Help With Distance Gap

[DeadMan]

I could use some suggestions on a distance gap I have in my clubs on the upper end of my yardages. Basically, here's the problem: [U]Carry numbers[/U] 3W: 240-250 (estimate) 21 deg Hybrid: 210-220 (trackman) 4 iron: 215-225 (trackman) 5 iron: 205 (estimate) The problem is that I got new irons last fall and they made it so my hybrid overlaps with my 4 iron. Silly taylormade strong lofts. So, my hybrid is basically useless to me right now. The only time I find myself pulling it out of the bag right now is when I have a really bad lie in the rough. Which is less than once per round at this point. I'm looking for a club that will bridge the gap between my 4 iron and 3 wood. I have been trying 2 and 3 hybrids, and my results are consistently that my 4 iron is just as long as the hybrids. I am curious if anyone had suggestions. Here's what my thoughts are now: Hybrid is probably out, unless I can find the right 2 hybrid. Haven't been able to yet. I could try to order a 3 iron speedblade from TaylorMade. This is what I'm leaning towards now, although I'd need it done to custom specs. I don't particularly like driving irons. Haven't been able to hit them well and I want something I can easily hit off the deck. 5 wood seems hard to find, but could solve my problem. The issue is that I don't want to buy one without trying, and that's probably what I'd have to do because most golf stores do not have a stiff shaft 5 wood for me to hit. I have 4 wedges already, and I don't really need to put another wedge in the bag. So, anyways, any help is appreciated.

[Lilfrier]

A 5 (or even 7) wood seems like the answer, if you do not feel that the 2 or 3 hybrid is giving you the distance desired. Is there a specific brand/model of wood you're looking for that makes getting that club difficult?

[WUTiger]

... The problem is that I got new irons last fall and they made it so my hybrid overlaps with my 4 iron. Silly taylormade strong lofts. So, my hybrid is basically useless to me right now. ...

TM, the source of your problem ( my irons go too far!), might also be a solution.

Across the board, almost all* the current TM hybrids have a 19° 3H . With a stronger loft, and the general TM face hotness, possibly this could bridge the gap. Also, a 3H likely would give you better launch out of the rough than a 2H.

Check these models: SLDR S/ SLDR/ SLDR TP / Jetspeed / RBZ Stage 2 (which now only costs $129).

---------------------------------

*(RBZ Stage 2 Tour has 18.5° loft)

[DeadMan]

A 5 (or even 7) wood seems like the answer, if you do not feel that the 2 or 3 hybrid is giving you the distance desired. Is there a specific brand/model of wood you're looking for that makes getting that club difficult?

Well, I love my Ping G20 3W, so ideally, I would like a 5 wood to match that. The issue is getting the proper flex on the shaft. There aren't many stiff 5 woods out there. I would be fine with the G25 5 wood, but I haven't been able to try one of those with a stiff shaft. Seriously, I went to a Ping demo day and they didn't even have the option to hit a stiff shaft with the 5 wood. I'm just a little hesitant to order that club without knowing that it will bridge the gap. I don't want to spend $200 and then have the same problem. [quote name="WUTiger" url="/t/74587/help-with-distance-gap#post_990256"] TM, the source of your problem ( ;-)  my irons go too far!), might also be a solution. Across the board, almost all* the current TM hybrids have a [COLOR=0000CD]19° 3H[/COLOR] . With a stronger loft, and the general TM face hotness, possibly this could bridge the gap. Also, a 3H likely would give you better launch out of the rough than a 2H. Check these models: SLDR S/ SLDR/ SLDR TP / Jetspeed / RBZ Stage 2 (which now only costs $129). --------------------------------- *(RBZ Stage 2 Tour has 18.5° loft) [/quote] I've tired the TM hybrids and I don't like them at all. I've never hit one solid it seems. And, trackman has shown that I get the same distance from the TM 3 hybird that I do from my 4 iron. And I have the same issue with any 2 hybrid, plus added inconsistency.

[DeadMan]

Also, part of the problem is that I've never liked TaylorMade's hybrid or fairway woods. Even though I love their irons and I have the R1 (and like that club too), there is something that doesn't work when I try out their hybrids or fairway woods. I feel like if I liked those clubs better, it would solve the problem. Alas, that's not the case.

[Lilfrier]

Two things:

1. Have you tried the PING G20 hybrids? Maybe, since you like that as a fairway wood, you might like their hybrids as well?

2. You're right, finding a stiff 5W is a bit tough. I'm just kind of going through sites, and have found a few options. You mentioned not getting to try the G25 in a stiff shaft, not sure if you have that same concern with a G20 stiff for a non-3W, but here's what I found:

-- Here's a site with the PING G20 available in 3-7W options, and they have both the standard and Tour shaft options in stiff. It's $150.

-- Dick's has a stiff G20 4W for $150, not sure if it's enough of a drop-off to help that distance gap. They also have the G25 in 4-W options and stiff, maybe see if one nearby (if you have a Dick's close) could let you demo one?

-- Golfsmith has the G20 4W and 5W in stiff, though the 7W is only in light and regular. $150, same as the others. They also have the 4W in a stiff Tour shaft.

