Instruction
Are you a candidate for a driving iron?
A few weeks ago I wrote an article comparing the performance of my 5 wood, hybrid and 3 iron on Trackman to better understand the pros and cons of each club.
It wasn’t that hard to guess that the 5 wood flew higher, carried farther and landed softer than the rest. What was very eye-opening to me was the lack of height my 3 iron produced. It flew much lower than the PGA Tour Average, and its lower flight is the sole reason why I no longer carry a 3 iron. It comes out too flat and runs when it hits the ground, and that’s not a good trajectory for hitting shots into a green. That’s also why my hybrid has been so valuable to me. Like my 5 wood, it flies higher and lands softer.
While I know that hitting long irons into the greens is not optimal, what about using one primarily off the tee? Also, what about golfers who play in windy conditions? Are they better off with a long iron?
Since this is British Open week, I thought it would be a good idea to examine these questions for my readers on GolfWRX.
The wind is known to be a factor in the UK and many other places like Texas and Oklahoma, so the high-flying shots I hit with a hybrid and 5 wood are probably not the best option if you play golf in those conditions. So if you cannot use your fairway woods and hybrids into the wind with success, what should you do?
The answer is to employ a “driving iron,” a club that is nothing new to most golfers. Their updated designs, however, have made these clubs super easy to hit unlike the driving irons of the past. If you keep up with new golf equipment releases like most GolfWRXers do, you’ll notice that several companies have released new driving irons and I think they can make a big difference in certain goflers’ games.
First, a little background. Driving irons are bulked-up players irons that are designed to hit the ball higher and farther than standard 1, 2 or 3 irons. Their trajectory will be lower than most similarly lofted fairway woods and hybrids, however, their lower launch angles and landing angles lead to a huge amount of roll. That’s perfect for windy conditions and fast, firm fairways.
The latest driving iron to be released is TaylorMade’s new UDI, which stands for “Ultimate Driving Iron,” and the company was kind enough to send me a 1 iron and 2 iron ahead of time so I could test them on Trackman and explain why a driving iron may or may not be a good fit for your game.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about TaylorMade’s UDI in our Official Testing Thread.
For this test, I will be using a UDI 1 iron that measures 16 degrees as well as a UDI 2 iron that measures 18 degrees. Both clubs are built to standard length (39.75 inches in the 1 iron, 39.25 inches in the 2 iron) and have Oban’s Kiyoshi Purple 100-gram hybrid shaft in stiff (04) flex.
The first 10 shots with each club were hit off a tee. I hit the next 10 shots with each club off the ground hitting “stingers,” low-trajectory shots that simulate the shots many pros will be hitting off the tee when necessary this week.
An important note: The roll data in the Trackman screenshots below is calculated using the average amount of roll on PGA Tour fairways that Trackman has gathered since 2003.
Here’s what the data says.
UDI 2 iron hit from a small tee
- The clubhead speeds were between 93.7 mph and 95.1 mph giving me carry distances that ranged from 225.4 to 239.9 yards.
- The average height was 87 feet in the air with an average spin rate of 5151 rpm.
- As you can see, the landing angles are still flat enough for some run out even at this height. The average 35.2-degree landing angle created an average roll of 22.8 yards.
- What is nice to see is that the height is up, the spin is manageable and yet the landing angles are still pretty flat. That means we are not losing any distance when the ball is teed up
UDI 2 iron “stinger” from the ground
- The club head speed for the two different shots (full swing from a tee and stinger from the ground) is basically the same. I averaged 1.3 mph more club head speed hitting “stingers,” so that gave me a touch more ball speed on shots I hit solid.
- The spin rate dropped from 5151 rpm to 4990 rpm on these stinger shots off the ground, which gave me a feeling of more compression (or a lower spin loft) due to the decreased dynamic loft.
- The average dynamic loft for the “normal” shot was 16.7 degrees while the stinger was 12.1 degrees.
- These balls almost carried the same distance, but when you chart the landing angle you can see that the stinger landed at 29.7 degrees. That’s 5.5 degrees less than shots of the tee, which gave me more roll.
- If we take out shot No. 6, which was a mis-hit that spun too much, the average total distance increased to 257.8 yards. That shows that lower, more driving shots hit with less spin will tend to chase forward more with these clubs than stock shots.
