The longest Iron I carry in my bag is a 4 iron but I hardly hit it hence why I am here hahaha. I use my 5 wood to reach those 230 yard targets. I always struggle getting my 4 iron in the air and if I have a break in playing it could plague my 5 iron as well. You cleared up my confusion at setup. I fall into example you gave by having the ball too forward in my stance and being loaded on my back foot. Despite having fast swing speed I wouldn't have any confidence since I could either flush my shot or hit it fat. Thanks for the video and keep up the great work!

Hi Chris, thanks for a great video. The longest iron I carry is 4 iron, and I hit it roughly 190-200 meters. I have never considered putting a hybrid in the bag. The reason: During the past 3 years, I have made significant swing changes - going from arm based chicken wing swing to becoming a more and more powerful and consistent swing. And much of this success is thanks to your fantastic videos (followed you on KZfaq from the start), where you, quite a few times, managed to answer some of my swing questions virtually at the same time as they arose in my swing training! Due to the chicken wing problem, I was always a short hitter (but straight), so my goal has been to develop a powerful and consistent swing, with which I easily can hit the 4I specifically 200-220 meters off the tee or on the fairway "under pressure". I am getting there now! Thanks a lot Chris and please continue producing your fantastic videos! Greetings from Stockholm, Peter

Very well explained as usual! I carry a 3 and 4 hybrid then 5 iron up. Keep slowly losing distance as I age. Thanks for your great instructions!

I carry a 4i and hybrid but after a few disasters I only use the hybrid for the longer shots and keep the 4i for back of the stance low shots out from under trees. Never realised why the 4i was such failure before and you’ve now given me something to work on. You’re like a private virtual high quality coach and I’m very grateful, many thanks Chris. Awesome stuff!

I am of the generation Chis that did not have the luxury of a hybrid. Therefore, our sets consisted of a 2,3,4 irons. Because of this, we did the best we could to utilize these clubs to the best of our abilities. I am not intimidated by these clubs. Although I carry a 3 hybrid, I sometime do put a 3 and 4 iron into my bag for the delicate shot. I have completely discarded the 2 iron. Great job on showing how both the long iron and hybrid should be hit.

My longest iron is now a 6 Iron. I have just purchased a 24 degree 5 Hybrid and dropped out the 5 Iron. I also have a 21 degree 4 Hybrid and then move to a 18 degree 5 wood. Your comments on swing speed prove true I hit these at about 90mph and get good flight as opposed to low flight long irons. The question now is how do I increase my swing speed. A future video perhaps Chris? Loving the content, cheers, Rolf

Hi Chris, like the video thankyou. My longest iron is my 5 iron, for the very reason you mention. My next club is a 5 wood. My swing speed is around 88-90. I have being toying with swapping it for a hybrid, however I am getting a little more speed and I'm seeing better results. I hadn't realised how much the speed influenced the long irons and has helped my understanding immensely, thanks very much. I'll see how I go, but may now try a hybrid to compare.

Thanks for this comparison and showing how swing speed of amateurs such as myself is more in line with hitting with hybrids!

Great explanation of the use of hybrids for golfers with slower rotation. Thanks

4-iron, and while I am currently most comfortable with my 3-hybrid in my bag, I want to work on my long irons to improve enough to get a GAPR and be proficient with that, in the future.

I started playing in March 2020. My driver was a 40 year old wood my second shot was with a 40 year old 3 wood. :-D My Dad bought me the clubs for my 21st birthday. In June I bought a new set of clubs. What a difference! I don't use the 3 iron or the 4 iron yet. I use the 5 iron but tomorrow I will try the set up you have posted with my hybrid. Golf ProAm next week Chris? ;-)

What a great explanation of hybrids and long irons. I now know what I need to use. Thanks

Possibly your best ever video Chris!!!! My TM M3 5 Hybrid was the best club I ever bought! It's my go to club for so many approach shots. I was once told long irons should be played further up the stance and I definitely fell into the bad technical habits you describe! Reckon I might dust off the 4 iron (from the garage 😂) and try a much more normal (6 or 7) set up, as I always favour a bit more weight/hip bump to left at address, thanks to one of your older iron play videos. That really made a difference to my short/mid iron shots!! As always, superb tutorial, making it so clear! 👍👍👍

Hey Chris, Love your content here. 3 iron (70 years old) at 200 yards is my lowest long iron. Thanks for senior input!

