Hybrid or Fairway (and recommendations to try)

[Tiger]

Howdy chaps,

Following on from the 'OMG how hard are woods to hit' thread I'm looking weighing up my options for my next purchase. The suggestions to buy a 5 Wood over a 3 or Driver seem eminently sensible. Easier to launch and shorter shaft making it easier to connect consistently.

My question is two fold. Currently my longest club is a 3 iron. I could do with a more forgiving club with greater distance in the bag (once I've sorted my iron issues and saved a bit of cash). If you could use all your knowledge of your own progress and development, what would you buy?

A Fairway Wood or a Hybrid? (We're looking at a loft of 18/19*)

Now you've made that choice what model(s) would you recommend me trying?

I look forward to your thoughts. Tiger

 

[Imurg]

A 5 wood first.

Ping, Callaway, TaylorMade from the big boys.
MD, Benross from the smaller brands.

Or even a Cleveland launcher - nice big clubhead = plenty of confidence.

You'll still get reasonable distance from your 4 iron so a hybrid will be too close to make a real difference yet. You need something that's going to make these long par 4's reachable in 2 or 3 shots.

 

[slugger]

I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm going to suggest you try a hybrid. In my bag i have a driver, 3 wood and 2 hybrids. The hybrids are more like hitting an iron from a swing point of view.

It sounds like you are in the early stages of learning the game and, on reflection, i wish someone back then had told me to forget about the driver and 3 wood until i had mastered some sort of consistent swing with the long irons. Sure, it may have taken longer to get to use the big sticks, but i really believe it would have benefited my swing in the long term.

Once you have a good repetitive swing, then's the time to start applying it to more difficult to hit clubs.

If you do decide to go for the 3 wood, then remember you always have the option of gripping down a bit to gain more control, rather than distance.

FWIW, i use a Wilson Staff Fybrid. It's a 19.5º hybrid and is somewhere in between a 5 wood and a 3 iron as far as distance goes. It's very easy to hit and i use it on longer par 3s from the tee or long par 4s or par 5s for my 2nd shot. It's also great out of slightly longer grass where the extra weight in the head keep the momentum going through the grass, where an iron may get caught up in it.

 

[Tiger]

Thanks to you both, really interesting to hear different perspectives. I think the 3 wood is definitely for the future. I can't remember who first said "Tiger what about 5 wood" but whoever it was is an inspired genius.

One in each camp, come on fellas I know you're not shy of sharing your opinions. I know its horses for courses but if it was you, knowing everything you know now, what would you do?

***curiosity got the better of me. It was JustOneUK. Well played that man for instigating the whole 5 wood discussion

 

[JT77]

I think if it were me, I would look at possibly a 3/5 wood over a hybrid if I had to choose only one.
Currently I go driver, 3 wood, then gap to 3hybrid/3 iron, I hit a good ball so not too worried about distance which is why I dont carry 5 wood.
There are so many options to pick also, I think if you can get to an american golf with a range and try some diff options, shaft stiffness, diff manufacturer etc.
I would go for a Ping I15 3 wood, stiff with ust shaft, a mate was looking new 3 wood and so went to look at them with him and tried a few, although I dont need a new 3 wood, I really wanted to buy it! lol

 

[jammydodger]

go for a 4-wood , it can stay in your bag forever. Just add something like a 21* hybrid and a driver later on. Sorted for life then

 

[d1217]

A 5 wood would be more forgiving than a hybrid (as long as you get the right one), my personal preference is a 2 hybrid as it is something from out of the rough (spending good amounts of time in there ).

 

[richy]

I'd go for the 4 wood. Well I did and being a newbie Im quite comfortable hitting it of the deck or tee.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

A 5 WOOD WOULD BE EASIER to hit than a 2 hybrid but i like the 4 wood suggestion

 

[Tiger]

Excuse my ignorance but I'm assuming that a 4 wood is in the 16/17 degree region for loft?

 

[richy]

Excuse my ignorance but I'm assuming that a 4 wood is in the 16/17 degree region for loft?

Yeah mate, I have the G15 and its 17* loft. really forgiving which suits me as Ive only been playing 5 months

 

[andiritchie]

I would look at something very forgiving maybe the Nike macspeed which is quite hard to shape so you should have some success with.

If you find something that you feel confident looking down on your onto a winner

 

[HomerJSimpson]

A 5 wood would be more forgiving than a hybrid

I disagree with that and think the hybrid being shorter will be easier to control. Personally I think you could think about swapping the 4 iron for a hybrid, having a 20 degree (3 iron) hybrid and then a 3 or 4 wood. I think that gives you the better options in terms of distances ans control

 

[haplesshacker]

Without wanting to be controvertial(sp). In my own little world. I find all the club recommendtions quite amuzing. I mean we can't even get settled with our own bags, and yet we're more than willing to give advice on someone else's.

Even though every suggestion is valid and well reasoned.

It's not a critisium(sp) just an observation.

PS I'm just as guilty!!

 

[Zeek]

I'm sort of in the same boat as the OP here. Picked up a golf club for the first time last summer and have been having fairly regular lessons since then.

I've got a set of forgiving irons, and the 5i was the longest club I had. In October, my pro let me try some longer clubs (and told me to stick to a 5w max) and I got a Mizuno MX-700... I like it - I tried a few and that was the one that I hit the best with my dodgy beginners swing!

 

[Deleted member 1740]

I've recently bought a cleveland launcher 5 wood and its superb, its slightly longer than my 18* hybrid but shorter than my 3 wood although i'm more accurate with the 5 than the 3 wood.

HTH

 

[RGDave]

All I can say is a 5 wood is the last club I'd take out the bag (other than my putter)....

 

[Tiger]

Now I'm torn. The hybrid seems to be losing out,especialy if it's like swinging a long iron (albeit with a more forgiving head). 4 wood v 5 wood? Mmmmm. Five step plan of action for April.

1. Borrow my mates G2 5 wood
2. Have a wood swing lesson with my pro
3. See how I get on with the 5
4. Buy the 5 or head off to Nevada Bobs to try a range of clubs and loft
5. Post on here thanking you all for your astute counsel

 

[FourPutt]

Hi Tiger,

I'm pretty new to golf too, just started in November.

I got a driver and fairway woods straight away and I agree that they are harder to hit well initially. Persevere though, and it will click.

Trouble is, there are subtle differences to your set up with woods that I think might prove more difficult to adjust to, the longer you leave it.

In my (very) humble opinion, and I am no expert, I would suggest getting your full set as you intend to use eventually and at least start practicing with them. Even if you don't use them on the course yet.

When I was struggling with the driver I would leave it in the car for a while on proper rounds until I got some confidence with it on the range.

Just a thought.

 

[Imurg]

The less left on the hybrid the harder it is to hit - generally. If hybrids were that easy all the Pros would be playing 1h's with 14 degrees instead of 3 woods. Lower than about 17/18/19 becomes almost as difficult as a long iron. For these lofts a fairway wood is a much better bet.

My launcher fairway has the shaft of a 3 wood but 17 degrees loft and the same head size. I've always struggled with fairways so this is ideal for me - it gets the ball up but still goes a long way. The 5 has a slightly shorter shaft and 19 making it easier still.

4 or 5 - doesn't matter much. But it must tie in distance wise with the rest of your set or you'll be chopping and changing. But as you've got no woods a 18/19 degree 5 wood is a good place to start. Most of the shops have a range of 2nd hand clubs - might find a bargain or 2 in there. And if its 2nd hand there'll be no problem trying it out.