UDI 1 iron hit from a small tee
- The club head speed went up with the 1 iron due to its 0.5-inch length, but not by much. I averaged 96.5 mph compared to 94.5 mph and 95.8 mph with the 2 iron.
- The spin rate dropped slightly to 4467 rpm with the 1 iron, but the height went up slightly to 90 feet.
- The carry ranged from 228.4 yards to 253.5 yards. As you can see, there were a few “jumpers” that carried 250 yards, but that isn’t much farther than the 241-yard average.
- The landing angles are once again around 35 degrees, which gives us a nice amount of roll out even with the higher trajectory.
- As the swing speed increases and loft lowers, you will tend to see some added side-to-side dispersion. What’s nice is that none of these shots are off the planet. That’s a testament to the forgiveness built into these clubs.
- In regard to the carry distances being a touch volatile at 25.1 yards, I did hit one funky shot at 228.4 yards. Taking that one out would give us a carry dispersion of only 18 yards. That’s not bad with a 1 iron.
TMAG UDI 1 iron “stinger” from the ground
- As we lower dynamic loft, the height of the shot will decrease. That requires a higher ball speed in order to carry the ball as far. The average dynamic loft on the stock 1-iron shot was 15.9 degrees, while the average dynamic loft of the 1 iron stinger was only 10.1 degrees with a relatively minor ball speed increase of 2.3 mph. That’s why the ball did not carry as far with the 1 iron stinger shot as it did with the stock shot.
- When you drop the spin and lower the dynamic loft, you will tend to lose height (90 feet with the stock 1 iron shot, 55 feet with the 1 iron stinger), but you can make up for this in roll if the conditions are right through the lower landing angle. In this case, the 1 iron stinger’s average landing angle was 26.4 degrees, about 9-degrees lower than the stock 1 iron shot.
- The roll out for the stock 1 iron shot was 24.3 yards, but the stinger gave me 36 yards of roll. So if you’re trying to avoid the wind and use firm fairways to chase the ball forward you have your club (a UDI 1 iron) and your shot type (a stinger).
- I did hit one stinger that was a rocket. It carried 245.7 and gave me a total distance of 275.7, which says if you can catch these irons just right they will really, really GO!
Let’s summarize
- You will see very little clubhead speed differences between the two clubs because they are not that much different in length.
- The technology built into the driving irons of today — a little more offset, “Speed Pockets,” thin faces and low center of gravities, etc. — are a must to make these clubs much easier to hit than you’d think they would be. This is the reason that today’s driving irons are a great choice for the better player who plays in conditions that warrant such a club.
- The UDI 2 iron was a comfortable 230 carry for me at altitude while the UDI 1 iron gave me 240 yards of carry. As you look into your own game, you must figure out where this club fits into your set. Sometimes a club that carries 230 yards and rolls to 250 yards is the ticket, while other times a club that carries 240 yards and rolls to 260 yards is better. Monitor your gaps to choose the right club.
- I did hit a few shots with the UDI out of the rough, but if you don’t have at least an average lie you will see flatter than normal trajectories from these driving irons.
- When hit from a “jumper” lie, these clubs are like magic. They go high and far with the feeling of more control just like an iron.
- You must practice hitting the stinger shot with these clubs. If you do not have the ability to decrease your dynamic loft and hit a low runner, you are missing a key shot that these irons can add to your game.
Finally, and maybe most importantly for the readers looking to buy a driving iron, don’t let your ego become a part of your loft decision. Some golfers will get better numbers with a UDI 3 iron (20 degrees) than they will a UDI 1 iron or 2 iron and that’s great. Buy the club that will help your game the most, not what will look the coolest in your bag.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about TaylorMade’s UDI in our Official Testing Thread.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Lowell
Jul 27, 2016 at 1:19 pm
To me it all depends on how you attack the ball. Hybrids and long irons still require a bit of downward contact which will be different from say your 3 wood or 5 wood. I loved my udi 2 and 3 but realized that my 3 iron was just as good as the 3 udi and my Sldr hybrid allowed for me to lift up or down if needed which I often do depending on the length of the course I am playing. Now I rotate between carrying a hybrid at all to carrying an extra wedge. The udi driving irons are real easy to hit and with the lower center of gravity have an easier time getting the ball up higher. Just like anything else, it’s the individual players taste and I highly recommend testing out the driving irons or go to the bst and probably can grab one in the !70 dollar range. If you love hitting the longer irons of your bag then the driving irons are your preferred clubs. If you don’t carry more than a 5 iron. I suggest possibly trying a hybrid which offers a thicker sole or ultimately grabbing a 7 and 5 wood instead.