I have a 3 iron Taylormade Gapa Mid which i hit 220 meters off the tee and off the fairway. A great club to use in the wind. Stingers all day. I am putting a 4 wood, 16.5 deg in the bag this week. I have found that i over draw rescue clubs when under pressure, so i am sticking with my long irons..Good vid, thanks.

That was the best explanation I have heard why hybrids are better than long irons as we age and swing speed slows down.It made total sense how you presented it. Thank you Chris

Great explanation thank you, I struggle with anything longer than a 6 Iron, I carry a 5 iron and only use it off a short tee, and I know why now, so thank you. I also have a 3 and 4 hybrid however I can't get then to go straight and I can get further and straighter with my 6 iron. So on the course I go for my safest shot, the 6 iron. I will use your information and start again with the hybrids, and also acquire a 4 iron

This is brilliant 👏👏thanks for this clarity - I carry 2 hybrids for long distance and struggle with my 4 iron.

My longest iron is a 5 i 25°. It does exactly what you showed with the 4 iron shot. No matter how well I strike the 5i-and I hit it pretty well,- it just wont stop on the greens due to low height and low descent angle- coming from my moderate swing speed. So my mind is made up- Replace the 5i with a 25° hybrid, which will sit nicely with my 22° hybrid.

Great explanation!! I carry 19, 22 and a 28 degree hybrid and I love them, my highest iron is a 7 lol

4 iron, but it doesn’t get used much, so 5 is my “go to” club if I am looking for distance & accuracy. Was sold 3 & 4 G30 hybrids for £280 by a Ping salesman 4 years ago, but really struggled with them as they came with a lot of forward shaft lean built in. That didn’t suit my game on the course, so I went for another fitting to see if I could get them to work but No, so I bought a 7 wood, that I am happy to play. Top speed is now c.80mph as I am 68. Interesting video, but should have seen it years ago! Thanks.

After 4i I waffle between 3h and 2i (not a utility, either - a bladed 19° 2i) depending on the course layout and how much wind there is that day. That 2i is my favourite club.

5i is the longest I have, and carry a 3&4H. Honestly, for my next set (not going to be anytime soon lol), I’d consider dropping the 4H and maybe even the 3H as well. My technique with both hybrids and mid-long irons is horrible (need to play the ball farther back in my stance) and this video finally made it click for me; I’ve been battling a slice forever, got rid of it when I was playing several times a week for months on end, and it’s back now when I do get the time to head to the course. Thanks for your extremely succinct yet detailed explanations for all of your videos, I look forward to seeing your next vid!

Spot on, got 3,4,5 hybrids and have not looked back

My two favorite clubs are the 3 hybrid and 5 iron. Your instruction is concise and so helpful . Thanks , Chris.

My longest iron is a 6-iron. I have a 5-iron as well, but only use that if I am playing in wind. I replaced it with a 25 degree hybrid, which I hit higher and it spins more (my 5-iron flight is low, so tough to hold greens in the US since we don't have a lot of links or heathland type courses...US designers LOVE to make sure you can't run the ball up to the pin by putting really deep rough, hazards, or bunkers in front of every green). THAT is why I went with the higher-flying 5 hybrid instead.

This was great as usual Chris .my longest iron is a 6 I need a 5 and 4 hybrid to complete my set 👍👍👍

Great explanation. When I was young my favorite was the 3 iron. Today at 58 I just got myself a new set of P790ies (Recoil graphite -really helps) but stopped at 6 and using 3 and 5 hybrids instead. Clearly my swing speed is not what it used to be and probably that makes me compensate as you show but will try out your tips and see whether it works. Thanks!

72 y/o, back to the game after many year layoff. Longest iron in the bag is a 3, which I only use for punching out of the woods under a tree limb. Will be shopping after a few more lessons, will probably include a hybrid.

I carry a 3 iron but I also carry a 23 degree hybrid which depending on the circumstances, I utilize in place of my 4 iron. Thank you!

Seven iron is the longest I can confidently use off the fairway with the five and six kept for the odd par 3 or hitting low from under trees.

this is good info - I was at the range Wednesday and put into practice other tips from your videos on irons and while I did see some distance improvement, the angle was definitely lower. I'm 51 and have played my whole life but sparingly, so this tip on the hybrids makes sense. My iron strikes are way better after watching but I think I'll be working on getting at least a 4 hybrid. I love the logo as well - you should brand that on some merch

My longest iron is a 5. Didnt say it was my best though. Its either real good to me or it stays in the bag for the round. A decision generally made on the first par 3.

