2 Hybrid vs 5 Wood vs 2 iron?

Longest: Assuming the three were all from the same model of clubs, you would probably get:

1. 5W: longest shaft... most distance 
2. Hybrid: moderate length shaft... lesser distance
3. 2i: shortest shaft of three, and least lift design in clubhead.

Backup to driver:

    Depends on the conditions: 2i if it's a windy day (assuming you can hit long irons), then 5W or hybrid, depending on which works best for you.

Easiest to hit:

    For most golfers, either 5W or hybrid. Some people don't like hybrids, have trouble with them, and are adding 5W and 7W for longer approaches.

    I'm not sure where I fit. I tried a hybrid back in fall-08 / spring-09, and had major trouble with it. So, I got a 5W, but dropped it this fall because I kept having trouble stopping it on approaches. I now have a TM Raylor 19*, a "trouble club" which has an inch longer shaft than comparable hybrids. Some people tell me its a fairway wood, others say it's a hybrid. Go figure, but the Raylor is super!

History Tidbit on Comparisons

Back in the 1970s, conventional wisdom was this for comparing distances:

1i = 4W

2i = 5W

Forty years later, fairway woods would have distance edge in these pairings, due to general move to longer, lightweight shafts in FWs.

I think, for a skilled player, it'd be a 5W. For most of us, it'd be a hybrid.

I bought my Sonartec 2 hybrid off ebay about a year and a half ago and its still my favorite club in my bag BY FAR!!!!  I don't know if its the shaft in it that makes it so dependable, but I can hit that off the tee almost as far as my 3 wood and out of pretty nasty lies in the rough (still jumps off the face).  The misses with it are barely off line and I can trust it on almost any shot.  I would love to have a Sonartec 3 wood thats just as dependable, but thats just for me.

This is how I decide what to bag, since I have all three in some form or another.

2-iron: this is the club when playing a tight course with some short par 4-s on a windy day. Best suited for courses where there's no distinct starting point off the tee (e.g. some parkland / links style courses) where I just want to start my ball on the closest point to centre, then hit the ball as long, low, and straight as possible, taking advantage of run more than carry.

5-wood (19 degree Titleist 980) is solid and with the speeder S shaft goes quite low and straight. It's a good choice for all the same situations I use a 2-iron. It doesn't go quite as long as a 2-iron when hit pure, but the range of distance is much smaller. This is my club of choice over a 2-iron lately (okay, last summer) since it is possible to hit a controlled fade. With the 2-iron it's straight or a draw - no fades.

19.5 degree hybrid: I can hit this club high or low and it's easier to work than the 5-wood or a 2-iron. I can start it right at a tree in the distance and work it back to the dead centre of the fairway. I prefer the hybrid when I have a specific aiming point to start the ball at. It's much easier to throw the ball really high and I have more confidence from typical 2-iron distance (in the fairway or light rough).

2-hybrid: I haven't used this club enough to say when I'd choose it first. I have one, and I'll try to find some love for it next season, but other than hitting a very low sweeping draw that secretly desires to be a hook, I can't see bagging this one very often. Especially since most courses favour slicers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro 

If all the clubs have the same loft 18 degree, which one will go the longest? Which club would you choose to backup your driver?   Which one do you think the easiest to hit?

I was wondering the same thing. I have a 3 hybrid that I use off the tee, on tight holes, but the distance is a hinderance (about 205-215). Callaway makes a Diablo 2 hybrid that I’ll probably end up getting. The reason being, when not on the tee box, it’s tough to hit a fairway wood (for me at least) on anything but a nice lie in the fairway.

"I bought my Sonartec 2 hybrid off..................."

I just purchased a custom made Sonartec LS 99 3 wood.  Its a high launch shaft and head combination.  Should work great to reach a few long par 5's or controlled tee shot on short par 4's.  Have not hit it yet, but I'm headed to the range in a few minutes to try it.

I currently carry a 4 iron as my longest iron and a 3 hybrid (also custom).  I have a nice Walter Hagan 3 Wood but I can't hit it off a fairway.  The Sonartec 3 wood will replace the Walter Hagan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyThursday 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro 

If all the clubs have the same loft 18 degree, which one will go the longest? Which club would you choose to backup your driver?   Which one do you think the easiest to hit?

I was wondering the same thing. I have a 3 hybrid that I use off the tee, on tight holes, but the distance is a hinderance (about 205-215). Callaway makes a Diablo 2 hybrid that I’ll probably end up getting. The reason being, when not on the tee box, it’s tough to hit a fairway wood (for me at least) on anything but a nice lie in the fairway.

Do you hit the 3-hybrid very high? I think that might be too much shaft in your 3-h, because if it's only going ~ 210, a 2-hybrid is just going to go lower, and possibly shorter..

