The turn of the century has seen huge improvements in golf equipment, and with that has come a fundamental shift in how we structure our golf bags.

The club that's increasingly being left out by both manufacturers and golfers?

👉 The 4 iron.

As someone who doesn't get out and play as much as I used to, I sometimes question its place in my own bag, usually after a toe-struck iron off the tee that barely gets airborne.

So, let's take a look at why golfers are ditching their 4 irons, and whether you should too...

Why 4 Irons Used to Be So Popular

The main reason 4 irons were so common is simple: they were standard.

Twenty years ago, if you bought a set of irons, it would almost always run from pitching wedge all the way down to a 3 or 4 iron. There weren't many alternatives.

If you wanted a club that carried around 200 yards, you learned to hit a long iron.

Being able to strike a 4 iron consistently was often seen as a sign of a skilled player. It required speed, solid contact and confidence. If you could launch a towering 4 iron into a long par 3, people took notice.

The problem? Most golfers never found long irons particularly easy to hit. They simply carried them because there wasn't a better option.

However, two revolutions came about at the turn of the century that changed the 4 iron's place in the bag:

The distance revolution and the hybrid revolution.

The Distance Revolution

The first major reason for the 4 iron's decline is something often referred to as "loft jacking."

Over the past two decades, manufacturers have steadily strengthened the lofts on their irons. In many cases, a modern 5 iron now has a similar loft to a 4 iron from twenty years ago.

The result is that golfers can achieve traditional 4-iron distances with a club that's easier to launch and generally more forgiving.

Manufacturers also realised that golfers love distance. Stronger lofts produced bigger numbers on launch monitors, which made clubs easier to market.

As iron sets got longer, the need for a traditional 4 iron started to fade away.

In fact, many manufacturers no longer include one in their standard iron sets at all.

The Hybrid Revolution

If stronger lofts weakened the 4 iron's position, hybrids finished the job.

For most golfers, hybrids simply make the game easier.

Their larger clubheads inspire confidence at address. Their lower centre of gravity helps get the ball airborne. And their wider soles make them more forgiving when contact isn't quite perfect.

In simple terms, a hybrid makes it easier to hit the ball high, long and straight.

While a flushed 4 iron is one of the most satisfying shots in golf, the reality is that many golfers struggle to generate enough speed and launch angle to get the most from one.

A hybrid often produces similar distance while requiring far less precision.

Even Tour Players Are Making the Switch

This isn't just happening at club level.

Professional golfers have increasingly replaced traditional long irons with hybrids, utility irons and other forgiving alternatives.

We've seen the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, and Dustin Johnson all opting for high lofted woods.

On the LPGA Tour, only around 20% of players carry a traditional 4 iron, with most opting for higher-launching options instead.

Even at the highest level, players are prioritising performance over tradition.

So Should You Carry a 4 Iron?

Despite its decline, the 4 iron isn't dead.

For strong ball strikers who generate plenty of clubhead speed, it can still be a fantastic club. A well-struck 4 iron produces a penetrating ball flight, performs brilliantly in the wind and can be an excellent option from the tee.

But for most golfers, a hybrid is likely to be the better choice.

You'll often get the same distance, a higher launch, more forgiveness and greater consistency on less-than-perfect strikes.

The goal isn't to carry the clubs that good golfers are supposed to carry.

It's to carry the clubs that help you shoot lower scores.

And for an increasing number of golfers, that means leaving the 4 iron at home.