Please forgive a newbie question...

[Flyman]

I've just picked up the game, and am trying to learn. In my bag, I have no fairway woods. Question is, do I need one? I have a three hybrids (2, 3, 4) and irons 3 and up. If you think I need to add one or two, can you tell me which ones and explain to me why? What will a fairway wood do that the hybrids won't? Also, if I have 2, 3, 4 hybrids, should I take any of my irons out?

Sorry for all the new-guy questions that may seem like "duh!" questions to you and thanks for any help/advice.

[meenman]

  Flyman said:

Originally Posted by Flyman

I've just picked up the game, and am trying to learn. In my bag, I have no fairway woods. Question is, do I need one? I have a three hybrids (2, 3, 4) and irons 3 and up. If you think I need to add one or two, can you tell me which ones and explain to me why? What will a fairway wood do that the hybrids won't? Also, if I have 2, 3, 4 hybrids, should I take any of my irons out?

Sorry for all the new-guy questions that may seem like "duh!" questions to you and thanks for any help/advice.

Well you didnt tell us exactly what you have in the bag so I'll guess.

Driver, 2-4 hybrid, 5-9 iron, pw, gw, sw, putter. That leaves you with room for one more club. You will eventually want a 3 wood - as a newbie it could be the most frustrating club to hit. There is no need for a 5 wood - either your 2 or 3 hybrid is similar. Eventually you will probably want to lose one of the hybrids - I play with a 2+4 but most normal people probably play with a 3+4.

[GaijinGolfer]

At the very least you want a 3-wood.  Hybrids are great but you wont get the distance with a hybrid that you will with a fairway wood.

[trackster]

I'd say you don't need a fairway wood.  Also if you have Hybrids 2, 3 , 4 you probably don't need your 3 iron either.  You could try adding a few more wedges or what not.

[meenman]

  trackster said:

Originally Posted by trackster

I'd say you don't need a fairway wood.  Also if you have Hybrids 2, 3 , 4 you probably don't need your 3 iron either.  You could try adding a few more wedges or what not.

didnt catch the irons - definitely take the 3+4 irons out of the bag

[ShooterMcgavin]

No you don't need to add a fairway wood unless you really struggle off the tee with your driver than a 3 wood could come in handy....but if you are a beginner you will more than likely be better off hitting your hybrids...im fairly new to golf and my bag consists of a driver, putter, 4-pw and a lob Wedge...I hardly ever use my 4 iron except on long par 5s so I have no desire to get a fairway wood anytime soon.

[Flyman]

  meenman said:

Originally Posted by meenman

Well you didnt tell us exactly what you have in the bag so I'll guess.

Driver, 2-4 hybrid, 5-9 iron, pw, gw, sw, putter. That leaves you with room for one more club. You will eventually want a 3 wood - as a newbie it could be the most frustrating club to hit. There is no need for a 5 wood - either your 2 or 3 hybrid is similar. Eventually you will probably want to lose one of the hybrids - I play with a 2+4 but most normal people probably play with a 3+4.

Sorry...I have a driver, 2-4 hybrids, 3-9 irons, pw, sw, putter.

[Flyman]

I tried to reply once, but my post is being held (?) for some reason. I'll try again...in my bag now is a driver, 2-4 hybrids, 3-9 irons, pw, sw, and putter. Is that one too many?

[trackster]

nahh you should be good at 14.  But the idea or a 3 and 4 hyrbrid is that they would have the same loft as your 3 and 4 iron so you really don't need both

[slabm7]

I would lose the 3-4 iron, those are not the easiest of clubs to hit for experienced golfters. Take them out for now and put them back when you get confident with your hybrids and 5 iron. I think a 3 wood is a good club to have. Its an important club for Par 5's, I also use mine on alot of short Par 4' or if there is trouble around my driver distance. But a misconception with the 3 wood is that you sweep with it when if fact you should be hitting down on the ball with it just as you would your irons.

[Flyman]

  trackster said:

Originally Posted by trackster

nahh you should be good at 14.  But the idea or a 3 and 4 hyrbrid is that they would have the same loft as your 3 and 4 iron so you really don't need both

Okay, gotcha. So just have the 5-9 irons and that would drop me to 12 clubs, leaving room for a 3-wood.

[Flyman]

Okay, gotcha. So losing the 3 and 4 irons would leave me with 5-9 irons and drop me to 12 clubs, leaving room for a 3-wood.

[trackster]

Well you should test which clubs you hit better.  If you hit your irons better you should keep the 3 4 iron.  If you hit your hybrids better keep the 3 4 hybrid.

[Teamanglerx]

I have a driver, 3W, 3-5 hybrids, 6-9 irons, pw, and sw.  I found that off the tee I use either my driver or 3 hybrid.  I rarely use my 3W.  Last year I played without the driver and 3W (didn't have them yet) and hit the hybrids off the tee with great results.  And remember, just because you can have 14 clubs doesn't mean you have to carry 14 clubs.

[Fozcycle]

When I was growing up in the 50's & 60's, I used a 2 wood off the tee. Today, that club is called a 12 degree Driver......LOL

A 3 wood (usually 13 or 15 degrees) comes in handy when you are faced with a par 4 that has a drastic dogleg. You may only have 180-200 yds to the end of the fairway, then a dogleg left or right.

[MiniBlueDragon]

With a 28 handicap (we use CONGU in the UK) you're given 2 extra shots on the most difficult 10 holes and then 1 extra shot on all the others.

If you tee off on a 450 yard hole with a 6i and hit it 150y on each shot you'll be on the green for three shots. Someone who drives the ball 250y will be on there for 2 providing they hit the ball straight off the tee. You're only a single shot behind them at that point and without the extra risk involved in 3 woods, drivers etc.

When I started playing a couple of years ago I used a 3i, 4i, 5i, 6i, 7i, 8i, 9i, PW, SW, Putter. This was more than adequate for a high handicapper as you have so many shots given to you for your handicap.

When I started feeling like my accuracy was improving and I needed more distance off the tee than my 3i gave I added a 4h to my gear as my teeing club. This lasted me a good long while before I decided that I needed yet more distance off the tee and it also doubled-up as a good utility club for hitting out of the rough.

Then I bought a 3w to tee off with and ended up dropping the 3i as I rarely used it and knew it wouldn't exist in my next set of irons anyway.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a driver.

Don't rush yourself.