Advice on the second shot: Fairway wood versus hybrids?

[titaniummd]

When do you use the fairway woods versus hybrids on the second shots?

I have found that the hybrids really help when I am off of the fairway in many types of rough.

The only times I feel comfortable with a FW is on the fairway in a perfect condition where I am pretty much level with the ball.

[bruce]

On a par 5 in windy condition's wind is blowing towards me i will hit my 19* hybrid instead of my 3 Wood i can play the hybrid shot much lower than the 3 wood.

[titaniummd]

On a par 5 in windy condition's wind is blowing towards me i will hit my 19* hybrid instead of my 3 Wood i can play the hybrid shot much lower than the 3 wood.

That makes sense. I realize that you are a low HCP player but: How about if you are in the rough? Do you tend to use a hybrid over a FW?

[bruce]

If its deep rough i will take an iron or just regular rough i definitely will take a hybrid.

[swingcoach]

If you have a set routine on how to pick a club for a shot, you may eliminate both the wood and the hybrid. Start close to your body and work your way out toward the environment and eventually to your target area:

1) How far do you want to hit the ball?
2) What kind of lie? Uphill, downhill, ball above feet, ball below feet, rough, sand?
3) Wind? - club up or down
4) Obstacles? - shape
5) Landing area? - run or stop

To answer your question:

First of all, what's in your bag? 3 wood, 5 wood, 3 hybrid, 2 hybrid?


All these clubs have different distances. I used to have a 2 hybrid and a 3 wood. In order for me to decide to use either, the first thing to consider is "which club for the distance?" If you're on the fairway, you choose the club that will get you the distance. Follow the steps and you may eliminate using a wood at all (deep rough).

The main purpose of the hybrid is to replace the longer irons. Hope that helps a bit. Good luck out there.

[titaniummd]

First of all, what's in your bag? 3 wood, 5 wood, 3 hybrid, 2 hybrid?

I have a 3W, 5W, 3H, 4H. Maybe it's my lack of consistency but the 3H is almost as long as the 5W so I see them 'interchangeable'.

That was my main question : 5W (200 yards) versus 3H (190-200 yards). I don't hit far at all. What I was wondering was if the head shape favors a particular lie over another. From my experience, the hybrid seems to fair better for me out of rough, than the FW. The hybrid for me tends to go almost as far from rough as it does from ideal lies. FWs are harder for me to hit out of rough.

[Akers]

Yeah I always take my hybrid, as I can reach all of the par 5's at my course with Driver, Hybrid, 7 iron or less. And there is times where I have had to hit my approach with the Hybrid and it stops unbeleivably well on the greens.

[Marc Fraser]

When playing off the fairway and am a decant distance away (230-250 yrds), i hit a long iron - sometimes a fairway wood depending on the type of ground (soft, hard) - fairway wood for soft ground and iron for hard.

I feel I have more control with my irons rather than my fairway woods (i dont have hybrids - dont see the point).

[swingcoach]

The primary purpose of the different clubs is for distances. The secondary purpose is for lies. If you have to use an iron out of the rough, you are sacrificing distance for a better lie but still advancing the ball toward the green. If your 3H is almost as far as your 5W, then you might want to "spread" the distances by either different equipment (different lofts, shafts, brands, etc.) or figure out if your swing needs some work. Some people hit their 4 iron just as far as their 3 iron. Which one is correct? 3H goes as far as 5W. Which one is representing your swing correctly? Are the lofts a good spread? Do they have the same shafts?

"What I was wondering was if the head shape favors a particular lie over another."

The 3 wood is more sensitive (needs better lies). It would be better to hit the hybrids out of questionable lies if distance is not a factor.

How well do you hit your driver?

[titaniummd]

How well do you hit your driver?

The swing needs some work. I am sure of it.

I am inconsistent with the driver so I do not use it very frequently (maybe 1 or 2 holes). I don't hit far, either. I use the 3 wood from the tee box for a lot of tee shots. Sometimes it is the 5w or hybrid.