Filling in between my driver and 4iron

[dawsoncreek]

I have been away from golf for 15 years and have decided to get back into it. I went out and bought some new clubs after talking with some of the guys I know that golf and with the recommendations of the salesman in the store. I bought a Taylor Made Burner 10.5 degree driver, a set of Callaway diablo irons 4I-9I plus A wedge and P wedge, and a putter. I am not sure how to fill in between my driver and 4 iron. I am going to get a 3 wood but not sure about getting a 5 wood or if I should fill in with Hybrids. I have the winter to figure it out and I am looking for advice so that come spring I can be ready to go golfing. I would appreciate and advice anyone has.

[Beachcomber]

You've been away from the game a long time.  The first thing I would do is go to a reputable golf shop/reatailer/fitter that has a launch monitor.  And a plethora of fairway woods and hybrids that you can try and see how they perform from both the carry distance side - but also the dispersion (left/right) of your intended target.  By doing so, you will get a good baseline on how to properly fill the gaps.

I never carried a hybrid until this last year of golf (2011/2012).... And I am amazed at how easy it is to flight my 5H hybrid versus a long 3 or 4 iron.

I'm currently using Taylormade hybrids (3H is RBZ and 5H is R11 Rescue)... But there are a lot of reputable hybrids on the market.

Adams, Callaway, Titelist and others all make solid product that you should check out.  I really think if you spent enough time comparing your 4i to say a 4H... You may decide to throw the 4i out of the bag too.

Good luck!  And welcome back to the game!!

[Golfingdad]

It's just a matter of what you are more comfortable hitting. I have a 15 degree 3 wood and a 19 degree hybrid between my driver and 4 iron. If you really love fairway woods, you might prefer a 5 wood to a hybrid. And Beach is right, the best thing to do is go somewhere that you can test and compare a bunch at once.

You'll probably want to get a sand wedge as well.

[WUTiger]

Besides a 3W and 5W, you might also consider a 4W and 7W.

Several performance tests indicate the average golfer can hit the 4W better than the 3W. And, a 7W gets the ball up nice, and can outdistance comparable hybrids due to longer shaft.

Or, a 4W and a 3H might work for you. Try out different combos, and brands. Brand A might work for you, while brand B won't.

[Jmdmbike]

Besides a 3W and 5W, you might also consider a 4W and 7W. Several performance tests indicate the average golfer can hit the 4W better than the 3W. And, a 7W gets the ball up nice, and can outdistance comparable hybrids due to longer shaft. Or, a 4W and a 3H might work for you. Try out different combos, and brands. Brand A might work for you, while brand B won't.

Agree on this. The 4 wood replaces both a 3 & 5 wood pretty effectively. I also carry a 22 degree hybrid, which I alternate at times with a 21.5 degree 7 wood when the hybrid misbehaves. The key in my view though is the 4 wood as it gives you room to add a wedge if you need to do that.

[tuffluck]

You may even need 3 clubs. I hit a 4i 200, a 7 wood 210, a 5 wood 225, 3 wood 240, driver 260. Perfect, except I don't hit the 7 wood all that well. I could probably cut out the 7 wood, but then again if I don't hit the 4i flush (which can happen with longer irons for an average Joe) then I have an even bigger gap from that 5 wood. But, outside of 200 probably most average golfers aren't going to land on the green most of the time anyway, so a distance discrepancy there is not your biggest issue regardless. Either way, I still personally only use one wedge. In the future I anticipate playing a 3h and a 3/4 wood for these reasons. Either way, I still personally only use one wedge. If you are a low handicapped then I suspect your situation is a bit more difficult to figure out.

[Datsyuk]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

Besides a 3W and 5W, you might also consider a 4W and 7W.

Several performance tests indicate the average golfer can hit the 4W better than the 3W. And, a 7W gets the ball up nice, and can outdistance comparable hybrids due to longer shaft.

Or, a 4W and a 3H might work for you. Try out different combos, and brands. Brand A might work for you, while brand B won't.

Maybe he aspires to be better than average. Just kidding, but I can't imagine being satisfied with a 4-wood over the combination of a 3-wood and a 5-wood or 18-20 degree hybrid.

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

Maybe he aspires to be better than average. Just kidding, but I can't imagine being satisfied with a 4-wood over the combination of a 3-wood and a 5-wood or 18-20 degree hybrid.

Datsyuk ,

At a 6 HDCP, you're clearly a better-than-average golfer. You probably have really good clubhead speed, which helps get the 3W going off the fairway.

I simply told the OP to try out a 4W and 7W. And, it matters which models of woods you try. In RBZ, the difference between the 4W (actually a 3W-HL) and a 5W is 2* loft and a half inch of shaft length.  I hit the 4W about 15 yds further than the 7W, so I didn't bother to buy the 5W.

I just suggested he try a 4W to see if it worked better than the 3W.

As for tuffluck... if you are considering a 5W - 4i gap, could you choke up on the 5W a little to shave off 10 yards?

[Bonesaw]

Its all about preference really.  Some people like hybrids some like woods.   I have a 13 degree 3 wood and a 18 degree hybrid.  I could probly get rid of either my 3 or 4 iron as my yardages bunch up a little bit.  2 hybrid goes about 205-210 3 iron 195ish 4 iron 185 ish.

[tristanhilton85]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

Or, a 4W and a 3H might work for you. Try out different combos, and brands. Brand A might work for you, while brand B won't.

This is what my current set up is. I go driver (RBZ Tour, 10.5°), 4W (RBZ 3HL, 17°), and then a Adams a12 hybrid (21°). I feel that this has my distances covered well enough.

[rushamania]

I have a 3 & 5 wood before my 4 iron (when I bag one). Right now, I'm playing with a 7 & 9 wood and starting with a 6 iron, though.

[Beachcomber]

Buy a set of Rocketbladez.

[Datsyuk]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

Buy a set of Rocketbladez.

I think the "z" is a disclaimer that they have no affiliation with blades or rockets. Like Cheez Whiz.

[mdl]

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

I think the "z" is a disclaimer that they have no affiliation with blades or rockets. Like Cheez Whiz.

Ha.  I couldn't quite put into wordz my dizlike of the name of thoze clubz...