Kieran O'Leary
Jul 22, 2014 at 7:19 am
A review versus a standard 2-iron would also be appreciated. I see McIlroy went with the prototype Nike driving iron, where Tiger stayed with his VRS 2-iron. It’d be interesting to see the distance/flight differences. I currently have an MP63 3-iron as well as a 3-iron bent to 18 degrees a half inch longer than my other 3. Never liked the look of the new Mizuno driving irons though, but would still like to see what, if anything i’m missing out on… And would i be better off investigating getting a proper one
Bill
Jul 21, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Always had trouble hitting hybrids, more so off the tee than the turf. Snap hooks and a ballooning ballflight. Went on a recommendation and purchased the Mizuno MP-H4 3 iron with a DG X100 soft stepped shaft. It is easily the my best performing club in the bag, and my favorite club in the bag. Most par 5s are reachable in two and with the confidence of hitting an iron rather than 3 wood. For anyone looking for a (mostly) forgiving driving iron option, give the MP-H4 a try. Very versatile club, and workable whether off the tee or off the turf.
tom stickney
Jul 21, 2014 at 11:22 pm
They are indeed a great choice…
Tom
Jul 21, 2014 at 11:38 am
There are already a lot of driving irons on the market so if you want one you do not necessarily have to get TM’s new one. I had a Cleveland LDI 15 degree in my bag for the longest time to replace my 3 wood because not only could I hit it lower than the wood, I could also hit it higher if I wanted and I could control it much better. There are also many other driving irons by all the other manufactures.
tom stickney
Jul 21, 2014 at 11:22 pm
There are many others as stated early in the article; however, if you have not tried the new batch you might be missing the boat on mishits
Matt
Jul 20, 2014 at 2:12 am
Not sure if I love “jumpers” off the face. Nothing a good player hates more than inconsistent distance control with a club meant to find fairways and/or lay up short of hazards.
Catching a 275yd jumper is no good when you need 265 to stay short of a 270-275 yard hazard is no good.
tom stickney
Jul 21, 2014 at 11:21 pm
Agree, but for most this is never an issue…the udi didn’t jump too much in my opinion
Rich
Jul 19, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Nice article Tom, but again, someone calling it the British Open. People need to get this right. It’s The Open. Where have you ever see it written or called the British Open? It is the oldest major in golf and people can’t even get the name right. Sorry but c’mon.
Tom Stickney
Jul 20, 2014 at 12:50 am
Just semantics my man….
Rich
Jul 20, 2014 at 4:00 am
Really? So close enough is good enough. Typical.
Jeff
Feb 7, 2015 at 8:33 pm
wow Rich , good job sweating the small stuff in life.. Hope you got tissues close by..
Ken
Jul 17, 2014 at 12:49 pm
I hit my driver 290 and my 5 iron 200 but can’t hit my hybrid. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Really? Hitting tour distances with everything else just fine though. Well done.
Wake me up when reality hits in!!
tom stickney
Jul 17, 2014 at 5:21 pm
Ken…not quite following your post, sir.
Micah
Jul 20, 2014 at 1:38 pm
I think he was trying to reply to:
Adam B.
July 15, 2014 at 9:29 pm
Gryphon14
Jul 16, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Thanks for the article, Tom. Time and manufacturer-permitting, it would be great to see test data and thoughts around the entire range of driving irons on the market. It’s certainly an area of the Equipment Universe that sees less coverage.
Tom Stickney
Jul 16, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Couldn’t agree more. Thx.
Jake
Jul 16, 2014 at 11:04 am
Just received this from TM support: “The 2 and 1 UDI are going to be 18 and 16 degree lofts. They are going to have a higher trajectory than the Rocketbladez Tour irons. The UDI will be a longer 2 iron than the Rocketbladez Tour. It is built with driver DNA.
Tom Stickney
Jul 16, 2014 at 11:57 am
It’s a solid club for sure.
Mike J
Jul 16, 2014 at 9:57 am
Great review. How would you compare the UDI to older, but still similar driving irons like the Airmuscle? I am currently gaming the 2+3 airmuscles, but do have some trouble hitting them consistently off the turf. I use them almost solely from the tee as I currently don’t play a driver due to bad inconsistency.
