2 Woods or 2 Hybrids?

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By Matthew P

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  1. I have a 5 wood, 3 hybrid and 3-PW irons. I am going to take the 3 iron out as I no longer need it with the hybrid. What will take my game further? A 3 Wood or a 2 Hybrid? I know the degree of the hybrid would be the same as the 5 wood but will it be worth it when I come to hit from rough and bunkers?

  2. Fred Closs

    Fred Closs
    Denton, TX

    Everyone is different. Some hit the 3 iron better than the hybrid and prefer the control an iron affords over the hybrids. Personally, I can maneuver a shot around trees or hazards and control the trajectory much better with an iron. I carry the 3 wood, 5 wood and 3 iron for that reason and, will sometimes replace the 5 wood with a 19 degree hybrid. i can only suggest you play a few rounds with the 3 iron, hybrid and 5 wood in your bag and see which clubs you can use most often to make your 14 club set.

  3. george t

    george t
    Old Lyme, CT

    For a short time last year, I had a 910F 17* and a 910H 19*, but found that many times, the more penetrating flight of the hybrid resulted in two clubs that covered much the same distances.  What do you carry for wedges?  I've found that I'd rather have all the weapons I need for a shot inside 120 yards than one for 200 yards.

  4. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    george t said:

    For a short time last year, I had a 910F 17* and a 910H 19*, but found that many times, the more penetrating flight of the hybrid resulted in two clubs that covered much the same distances.  What do you carry for wedges?  I've found that I'd rather have all the weapons I need for a shot inside 120 yards than one for 200 yards.

    Yours is similar to mine but 2* different.   The 910F is 19* (set at A3 for a loft of 20.5*) and the 910H is 21* (set at A2 for a loft of 21*).  It is true that the 21 has a lower and more penetrating flight but I'm capable of 200 with the fairway (generally hit about 185-190) vs 180 for the hybrid (I generally hit 170-175).  I also tend to swing more conservative with the hybrid whereas I'm used to whacking a 7 wood.

    My basic set is 13* driver, 910F 19*, 910H 21 and 27*, AP1 7-PW (spaced 31-36-41-46) , SM c-c 50-08 (bent to 49) and 54-14, SM4 60-10 (bent to 59).  I have a persimmon 34 hybrid that I have carried close to 2 years and I use it when I want 130-150 yards with all carry and no roll, on par 3s betweeen 140-150 and plowing out of the rough; it is heavy at D5 swingweight and all I hto do is meet the ball.  I may give it a bit of thought to re-adding a 64 degree wedge to make 14 clubs.  Also at my disposal are a persimmon 10 wood (28.5 loft) that  I used between 2010-2011 until I  found a good 5H and a "putting wedge" (mallet style chipper).  I could probably leave out the 21H and do a choke shot with the fairway to cover the gap (I played with TM Burner 7W and SQ2 5/26 and 7/34 hybrids through 2011 and this May until I got the AP1 irons and the 910 clubs).

  5. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Matthew P said:

    I have a 5 wood, 3 hybrid and 3-PW irons. I am going to take the 3 iron out as I no longer need it with the hybrid. What will take my game further? A 3 Wood or a 2 Hybrid? I know the degree of the hybrid would be the same as the 5 wood but will it be worth it when I come to hit from rough and bunkers?

    Not really much benefit of either vs a 5 wood.  If your 5 wood is 18* not much point of getting a 15* 3 wood because there is only a 10 yard gain and the ball has to be a on really good lie with the 3W to hit it off the deck. 

    The 2 hybrid is really only a backup for the 5 wood.

    If your purpose of the 3 wood is to fill the gap off the tee between it and the 5 wood, consider the 13.5* 3 wood vs the 15. 

    .Other option is a 4 wood  (17*) vs a 3 and 5.  A little more distance vs the 5 wood and a little easier to hit off the deck vs the 3 wood.  That leaves room for an extra wedge.

    Best thing to do is a side-by-side comparison of the 2H vs 5 wood and then see how well you hit a 13.5 or 15* 3 wood.  Then try a 17* fairway.  I found out that I hit an 18* fairway wood much better than an 18* hybrid.   I also hit a 21 fairway farther than a 17 hybrid.

    My personal opinion is an 18 fairway and 21 hybrid is a great combo (strong 5 wood and 3 hybrid). 

    I have a 910F 19* fairway and 910H 21* hybrid.  I hit the fairway 190 with a conservative swing and over 200 if I get into it.  I hit the 21 hybrid 175-180 on a conservative swing (I don't try to knock the snot out of a hybrid).

     

     

     

  6. Lou G said:

    Not really much benefit of either vs a 5 wood.  If your 5 wood is 18* not much point of getting a 15* 3 wood because there is only a 10 yard gain and the ball has to be a on really good lie with the 3W to hit it off the deck. 