-- Golf Galaxy has the 5W in a stiff, as well as a stiff version of the Tour model, both are $150 again.

So, like I said, if you're OK with the shaft on your G20 3W and are willing to go into a G20 5W without a test, it's there online for $150. If you're near any of those stores, you could call them up and ask if one is in-stock to try at the store. I kinda stopped looking at the G25 options once I saw a few sites with the G20 there, but I imagine you'd get a similar story that you can find it online (I think they were $200, though).

[ldehtiar]

You could "test drive" either the 5w or 2h from Bridgestone here:

http://testdrive.bridgestonegolf.com/

[DeadMan]

Great suggestions. Thank you very much. I think I will swing by my local Dicks to see if they have it.

[Lilfrier]

Good luck, hope you can find something there and get what you want/need.

[madolive3]

What's the loft on your 3W? You are tying to fill a twenty yard gap at 230 yards? What with different wind and turf conditions, different lie angles, seems like splitting hairs at that yardage. But if you must, I haven't found anyone who doesn't like the tour edge fairway woods. Try a xcg5 5 wood from ebay, they are 3 years old and you can get them fairly cheap.  Their hybrids I am less impressed with and don't waist your time on a tour edge driver. But I have 3 woods, a 13 degree 3W and a 15* 3W and a 16.5* 4 wood and they make the ball fly a country mile and as straight as anything. Easy to hit off the turf. I have settled on the 15* for awhile, might put the 13* in my bag just to see.

[WUTiger]

What's the loft on your 3W? You are tying to fill a twenty yard gap at 230 yards? What with different wind and turf conditions, different lie angles, seems like splitting hairs at that yardage. But if you must, I haven't found anyone who doesn't like the tour edge fairway woods. ...

madolive3 suggests a strong 3W as part of the solution.

Seems like your current 3W might be bunching up against your 4i. But, you can't figure out how much true gap you have without 3W Trackman data.

Also, we don't have physical specs on your 3W, or how many wedges you carry. If you had a detailed What's In My Bag in your sig line, you could save us a lot of guessing for possibilities on bag set-up.

What you need to do is go to a demo day and try FWs of different lofts and shaft types. If you find you can't hit a low-lofted 3W, you might be better to put three extra wraps of tape under the low hand of your current 3W, and just choke down a half inch to shave distance.

[LuciusWooding]

Question: what do you use those clubs for? Do you hit any of them off the tee a lot or choose one for certain situations? 3w off the deck?

[tomvk77]

I've got the mizuno jpx 825 hybrid for that gap I've had it bend to 17 degreesf! It knocked my 3iron mp59 out So i could place the extra wedge. I hit it better than 3i off the deck

[DeadMan]

madolive3 suggests a strong 3W as part of the solution. Seems like your current 3W might be bunching up against your 4i. But, you can't figure out how much [COLOR=0000CD]true gap[/COLOR] you have without 3W Trackman data. Also, we don't have physical specs on your 3W, or how many wedges you carry. If you had a detailed [COLOR=800000]What's In My Bag[/COLOR] in your sig line, you could save us a lot of guessing for possibilities on bag set-up. What you need to do is go to a demo day and try FWs of different lofts and shaft types. If you find you can't hit a low-lofted 3W, you might be better to put three extra wraps of tape under the low hand of your current 3W, and just choke down a half inch to shave distance.

My 3W is the standard Ping G20 - 15 degrees of loft. While I don't have trackman numbers to confirm 100%, I feel pretty good about a 245-250 estimated carry (probably about 240 carry off the deck). There is a big difference when I hit a 4 iron vs. a 3W off the tee. I don't need another wedge really. My wedge set up is Rocketbladez PW (45 degrees), and then Vokeys: (52/08 bent to 51, 56/14, 60/04). It covers my gaps fairly well, and I'm pretty good at controlling my distance with 1/2 and 3/4 swings. I could maybe swap out the 51 degree for the Also, on the in your bag sig line, I don't believe I can have a sig yet. Or, at least, I can't figure out how to do it. [quote name="LuciusWooding" url="/t/74587/help-with-distance-gap#post_990820"]Question: what do you use those clubs for? Do you hit any of them off the tee a lot or choose one for certain situations? 3w off the deck? [/quote] I rarely hit my 3W off the deck - maybe once every 3 rounds or so. I envision using this club off the tee but also off the deck a lot more. Probably 60% off the tee and 40% off the deck. My 3W is probably more of a 80/20 split on that, maybe 90/10. In general, if I'm using a 3W off the deck, it means I got myself in trouble on a par 5 and need to make up distance fast. For now, by the way, I ended up buying a Ping G20 5 wood. I'm not 100% sure it fills the gap, but it's good enough for now. The real reason I need this club is for a par 3 hole on my home course that measures about 240 from the tips. Well, and I don't want to waste one of my 14 clubs. I'm thinking I might also look at getting one of those mini drivers/2 woods for off the tee and then getting a 4 wood or something. That might gap me better, and as I rarely hit my 3W off the deck, it might make more sense to have something built more for play off the tee. Thanks for all of the advice and help.