Tom Stickney
Jul 16, 2014 at 11:58 am
Thx! I have not tested other driving irons as of yet but hope to do so at some point.
evan
Jul 16, 2014 at 12:51 am
I love these inflated distances as if they are real world data. Was this at the Grand Canyon?
Tom Stickney
Jul 16, 2014 at 12:57 am
NOT inflated at all sir. Please remember that I’m at 7500 feet here in park city not at sea level.
Charles
Jul 17, 2014 at 2:36 pm
Last year I played at Los Cerros Golf Club in Quito, Ecuador 9350 ft. Almost impossible to breath but very rewarding on driving the ball. More than 300 yds!!! At sea level I struggle to reach 250. I was imagining Jamie Sadlowski playing there.
Adam B.
Jul 15, 2014 at 9:29 pm
Tom,
I having trouble figuring out where I would put one of these in my bag. My distances are as follows:
Driver: 290
3 wood (15)- 250
Hybrid (20)- 230
4 Iron- 212
5 Iron- 200
I struggle to hit my hybrid so I would like to add a driving iron. Do you have a recommendation as to what I could take out and what loft?
tom stickney
Jul 16, 2014 at 12:40 am
You might want to try the 18 degree udi 2 iron…you’d have a gap between your 4 and your 2 and you’d have to work around it…experiment
Adam B.
Jul 16, 2014 at 1:08 am
Would you take out the hybrid or 3 wood? I feel like I would hit the UDI 2 iron just as far as my 3 wood. Wouldn’t it be better to go with the UDI 1 and just take out my 3 wood?
CodenameDuchess
Jul 17, 2014 at 2:57 pm
You said you struggled with the hybrid why would you remove your 3 wood? You need to find a club that flies 230ish so you can kick the troubling hybrid out of the bag.
Check out the MP-H4 long irons. They make a 2 & 3 that are basically driving irons. Ping, Titleist & Callaway all make driving irons too. Find the one that you hit 225-230 and you’re gold.
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Jsjones
Jul 15, 2014 at 6:58 pm
I find it difficult to use any hybrid for some reason. My ball striking isn’t bad with any other club except the hybrid. I tend to love these low lofted 3 irons as I carry a Speedblade as my DI now, with a flighted PX shaft. Do you think shaft selection (graphite vs steel) plays a role in this?
Tom Stickney
Jul 15, 2014 at 7:08 pm
Could be. Not sure without seeing your motion. If suggest a fitting to be sure.
Gryphon14
Jul 16, 2014 at 12:44 pm
I have similar challenges. The current range of hybrids such as the RBZ Stage 2 Tour and similar items from the large manufacturers look like pseudo-woods. I’ve never had good luck with fairway metals, be they from Adams or Exotics. The hybrids aren’t helpful to me either and I think it’s largely about the “optics”. Something you may explore (if only because I found it helpful), is returning to more of a “true” hybrid. From a purely optics perspective, something like the Adams DHY Proto strike me as less bulky and more in keeping with the notion of a what a hybrid should be: something between an iron and a fairway metal. In contrast, most of what passes for a hybrid now appears to lean heavily toward actually being a fairway metal, albeit somewhat more compact, and has less resemblance to an iron with each passing product release.
Dave
Jul 15, 2014 at 5:40 pm
Just this morning I took a Callaway FT 2 iron to test it against my Callaway X-Hot pro 2 hybrid. Also as expected the 2 hybrid went higher, farther, and stopped faster than the 2 iron. I am apparently not a candidate for a driving iron.
Tom Stickney
Jul 15, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Testing is always a good idea before you play.
MHendon
Jul 15, 2014 at 5:26 pm
So Tom I’m looking at these and thinking they’re probably great of the Tee or a nice flat perfect lie in the fairway, but much like a regular long Iron not so good from the ruff or a sever down hill or side hill lie. Am I right, because I find it hard to believe anything can really out perform my Adams Idea pro A12 20 degree and Adams Idea pro Black 22 degree from less than perfect lies?
Tom Stickney
Jul 15, 2014 at 6:24 pm
They are better off the tee/fairway giving you more control over your trajectory but most people are better off with hybrids if they don’t play in super windy conditions.