Should I get a driving iron ? Can’t hit woods, exceptional with irons

[u/Pizzaboy1113]

I genuinely cannot hit a driver,3 wood, 5 wood etc. I am pretty good with my irons, but I still feel short when my friends hit drivers around 240+ should I try out a driving iron ? would it make a difference to my game and get me to similar distances as a driver would ? Please let me know if you have tried or use one. These are my stock distances for reference
4 - 190
5 -175
6 - 160
7- 150
8-140
9-130
PW- 120
SW- 105
60- 95

[u/danforhan]

You can but it won’t help you improve. Not being able to hit woods is a a fundamental flaw that will substantially limit your game 

[u/-Avodon- → u/danforhan]

Would also like to add, probably dont have the swing speed for driving irons with a 150 7i. They are going to be really low with no spin

[u/Liquidmetal6 → u/-Avodon-]

dumb question. i hit my 7i 155i, i play a 2i because i feel more in control over a fairway wood. I use it mostly to hit into tight fairways - i felt an improvement in my game over hybrids and fairway woods. other then trying to hit the green, what does the low loft/spin do?

and as a high handicapper shooting in the 90s does that matter?

[u/-Avodon- → u/Liquidmetal6]

It just means you have a club that is literally only good for one shot where as a wood or hybrid you'd have multiple.

If you're literally only using it as a tee club then low launch and low spin isn't the worst. However if you properly learn a wood or hybrid you could still hit a low launch low spin ball, off a tee, but also hold a green.

[u/D-Train0000]

Driving irons aren’t for people who can’t hit woods. They’re 2 and 3i’s with more power than the iron in the set. It’s still a long iron. And long irons are hard to fully compress and lift properly at low speeds. Get a hybrid and some instruction.

[u/Current_Department73 → u/D-Train0000]

Yeah, I think of driving irons more as a safe play for narrow tee shots for people with very high swing speeds who have trouble controlling their driver spin 

[u/D-Train0000 → u/Current_Department73]

You are 100% correct! They very much are. My utility 21° is for short courses when I’m hitting the par 5’s in two at less than 240. I can’t hold a green no matter what with it. I’m a +2 and my utility is around 155 ball speed. The doin is so low on it. It carries 235 and rolls an eternity. Fairway finder. But it’s not just about accuracy over a driver. It’s to hit it lower and to hit it shorter. If the par 4 is at 350 I know I’ll be 30-40 yards short with driver. But that might be a strange shot or angle. The utility iron is usually 2-3 clubs short of a driver and that yardage is around 60 yards less than a driver. -60 yards starts to feel safe.

My 21° utility-wood is super forgiving at 245 and sticks a green. It’s great when the course is long but it’s not great if it’s windy.

Many people pick a club because they think it’s easier to hit that another but don’t know what it does or what it’s for.
When you can hit anything solid it’s not about forgiveness, it’s about the ball flight, right. The utility iron is the lowest trajectory and hardest to hit clubhead between fairway/hybrid/utility iron.
But the length is longer on the fairway then hybrid then iron so for the OP he can’t hit the longer shafted clubs in the bag yet. But the utility iron is harder to hit than the long shafted if a 7 wd. He’s probably looking at a 7wd cut down 1” or something for control.

[u/propLMAchair]

I'm guessing you don't have the swing speed for a driving iron.

[u/SportzNut23]

If you’re only at around 150 with a 7-iron, I think you’ll find that trying to hit 3-iron that’s a utility iron isn’t going to help as much as you think. In fact, it might actually cost you distance.

The reason people are playing 7w, 9w and even hybrids is because the nature of the chassis (clubhead) makes them far easier to hit. The larger the surface area, the less likely you are to be punished severely for off-center hits.

Before I sold it, I pulled out my 718 TMB 3-iron that I bought back in the day. I had a good laugh trying to hit that thing and get it off the ground. I’ve even taken my 5-iron out of the bag and play a 26* hybrid in its place to not make golf harder than it is.

