5 Iron Address - Long iron or Mid Iron?

question is I guess is, is there a real difference to 'most' of the 3 or 4 iron shots in that 'are' they really having a lot better outcomes consistently when compared to 5 iron shots?
or is it a just more of a 'subjective perceived difference' in the feeling that 'most' of the 3 & 4 iron shots are 'good' when most of the 5 iron shots are not?

my guess would be it's more a subjective call having remembered the 5 iron shots that didn't maybes come off as planned, these being more just a ways more upfront in the memory bank for some reason.

there's not a huge bunch of difference, if address with a 3,4 or 6 iron is workable, then the address position with a 5 cannot simply then be that far out for it to make any real difference.

no matter where folks are in the handicap index range, in my experience, the swing path shot to shot doesn't actually change that much. the number of degrees someone swings relative to the 0º target line just doesn't change overmuch, neither the AoA - that's the reason why folks find working on a swing path/AoA change that sticks a ways difficult (meaning from one swing to another they don't suddenly swing 10º left, then 0º, then another 10º to the right - might think they do but it general it just doesn't happen)

more likely with shot issues that the sequence of any swing motion gets 'out of sync' due to a thought, a concern about the shot so there becomes a 'built in' lack of trust about the upcoming shot - which leads to a bad sequence of motion so there's no proper sync between body & arms - this usually caused at one of two critical points, either the first move away, or the transition, in that one, or both, become rushed.
so bad shot outcome at impact.

few things you have to really be objective about & look too, would be - how many shots out of 20 really do succeed with a 3, or 4 iron as opposed to the 5i. what's the average percentage of good shots out of 20 with each club?
is the issue with the less successful shots, more one of direction in relation to target or not covering the distance needed?

many folks struggle with the lower lofted iron clubs from the turf to varying degrees, particularly in regard to consistent & proper distance, & proper distance 'gaps' with the lower lofted clubs because the swing motion sequence is not delivering sufficient club head speed through impact.

so the 3,4,5 irons all deliver pretty much the same distance from a reasonable strike so they get no real 'gaps' (no 10-12 yards between, the 3,4,5 irons all max out to a pretty similar distance) that they maybes do get from the 7,8,9 irons, the reason to that is both the difference in loft of the clubs & also folks being able to generate enough club head speed to make the 7,8,9 irons work but struggle with the less lofted low irons.

this oft times because the swing speed is largely being produced by arm speed alone with oft times too, the 'angles' not being retaining through impact - particularly the right hand angle.

the swing speed that is generated more just by arm speed (because of either a lack of sync with the leg/hips/body or the legs/hips not really being used at all over much) is sufficient enough to make the higher lofted clubs which naturally don't have to travel as far work pretty good.
but this just isn't sufficient to make the lower lofted irons work as they should.

key to finding the real answer is objectively over at least 20 shots each, properly finding the 'real' averages out (distance, direction + gaping) with the 3, 4, & 5 irons.
pretty much guarantee it won't be a thing to do with the address/ball position, but will be to do with the swing motion sequence in - legs/hips/body 'plus' arms/hands & club, & what's happening at impact & why.