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro 

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCdude12 

I bought my Sonartec 2 hybrid off ebay about a year and a half ago and its still my favorite club in my bag BY FAR!!!!  I don't know if its the shaft in it that makes it so dependable, but I can hit that off the tee almost as far as my 3 wood and out of pretty nasty lies in the rough (still jumps off the face).  The misses with it are barely off line and I can trust it on almost any shot.  I would love to have a Sonartec 3 wood thats just as dependable, but thats just for me.

 

Good to hear that.   How far do you hit your 2 hybrid?
 

If I were to guess, I'd say around 245 when struck well.  Thats kind of where I have a dilemma though, since the highest iron I have in my bad is a 4 and I say thats my 200 yd club, the gap in between is kind of tough say for a 215 yd shot.  Thats when I try to get cute with the hybrid and hit a high fade to take some distance off, doesn't always work out as planned as I get loopy with my swing on that shot.  Need to find the in between club.
 

Newest Golf Digest has a comparison between 5 woods/equivalent hybrids.  Turns out high handicappers hit a 5 wood much farther, low 'cappers hit a 5 wood a tiny bit farther than a hybrid.  Different trajectories though, so no clear cut winner (at least for low 'cappers).

Quote:

Originally Posted by max power 

Newest Golf Digest has a comparison between 5 woods/equivalent hybrids.  Turns out high handicappers hit a 5 wood much farther, low 'cappers hit a 5 wood a tiny bit farther than a hybrid.  Different trajectories though, so no clear cut winner (at least for low 'cappers).

 This is me. I much prefer my 5W - in fact it's often the best club in my bag.

When I first started playing golf with any regularity back in late 1999 I picked up a cheap (Pro Select maybe?) 5 wood at Target, and it was one of my favorite clubs for many years.  I gave it to a friend when I sold him a set of irons earlier this year because the Wilson Staff FYbrid had finally usurped it in terms of performance.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fabfivefigo 

Quote:

Originally Posted by max power 

Newest Golf Digest has a comparison between 5 woods/equivalent hybrids.  Turns out high handicappers hit a 5 wood much farther, low 'cappers hit a 5 wood a tiny bit farther than a hybrid.  Different trajectories though, so no clear cut winner (at least for low 'cappers).

 This is me. I much prefer my 5W - in fact it's often the best club in my bag.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyThursday 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro 

If all the clubs have the same loft 18 degree, which one will go the longest? Which club would you choose to backup your driver?   Which one do you think the easiest to hit?

I was wondering the same thing. I have a 3 hybrid that I use off the tee, on tight holes, but the distance is a hinderance (about 205-215). Callaway makes a Diablo 2 hybrid that I’ll probably end up getting. The reason being, when not on the tee box, it’s tough to hit a fairway wood (for me at least) on anything but a nice lie in the fairway.

Do you hit the 3-hybrid very high? I think that might be too much shaft in your 3-h, because if it's only going ~ 210, a 2-hybrid is just going to go lower, and possibly shorter..

Are you talking from off the tee? I guess my 3 hybrid goes fairly high. Definitely higher than a 3 iron (which in theory it is suppose to replace via Callaway). I’m not sure how a club with less loft is going to go shorter. The ball flight of a 4 iron is going be lower than a 9 iron and certainly isn’t going to go a shorter distance.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyThursday 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyThursday 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldkuntoro 

If all the clubs have the same loft 18 degree, which one will go the longest? Which club would you choose to backup your driver?   Which one do you think the easiest to hit?

I was wondering the same thing. I have a 3 hybrid that I use off the tee, on tight holes, but the distance is a hinderance (about 205-215). Callaway makes a Diablo 2 hybrid that I’ll probably end up getting. The reason being, when not on the tee box, it’s tough to hit a fairway wood (for me at least) on anything but a nice lie in the fairway.

Do you hit the 3-hybrid very high? I think that might be too much shaft in your 3-h, because if it's only going ~ 210, a 2-hybrid is just going to go lower, and possibly shorter..

Are you talking from off the tee? I guess my 3 hybrid goes fairly high. Definitely higher than a 3 iron (which in theory it is suppose to replace via Callaway). I’m not sure how a club with less loft is going to go shorter. The ball flight of a 4 iron is going be lower than a 9 iron and certainly isn’t going to go a shorter distance.
 

Check them out. I honestly hope you prove me wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller 

Check them out. I honestly hope you prove me wrong.

I forgot to ask, what did you mean by too much shaft? Are you talking about flex?

A few months ago I replaced my 3 and 5 wood with  17° and a 25° TM Rescue's. I hit the 2 Rescue (17°) between 225-245 yards and the 5 Rescue (25°) 200-215.

I guess this discussion should be prefaced if we are talking from the tee or not. And if you play the ball down everywhere or roll it. Early on, my buddies and I rolled the ball everywhere and 5 & 3 woods were fun to hit sitting up all nice and pretty even in the rough. Once I got more serious about the game (and started playing in events and keeping a handicap) the ball was played down and fairway woods were replaced with hybrids. They are simply easier to hit from tough lies (for me).