Which Hybrid combo do you think?

[superfly777]

I've currently got a 15* 3 Wood and Cleveland CG16 irons with lofts 21*, 24*, etc. I want a hybrid to plug the gap and am pretty much decided on the Titleist 913H. I've tested it in 19* standard setting and loved it. Thing is, I could hit the hybrid 210-215 yards regularly whereas my 21* iron only goes 190 and 24* 180 yards. Also I'm a lot more consistent with my contact with the hybrid while the 21* iron can be perfect one day and a nasty hook the next.

So my options as I see them:

1) Get the hybrid to plug the existing gap.

• Simple (and cheapest) and the more I practice with the 21* iron the better I'll get, however this could still leave a gap.

2) Get two 913Hs in the 17* (longer shaft that the 19* so more distance) and 21* then set them to 18* and 21 using the Titleist surefit hosel.

• I figure this set up would give me distances of around 220 yards and 205 so would plug the gaps. Though this would cost the most.

3) Get one 913H in either 17* or 19* (then set as appropriate) and pair it with a proper 21* hybrid iron like the Cleveland 588 MT or similar.

• Middle option for cost but I've never hit a proper utility iron so don't know if this would give me extra distance or not. Can anyone who's tried a proper hybrid iron how it compared to an iron of the same loft?

Has anyone had to figure out the same problem?

FYI - I'm a transitional 14-16 handicap as I just got back into golf and I'm targeting single figures over the next few years.

[LuciusWooding]

Don't let that 3 wood get a free pass into the bag. Just because most players have one doesn't mean it's the best use of space.

I use my titanium 13 degree 3 wood for the following:

-Ground strokes from 260 or more, where my hybrid would get too much height from getting hit that hard to roll out. My 17 degree hybrid is more forgiving and a lot easier to hit off the deck due to the shorter shaft, but if I must choose a different club I have the option of the 3 wood. This distance is impossible to control on a green, and the situation that requires this shot comes very rarely.

-Strokes where I want roll/release, or to keep it low as possible without sawing off my finish.

-Flighting it low, I struggle hitting my long clubs really low including my driver. I can hit it high, especially off the tee, but this club will stay straight and have enough spin to stay afloat even when delofted a bit.

-If I'm trying to thread a tee shot into the 270-290 range (in theory) and think my driver might roll into trouble, through a green, or don't know how the big stick will carry. Some courses have par 4s in the 280 range, as an example. Strong 3 woods are quite long off the tee.

-Guaranteed fade; the 3 wood is 2 degrees open and hard to turn over, so I can guarantee it will cut back. I could hit this club on a dogleg right or aim it straight at OB and know it will always cut. If I close the face down much it will have too little loft to carry 220+ anyway.

-If I just want all the length I can get off the ground, like from rough or after a topped tee shot.

-If I'm just killing it that day and I'm overconfident. If I execute my swing well it works great, but I need to be focused.

I don't use it as a backup driver or a tee club on tight holes because the driver and hybrid are each better. I choose 13 degrees of loft because I have about 2 inches of shaft length and 4 degrees of loft between my 3i, 2h, 3w, and driver. I feel the 3 wood would be one of the first clubs kicked out of the bag if I needed to, after the 4 iron for me, because it's such a specialty club. Hitting even a 15 degree off the deck is such an ill advised shot, I'd never pick it over my hybrid. At least the 13 degree is a bit longer, and the flight I get is worthwhile sometimes. The hybrid is my first choice from 230 to 260 yards, and doesn't require a moderately hard swing to hit.

If I were you I'd see how I get along with hybrids at 19 and 16 degrees and no fairway. I consider my long clubs to be an asset for me, but I know the limitations. You know your game better than anyone, so if that 3 wood is your money club then by all means keep it. And I'd try and hit the older Adams hybrids with the slot, like the super SS and XTD. They are ridiculously forgiving and should be available new for 100 each or so.

[superfly777]

Thanks but yes, my 3 wood is my favourite club in the bag. I've got a 15* Callaway Diablo Octane atm. Since I don't play PGA length courses I tend to use the 3 wood 10-13 times a round off the tee as I can hit it straight 235-255 without having to go after it and my driver isn't consistently straight enough yet.

Personally on 400-430 yard holes I'd rather 3 Wood off the tee then trust my 6 iron from the fairway on the approach, rather than risk gaining an extra 25 yards with the driver just in order to allow me an 8 or 9 iron approach. I'll take 25 yards further from the fairway than shorter but in the rough any day.

I'll probably get fitted in a year or two for a new 3 Wood and will go with whichever loft gives me the best numbers but I don't see myself ever replacing that loft with a hybrid.

I know I'm gonna get a longer hybrid, so basically my question is really all about what to do at my 21 degree club. For an above average length hitter heading towards low teens handicap would people tender to favour?

