Woods or hybrids first?

[The Mad Hatter]

I am a new this year golfer. I am currently playing Knight verdict ( I think ) clubs I bought off Craig's list. I normally play just nine holes because of time on the weekend. My wife got me a new Taylormade 2.0 driver for fathers day and I love it! Now I want to start upgrading my remaining clubs but I am not sure where to start. My current woods I have I have alot of trouble hitting. I think they are to short for me. I am 6'3". I also want some hybrids in the bag but I don't know what to replace first. My theory is to reapla e the current 3 and 5 wood first with fitted clubs then matching the hybrids and irons distance up to what the woods are shooting. Does this make sense? I have not yet hit any other woods other than what I have now. Off the fairway with my woods it will be almost always raesult in a topped ball, but off the taller grass next to the fairway I will hit it nice and straight and pretty far. So this is where my thought comes from that my shafts are maybe short for me. So based on that, do I replace the woods first or go right for the hybrids? Thanks! T.M.H.

[Mr. Desmond]

New golfer?

Start slowly - forget the 3 wood for now. I'd say play a 5 wood at 18-19 degrees. Or a 4 wood at 17-18 degrees, and then go 7 wd or hybrid.

Hybrids for new golfers? The typical new golfer will have a tough time with a hybrid below 22 degrees - but you never know, it depends on the hybrid. They are all different. You've got to find a place that sells or demos clubs and experiment.

Most woods are too long in length - 3 woods are 43.5 inches in some cases. That is long even for a 6'3" guy. I'd be more worried about fitted irons than woods or hybrids which are too long at standard length for most golfers.

[Mr. Desmond]

I will add that if you are topping your woods - it is your issue. Your inclination to the ball - the spine angle - i.e., your back is moving up and down during the swing - is changing; and/or your swing is too shallow - either the club, the shoulder turn - or both. Shallow = front shoulder is pointed up to a degree and far from ball; steep means shoulder is pointed closer to the ball at the ground - at the top of the backswing (for example); or butt of club is pointed far beyond ball and not at ball (for example).