I run a 4 iron in my bag. I switch out between the 4 iron and the 4 hybrid depending on how I’m feeling that day. I love how my 4 iron feels, but it’s my most inconsistent club right now. I can hit my 5 iron in my sleep. And I hit my 3 hybrid flush. Just something about the 4 iron.

Hi Chris my longest iron is a 5 as part of a set of Calloway diablo I have a diablo hybrid 4 with a 24 loft when I contact correctly launch distance probably 184yrds. Again great tuition

Thanks a lot; you really helped me the last 8 months or so, when I discovered your videos. The longest iron i carry is an old 1 iron, but I’m using them up to the 3 iron. I learned today to work on my set up; my clubhead speed is around 85 with the 8 iron (measured last month). So the long irons should work. 😊

The longest iron I carry is a 7, then I go to a 25, 22 and 19 degree hybrid. After the hybrids, I carry 7, 5 and 3 fairway woods.

Great vid Chris. I have a 3i apex with a graphite shaft as well a hybrid/rescues. The 3i only works, as you said, with speed. I only use it off tees, range mat or plush lies as its not forgiving like the hybrids. I do feel a sense of achievement though when I hit it sweet, whereas rescues feel like the softer option haha

good information thanks my highest iron is a 5 iron. then a 4 and 3 hybrid. I was told that I would get better accuracy with the the hybrids than the 4 and 3 irons that is why they are in the bag....

Longest i carry is a 5i. 170 carry when flush...but more often its fat. That and 6i are problems for me. Great video, will take on board your points and see if it improves.

Great video Chris. I play on a windy coastal course (Bridport). A low ball flight is very useful. I have just bought a 16 degree Lynx driving iron. It is so easy to use both off the tee and off the fairway. The flight is much lower than my 19 degree hybrid. When I was young a set of irons would often include a 1 and 2 iron. They had small heads and I found them much harder to use than this driving iron - even though I suspect they had more loft than 16 degrees. Testament to modern golf equipment? My swing speed is usually around 95-98mph - so about average Best wishes David

A 5 iron but strong lofted at 23 degrees. Been thinking of adding a similar lofted hybrid for exactly the reasons you say. Historically haven't gotten on well with them though. Guess I'll just have to up my swing speed! Thanks Chris.

Great information. Longest iron in my bag is my 3iron. Don't fancy hybrids funny enough.

I have 6 iron, and 5/4 hybrids. Thank you, so informative.

I watch most of your video. This one is the best. Thanks !

I struggle especially with my 4 and 5 iron. I also do prefer using a hybrid for my long shots

Before I watch this one ... my longest iron is the 5. Up until last week, the best I might do with my 5 and 6 irons is about 190 on the the 5 and 180 on the 6. With a shot dispersion of about 30 degrees !!! Yep .. (pardon my Americana) I could have to hit my next shot after one of these two irons from anywhere with 30 yards of the green .. left right .. sometimes on (rarely) Long and short came into play .. quite often .. Then, I went for a fitting.. and found out that I needed different shafts than I was using. The shafts came in last week and had them installed on just those two irons.. My first shot with the 6 iron .. was a short 150 yarder ..using the 6 iron to keep the shot low under over hanging branches .. which stopped about 8 feet from the pin. And I've hit 180 yard shots to 8 feet with the same club.. LESSON HERE: Get the correct shafts!

3 iron. Carry that 212 yds give or take a few depending on strike off the fairway. Love the videos. Keep up the great work.

Thanks for being up front about club head speed. I've been struggling with long irons, but I have no problem with those same gap hybrids. I have a 3 and 4 hybrid. Too bad Taylormade discontinued them. I think I'll try to find a 5 hybrid to fix the missing range in my clubs.

6 is the longest iron i carry. I carry a 25, 22 and 19 degree hybrid; 3 wood and driver. I also carry 4 wedges, 60, 56, 52 and 48. I still practice hitting my 5 and 4 irons but the hybrids are so easy to hit.

I'm new to golf, been playing about a year and am older. Started subscribing a few weeks ago and really your explanations and how to improve. I've got second hand set of clubs (no hybrids). Longest iron is 3 iron. Hit it pretty well but still learning how to use lag. I've been thinking about getting new set of irons and hybrids. Was wondering which hybrids to get, H3, H4, H5?

