Irons to woods distance comparison?

[Keyser Soze]

Sorry if this has been covered before.

Was playing a round with a couple of older guys yesterday, never met them before so didn't know anything about their game (better than mine i might add !) and they both basiclly carried a bag full of woods with a few wedges and shorter clubs.

Anyway, we got to the par 3 14th. Wind coming across us and about 165-170 yards to the pin. I'm not the biggest hitter in the world and was thinking a 5 iron, when both the guys pulled out woods. The first one proceeded to plonk his ball on the green. When i asked him what he used, he told me a 9 wood and offerd me ago which i did. Hit it sweet off the deck but too long and over the back (messed me up really as i'm now on a downward slope putting back onto the green, not my favourite shot!), but i'm thinking that the shot was about 180-185 yards?

But it got me thinking what the woods to irons are in terms of distance? Obviously everyones different and i couldn't find a definative comparison online, but is a 9 wood comparable to a 5 iron, 7 wood to a 6 iron etc, does anyone know?

I can't hit a 4 iron for toffee and my 5 is hit or miss, wondering if a 9 wood is the right distance and way to go for me?

 

[mykweb]

Some of the Senior sets you can buy now have hybrids or woods to replace the 3,4,5 and 6 iron.

I looked at a set of Adams and Cobra Bafflers that had hybrids in the set.

 

[Foxholer]

Hybrids are more the current style as iron replacements - and generally have what they are replacing 'stamped' on them. I had a 7-wood a while ago but didn't get on with it, so hybrids for me.

Hybrids are only (relatively) recent tools, at least in the general market, so some guys use their old favourite high numbered woods. I once hit a 13 wood that a guy walking he dog (and finding balls) had. He said he had a couple of higher ones too!

 

[Keyser Soze]

I have a 4 hybrid that i can generally hit very well, but in the scenario i mentioned above, thinking that that would be too much club for the hole i mentioned. Can you get hybrids in the higher numbers? Have to say, i do like the look of the Cleveland 588 altitudes.

 

[Imurg]

A 7 wood is generally considered to be more or less a 3 iron so a 9 wood equates to a 4 iron, 11 wood = 5 iron etc etc....

 

[Keyser Soze]

A 7 wood is generally considered to be more or less a 3 iron so a 9 wood equates to a 4 iron, 11 wood = 5 iron etc etc....

Thank you, that was what i was after.

 

[MadAdey]

Going on my clubs I would say a 5w is similar to my 2i. But with modern day clubs it is hard to say as some sets of irons have strong lofts on them and some woods now come with weaker lofts to make them easier to hit. I think the way to do it is to actually try some and compare them to your irons.

I would personally advise looking at hybrids rather than fairways. What irons are you using by the way?

 

[harpo_72]

I carry a 7 wood, this is good for 170-220 yards depending on wind direction. The problem is it hits a high shot so into the wind or if I need something out from under over hanging trees it's really not the club. At the moment I am auditioning a Mizuno fli-hi 3i which flies a similar distance but is a bit more flatter in flight, but has more roll on landing. Problem is I am not so keen on the Mizuno hybrid and I am not so sure how it fits into the bag. I have room at the top of my bag because I have only 2 wedges a 52 and a 60 due to the course and bunker sand the 60 is mostly used.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I would personally advise looking at hybrids rather than fairways. What irons are you using by the way?

Thanks for the reply. I have Callaway Edge irons and Hybrid (#4)

I have just been using the course book of my place as reference. My iron swing style is slow/soft, maybe 3/4 swing . If i try to hit hell out of the ball it goes all over the place, so using the course guide, a 130 yard par 3 i'd take a soft 8. Going on that assumption i'd say 140 for a 7 iron, 150 for a 6. 5 iron is hit and miss and 4 iron is a waste of time.

(i have used google earth to measure these next 2 shots...)

Yesterday, on the longer par 3 12th, with the wind coming across left to right i used my hybrid to put the ball within 3 foot of the pin which measued out at 180 yards approx and on the par 5 13th (and i have to stress that i had a bit of wind behind me and fair amount of roll on the fairway, but even so, this shot was out of the bunker !) it went about 210-215 yards !

So, what i need is something to bridge the gap of 30-45 yards (at a guesstimate) between the 6 iron and 4 hybrid. Thats why i was thinking of a fairway wood, that said, i have a 3 wood, which i can hit quite well, but the conditions/situation have to be perfect. As you suggest, another hybrid seems the way to go (a mate of mine who is alot better golfer than i am also suggested the same) but never seen a hybrid shorter than a 5 ?

