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Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

post #1 of 9
12/8/08 at 2:12am
Thread Starter 
I am looking to hit this off the deck to reach more par 5s in two.
I am 6'5'' 245lbs (before lunch)

My current clubs are as follows (from memory).
Driver 10.5
3 hybrid 19
4 hybrid 22
5 hybrid 27
6 hybrid 31
7 iron 34
8 iron 37
9 iron 41
P 43
G 50
S 56
L 60
putter

I have an old 15 degree 1995 callaway big bertha 3 wood that I hit O.k. off the deck.

My favorite clubs are driver off the tee, then off turf: 4hybrid, 6hybrid, 7 iron, Gwedge Swedge (I've been hitting the L wedge great recently)
When I'm hitting the driver well, I average 280
I hit my 4 hybrid 210 carry.
I don't like my 19 degree 3 hybrid off the deck (love it off the tee), but I hit my dad's rescue 19 degree hybrid great off the deck.

Had my swing analyzed at E.W. They recommended the Cleveland Hibore XLS 15 degree fairway wood.

I am debating the aforementioned club vs 15 degree hybrid for Christmas present for myself.

Please help me decide. Any advise greatly appreciated.
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post #2 of 9
12/8/08 at 3:21am

Re: Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

I would assume you would lose a bit of distance, if you go with a hybrid vs. a fw. wood. Merely due to the length of the club. But with your height and weight, I'm guessing you crush the ball pretty good. . .at least you should be capable.

So, it just depends on what you hit better. If you don't lose much distance with the hybrid, I say go for it. Its probably a more versatile tool than a typical 3 wood.
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post #3 of 9
12/8/08 at 3:59am

Re: Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

Technically, a 15 or 16ยบ hybrid would be a #1 iron replacement, and a # 1 iron is supposed to be the distance equivalent of a # 4 wood, not a # 3 wood.

The Bear used to carry driver, 3-wood, #s 1-9 irons, PW, SW, and putter back in the day--- as did other strong players.
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post #4 of 9
12/8/08 at 4:18am
Thread Starter 

Re: Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

Thanks for the info. I guess I will now debate 15-17 degree 4 wood vs 15-17 degree hybrid. I like the versatility of hybrids (I even like chipping with them on 20-30 yard shots to a flat fronted green)
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post #5 of 9
12/8/08 at 4:26am

Re: Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

go with the 15*, the 13 is great if you can master your 3wood off the deck, if you can't it is basically useless except off the teebox. you won't lose much distance with the 15* vs the 13*. it is best to get the club that works better for you though, i personally thing you will find more success with the 15 though.
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post #6 of 9
12/9/08 at 12:16am

Re: Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

Personally id get the 3 wood but thats cause im a short player and need every yard I can get
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post #7 of 9
12/9/08 at 12:44am

Re: Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

I carry a 3 wood (15*) and a 2 hybrid (17*). Both of these clubs for me are used more off the tee as alternate driver than for reaching par 5's. My theory is if I have to hit 3 wood I would rather lay up anyway. There are advantages to both. A 4 wood (if that's still what you're considering) will launch higher than a hybrid and thus land softer. However, a low lofted hybrid will have a shorter shaft and is usually easier to hit straight, but may be difficult to get a high trajectory with off turf, but it will probably run more than 4 wood. I also prefer a hybrid out of rough. It really comes down to personal choice, though. Personally, looking at your bag makeup, I would think a 3 or 4 wood would fit nicely. And a 4 wood usually has a somewhat smaller head and thus is easier to hit off turf than 3 wood.
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post #8 of 9
12/9/08 at 1:10am
Thread Starter 

Re: Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

Good call, I am leaning toward the 4 wood around 17 degrees. Just for clarification on symantics. Is a 4 wood defined as degree of loft vs 3 wood, or is it shaft length + degree loft +/-face size/shape?

For example
17*metalwood face Is this automatically a 4 wood? Or could this also be a higher lofted 3 wood?

There are even 16* labeled "driver" out there. I would argue that this is atleast a 2 wood.

Is all this 2 wood, 3 wood, 4 wood, 5 wood just marketing. Or are there strict definitions?
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post #9 of 9
12/9/08 at 1:04pm

Re: Help please...15 degree 3 wood vs 15 degree hybrid

For the most part, woods are defined more by their loft than by the number. For example, a 13* wood is usually called a strong 3 or 3+ wood, but in reality it's really just a 2 wood. The lofts are usually only about 1/2 degree different from manufacturer to manufacturer anway. The higher lofted drivers (16* is the most loft I've seen so far), are a completely different subject. Basically, if it's at 13 degrees or higher and isn't a driver, then it's a fairway wood at which point you go by loft to determine. Like most clubs these days, there are no strict rules that say a particular loft is a particular club (look at irons, where the lofts can sometimes be as much as 5-7 degrees different than another model). The club designations are just for our purposes only (and marketing).

A 17* (or 16.5-17.5) with the smaller head is a 4 wood almost always. As a rule, you start figuring a 3 wood at around 15 degrees, then each club designation is about 2 degree increase (of course, that means about 4 degrees in most cases since there really aren't many 6, 8, 10, etc. woods).
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