21 degree Hybrid v Utility Iron v Regular Iron (Cavity Back)

[logman]

Interesting L/W, 3 woods are a real relic I reckon. They're only use is as a 2nd shot on a par 5s .....when you're trying to get a birdie. If you're not trying to birdie then you'd use the 3or 4 hybrid to lay up for a pitching wedge.

The basis of the 3 wood seems to me to be part of a theory that says you have to carry a club that corresponds to a certain distance.

Even though the idea of carrying a club that is so specialized it only gets used twice or three times a round isn't enough. It really is only of any use to big hitters anyway. I mean, if your a guy who drives the ball 200 to 240 yards with the driver, whats the point of carrying a 3 wood? Lets say you tee off on a par5 and hit it 240 yards, there's no way you're going to hit your 3 wood off the deck another 240 plus yards to get you're cheap birdie. A 3,4,5 hybrid would be the better stick to use then get a good pitching wedge in to the green.

Amateur golfers need to analyze their games a bit more. Club selection is another example where amateurs should not look to pros as a model of how to play their game.

[superfly777]

Originally Posted by logman

Interesting L/W, 3 woods are a real relic I reckon. They're only use is as a 2nd shot on a par 5s .....when you're trying to get a birdie. If you're not trying to birdie then you'd use the 3or 4 hybrid to lay up for a pitching wedge.

The basis of the 3 wood seems to me to be part of a theory that says you have to carry a club that corresponds to a certain distance.

Even though the idea of carrying a club that is so specialized it only gets used twice or three times a round isn't enough. It really is only of any use to big hitters anyway. I mean, if your a guy who drives the ball 200 to 240 yards with the driver, whats the point of carrying a 3 wood? Lets say you tee off on a par5 and hit it 240 yards, there's no way you're going to hit your 3 wood off the deck another 240 plus yards to get you're cheap birdie. A 3,4,5 hybrid would be the better stick to use then get a good pitching wedge in to the green.

Amateur golfers need to analyze their games a bit more. Club selection is another example where amateurs should not look to pros as a model of how to play their game.

I would agree that a guy who hits it 240 max with a driver probably won't have any need for a 3 wood. In order to get a 3 wood off the ground you have to have a decent swing speed so these guys will do better going with a hybrid for the best distance off the fairway. However you could still use your 3 wood off the tee for 190-210 yard doglegs.

However as I've said for me, as an above average hitter, I use my 3 wood more than I use an other club in my bag (excl. putter). Part of that is because doglegs on my home course are mostly around the 210-250 distance from the tee which allows me to hit an easy 3 wood off the tee into position for a straightforward approach. The only par 4 on my entire course I struggle to get to in two is a 468 yard hole because it doglegs to the right. For every other hole I can hit a straight 3 wood and then attack the green.

So for any above average hitter I would say the 3 wood is definitely not a relic and is often the most used club in their bag.

...Although that only applies to people who actually think about their hitting distances and the hole length, as appose to the people who automatically get their driver our on every hole regardless.

[LuciusWooding]

To answer your actual question though, consider the fact that the titleist hybrids are adjustable for loft. If you pick up 2 of them, you should be able to fine tune them to best fit your own gaps. I'd personally have a hard time spending that much, but I am pretty broke. If you go with the 16 or 17 degree plus a 19-20 degree, it should be adequate. You're allowed to have a little gap between your hybrids and longest iron, you can always choke up the hybrids to take off a club. Look up the chart to see the full range of lofts, and remember to experiment.

Hybrids are one of those clubs that I'm glad I have one of, but I find that's enough. They're versatile but I'm not shy hitting my long irons; I have all the clubs I could possibly fit from my iron set to match, anything not matching my irons is a specialty club in its own right. 8 irons, I have a putter and driver, then a wedge for sand, a wedge for specialty shots, a hybrid and a fairway. Good luck getting the right clubs.

[superfly777]

Originally Posted by LuciusWooding

To answer your actual question though, consider the fact that the titleist hybrids are adjustable for loft. If you pick up 2 of them, you should be able to fine tune them to best fit your own gaps. I'd personally have a hard time spending that much, but I am pretty broke. If you go with the 16 or 17 degree plus a 19-20 degree, it should be adequate. You're allowed to have a little gap between your hybrids and longest iron, you can always choke up the hybrids to take off a club. Look up the chart to see the full range of lofts, and remember to experiment.

Hybrids are one of those clubs that I'm glad I have one of, but I find that's enough. They're versatile but I'm not shy hitting my long irons; I have all the clubs I could possibly fit from my iron set to match, anything not matching my irons is a specialty club in its own right. 8 irons, I have a putter and driver, then a wedge for sand, a wedge for specialty shots, a hybrid and a fairway. Good luck getting the right clubs.

Thanks.

Yeah I really don't want to be buying two 913H's if I can help it. I think for the moment I'll go for the 17 degree since it has a longer shaft and set it to give me the best average distance (rather than max). If needed I can increase the effective loft to 17.75 or 18.5 degrees with the adjustable hosel. Then I can see how I go for this season and if I want to switch out the 21 degree iron I can look at it then.