3 Iron Vs 2 Hybrid – Which Club To Use And When

The 3 iron is one of the more famous and versatile clubs in the game but the position of many long irons has come under increasing threat from the epic surge in popularity of the golf hybrids.

The 3 Iron is going to be a more precise club but slightly harder to hit while the 2 hybrid is straight, long and consistent with less workability.

3 Iron Overview

A 3 iron was one of my favorite clubs when i started playing golf.

Before the era of hybrids and when my dads driver and fairway woods were probably too long for me, I quickly realized that the 3 iron was more precise off the tee and pretty much every where else and the lost distance was made up for with the accuracy.

I was using it like a driving iron to a certain extent and plenty of others will still carry a 3 iron because of this accuracy but 3 irons are also quite workable.

You can get game improvement, players distance or blades and the more player freindly clubs will be more workable, whether that is a draw or fade or changing the dynamic loft of the club on impact.

The average golfer will hit the 3 iron about 180 yards and it is quite versatile with it’s 21 degrees of loft.

It is great for tee shots on par 3’s and layups but also excellent from the fairway and light to mid rough where the leading edge can cut through the grass and turf quite well.

The 3 iron has been replace by hybrids for many golfers in recent times and especially in beginner golf club sets.

2 Hybrid Overview

 It’s easy to see why hybrids have become so popular in recent years. They are long, consistently straight and workable.

As the name suggests, the hybrid is a mix between a wood and an iron. The large circular head provides ample distance and the large sweet spot on the extended face is extra forgiving.

With the deep undercut and leading edge, the clubs easily swipes through turf and grass to deliver an effective stroke form the fairway, light and even heavy rough.

The 2 hybrid has 18 degrees of loft approximately and hits about the same distance as 5 wood, about 10 yards on average more than a 3 iron.

If I had been learning in the modern day, I may well have found the same qualities in the hybrid as I did in that 3 iron. It is long, straight and very forgiving.

The accuracy and precision, does lie somewhere between a wood and the 3 iron however and better players may favour this precision over the hybrid. The 3 iron is also better off the tee.

Top tour pros are now using hybrids and if you end up in the rough quite a bit off the tee, the 2 hybrid or ‘Rescue club’ could be one of your go to’s.

In most beginner sets people may carry a 3 and 5 hybrid as the already have the 2 hybrid distances covered with woods.

Players are frequently dropping long irons for hybrids but as you get better, the precision of the long irons will once again become more enticing.

The 3 iron and 2 hybrid may not be carried together too often as they are quite similar in terms of distance, alongside the 5 wood.

Both clubs are versatile and useful, which one you choose to carry will come down to your game, preferences and ability.