got a gap in my bag. what to fill it with?

[heggis]

got a big gap in my bag driver which is 13 loft ( had this custom fitted) and my 22 hybrid. now we have some pretty long par 4s on my local course and I'm struggling to get near the green on my 2nd shot. the par 5s not so much which seems weird thinking about it. and with the winter coming up it gets windy as we are on the cost. so what club could fill this gap? was thinking of a 17 hybrid probably Taylor made rescue. any advice would be much appreciated.

many thanks

Luke

[jpalermo]

I would go with a 16* fairway metal or a 18* or 19* hybrid.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by heggis

got a big gap in my bag driver which is 13 loft ( had this custom fitted) and my 22 hybrid. now we have some pretty long par 4s on my local course and I'm struggling to get near the green on my 2nd shot. the par 5s not so much which seems weird thinking about it. and with the winter coming up it gets windy as we are on the cost. so what club could fill this gap? was thinking of a 17 hybrid probably Taylor made rescue. any advice would be much appreciated.

many thanks

Luke

I'm no expert, but I'd guess a standard 5-wood (17-19.5 degrees depending on the manufacturer and the vintage).  17 is mid way between 13 and 22, but to be honest it's hard to say without knowing a bit more about your swing flaws (and you surely have some - we all do).

[mrbillinoc]

Hey Luke,

I have a 12* driver and a 22* hybrid in my bag. For an "in-between" club I took my Taylormade 3 wood and had it cut down to a length 1" longer than my hybrid...sounds strange, but you still retain the loft and head-mass of a 3-wood but with a shorter shaft the swing arc is not only easier to control, it's the perfect "middle-club" you are looking for. Works GREAT for me!

[Laws of Woo]

A 17-19 degree 5 wood with a shallow face would be my club if I were in your position. Good in between loft and easy to pop up and get distance out of most lies. A 17/18* hybrid I'm sure would do the trick too if you feel more comfortable hitting them over fairway metals.

[WUTiger]

Consider a 17* 4Wood. Several companies make one. For a lot of people the extra 2 degrees loft make it easier to hit than a 3 wood. Plus, it will have more distance than a similar-lofted hybrid due in part to longer shaft.

[indybuckeyefan]

i second the 4 wood

i got a great big birtha II for less than 20 bucks at "play it again sports"much easier

seems easier to hit than a 3 wood

[Jmdmbike]

Another vote for the 4 wood.

[heggis]

ok thanks i think il go up the pro shop hit a 4 wood and a 17 hybird. Got a basic wilson 5 and 3 wood that i got with my beginner set but struggle to hit them off the fairway. is it worth hitting the range with these first? or are fairway woods just not for some people?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by heggis

ok thanks i think il go up the pro shop hit a 4 wood and a 17 hybird. Got a basic wilson 5 and 3 wood that i got with my beginner set but struggle to hit them off the fairway. is it worth hitting the range with these first? or are fairway woods just not for some people?

Modern fairway woods try and be everything to everyone, whereas the old ones (like heads actually made of wood kind of old) were meant to be hit from a decent lie "in the fairway". Spend $5 and get a vintage fairway wood if you can find one. They're much easier to hit than modern ones. But then the bar was set much lower back then. You'd give it a rip and if you topped it, then you were just left with the same iron shot you'd have had after a layup anyway. Maybe that's the issue - relative beginners having unrealistic expectations?!?

[Mr. Desmond]

I'd advise a 17-18 degree 4 or 5 wood - Some fairways fit others better than others -- my problem with fairways tend to do more with me than with the club. As to equipment, I tried heavier shaft setups and that did not work. Try different lengths - 42 to 42.5 inches. I am trying a lighter swingweight with a 65g shaft 4 wood (Ping G20 with stock regular, 43 inches so I grip down), and that seems to fit the bill. When I have an issue with it, it is me. My error is to tend to not hit down with it (meaning the right elbow doesn't release sufficiently at the ball, with the poor result being an embarrassing topper or a low, line drive that would kill a squirrel.

So try different combos - light, medium, heavy, and then remember not to move off the ball during your swing (turn, don't sway), have that right elbow pointing down at the top of your swing, and release that right elbow at the ball. At least, that's my issue. But people tend to try too much with a longer club, and as a result, their body tends to move around too much during the swing (lose your spine angle, sway, hips move back and forth, etc.    Don't.

[ghalfaire]

You didn't say how many clubs you're carrying now.  But if you have to give up a club to fill this gap you should consider where you're creating another gap and how that will affect you're play.  But if you don't already carry 14 clubs I'd add either the 5 fairway wood (metal) or a 16-17 degree hybrid, which ever one you're more comfortable with.

Originally Posted by heggis

got a big gap in my bag driver which is 13 loft ( had this custom fitted) and my 22 hybrid. now we have some pretty long par 4s on my local course and I'm struggling to get near the green on my 2nd shot. the par 5s not so much which seems weird thinking about it. and with the winter coming up it gets windy as we are on the cost. so what club could fill this gap? was thinking of a 17 hybrid probably Taylor made rescue. any advice would be much appreciated.

many thanks

Luke

[heggis]

ok thanks for the help. at the moment im only carrying 11 clubs driver, 22 hybrid, 5 - Lw and putter. So im going dust off my 3 and 5 woods that came with my beginner set and hit the range then see with some practice how i get on from there. and then a hybrid as i do it my 22* very well.

thanks