Pointless Gear review - that wasted an hour...

[The_LHC]

Wandered over to the local range at lunch (Nicky Lumb's, Bristol) as I wanted to try out some options to fill the gap between my driver and my 4 iron, spoke to one of the lads and we settled on the ping i15 hybrid 20deg and i15 3-wood and the callaway diablo tour 21deg hybrid and 3 wood.

I didn't really like any of them if I'm honest! The i15 hybrid was the more forgiving of the two, I was spraying the Callaway all over the place, I think that might have been because the Ping felt like it had a thicker grip on it, it also had a much straighter face profile than the Callaway, which seemed overly convex, however the i15 couldn't get near the Callaway for distance, if had been even remotely close I might have gone for the i15, just because it's that much straighter but it's giving up so much distance I couldn't countenance it.

As for the 3 woods, again the Callaway was just a waste of time, couldn't do anything with it at all, the Ping was better but not to the point I'd actually want to bother with it in the bag.

I am quite aware I was swinging like an utter tool though, typical range performance, just trying to belt it out the park, no consistency at all.

So far the only thing I've learned is that I still prefer long irons, I just don't have any clear idea how you're supposed to hit a 3 wood, it's been so long since I used one.

 

[bobmac]

I just don't have any clear idea how you're supposed to hit a 3 wood,

That may be a good starting point.

 

[The_LHC]

I just don't have any clear idea how you're supposed to hit a 3 wood,

That may be a good starting point.

I know but I'm not buying one until I know how to hit them and I can't very well have a lesson in how to hit one if I don't own one.

The hybrids are similar, I just treated them like irons as that's what I understand you're supposed to do and some of the strikes were ok but they just feel overly long and I seem to wrap the clubhead over the top of the ball all the time, producing a pronounced hook.

With the 3 woods I tried teeing them up a little more and hitting them like a driver but that didn't seem to work either.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sounds to me like you were trying to cram too much into the session trying both the hybrids and the 3 woods. Go back and do it one at a time so you can swing slower and with a better tempo. Why not look that the TM hybrid or the Cobra both of which I've used and got on well with

 

[The_LHC]

Sounds to me like you were trying to cram too much into the session trying both the hybrids and the 3 woods. Go back and do it one at a time so you can swing slower and with a better tempo. Why not look that the TM hybrid or the Cobra both of which I've used and got on well with

Well I was trying both because i've no idea which would be better for my game. Besides just trying two wouldn't make the slightest difference to how well I swing, I always do that at the range, that's why I don't often bother, it just seems like a waste of time and money.

I do need to try some more brands though, you're right, although I have trouble getting past the look of Cobras if i'm honest.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think the hybrid will give you more versatility and you can play out of light rough and on tight par 4's and longer par 3's. On the other side the 3 wood is great for tight driving holes and if the driver misbehaves. Personally I wouldn't be without either

 

[The_LHC]

I think the hybrid will give you more versatility and you can play out of light rough and on tight par 4's and longer par 3's. On the other side the 3 wood is great for tight driving holes and if the driver misbehaves. Personally I wouldn't be without either

I had thought about getting both but I'm slightly concerned about learning to hit two clubs at once instead of one. Not sure either of those 3 woods would be much use on tight holes either, whilst the ping was better I was still spraying it around. At the moment I'm much straighter with the driver, long may that continue...

I agree about the versatility of the hybrid though, it could potentially replace 3 clubs in my bag.

 

[JustOne]

I had thought about getting both...

Get both. If you are not a long hitter then get the two that hit it furthest, you can work on your accuracy at a later date

 

[The_LHC]

I had thought about getting both...

Get both. If you are not a long hitter

No, I'm huge, that isn't an issue.

then get the two that hit it furthest, you can work on your accuracy at a later date

That would be the ping 3 wood and the callaway hybrid and I'm certainly not spending any money on the callaway, it gave me no confidence at all and that's the problem I have with the Callaway 1H Heavenwood I have now. That's why the ping hybrid was so disappointing, with range balls the difference between the two was, at a guess, easily 20-30 yards, despite the ping having a degree less loft on it. At a rough calculation that would put the ping behind my 4-iron, which would be fairly pointless.

There's plenty more out there to try, I'm not giving up yet.

 

[GB72]

If you are looking for a 3 wood that is long but forgiving try teh Mizuno MX700. Never hit a 3 wood that goes further.

 

[The_LHC]

Ok I'll give it a go, cheers.

 

[iwtuk]

If you are looking for a 3 wood that is long but forgiving try teh Mizuno MX700. Never hit a 3 wood that goes further.

Couldn't agree more...flies miles! Now if only I can get the direction sorted out.....

 

[fundy]

have a look at the titleist 909 series, both the 3 wood and hybrids (can actually get a hybrid in 3 wood loft if prefer it)

all very playable and easier to shape the ball than many of the competitors

 

[Region3]

have a look at the titleist 909 series, both the 3 wood and hybrids (can actually get a hybrid in 3 wood loft if prefer it)

all very playable and easier to shape the ball than many of the competitors

Dammit.

I thought I was rubbish with them because they were hard to hit