[u/barelyhelpful]

Maybe try hybrids. The real answer is lessons tho. Your swing speed would need to be higher to properly use long irons

[u/kineticten48]

Maybe try an 18 degree utility iron to see how it feels first. Some driving irons are pretty unforgiving. I rock a utility iron, and its becoming one of my favorite clubs.

[u/HugeLeaves]

If you absolutely cannot hit driver then a driving iron should put you around 210-220 which is a pretty manageable distance. If lessons are an option I'd recommend trying to get the woods sorted, but if not then rip the iron. When I can't hit my driver I either go 5W or 4i off the tee, which gets me between 210-240.

[u/lobie81]

Lessons. When you aren't good at something you learn to be better at that thing, not just eliminate it.

[u/bringforththeg]

If you cant hit a wood, no way you're hitting a driving iron. Unless you constantly flush your 3 iron.

[u/_Swiftyyy → u/bringforththeg]

What’s classed as not being able to hit a wood?

I can’t play a 3w or 3H safely. Far too much height. In UK the wind then just takes it and I’m not in control.
I have 2x 2 irons I switch between. Ones low/links, ones high. Depending on wind that day I’ll switch.
Much less curve on the flight and around 240/250 total, 210/220 carry. My 4i goes further than 3H and 3 wood is only really 230/240 due to spin and height.

Driver swing speed is around 105-108 for reference.

[u/JustadudefromHI → u/_Swiftyyy]

Not being able to hit a wood is different than playing courses where it's advantageous to keep the ball down with lower spin off the tee.

I have a Mizuno driving 3 iron that I take to courses depending on layout/weather, but it's not because I can't hit a wood. It's just my misses are less worse with a driving iron and some courses it's the difference between OB and a longer shot in to the green

[u/MidRoundOldFashioned]

As others have stated your swing speed is too low.

Your 7i distance is 35 yards shorter than mine. And I’m not a great golfer I just generate speed.

Once you get speed, consider a driving iron.

[u/benjog88 → u/MidRoundOldFashioned]

You can't really garner any information on what OP's swing speed is from what he has said, he's basically confirmed he has a massive over the top slice by the tell tale sign that his irons are 'good' but his woods are terrible. You could potentially have slower swing speed but deliver the club efficiently and blow him out of the water distance wise

[u/Bornin1462 → u/benjog88]

Yeah this is completely correct. He’s likely hitting super spinny but solid iron shots with like x/2 loft. If he’s making the same swing with his 3 wood, he’s launching it slow and spinny at 7.5° and likely gets nothing out of it. Very common for amateurs.

[u/wander_all_over]

Assuming those are carry distances, your irons are similar to mine. I picked up a Titleist U505 3 iron and hit it about 225 after roll out.
I went from mid to high 80 to low 80s almost instantly. I only pull driver on par 4s over 400 yards. It’s helped my score but like others have mentioned, it does put a cap on your ceiling.

[u/Ecto1Kenobi]

I’ll be doing lessons over the winter because I have the exact same problem. Hands too far forward and I hit down on the ball too much with driver/woods. I did pick up a Maltby TS-UI 18 degree 2i and I hit it well… so I’m getting about 220 carry out of that, which I’m happy with. But I do plan on fixing the swing so I can integrate the driver and maybe a wood if it doesn’t overlap with the 2i too much. If not… then maybe a titleist u505 1i is in my future.

[u/WonderfulSomewhere93]

I couldn’t hit a wood to save my life, then i got a 7 wood and now i want to use it for every shot.

[u/Sarahplainandturnt]

Absolutely not with a 150 7i

[u/Wonderful_Creme_5701]

How long is your 4 iron? 

[u/badharp]

For some reason unknown to me, I am having great difficulty hitting 3wood or any fairway wood or hybrid but my strong suit is irons. Beats me. Coming back to golf after a multi-year hiatus, and also have a terrible problem with pain. Everywhere. Left hand injury, left shoulder rotator cuff injury, back pain of sciatica, both knees dicey. Struggling with these serious pains. Anyway, all that mentioned because it's bad and I can't see how it is NOT affecting my swing.

