Hybrid or Fairway Wood?

[GolfingWithCigars]

I am building my set of clubs and I currently have no hybrids or fairway woods. Are there any hybrids that can replace a 3/5 wood? Or am I better off buying the wood? I hit my low irons pretty well as I have game improvement irons that are very easy to hit, so I don't think I need the hybrid to replace them. Since this is my first "good" set of clubs I am also buying older equipment and my budget for this type of club is 100 or less. I only paid 116.00 for my driver brand new and I certainly would like to avoid paying more than that.

[Clubswinger21]

You can get a 2 or 3 hybrid which will play like a 5 wood. there are game improvement woods that are easy to hit aswell. Id probably start with a hybrid though since you're handicap is high, I here the Adams hybrids are terribly easy to hit. Along with their new Insight line of woods. I started out with no woods either just a 21* hybrid. I felt i needed a 5 and 3 wood to start reaching par 5's in 2 since the hybrid wasnt cutting it. I wouldnt worry about that just yet though.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

How about a 3 wood and a 18-20 degree hybrid to replace the 5 wood? Not sure you can get a hybrid to fully replace a 3 wood, although I imagine a 14 degree would come close if you don't like fairway woods.

[GolfingWithCigars]

Well my thinking was a hybrid would be a more versatile club that could be used in more situations and if it can come close to replacing a 3 or 5 wood then it would be very cost effective. At my skill level it may also be easier for me to hit the hybrid as opposed to the 3 wood.

[shortgame85]

I am building my set of clubs and I currently have no hybrids or fairway woods. Are there any hybrids that can replace a 3/5 wood? Or am I better off buying the wood? I hit my low irons pretty well as I have game improvement irons that are very easy to hit, so I don't think I need the hybrid to replace them. Since this is my first "good" set of clubs I am also buying older equipment and my budget for this type of club is 100 or less. I only paid 116.00 for my driver brand new and I certainly would like to avoid paying more than that.

I started a thread, entitled " Substituting a three wood with a Hybrid," a couple of weeks ago that somewhat addresses your question, which you may wish to locate and read. A hybrid is generally easier to get in the air than the equivalent fairway wood. I recently substituted my 3 wood with a 16 degree hybrid. I hit the hybrid more easily more often and with more confidence than I did my 3 wood. I still have my 5 wood and my 7 wood in the bag. I replaced my 4 and 5 irons with the equivalent loft hybrids and I'm very happy with that move. Hybrids are just easier to hit from a variety of lies than traditional irons and fairway woods. Purists may scoff, but hybrids make golf more enjoyable for those of us that just can't practice as much as we should. I would suggest trying out a variety of hybrids, including last year's models of the Cobra Baffler, which are selling for around $119 with an Aldila NV-HL shaft. Also, the Callaway Heavenwood series of hybrids are discounted. Good luck.

[tembolo381]

Depends what you want it to do. For me personally a wood because I can hit it low and shape them a bit better. When I hit a hybrid it goes too high and I can't bring the flight of the ball down.

[GolfingWithCigars]

Well I picked up a Taylormade Rescue Mid #2 for $99 at Golfsmith. It was one of the cheapest hybrids with a graphite shaft around. After hitting 20 or so balls at Golfsmith the good shots sounded so nice I decided to take a chance on it. I haven't hit it at the range yet much less played a round with it so the jury is still out on how well it performs in real situations.


A little off topic but when shopping around for clubs, Taylormade's, while always getting good reviews, seem to be reasonably priced on their older technology equipment. Perfect for a beginner like me.

[allsportscoach]

I've decided to use a 17* hybrid instead of a 3 wood, stays low and about the same distance for me. I'm more consistent with the hybrid than the 3 wood. I have a 13* 3 wood which may be part of the problem. I'm going to try to practice with a 15* 3 wood and see how that goes. Then go 15* 3 wood, 19* hybrid and a 24* hybrid. If I don't like the 3 wood I will go 17* hybrid and a 24* hybrid. I need the 24 for long par 3's. I can use the 17 as well on long par 3's or narrow fairways for accuracy. Thats just my opinion. I haven't been sold on that I need a 3 wood.

