Do you really need fairway woods if you have hybrids?

CMO · December 6, 2008

I just got a set of Nike Sumo Hybrid/Irons. Will these hybrids replace a set of fairway woods? I have used some fairway woods before and couldn't hit them very well. I just don't want to spend the money if I really don't need them.

**meenman** · December 6, 2008

I am not sure which club your set starts with but you will eventually want a 3 wood for distance gaps. I personally use my 2 + 3 hybrids much more than my 3 wood.

CMO · December 6, 2008

The set starts with a 4 Hybrid but I also have a 3 Hybrid in the bag.

**titaniummd** · December 6, 2008

I just got a set of Nike Sumo Hybrid/Irons. Will these hybrids replace a set of fairway woods? I have used some fairway woods before and couldn't hit them very well. I just don't want to spend the money if I really don't need them.

If you feel more comfortable with hybrids, then use them. Hybrids are more forgiving for various types of lies, in my opinion, given the shorter club length.

The extra distance of the FW may put you into the rough more often than not. Try to determine the distances amongst your clubs and assess the consistency of which clubs work best for you.

**denver_nuggs_15** · December 6, 2008

It really depends on your game.
If you keep your driver in or around the fairway, then there is almost no need to hit a wood off of the tee. I hit about 70% of fairways, so taking out a 3-wood won't help that much. However, if you do not hit driver well (like most 36 handicaps), then you may want to buy a 3-wood for teeing off on some holes. (Most 3 woods have shorter shafts, are more controllable and, consequently, go straighter.) This way you will hit more fairways and hopefully lower scores.
There are other factors such as how you swing (flat vs. steep), overall length or distance you have, etc. However, you should probably buy a used 3 wood just for kicks and giggles. You'll eventually learn how to use it properly and effectively. It's the only way most of us can hit par 5s in two and get an eagle. Hitting a 3 wood vs 3 hybrid on your second shot on a par 5 is the difference between hitting a wedge and 7 iron.
There are people who will tell you to get a 5 or 4 wood instead of a 3 wood. It is the same argument why you should not buy a driver: shorter clubs (shafts) fly straighter. It's a cool idea until you keep extending the idea. Why buy a 5 wood when a 2 hybrid goes straighter, why buy a 2 hybrid when a 3h goes straighter...why buy a 5 iron when a 6 iron goes straighter? Eventually, the idea becomes silly. No one would tee off with a 6 iron on a par 5. So why give up 20+ yards of distance on any shot for 5% greater accuracy?

**RocktimusPryme** · December 6, 2008

Most people can probbaly hit a fairway wood longer than they can hit a 3 hybrid, but if you can only hit it well 10% of the time whats the point. I used to hit my woods alot (my 5 wood used to be my favorite club in my bag) But as my swing has tweaked and changed, now I stuggle with the woods but Im consitent with my hybrids (4 and 5's). I hit my TM Rescue Burner 22* about 210 when well struck, about 225 to 230 with my 5 wood and about 240 250 with my 3 wood, so theres definetely a gap. But I rarley find it to be that big of an inconvenice as I normally lay up on par 5s anyway.

Im sort of intending on going to buy a 2 hyrbid and just taking the woods out of my bag since i dont hit them well anymore anyway.

Just remember alot of people are opposite and hit the woods better, hyrbids arent always the cureall the golf channel tells you they are. It all depends on your swing. Try both and see what you can personally put into your game better

**flopdarock** · December 6, 2008

i think maybe the OP might be a lil confused... the hybrids in that set are meant to replace the long irons hence the reason you dont have 3i 4i 5i 6i 7i and only have 3h 4h 5h 6h 7h 8i 9i pw aw... if you are pretty good at long iron play or should i say long hybrid play you might get away with not having shorter woods... i dont even carry shorter woods and only have a 3w in my bag just for some particular distance shots... other than that you'd have to really take a look at your game and see what your strengths and weaknesses are to see if you really need certain clubs

**Titleist Man** · December 6, 2008

If you really like hybrids you could consider getting a 1 and 2 iron hybrids but not sure if nike makes those. Personally though I like to have woods in my bag even though I have hybrids.

**RocktimusPryme** · December 6, 2008

i think maybe the OP might be a lil confused... the hybrids in that set are meant to replace the long irons

While true, most people hit their hybrids a bit further than they would hit the coinciding iron. So it does help to bridge the gap if your not very good with fairway woods (like myself) Sometimes this causes a problem on the other end though. You have to make sure you dont leave yourself a distance gap between your longest iron and shorted hybrid

**Ben** · December 6, 2008

I just got a set of Nike Sumo Hybrid/Irons. Will these hybrids replace a set of fairway woods? I have used some fairway woods before and couldn't hit them very well. I just don't want to spend the money if I really don't need them.

I think your hybrids can eliminate the need for a 4 or 5 wood, but not a 3 wood, if you use one at least. I put my first hybrid in my bag this year, a 2h which I replaced for my 4 wood and any need for a 5 wood. It really just comes down to what you are comfortable in hitting. But it seems as though you don't favor hitting the fairway woods.

CMO · December 6, 2008

The question was probably a bit premature considering I just got these today and haven't hit them yet. I will hit the range this weekend to try them out and see what kind of distances I can get with them. Thanks for the replies.

CMO · December 6, 2008

I think your hybrids can eliminate the need for a 4 or 5 wood, but not a 3 wood, if you use one at least. I put my first hybrid in my bag this year, a 2h which I replaced for my 4 wood and any need for a 5 wood. It really just comes down to what you are comfortable in hitting. But it seems as though you don't favor hitting the fairway woods.

I think I was also getting confused about what exactly a hybrid replaces. I thought that it would more replace a wood rather than a like numbered iron. Seeing these replies shows I was wrong but I will find out at the range.

**Titleist Man** · December 6, 2008

Seeing these replies shows I was wrong but I will find out at the range.

Good Luck

**ScruffyScraper** · December 6, 2008

Hybrids are intended to replace long irons, but long before before the original copper-colored TaylorMade FireSole Rescue, #s 5, 7, and 9 woods/metals were available for the same purpose.

If you've been around a while, you had the option to stick with long irons, change to lofted fairway woods/metals, or stay with long irons instead of the lofted fairway woods/metals but then change with the advent of the hybrid.

If you're a younger player, then all the options are there at once and you must make the decision.

If you're an older player getting back to the game, you must also keep in mind that metalwood lofts do not correspond to your older wood lofts.

Older fairway wood lofts went something like this:

2-wood.....14º
3-wood.....17º
4-wood......19.5º
5-wood......22º
7-wood......26º

Now it's more like this:

3+ metal....13º
# 3 metal...15º
# 4 metal....17º
#5 metal.....19º
#7 metal.....21º
#9 metal.....23º

You have to know what your hybrids are and also what they'd be replacing.

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Do you really need fairway woods if you have hybrids?

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