 

[harpo_72]

#5 hybrid?

 

[Keyser Soze]

#5 hybrid?

I see that Callaway do an Edge 6H but looking on Ebay, you can get them, but p&p goes between £30 and £45 before buying the club !!!!!

 

[MadAdey]

Looking at your iron specs your 5i is 25* so quite a strong loft. You said you have a 4H already and that is 24*. I would be very tempted to get the 3H & 5H and drop your 5i as I find rescues even though have a number like 5H on, it will go a bit further than a 5i. So your set would go down to 6i then have a 5H, 4H & 3H. That should sort you out a treat if you then dropped in something like a 4W also.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Looking at your iron specs your 5i is 25* so quite a strong loft. You said you have a 4H already and that is 24*. I would be very tempted to get the 3H & 5H and drop your 5i as I find rescues even though have a number like 5H on, it will go a bit further than a 5i. So your set would go down to 6i then have a 5H, 4H & 3H. That should sort you out a treat if you then dropped in something like a 4W also.

Thank you. Maybe a 3H and 5H wil be easier to source? Definately have to look into that. Alot cheaper option than changing the hole set of Cleveland altitudes ! Incidently, do you have a link to the specs you mentioned?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

7 wood, the old gentlemans persuader. Never had one but I know loads of members at my place old, and not so old that have one. I played an artisan at Sunningdale Ladies in a match once. He had an old trolley that looked like it had pram wheels on, an old leather bag full of holes, about 6 different woods of differing numbers and makes, all of which were chipped and dinged and wandered out in a jumper full of holes and tired old shoes. Got an absolute lesson. Granted SL is a very short course and so suited to this elderly gent but he had a wood for every hole and every shot. Never looked like getting into trouble.

 

[LUFC 1972]

I have a Cobra Baffler rail 6H which is 28deg, which replaced my 6 iron ..It is my go to club from 160-170 yards and on par 3's as I can hit it high and it lands softly... for me so much easier and consistent then a 6 iron

 

[MadAdey]

Thank you. Maybe a 3H and 5H wil be easier to source? Definately have to look into that. Alot cheaper option than changing the hole set of Cleveland altitudes ! Incidently, do you have a link to the specs you mentioned?

Try typing into google callaway edge irons specification and edge hybrid specifications. You will then get all the info that I was looking at.

 

[Slab]

Amongst others I have a 25* hybrid & a 27* 11 wood both of which replace my 5 iron and I choose which one depending on the course I'm playing

Both give the distance I need but easier for me to hit than the iron

 

[MadAdey]

Thank you. Maybe a 3H and 5H wil be easier to source? Definately have to look into that. Alot cheaper option than changing the hole set of Cleveland altitudes ! Incidently, do you have a link to the specs you mentioned?

Had a bit more time this morning, here are links to the info that I found:

http://www.callawaygolf.com/global/...classic-golf-equipment/diablo-edge-irons.html
http://www.callawaygolf.com/global/...assic-golf-equipment/diablo-edge-hybrids.html

Regarding loft wise your bag should suit you more if you had it set up like this:

7i 32*
6i 28*
5H 27*
4H 24*
3H 21*
Then maybe a 4W 17*

I know your 6i and 5H would be close loft wise, but I find that hybrids do go further than their equivalent iron. I hope that helps regarding sorting out the longer part of the game for you.

 

[harpo_72]

I know your 6i and 5H would be close loft wise, but I find that hybrids do go further than their equivalent iron. I hope that helps regarding sorting out the longer part of the game for you.[/QUOTE]

i was of this opinion as well but I am presently in a quandary as to what to replace my fli-hi with, I am presently thinking that the ping i15 4 iron is as long or very close. The fli-hi has a steel shaft, and if I replace it I will be going to graphite and I am looking at the Adams stuff with the slot tech, so would a 4h be the better replacement with regards gapping?
The 7 wood will stay, this is a serious target finder and makes small greens accessible, just need something that bites of huge distances and has a little roll out in the 3 iron/2 iron position.

Sorry for the thread hijack

 

[Keyser Soze]

Thanks for the links MadAdey. I was looking at the lofts etc this morning. I was thinking of getting a Cleveland 52* wedge, but looking at the Cally site noticed how close that is to the SW loft. But managed to find a brand new AW on Ebay which is smack bang in the middle of the PW/SW, so that has been ordered

3H and 5H being ordered next payday