[shortgame85]

I've decided to use a 17* hybrid instead of a 3 wood, stays low and about the same distance for me. I'm more consistent with the hybrid than the 3 wood. I have a 13* 3 wood which may be part of the problem. I'm going to try to practice with a 15* 3 wood and see how that goes. Then go 15* 3 wood, 19* hybrid and a 24* hybrid. If I don't like the 3 wood I will go 17* hybrid and a 24* hybrid. I need the 24 for long par 3's. I can use the 17 as well on long par 3's or narrow fairways for accuracy. Thats just my opinion. I haven't been sold on that I need a 3 wood.

I have been hitting my new 3 wood substitute, a 16 degree hybrid, for a couple of weeks. I'm hitting it better, more consistently, more accurately and with more confidence than with the 3 wood. It sounds to me like you made a good choice. Good luck.

[allsportscoach]

Thanks. I see you have made the same choice as me. This weekend I was in a scramble we was 260-270 out, they used my ball which is unusual. I hit the hybrid about 200-210 and it rolled a long ways. We was about 20-30 yards from the green, I doubt I could do it again but once is better than none. They all hit 3 woods 2 of them mishit and one hit it good but went way right.

[shortgame85]

Thanks. I see you have made the same choice as me. This weekend I was in a scramble we was 260-270 out, they used my ball which is unusual. I hit the hybrid about 200-210 and it rolled a long ways. We was about 20-30 yards from the green, I doubt I could do it again but once is better than none. They all hit 3 woods 2 of them mishit and one hit it good but went way right.

If you can hit the hybrid thin, the ball will really run. On some par 4s, especially on narrow fairways, it makes sense to me to hit the hybrid instead of the driver.

I played a beautiful but hellishly difficult course this past Sunday. While sunny, this challenging course played even longer because of such strong winds ( this was from nature, not nachos ). I was hitting driver and the the 16 degree hybrid on many par 4s and every par 5. The good news is that I never lost a shot hit with the driver and hybrid. Of course, with the already glass like greens dried out from the effects of the wind, my shortgame was like a male chihuahua trying to mount a moose in heat: couldn't get near the hole!

[allsportscoach]

Thats good, a good laugh, I'm going to use that the next time I miss a shot.

I might on some par 4's just go hybrid-hybrid and hopefully putter.

[putterboy]

Hybrid is prolly better for a wider variety of lies and situations. At least it has been that way for me....my 2 cents

[lamebums]

I am building my set of clubs and I currently have no hybrids or fairway woods. Are there any hybrids that can replace a 3/5 wood? Or am I better off buying the wood? I hit my low irons pretty well as I have game improvement irons that are very easy to hit, so I don't think I need the hybrid to replace them. Since this is my first "good" set of clubs I am also buying older equipment and my budget for this type of club is 100 or less. I only paid 116.00 for my driver brand new and I certainly would like to avoid paying more than that.

I've heard of people getting away with replacing their 5 wood with a 2 or 3 hybrid, but I haven't been able to replicate that myself. In fact, I seem to be in the minority of people who simply can't hit a hybrid properly.

However, I can really crush the ball with me 3 and 5 woods - even out of the rough. It's not as hard as most people make it out to be...unless you're in some real cabbage. My two cents...get a 3 and 5 wood.

[hackerdave]

I bought a Adams RPM LP 5 wood and 3 wood for my wife in senior flex (Aldila NVS) but I tried them out at the course and loved them! Can't seem to hit a hybrid, (or my irons for that matter) but I'm rocking the 3 wood about 215 with very high 7-iron like trajectory and the 5 wood about 200. It's rather strange though, how high 3 17 degree 3-wood is getting the ball...

[trutrojan8]

I've got a brand new hybrid i got on saturday night.. one of the best clubs in my bag thus far IMO. I also have a 5 and 7 wood to give me more options off the tee.