What are the benefits of a fairway wood over a hybrid?

[c. lassiter]

I've been alternating a 3 wood and a 15 degree hybrid, and would say that the hybrid is more consistent and more versatile (for me), and the distance difference isn't much.

My son, who is a good junior player, is deadly with a 24 degree hybrid and inconsistent (at best) with his 4 wood.

So, is the fairway wood becoming obsolete? Or is our experience different than most people?

[shades9323]

I've been alternating a 3 wood and a 15 degree hybrid, and would say that the hybrid is more consistent and more versatile (for me), and the distance difference isn't much.

You can't really compare his 24* hybrid to a 17* 4 wood.

[lumpuckeroo]

I've been alternating a 3 wood and a 15 degree hybrid, and would say that the hybrid is more consistent and more versatile (for me), and the distance difference isn't much.

I wouldn't say fairway woods are becoming obsolete, I think hybrids and fairway woods suit certain swings better then others. Years ago there was really no option, only fairway woods.

[PV_Louie]

I would suggest that the selection of a fairway wood vs a hybrid varies widely for different people. I tend to be more comfortable with a fairway wood in my hand then a hybrid. My playing partner is the opposite. We all know how much of a mental game golf is, so when you feel comfortable over a shot your likelyhood of success greatly increases.

[mdvaldosta]

All things being equal, the fairway wood would probably be longer because they usually have longer shafts. Essentially, a hybrid is a fairway wood on an iron shaft as far as my understanding goes. You'll be more accurate with a hybrid because of this, but again the distance usually isn't as strong when comparing degrees to degrees.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Yes. Hybrids are more accurate and playable than a fairway wood, IMO. You can use them for chipping, punch shots, and out of rough. Something i find harder to do with fairway woods. I carry i 3wood but i rarley hit it off the turf unless i got plenty of room to miss. The downside to them is that if you replace them with one of your long irons, you loose the spin control that an iron provides. But i find that an easy trade off in favor of playabillity.

[wrx_junki]

Damn PV_Louie is a +10 handicap!

Also, the ball flight I would imagine is different from your fairway and hybrid. Hybrids seem to get up in the air more compared to a fairway metal. I've been looking for a very cheap deal on a 14-16* hybrid but no luck as of yet.

[st0wgolf08]

Also, fairway woods tend to fit people with sweeping swings better than people who have steep swings. People with steep swings tend to like hybrids better as they more closely resemble an iron.

[1par2win]

For me personally I use fairway woods. I tried several types and brands of hybrids but didn't get the results that others have. I have a buddy that is just deadly with his hybrids. Like many have already said, it comes down to what your comfortable with. I find my 906F4's to be quite versatile off the tee and forgiving from the fairway. So like any other piece of equipment it boils down to individual taste.

[Lefty39]

I use both, and i don't really find a difference in them, but i feel that the fairway woods go further, but not as accurate.

[jlt1971]

I think it's a classic case of personal preference but my experience has been (speaking in the case of 2H vs. 5W; both about 18 degrees) that the fairway wood tends to fly a little higher. If I'm playing a 200yd shot to a green where I need to fly it all the way and land softly the wood is my only chance. If I want a low, boring shot with run the hybrid is the ticket.

Also, to me it seems like hybrids are still a lot like long irons in that my misses are relatively severe. The hybrids are a lot easier to hit (than the irons) but I never get the same sense of control that I do w/a fairway wood.

[DriverTees]

I tend to swing more freely with a fairway wood as it's slightly lighter and believe it or not, although I've been hitting the gym lately, I still find it lighter to hold. Please bear in mind that I'm only 15, but it's less heavy so a lot easier to hit for me. And the heads look much nicer IMO.