How to fill gap between 12* Driver & 4 Iron?

[99s]

Hi,

Newbie poster and new golfer here. I'm in my late 40's, and probably have a medium/slow swing speed when I'm really trying and a slow speed when I go to 80% effort to improve control. My good straight drives max out around 200 yds at the slightly uphill range.

I recently replaced my 10.5* TM R580XD stiff shaft (doh!) with a 12* Nickent 3DX regular shaft after reading Frankly Golf's Driver Q&A.;

I hit it MUCH better (straighter, not further). I consistently sliced the TM hard...with the Nickent I'm much straighter, and occasionally left! Next time I go to the range I may even experiment with Frankly's recommendation to try choking down to see if shortening to 44" might improve my control.

Given that I don't really crank my driver ~250+ yds I don't have a huge gap to my 4 iron (which I hit decently)

Can I fill the gap with a single hybrid and pass on fairway woods altogether?

thanks in advance,

99s

[dkinser86]

Can I fill the gap with a single hybrid and pass on fairway woods altogether?

You can fill the gap any way that you want. Depending on how far you hit your 4-iron, you may need to fill the gap with something that you hit 180 or so. Its a matter of personal preference really. For me, I would like to have a safety net to speak to hit tee shots with on tight holes. Which is the sole reason I carry a 5wood. Find something that you are comfortable with to put in the slot.

[CG031]

You could get a 1, 2, or 3 iron. But if you're a beginner or a high handicapper hybrids or fairway woods would PROBABLY be much easier for you to hit.

[99s]

But

That's me. I think maybe TheSandTrap assigned the 40 handicap, but I've got no beef with it.

1) Are hybrids easier to hit than fairway woods? (aren't most of them a bit shorter?) b) If so, can I get by with 1 hybrid? iii) If so, what loft? tanks, 99s

[RX Phoenix]

I'd think about getting a 4 hybrid which you are going to hit a lot better than your 4 iron, but a 5W is very nice to have.

Driver
5W
3 or 4 hybrid

Don't go with a 2 or 1 hybrid, they are tough to hit and get airborn, a 5W is much, much better choice.

[CG031]

I'd go:
Driver
3 wood
(3) 19 degree hybrid
4 iron
that's what'd I'd have between the 4 iron and driver if I were you.

[99s]

I'd think about getting a 4 hybrid which you are going to hit a lot better than your 4 iron, but a 5W is very nice to have.

Is there such a thing as a 'game improvement' or particularly forgiving 5 wood? Why don't I see any big melon-headed fairway woods - would that be against some equipment rule?

99s

[RX Phoenix]

Is there such a thing as a 'game improvement' or particularly forgiving 5 wood? Why don't I see any big melon-headed fairway woods - would that be against some equipment rule?

Not against any rule, but a large head doesn't work well off the fairway or rough. Any top line brand will have a good 5W, Titleist clubs are usually for better players, so I'd look at Callaway, Nike, Taylormade, Ping, Cleveland, etc.

I have the Callaway FT-I squareway and it is very easy to hit with great results.