My irons are from a 3i up to the wedges. No hybrids. I rarely use the 3i but I do use the 4 and 5i's a bit. I really don't have too much trouble hitting them although my distance isn't great (I'm 75). But they DO go straight! David, USA

I have a 3, 4,and 5 hybird. Love my hybrids

I just got rid of my 4 and 5 iron and went with hybrids for 4 and 5. I have a slower swing speed, but man I hit they hybrids so much better. They offer more protection against mishits and will still get the distance and height I want.

Hey Chris - I replaced my 3 through 6 irons with hybrids. I love them!

Thank you for the clarification. No it makes more sense. After my driver I have a hybrid in my bag (TM M3 19degree loft) and my TM iron (P770) set came with a 4 iron. I’ve never been able to get even close to my carry and height of my hybrid with my 4. Moreover my hybrid is often compete with my driver because I wasn’t been able to fix that. I’m a high HCP golfer (29) started to play on a course 10 months ago.

Just realised my problem with long irons, I have been swinging with 58% on my left side 🤔seriously tough Great video as usual, learn so much from your videos. You explain things so simple.

Very good video. I have historically used hybrids but I have the clubhead speed to deal with 4 and 3 irons which I recently started using but I will be keeping my hybrids nearby because in still weather and on thick rough, they are just so much easier to use. But the flight of a well struck 190m 4 iron is wonderful. Keep up the good work, really think your videos are so helpful and well thought out and presented.

Mizuno MP33 2 iron @ 18 degrees. Not playing so much now so it's a bit tougher to hit but when I was playing regularly, it was awesome. Can't bring myself to put a snake beater (hybrid) in the bag ... not yet anyway.

i carry a 3 and a 4 iron .....no idea why as don't use either....been looking at hybrids for a few weeks now so this was really useful

Titleist DCI 2 iron and I love this club i also do some long chipping with it

Good explanation and demonstration. I was a little surprised the slower speed 4H didn't go even higher with more spin. My 4H goes much higher than my 4I. My longest iron in the bag is a 3, but I hardly ever use it for full shots - more for low recoveries. I carry a 4H and a 2H. My 4H goes around 200, so I'm probably somewhere in between your lower speed and your full speed examples.

I got 4iron and 24 and 19 degree hybrid. Really love hybrids🙂. Only problem with hybrids is against the wind the ball will climb up.. and with me with a little fade it fades a lot then. With 4iron i can keep it lower only less distance.

Chris… know this is delayed but a new follower. Mine is a ping g425 4i

5 iron is my lowest iron. I’m having great success with it so I’m considering a 4 iron. The hybrid vs iron is an interesting comparison. Thanks for the info.

Longest iron I carry is a 4 iron, have never felt comfortable or in control with hybrids for some reason. Pleased you posted this video though because I’ve been working for the last month or so on compressing the ball better with my irons. I’ve always got decent distance, good hight but never taken much of a divot but I felt I could sacrifice some hight and gain some distance if I compressed the ball better. Short to mid irons have been longer and felt so much better but I’ve struggled with my 4,5 and 6 irons which are often leaking too far right.

I have a #2 & #3 Orlimar irons I’m keeping & still use from my first set of clubs, and I just bought a brand new set of Callaway Mavriks but I had to special order my #4 iron because they don't sell them in their iron sets anymore. I don't use the new hybrids, but I always use my 3 & 5 woods.

my longest iron is a six iron. For longer clubs I am using a hybrid 5, a hybrid 4, a 5 wood and a 3 wood. I find it much easier to hit the hybrids than the equivalent irons

TaylorMade 3i, love it when it’s working. Have a 3h but hard use it. This vid may get it out of the bag more👍

Chris I'm a realist which means I'm disappointed with the outcome of this video, that said I've been struggling with everything you stated in this video, I'm the golfer with the 85 mph swing speed and I do everything you said in the video, lol but I want a 4 and 5 iron in my bag because my Ego says I'm have the swing speed to do so lol, I needed to see this video in the worst way so Thank you for that, it is so true because my go to clubs are a 4 and 5 hybrid, I even had my 4 and 5 iron cut shorter by 1/2 inch to help and it didn't help, I'm leaving my Ego in the parking lot no doubt, hybrids are in the bag, Thanks again,

Chris aore informative point might be to not only about the longest Iron but what type of swing you have. I have a two plane swing and I can play long irons. Many of the shorter guys I play with can hit hybrids. The difference makes me think of Nicklaus and Trevino.

Your videos are some of the best! Keep up the amazing content

awesome video !

