Advantages of a fairway wood over a 4 iron?

[TourSpoon]

If you are hitting your 4 iron that well and it is skipping off the green because it is too hot you should look into hitting more of a cut shot that will come in a little higher and softer. I would also play a better ball. As to the original post, I am not sure why you are looking to replace a 4 iron when you hit it so well. I finally bit the bullet on a 2 hybrid but still carry a 3 and 4 iron. I did it because I was not hitting it as consistently as I wanted to and the hybrid gave me more options from different lies and distances.

[bunkerputt]

Originally Posted by Comeback

Well i am finally back golfing after a 8year break ( I had a very serious shoulder injury, shattered shoulder, broken arm and my rotator cuff was torn in half). I see that fairway woods and hybrids are very popular now. I can consistantly hit my 4iron 220 yards accuratly, what advantages would a fairway wood give me? Are they better out of the rough?

You can hit your 4-iron 220 after your rotator cuff was torn in half?  That's pretty damn good.  Do you sound like Lee Majors when you swing?

Hybrids setup like an iron, and are more versatile in the rough, because they slide better and the hosel doesn't succumb to grabbing and shutting down nearly as much.  You can also chip from the fringe more reliably than with a long iron.  Usually the sweet spot is bigger and they have a little lower CG than most long iron blades.  I felt weird switching to mine at first (Titleist 9-something series with 85g shaft), but it's by far my favorite club now.  I've wowed the most people by far with shots from that club.

[Tlox]

I can't hit a fairway wood to save my life.  I go driver, 3 iron in my bag.  I have tried to replaced the 3 iron a lot, but 8/10 shots are pure with it and i'm consistently 235 - 240 with it, so why change.  It sounds like you groove your 4 iron, so why change?

[Vladimir Puttin']

Originally Posted by UPPandDOWN

The reason I carry a 3 and 4 hybrid instead of irons is because, for me, they are way easier to hit the ball out of the rough with, and they get the ball up a little quicker.

I'm with U & D on this one, I find them much easier to hit out of the rough than an iron.  I switched out my 4-iron for a hybrid/fairway metal and a little while after that I swapped out my 5-iron too and I happy with the way they play.

As an additional benefit, I find I can hit down on the ball with more confidence using a hybrid because the larger sole won't dig in like an iron.  I see lots of an upside to a hybrid and very little of a downside.

[Comeback]

Originally Posted by bunkerputt

You can hit your 4-iron 220 after your rotator cuff was torn in half?  That's pretty damn good.  Do you sound like Lee Majors when you swing?

Hybrids setup like an iron, and are more versatile in the rough, because they slide better and the hosel doesn't succumb to grabbing and shutting down nearly as much.  You can also chip from the fringe more reliably than with a long iron.  Usually the sweet spot is bigger and they have a little lower CG than most long iron blades.  I felt weird switching to mine at first (Titleist 9-something series with 85g shaft), but it's by far my favorite club now.  I've wowed the most people by far with shots from that club.

Ha Ha Ha, I went through a year and a half of physical therapy,  It still gets a little sore when i play more than 6-7 rounds a week.  I tried multiple hybrids all fall and through out the winter,  I just cant hit them like i can my long irons. I think is is a mental block i have.  Well now i carry driver and then 4iron, i cant hit all the par 5s in two but i will be close and in the fairway.