Begginer golfer looking for a 3 wood and 3 hybrid - any recommendations?

[Sheekamoo]

Hey guys.

I golfed back in high school and college and recently got back into golfing. Instead of using my old early 70's hand me down clubs I've decided to by some newer equipment.

I just bought a set of Irons Callaway x-20's 4-SW and I'd like to buy a 3 wood and 3 hybrid to finish up my bag for now. I'm going to continue using my old putter and I'm going to leave a driver out of my bag for now.

I'd like to get the 3 wood and 3 hybrid and then take a few lessons to get my swing fixed up as I've never had any lessons in the past. Once I get a better swing going I should have a better idea of what driver I'd like and it would be easier for my to pick out.

so... what is a good 3 wood and 3 hybrid I can test out at my local shop? I'm a high handicap golfer and I'm looking for something that's pretty forgiving. I'd rather have a more forgiving club that hits straighter and shorter then a club that hits further but has a smaller sweet spot. This is true for both my 3 wood and 3 hybrid.

Any recommendations would be appreciated. I'd like to go into the shop and be able to pick 3 or so of each type of club already knowing they may suite me well... and then take a bunch of swings on the virtual range with each to figure out which one feels best to me.

[klaymon]

Mizuno CLK Fli-Hi hybrids

[PiKapp23]

For 3 woods, I would recommend some of the Callaway Big Bertha woods (forgiving, but still long) the Cobra Speed series (M or F model) or older Taylormade R580. All these can be purchased used pretty cheaply and all are the type of wood you're looking for. The Nike Sumo square fairway wood might also be to your liking as it's very forgiving, but not as easy to hit off turf as others (IMO).

As a reference, here is the link for 2008 Equipment Hot List from Golf Digest. It rates the clubs and gives info on them: http://www.golfdigest.com/equipment/.../hotlist_woods

For hybrids, I personally love the Mizuno CLK Fli-Hi (and they are priced about $150, which is pretty good), but Adams, Cobra, Taylormade and Cleveland all make hybrids that are easy to hit and forgiving. Here's the link for Hybrids from Hot List: http://www.golfdigest.com/equipment/...?currentPage=1

Good luck. It really sounds like you are approaching getting back into the game the right way. Be sure to try lots of woods and hybrids (new and used) because everyone is different. With clubs it's sometimes as much about how much you like the club as anything because of confidence.

[bakalao1]

#3 Wood, Callaway Squareway or Ping G10

#3 Hybrid, definitely Adams Golf IDEA Boxer, A3OS or the newest A4OS

[TyCobb]

Adams Idea Pro Gold for the 3 hybrid. Got mine from Ebay for $75 plus free shipping. This club is amazing. It has alot of forgiveness and the sound when you hit it on the button is very distinguishable, which I really like. It's hard not to hit this club straight.

[Stacey_E]

I'd vote for any Callaway fairway wood. I've loved them since the original Steelhead. If you are only going to use the 3 wood off the tee, the last Big Bertha (the black and red one) would make a great club. For off the deck, it might be a tad big.

I also really like my Cobra DWS hybrid (the 2007 model - not the new scooped crown DWS). It is extremely forgiving but the shaft is a little longer than most other hybrids of the same loft. No big problem for me though and I'm 5'9".

Check the links out above on the Hotlist articles. That's a great place to start. The new Hotlist should be out very soon for 2009.

Good luck!

[TCCcaddie]

Taylor Made Rescue Mids are great hybrids. They are very forgiving and great for someone who is starting up again.

[Grndslmhttr3]

I love my TaylorMade Burner Rescure 3i Hybrid. They're about $130, I think.

[miller72]

well, for the 3 wood. if you have the money, go with the new titleist 909f or callaway squareway. both are amazing clubs and fairly easy to hit. as for the hybrid, i've got my choices down to either the nike sasquatch SuMo (non square) or the titleist 909h. the nike club is a heck of alot cheaper tho... that might make my decision for me.
Happy golfing,
chris

[bogeyhitter25]

I used to have a Nike Slingshot hybrid. I wish I had it back. Very cheap, but still a good club.

[Sheekamoo]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I went down to my local shop today and they let me hit clubs for nearly 2 hours. The guy helping me was helping me improve my form and by the end of the day I was almost never slicing the ball anymore (which has always been my problem).

After trying a bunch of different hybrids I am debating between the Adam's A4OS and the Taylormade Burner (both 3 hybrids). They both ranked highly on the golf digest article posted earlier in this thread and the guy helping me said they'd both be good clubs. Either way I can't really lose with either but I'll be going back tomorrow to take a few more swings to see what feels best in my hand before purchasing.

I didn't have enough time to play around with the 3 woods but I'll do that tomorrow. The guy helping me recommended a few to try out. He said the Taylormade 2007 Burner would be a great choice as well as the Cleveland HiBore XLS. So tomorrow I'll take a bunch of swings with each of those to see which feels best. He didn't mention any Callaway 3 woods to look at though (which a few people mentioned in this thread).

I tried the Mizuno Hi-Fli hybrid that a few people mentioned in this thread but the guy helping me said it may not be the best club for me since it's less forgiving then something like the Burner or A4OS.

If there's any other 3 woods you guys think I should take for a swing when I visit tomorrow let me know. Otherwise, I think I'll just pick my favorite out of the Burner or HiBore XLS.

[Titleist Man]

The 07 burners are great clubs for beginners assuming you dont hook the ball because they are designed to hook 8 yds or something like that. They are VERY forgiving and a good club for high handicappers.

[americanfighter]

callaway x hybrid (to replace my 5 wood) is what I started with and I love them one thing I will say is to stay away from Adams golf. Unless they changed in the last few years I remember the first the 3 wood I got I liked it at first but as time went on and my game matured a little I found compared to my Callaway big birtha irons and x hybrids Adams has a terrible feel. I am probably going to get a Titleist 3 wood or hybrid to replace it.

I personally am considering geting titleist Irons to replace my callaways ever since I hit my first titeist club which was a utility wedge I love them