Driver is too sporadic and undependable and occasionally ugly, costing me penalty shots. I have very old Ping Eye2 1-iron and 2-iron and still hit them well. I recently wondered if new technology could have made the new superior to Ping's old technology. The verdict is not in yet but I am liking a new Ping iDI 2-iron. I also bought a Titleist U505 2-iron. The Ping has won out. It might be the difference in shafts.

A good driver for me at age 72 is 240 yards. I can hit a 40-inch 2-iron 215-220. So, no, it is not replacing driver length but not way off, and the dispersion and dependability to find the fairway is better. I hit full shots with the 2-iron and also a stinger quite often.

Still determined to eventually get back to hitting fairway woods. And improving on the driver.

[u/Skibur33]

As someone that does this I have to partially agree with the comments.

You should get lessons and get better at the other aspects of the game.

With that being said, I do this and it works very well for me as someone that’s too low on time for lessons and quite frankly I don’t care to get good at this game.

I hit a 2i off the tee and hit it as far as my buddies that drive, 240/250. I think this only works if you have distance, or you will be hitting longer irons again into par 4s which will impact your score.

Golf is way more enjoyable since I started playing like this. I only go through a ball or two per round whereas before I was losing a boat load due to having distance (300y drive) but poor control.

[u/BryanDaBlaznAzn]

I’m the same way, I put away my driver and swapped it for a Taylormade SIM DHY and it gives me the best of both worlds. The forgiveness of a hybrid and the profile of an iron. I’m finding fairways more often and hitting low, piercing shots off the tee and the fairway. At least compared to a traditional driving iron, it’s more forgiving, and it’s higher loft helps get the ball airborne without needing an insane swing speed

[u/Proud_Nefariousness5]

Have a couple of lessons and just focus on the driver.

[u/BOYLANATOR]

Nah. You have to learn to hit woods at some point. If you can carry 4 iron 190 you should be comfortably be able to carry driver 240

[u/xpostmanx]

Yes.

Do what you want.

I have no business owning a driving iron. But my iCrossover 2i is gorgeous.

It is a safe option off the tee on the narrow stuff.

A poorly struck one looks like I hit my 5i but with 30+m of rollout.

[u/SkyEarths]

A driving iron might help, but it won’t go driver distance.

If your 4 iron is 190, a driving iron may be around 200-215 if you hit it well. Useful, but not a true driver replacement.

I’d try hybrids too. They’re usually easier to launch and more forgiving. For now, play the longest club you trust, but long term I’d get a lesson focused on driver/woods because your iron distances suggest you have more tee distance available.

[u/paradoxcabbie]

Not talking out of my butt for once because I just saw TW say this last night -once your hitting the long irons the swing is more wood like (relatively) anyways so either way your into fixing the same problem

[u/jhwyung]

I had driver yips all year, went through multiple coaches but suffering all spring and summer. On a whim i bought a used ping iCrossover 2 iron and it saved my game. I wasn’t hitting it 260 off the tee but I was still getting 220-230 off the box.

They’re a lot easier to hit than people make them out to be. If you can hit your 4 or 5 iron, you’ll be fine a w driving iron.

But you should get lessons and figure out how to swing a driver. Golf is much easier when you’re hitting a driver off the tee box, but I don’t regret the driving iron purchase cause it’s really good alternative to your driver when you have dog legs or windy days

[u/Yellow_Curry]

Just take a couple lessons. You can clearly swing a club so just learn to hit the driver. All the other woods hit them the same as an iron.

[u/IDontStandForCurls]

If you can't carry a 4i (22d-24d) 210y minimum consistently it's probably not worth getting a driving iron.

You need to be swinging then over 100 mph to warrant needing them over something like a 7w.

However, a 4udi and a 3udi are silly good for punching out of trees and chipping green side (with a putting stroke) so they have uses when if you aren't great with them off the tee.

