whilst a 4h is supposed to be easier to launch and get more distance, I somehow feel more confident at address looking at the iron (which of course does not necessarily translate into a good result).

Thanks for everyone's patience!

bro ... u have answered ur own question ... golf is a game of confidence ... if you feel better using your 4i, then by all means stick to your 4i! Your game, your swing, your choice!

Good Golfing!

bro Derek,

Yeah i know it is about confidence, but dont wanna miss out on something that could, technical at least, make life easier and my game better.

it sounds silly, but i think if enough people tell me that a particular club is actually how great, my confidence it that club will also increase....

no bro ... not silly at all ... in fact sounds a lot like the majority of us ...