    The 2 hybrid is really only a backup for the 5 wood.

    If your purpose of the 3 wood is to fill the gap off the tee between it and the 5 wood, consider the 13.5* 3 wood vs the 15. 

    .Other option is a 4 wood  (17*) vs a 3 and 5.  A little more distance vs the 5 wood and a little easier to hit off the deck vs the 3 wood.  That leaves room for an extra wedge.

    Best thing to do is a side-by-side comparison of the 2H vs 5 wood and then see how well you hit a 13.5 or 15* 3 wood.  Then try a 17* fairway.  I found out that I hit an 18* fairway wood much better than an 18* hybrid.   I also hit a 21 fairway farther than a 17 hybrid.

    My personal opinion is an 18 fairway and 21 hybrid is a great combo (strong 5 wood and 3 hybrid). 

    I have a 910F 19* fairway and 910H 21* hybrid.  I hit the fairway 190 with a conservative swing and over 200 if I get into it.  I hit the 21 hybrid 175-180 on a conservative swing (I don't try to knock the snot out of a hybrid).

     

     

     

     

    Good points. Do you think it is worth me getting the 13.5* over anything else. You see, i hit my 3 Iron about 190 yards, my 3 Hybrid about 200 (but much straghter and higher than the 3 Iron) and my 5 wood about 230. However, on windy courses where I often play the 5 wood can balloon up into the air, and the hybrid even worse. The 3W in the 910 may help as I can adjust it to each course condition. I have the driver and love the feel and distance so the wood might work in my bag.

     

     

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  7. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Matthew P said:

    Not really much benefit of either vs a 5 wood.  If your 5 wood is 18* not much point of getting a 15* 3 wood because there is only a 10 yard gain and the ball has to be a on really good lie with the 3W to hit it off the deck. 

    The 2 hybrid is really only a backup for the 5 wood.

    If your purpose of the 3 wood is to fill the gap off the tee between it and the 5 wood, consider the 13.5* 3 wood vs the 15. 

    .Other option is a 4 wood  (17*) vs a 3 and 5.  A little more distance vs the 5 wood and a little easier to hit off the deck vs the 3 wood.  That leaves room for an extra wedge.

    Best thing to do is a side-by-side comparison of the 2H vs 5 wood and then see how well you hit a 13.5 or 15* 3 wood.  Then try a 17* fairway.  I found out that I hit an 18* fairway wood much better than an 18* hybrid.   I also hit a 21 fairway farther than a 17 hybrid.

    My personal opinion is an 18 fairway and 21 hybrid is a great combo (strong 5 wood and 3 hybrid). 

    I have a 910F 19* fairway and 910H 21* hybrid.  I hit the fairway 190 with a conservative swing and over 200 if I get into it.  I hit the 21 hybrid 175-180 on a conservative swing (I don't try to knock the snot out of a hybrid).

     

     

     

     

    Good points. Do you think it is worth me getting the 13.5* over anything else. You see, i hit my 3 Iron about 190 yards, my 3 Hybrid about 200 (but much straghter and higher than the 3 Iron) and my 5 wood about 230. However, on windy courses where I often play the 5 wood can balloon up into the air, and the hybrid even worse. The 3W in the 910 may help as I can adjust it to each course condition. I have the driver and love the feel and distance so the wood might work in my bag.

     

     

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    The main issue with a 13.5 (which can be adjusted to 15*) is being able to hit it off the deck.  14.25 would be the D3, C3, D4 or C4 settings depending on how you have your lie angle set. (keep in mind the clubface is .5* closed so you might hit a slight draw - lower ball flight).

    The 15F will give you an adjustment from 14.25 to 16.5.   14.25 would be a fade ball flight because the clubface is 1.5* open

    The 17F adjusts between 16.25-18.5.  

    You don't mention what brand of 5W you carry.   TM has a rather ballooning ball flight with fairways and hybrids.  I hit my 910s much lower.

    Again to reiterate, you may only see a 10 yard gain between your 3 hybrid and a 17.

    The other thing you can think about in regards to ballooning ball flight is to play a stinger with the fairway or hybrid.  You play the ball back in your stance a little bit and choke down 1/2" or so.

  8. Lou G said:

    Not really much benefit of either vs a 5 wood.  If your 5 wood is 18* not much point of getting a 15* 3 wood because there is only a 10 yard gain and the ball has to be a on really good lie with the 3W to hit it off the deck. 

    The 2 hybrid is really only a backup for the 5 wood.

    If your purpose of the 3 wood is to fill the gap off the tee between it and the 5 wood, consider the 13.5* 3 wood vs the 15. 

    .Other option is a 4 wood  (17*) vs a 3 and 5.  A little more distance vs the 5 wood and a little easier to hit off the deck vs the 3 wood.  That leaves room for an extra wedge.