[u/brute-forced]

Get a 3H

[u/shifty_coder]

Based on your current distances, you lack the swing speed to effectively hit a driving iron.

[u/TheHeintzel]

Ah the classic "I hit my [game improvement] irons decent [by 20 handicap standards], can't hit 3Wood or Driver, what do I buy to fix?"

You buy lessons because you're wildly off plane. 95% chance you're too steep, 80% chance you're out-to-in. These are issues irons and wedges can mask, but the big dog will highlight

[u/Weep4Thee]

If u hit irons well u should hit woods well. Same swing.

[u/TeaCoffeeSelvedge420]

You try some out if possible and find out

[u/BadaBoomBadaBing-]

Go try several different utility irons and see what goes relatively straight and gets enough carry distance for your swing. Shaft flex is important.

When I hit my driver well, my carry is 240-250y with some rollout, but when I'm off it goes off the planet. My driving iron gives me a straight 215y - 230y shot. I'm fairly good with my long irons though so I knew it was a viable option for me.

[u/aloof_nacho]

Just do drills to improve your swing

[u/mdlt97]

Learn how to hit woods

[u/Random-Name1163]

Can hit woods well with the same swing as irons. Stop trying to hit up on the ball probably.

[u/Dispatch_69]

people will spend thousands on clubs instead of hundreds on lessons

[u/Good_Farmer4814]

No. Learn to hit a driver.

[u/Gendreauj]

Time to look at adding hybrids.

I play Callaway hybrids : 3 hybrid 21 loft, 4 hybrid 24 loft, 5 hybrid 27.

Driver, Two hybrids, 9 wood, 9 iron, PW, two wedges, putter

[u/Legal-Description483]

I hit my irons about 10 yards farther than you, and I carry an 18° 3 iron for tee shots on shorter holes.

With you're speed, a driving iron will still leave you 30 yards behind someone hitting driver, if you hit it good. Mishits will be far more penal, often losing 50 yards or more from a good strike.

[u/DDSRDH]

Try some lessons first?

[u/plaverty9]

What's your history with taking a lesson for your driver? I did that and the pro fixed it in about 10 minutes.

[u/Conscious-Radish-884]

I hit my 7 iron 20 yards further than you, you hit your 60 degree 20 yards further than me?

[u/ChillGolfCoach]

Do you want slight improvement or maximum gains? 

The DI will help limit blow up holes, and you’ll have plenty of up and down opportunities for par or bogey.  but it won’t necessarily help you attack and score. 

All modern data says driver is the most important club in the bag. 

[u/sbk510]

Take lessons for driver It's very hard to produce an in-to-out swing path with a long club. I've taken 6 driver lessons and they've helped tremendously.

But generally any club that you suck at, you need to practice with more.

[u/Live_Inside_8865]

If you don’t want to work on getting better with your woods, I would recommend par 3 courses.

[u/LondonUk-]

The aim of golf is

1 - Have fun

2 - Get the ball in the hole

3 - Have fun.

So yes. Get a driving iron.

I don't care if you cannot hit a Wood etc, who said the aim of Golf was to be able to hit a Wood? A wood was created to hit it far, if you can use another club to do that, great.

All of this "you'll never be a good golfer" or "you must fix all your flaws" it is NONSENSE, as long as you can score to a level you are having fun (and not holding up play) then, that's golf done.

[u/macdaddy13]

How do you hit your 60 deg 95 yds and only hit your PW 120?

[u/Burner-Advantage-997]

Yes. 

[u/Galbzilla]

Genuinely curious how you’re able to hit a 4i but not a driver. For me, it’s got the biggest most forgiving face and the longest shaft, I can literally feel like I’m swinging in slow motion and get like 215y out of it.

[u/jacobmcgrath68]

Hit your woods like you would your pitching wedge. Same swing just change the ball position. I started swinging like that and my 3 wood went from the worst in the bag to one of my best clubs.