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I'm thinking of buying another club, primarily as another option off the tee. The main two options I was thinking about was the Cleveland LDI hybrid iron or a 1 iron from one of those super-oversize super game improvement lines such as a Cleveland Launcher iron. Conviently they are both around the same price in steel $75. What would be the pros/cons of each option? While I'm a relative beginner to the game (6 months) my ballstriking isn't my big fault for bad scores, its the shortgame and launching drives OB. I'm not yet comfortable hitting anything other than driver/irons off the tee because fairway woods seem so small in comparison to my driver (440cc) that I either skymark it or duff the tee shot. I had a old 1 iron with which I had decent success with off the tee altho it came with painfull feedback and now the iron feels loose so I've put it away.

Not even the pros are using 1-irons much anymore... Try a hybrid.

I was told by a rep that the last 1 iron has left the bag on the PGA TOUR this year. I don't really believe it because you can pry my 1 iron from my cold, dead fingers. On shorter courses, it IS my go to club.

I would discourage you from getting a 1-iron at this point. It is not necessarily an easy club to hit. When I was playing regularly 15 years ago I loved my 1-iron. After a 12-13 yr layoff I am not hitting any of my long irons consistently well.

Frankly, I think most new golfers would save themselves a lot of frustration if they limited their longest club to a 5-iron or even a 7-iron. One can shoot an excellent score without long drives, often a better score than with a full set of clubs. Look for some of the threads on playing with just 2 or 3 clubs. Most people can hit a 7 iron pretty well, maybe even the 5. Playing with clubs you can hit well and have confidence in makes the game a lot more fun. Slices or hooks with a 150 yard club are not as costly as a 250 yd drive sliced into the water or woods, and a topped 7-iron will probably go just as far as a topped driver. As you develop a good swing you can gradually add longer clubs.

1 Iron! Wow I did not know they even made them any more. Get a Hybrid. Even Tiger doesn't hit a 1 Iron. He stated they are too hard to hit.

When I was a kid I had one. I've missed it. Would like to have another (that matched my set).
A fabulous club for hitting out of trees. When hit good,you get fabulous results. when hit less than desireable, it still rolls forever (still not a bad golf shot).

ignore the pro's sticks, you (and I and the rest of us amatuers) get to play for fun, buy a 1 iron and try for yourself, don't listen to anyone esle giving you a "sheep's opinion." Be whe 'shepard" and wield your own club. however, practcing with it off an astro turf driving range might give you a faluse since of comfort as fat shots don't react the same as on grass.
1 iron's an intresting solution as a driving iron or hardchips that need to fly low.

KZG, Ben Hogan, & Wilson Staff sells matched 1-irons.

Jack Nicklaus was especially proud of his high 1-iron shots and wrote that playing long irons well is a real ign of learning the game.

Having all that duffer that can't score under 90s should avoid all the long irons (1, 2, &3) if scoring low matters...esp. when betting. The catch is if you don't practce at all with it when will you get to learn them.

I really like my 5-wood, for instance, it's my 'goto club' from FWs for 200~220 yards, but this year I'm leaving it in the garage, so I'll use my 3-iron more often.

Now if you're playing in a tournment, then no 1 iron unless you've been playing nearly everyday for months

If you are new I would not look at a 1 iron. You will prob. not be able to find a 1 iron in a super game improvement style anyway. I am not a big hybrid fan but everybody else seems to love them. It is hard to beat a good 5 wood and this is where I would start especially if you are looking for help off the tee. I stlii hit a 2 iron sometimes and I seem to have more control on my mssies than if I hit a hybrid. Good luck!

IMHO the only purpose of carrying a one iron is in case of a thunder storm, because even God can't hit a one iron.

A fairway wood to consider. Taylor Made Burner. Big like a driver, light for better swing speed and shorter length shaft like a fairway wood.
TaylorMade Golf - Fairways - Burner Steel Fairway - Overview

Also tee the fairway wood about 3/4 inch or lower, the irons tee just off the ground hybrids between the two. This will limit the sky shots. Maintain your balance on the swings as well.

Contrary to popular opinion, I don't think that a 1 iron off a tee would be that difficult to hit..I would look into 1 iron comparables like the LDI or the new line of Mizuno Mp fli hi's...I have two hybrids and like them quite a bit as all around clubs, but I will put a two iron in the bag when I am going through a good swinging spell as there is nothing more consistently accurate as an iron off the tee...