But reagarding the perceived gap at the longer end of the bag lets take an example.
My current bats are thus.
Where as 20 years ago your irons would have been more like this.
3 - 23 degrees
4 - 27
5 - 31
6 - 35
7 - 39
8 - 43
9 - 47
PW - 52
SW - 58
So by looking at this, if you think you have a gap between your 23 degree hybrid and your modern 5 iron, you don't. My 5 iron is 26 degrees, and it's not unusual by todays standards.
Another way of looking at is that your 5 iron used to be a 4 iron.
We often talk about loading up the long end of the bag or go for a three or four wedge system. But the fact is that between the driver and say an SW at 56 or even 58, (I'll ignore the LW for a moment!) we are only allowed 14 clubs.
The other thing I have noticed is the loft is not the only consideration. Does a 23 degree hybrid go the same distance as a 23 degree iron? Which are you most likely to use on your course, and which suits your own abilities?
I've recently been nailing my 5 iron, which we know is similar to an old 4 iron. Which has lead me to think about getting the 4 iron for the set as the hybrid has been a bit erratic and I can't seem to hit the thing off the fairway at all.
Anyway. What was I getting to?!
Stronger lofted irons. So what. It's about knowing how far you hit them, and not how far you hit them compared to anyone else. About time we stopped calling them No. 5 iron, No. 6 iron etc, and just had the loft stamped on the sole.
Nothing wrong with carrying a 4 iron and a hydrid of the same loft if they do different distances and can be used from different lies. Consistent distance gaps, doesn't always mean consistent loft angles between clubs.
Or have I got it completely wrong?