    Best thing to do is a side-by-side comparison of the 2H vs 5 wood and then see how well you hit a 13.5 or 15* 3 wood.  Then try a 17* fairway.  I found out that I hit an 18* fairway wood much better than an 18* hybrid.   I also hit a 21 fairway farther than a 17 hybrid.

    My personal opinion is an 18 fairway and 21 hybrid is a great combo (strong 5 wood and 3 hybrid). 

    I have a 910F 19* fairway and 910H 21* hybrid.  I hit the fairway 190 with a conservative swing and over 200 if I get into it.  I hit the 21 hybrid 175-180 on a conservative swing (I don't try to knock the snot out of a hybrid).

     

     

     

     

    Good points. Do you think it is worth me getting the 13.5* over anything else. You see, i hit my 3 Iron about 190 yards, my 3 Hybrid about 200 (but much straghter and higher than the 3 Iron) and my 5 wood about 230. However, on windy courses where I often play the 5 wood can balloon up into the air, and the hybrid even worse. The 3W in the 910 may help as I can adjust it to each course condition. I have the driver and love the feel and distance so the wood might work in my bag.

     

     

    [/quote]

    [/quote]

    The main issue with a 13.5 (which can be adjusted to 15*) is being able to hit it off the deck.  14.25 would be the D3, C3, D4 or C4 settings depending on how you have your lie angle set. (keep in mind the clubface is .5* closed so you might hit a slight draw - lower ball flight).

    The 15F will give you an adjustment from 14.25 to 16.5.   14.25 would be a fade ball flight because the clubface is 1.5* open

    The 17F adjusts between 16.25-18.5.  

    You don't mention what brand of 5W you carry.   TM has a rather ballooning ball flight with fairways and hybrids.  I hit my 910s much lower.

    Again to reiterate, you may only see a 10 yard gain between your 3 hybrid and a 17.

    The other thing you can think about in regards to ballooning ball flight is to play a stinger with the fairway or hybrid.  You play the ball back in your stance a little bit and choke down 1/2" or so.

     [/quote]

    Thanks for your help. I have a miz JPX-800 5 wood in 18*. I sometimes hit this back in my stance to stop the ballooning effect, but I tend to hit down on it which makes the problem worse. I will try the 13.5* in a few makes and models and see what happens. The 910F may fit into my bag better because it does not balloon as much as other woods. I tried the 5 Wood when I needed one and it tended to go too low for my strength at the time. However, I am stronger now and can get the ball up easily. Thanks again

  9. Joshua L

    Joshua L
    SLC, UT

    It depends on what you're looking for the wood to do. If you're looking for something to hit off of the grass and not off of the tee you may want to stick with 15° 3 wood as they're much easier to hit off of the deck than the 13.5° woods. 13.5° woods are typically used exclusively off of the tee, with minimal use off of the grass. I would highly suggest you go and get fit for the woods/hybrids the ballooning effect you're talking about can be a shaft issue more so than a head issue. 

    If you feel like you don't really need another wood add another wedge. For many years I've used driver, 15° 3 wood 19° hybrid and 4-9 irons, 46°, 50°, 54°, 58° wedges. About two years ago I switched to the 13.5° 3 wood, added a 17° hybrid, a 3iron, and changed my wedge set up to 47°, 53°, 59°. Don't be afraid to have extra clubs that you switch in and out depending on the course you're playing and the playing conditions. There is no real right or wrong way to set up your bag, so don't feel obligated to have a 3wood and a 5 wood/strong hybrid. 

    Best of luck with the bag set up!

  10. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    My 910F 19* (which I have set at A3 - 20.5* loft and +1.5* upright lie angle) actually has a lower trajectory and goes a few yards farther than my Superfast 5-18 did. 

    The reason one hits a ballooning shot is too steep of a downswing and playing it back actually worsens it because hitting down on the ball too much makes for more spin. A wood should be hit in a sweeping motion(as TJ says "through the ball").  You don't want your hands way ahead of the clubface at address like with an iron (should be closer to vertical).   Part of what causes too steep of a downswing is the club might have too flat of a lie angle - I did an experiment with my 19 fairway - I set it on B3 and I actually had way too high of a trajectory.

     

  11. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Sort of reiterating the stinger shot....... the ball in relation to your upper body should never change (play it with your head behind the ball and near your shirt pocket) - "back in your stance" being to move your front foot forward.  You can still sweep the ball.

  12. josh  w

    josh w
    Columbus, OH

    i have 1 wood and 0 hybrids in by bag

  13. TAIII

    TAIII
    Oswego, IL

    Military

    I play a 3w and 5w as this allows for better approaches to long par 4s or 5s; Getting there in 2...

     

    -ICONs for ALL 

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