I have a Mizuno MP-60 2-iron, (18 degrees) then a 24-degree Adams hybrid, then 4-iron upwards. The hybrid fits right where the 3-iron went, but I can hit it high and out of semi-rough. Gapping wise it fits perfectly

I carry a 4 iron and like it. Have a u510 3 iron arriving tomorrow!

My longest iron is a 5 iron and I really struggle with it compared to all my other clubs, even driver! Hopefully this video will help

Hi Chris, excellent video and very interesting. My longest iron (which I love hitting) is a 4 iron. I have an old Srixon 3 hybrid which is a club I'd bet my house on if I had to choose a club. Several years ago I bought a hybrid 4 but couldn't get on with it at all so reverted. Obviously psychological.

7 wood in 22 is my new favorite club😊

Longest iron I carry is a 5, and yes, I do struggle to hit both 5 and 6 to the distances I should be able to hit them. I basically should be able to hit the 5 about 175 or 180.....but often end up hitting only about 150 or so....which is really my 7 iron distance. Gonna try moving the ball a bit forward...and see what happens.

6 iron plus 4 hybrid and 5 wood for the reasons explained in your video.

Quality again Chris, so that’s why I can’t hit my 5 iron well, can’t swing the club fast enough, if poss how about a video on how to use your hybrid and the versatility of a hybrid for different shots, bump and runs etc 👍

Absolutely great information Chris!

I carry a 3 iron as my longest. From there I segue to 5 - 3 - 1 persimmon woods. While I’m getting older and have back issues, it remains that when I hit the 3 iron well it carries about 210 yards. So I continue to have it in the bag. Even though more and more frequently it only carries around 180 (might as well be hitting a 5 iron in those moments)

Chris, That was such a great lesson. Perhaps exceeding your usual high standards? Grovel, grovel. 😉 I always carry down to a 4i ‘cos it’s good into the wind. I recently had my old mizuno TPZ 2i regripped but then the rains came and run on the course became reduced. I’ve been trying to increase my swing speed and get my weight forward in the swing too and so am hitting the ball better than ever even at my advanced years. 62 is the new 22.

Currently highest iron I carry is a 5 iron. Have a 3&4 hybrid, thinking of going back to a 4 iron over the 4 hybrid.

I used to have 5 iron as my longest iron, with a 4 H and 3 wood. I recently found a 3 iron from my old golf bag, that I have now started carrying and still evaluating whether I can fit it with my current set of clubs

Hi Chris, I carry a 5 iron and then a 17 degree hybrid then a 5 wood - I am 76 years old

My set up 4 hybrid ,6 hybrid 7, 8, 9, Pw , Sw ! Long irons are as 😢you say limited when your speed isn't as high as you would need. Add hybrids to you set !

5 iron and have a nearly lofted TM gapr hi in the bag. Tend to hook the hybrids so just ordered a 18 degree driving iron... maybe it is the right choice

4 iron in my bag. Sometimes is flys really well and other times I tend to hit behind the ball. Your set suggestions sound like they can fix my issues. Not planning on going to hybrids

Holy crap. I was playing the ball way, way, way too far forward. Thanks!

my longest iron is a 1 iron from 1980's. keeps the ball nice and low, (100ft) great off the tee. if I use a hybrid or lofted wood, I usually hit the ball out of the golf course.

I am petite and slight at 155 cm and 50 kg so to me, a ladies 6 iron at standard length is a long iron :). I tend to use the 5 hybrid more.

4 iron. I make good contact and decent distance (avg 195-200yds) but tendency to hook. I am more comfortable with long iron than with a more lofted wood (5,7) I've never actually hit a hybrid club.

Longest iron is a 4 iron at 20 degrees, then down to a 17 degree hybrid. I can hit both reasonably, but when flushed the hybrid goes around 190 - 200 metres

At 80-85mph swing speed a 7 wood would be the best option for a lot of players. even more height and greater forgiveness.

Thank you for that comparison. My longest iron I carry is a 5 but I can’t hit it and rely on my 6 very heavily which I can hit well. But then on long fairways I have a distance gap and nothing to fill it with. I do have a 3 and 5 wood but suffer from inconsistent strikes with those and lose confidence pulling them out of the bag. Sounds like I really need to try a hybrid as an alternative.

I carry a 3,4 and 5 hybrid. Best decision i ever made

I have a 5 iron then a 4 hybrid followed my 5 and 3 woods. Going to look into 4 irons to replace that 5 wood after this though. Sounds much more controllable

Chris...u are the best.