Ditching a 3 wood for 16* hybrid... maybe

**svchiefs19** · July 4, 2009

first off, i just want to say that i cant hit my 3 wood for crap. its just really not a good situation. however, my 19* hybrid is my favorite club in my bag. since i love the hybrid so much, i was thinking about getting rid of the 3 wood and adding a Cobra Baffler TWS 16* hybrid ( http://www.golfsmith.com/products/CO...ra/Baffler_TWS ) to take its place. what do you guys think about this idea of 2 hybrids and no woods? or should stick with the 3 wood and try to figure things out?

**CG031** · July 4, 2009

Yeah, I find hybrids much, much easier to hit straight and off the fairway, or in the rough (only if it's sitting up will I try it though, otherwise I think it's kind of a stupid shot.)

Off the tee I've never really liked my hybrid. Not sure what it is - I seem to hook the ball a lot more when I'm hitting it off the tee trying to put it in the fairway, or if I'm hitting to a long par 3.

Either way, in my opinion, hybrids are easier to hit that fairway woods, but that's just my opinion - and I think it's all opinion.

If you hit one better than the other, go with it. I've seen a few of my friend, they just can't hit their hybrid straight - so they ended up going to a 5 wood, or 7 wood, and they seemingly hit it so much straighter and keep it on line much longer...

I've seen very good players have no woods (just the driver) in their bag and play with two hybrids, but I've also seen the exact opposite. I knew a +1 handicap a few years back, he was actually an Ast. PGA Pro, and he played with two hybrids - a Callaway and Bobby Jones. But I've also seen many good players who have only their driver and fairway woods...

So, whatever works with for you, go with it.

I'd look into the Ping G5 Hybrid line - I really really love this club, and I'm sure you can get it cheaper. The Cobra Baffler's are a nice club, my dad has one and I've hit it, it's alright, never fell in love with it like I did with the Ping G5.

******Also, why not get a TM Burner 16* degree instead of the Cobra? If you love your 19* so much. Plus, the TM Burner hybrid's are cheaper than the Cobra you linked to.********

Good luck.

**svchiefs19** · July 4, 2009

To the best of my knowledge, Taylormade doesnt make a 16* hybrid. they make a 17*, but i dont know if 17* would be too close to the 19* thus not creating a great enough distance gap between the two clubs.

that leads me onto another question ive been having. could i get a hybrid bent? could i buy the 17* and get it bent to 16*?

**golf_junkie27** · July 4, 2009

I say go for it. I've switched equipment, frequently. FWIW, a 16* Hybrid may not give you the same distance as the 3W as they are cut a little shorter. For example, I have a 15* Bridgestone Hybrid that I sometimes throw in the bag. It's 40.5 inches as opposed to a 43 inch 3W that I have. Much easier to hit and control because of its length.

You can get a hybrid bent. Just make sure that the person you take it to has actually bent one.

**wrx_junki** · July 5, 2009

I say go for it. I've switched equipment, frequently. FWIW, a 16* Hybrid may not give you the same distance as the 3W as they are cut a little shorter. For example, I have a 15* Bridgestone Hybrid that I sometimes throw in the bag. It's 40.5 inches as opposed to a 43 inch 3W that I have. Much easier to hit and control because of its length.

What is the cost of bending one and where did you go? I'm thinking of getting my Adams Pro Gold from 20* to 19*.

AK. · July 5, 2009

If you hit you're hybrid much better than the 3-wood i'd say go for it!.

**squaddie** · July 5, 2009

I don't think you can go wrong with a Cobra baffler, as it's my favorite club (I have three of them). But you may want to consider instead seeing your Pro to figure out what the swing problem is when using the 3 wood. Like golf_junkie27 said, 16* hybrid will be a little shorter in length than a 3-wood, so you may lose some distance. And the same problem affecting the 3 wood swing may also appear with the slightly longer 16* hybrid.

I have a Cobra 15* 3 wood and hit it pretty well, leaving the gap between the 3W and my 3-hybrid (20*) at 5*. If my long-game was a little better I would consider a 18* Cobra baffler (2/R) and drop my GW, but would not go any lower than that.

**ks8829** · July 5, 2009

I would stick with your 3 wood and try changing your take away on your backswing to a more upright by either breaking your wrist early or opening the club face, aim slightly left of target and take the club slightly outside on the backswing.

You never mention what your ball goes when you hit the 3 wood. show us videos, if you hit the 3 wood it will improve other parts of your golf swing when hitting your other clubs and you will feel a sense of accompolishment as well.

sorry, but its the indian not the arrow in my opinion

**uttexas** · July 5, 2009

Might try cutting down the 3W first. Have you looked at Nickent and TM Rescue?

**golf_junkie27** · July 6, 2009

What is the cost of bending one and where did you go? I'm thinking of getting my Adams Pro Gold from 20* to 19*.

Any local fitter can do this for you. He'll bend it similar to how you bend an iron and won't cost you more than $10.

**wrx_junki** · July 6, 2009

Any local fitter can do this for you. He'll bend it similar to how you bend an iron and won't cost you more than $10.

I'm wary to bring my clubs to anyone. Yesterday, I took my putter into the GG in Westbury and had it shortened and regripped but the grip was slightly offlined so I ended up adjusting it myself.

**laxbballgolf** · July 6, 2009

I like having a 3 wood and a hybrid. In my opinion, they have pretty distinct characteristics.

The 3 wood is great for perfect lies in the fairway (or off the tee) when you want to maximize distance, and control isn't the number one concern. The ball will launch high and fly far. I'm most comfortable with the 3 wood when I have somewhat close to a perfect lie, because it requires a really good swing to control a ball that is going to fly so far and high.

I lean on the hybrid for any sort of compromised lie: rough, bare ground, or even if the ball is just a little above my feet. I just feel more confident in being able to get a good result out a hybrid head with a shorter and heavier shaft. You can still crush a hybrid pretty far, but it just gives me a feel of more control than the 3 wood, at the sacrifice of some distance and carry.

Of course, the distance gaps set up perfectly, too, going from a driver, to a 15ish degree 3 wood, to a 19ish degree hyrbid, then onto the irons, I think. It creates a nice descending mix of distance vs control for your metalwood options on any given shot.

Bottom line: I love having one of each.

**mkoreiwo** · July 6, 2009

Wow - just did that this w/e. Bought a Cobra DWS 16 degree.... Now, I hit my 3w like a cannon.... BUT - I wanted to add a Niblick, so I had to make room in the bag. The Baffler replaces a 3/5 wood combo.

I used it for the first time and on one hole, it went pretty much as far as my 3w does. That's only one round of use, but I think this may be a keeper club. At $99, it was well worth it - with a VS Proto shaft as well!

**svchiefs19** · July 6, 2009

turns out that my dad wont let me buy a 16* hybrid anyway becuase he says its a waste of money when i already have the 3 wood. o well, guess i'll just have to learn to hit the 3 wood. maybe ill try choking down just a bit and see if that helps the club feel more like a hybrid.

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Ditching a 3 wood for 16* hybrid... maybe

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