The key word you used is "WHEN" you stripe it. The fact is, hybrids and UDI's are popular because they generally launch higher, land softer and are more forgiving than longer irons.

I'd argue that better players are gravitating more towards 5 and 7 woods because they offer even more versatility than any of the other options. Tour players can hit them off the tee, out of the rough, from fairway bunkers, and into long par 5's... something they simply cannot do with long irons. It's rare to find a traditional 3 iron in anyone's bags these days, even the best players in the world.

Each players different, i favor to hit a 3 iron over a hybrid partly because I am more accurate when hitting irons. Also I have a higher ball flight. I appreciate your input though:)

i dropped my 21 degree 818 H2 for the U510 4 when it first came available, never looked back. Thought i might play
the hybrid last winter when the temps drop but U510 performed just great. Favorite club in the bag

driving irons are tee box queens.

hybrids are far more versatile.


deep rough? dig it out with a hybrid. middle of the fairway? hybrid. fairway bunker? hybrid. tee box? hybrid.



while maybe you have more bag cred with a driving iron, i think a hybrid is far more useful. if you have room in your bag sure, carry both, but if you don't, the hybrid is a no brainer.

I have both in the bag and love using both in almost any situation the reason I have kept the hybrid in the bag is for when I'm in the rough to be able to advance it farther down the fairway.

Love the Titleist hybrids... as you get older (74+) that clubhead speed decreases and you need something that makes it easier to launch the golf ball... when fitted with the right shaft (Fujikura Motore Tour Speeder), the hybrids work best for me... a five iron is the longest iron I carry in my bag (T300s)...

I still have the 712U 3 iron, better for me than any hybrid I have tested.

I would be curious to hear if anyone does play a Utility iron and a hybrid, which one they play stronger lofted? I would guess the UT between their hybrid and iron set?

I had a hybrid (21* 818 H2) in my bag for awhile. However, I never used it all that much. If I needed a 40 yard draw, I could do it on demand. Ask me to play a little cut or a shot up the right hand side of a fairway, 99/100 it would still go left. Tried about everything - weights, settings. Sold it two days ago and putting a U500 2I in the bag. I'm the odd ball that would rather layup or punch a 5I out of the rough on a long par 5.

Nate, I'm guessing you're about 20. When I was 20 I had a 1 iron in the bag (they didn't have hybrids back then), and crushed it.I really enjoyed playing long irons back then.I still have the 1 iron, but I've got it hung up on 2 pegs in the cellar.

I'm in my mid 60's now and those days are long gone.I've got a 4 wood now, and at 16.5 it's just about the same loft as my old 1 iron. After that it's a 818-s2 21 degree hybrid (set to 20).

Yessir...the good days of our youth. 1-pw, driver 4 wood

Deno

35 years ago I could hit a 3 and 4 iron. Now, I wouldn't even consider them. My lowest lofted iron is a 6. Behind that is a 26 deg. hybrid. Then a 22 and a 17 deg. fairway wood. As the age goes up, the clubhead speed goes down. Plus, you can't beat the versatility. I striped the 17 deg. Fairway Wood out of a Fairway bunker with a low lip. Much has changed and for the better, I may add. 35 years ago I owned 1 metalheaded club, a TM Burner 10.5 with a Dynamic Gold S300 shaft. Holy Cow!

From my 3 wood, I drop down with a 19 degree TS2 hybrid and a 22 degree U510, followed by my 5 iron thru wedge. Both of them work great for me. I've tried different fairway woods and hybrids but settled with this set-up. I love the sound, feel, & ball flight of the U510, and can work the hybrid in many situations. In my group, we're all between 55 and 65 age, and some of the guys swear by irons (one still carries a 2 iron, even though he's about 1 for 10 with it but remembers that one time he pured it about 20 years ago), some carry a 3 & 5 wood, some have anywhere from 1 to 3 hybrids, and some a combination of all. They all seem satisfied with their set-up (even that 2 iron), confirming that it is mostly an individual choice.

I also put my hybrids back in the trunk (still there for the right conditions) and have the U510 2, 3, and 4 hybrid irons. Love them! I was always more of a long iron man than a hybrid man, my 1 iron was always my favorite club. The hybrids ARE easier usually to hit out of the rough, but the easiness makes them want to go up. Hard to keep them under something when in trouble. better out of the fairways too. Probably going to be too old over the next few years to keep them in the bag over the hybrids but as much as I love also the TS hybrids, I'll go kicking and screaming.

I've played both and simply determined that i can't hit a hybrid. While this may seem odd to most folks, some people can control and launch irons more consistently. I am one of those people. the 718 is essentially a driving iron, and there is enough forgiveness there. the new(ish) U500 has proven to be super versatile for me. It is more forgiving than the TMB you play, and is still easy to shape and flight. I would recommend it, if you are curious about adding just a bit more tech and staying in the iron category!

I have kicked my 4i out of the bag for a TSi2 21* hybrid and kicked my 5i out for a TSi2 24* hybrid. At almost 69 years young I enjoy the flight, distance, ease, and soft landing with little roll out of the hybrids.

I personally play both. Depending on how my swing is and the course. My hybrid k tend to hit straighter and have it going really high in the air. I use this more on par 5s. I like the driving iron off the tee or when I need to play a fade/draw. I have a hard time with the 2 iron if I’m nkt on the tee or have. A good flat lie in the fairway.