Club Choices

[Langos]

Hello I don't have a 3 wood or 5 wood i have a 22 degree hybrid would you recommend me getting these two clubs

Only Played for 2 Months First birdie on a par 5 a week ago stoked

[Harp stein]

For me it's all about gaps in distance. I hit my driver 240-250, I have a 5W that I dialed down to 15 degrees that I can carry 220 so I never bothered to get a 3W as an example. If I can get my driver up to 260 consistently, then I'll probably look at adding a 3W.

If you have a big gap between driver and the hybrid or 4I, then you could look into a club to fill that gap. If you don't have any gaps, don't waste money on clubs you don't need IMHO.

[RickK]

I pretty much agree with Harp.  If you have only been playing a couple of months and since I am not sure what your set makeup is today...would not want to advise anyone to go buy more clubs.

My suggestion is to get a general idea of how far you can hit each club in your bag with a normal decent swing.  I have never been a real long hitter but I have had pretty consistent yardages.  For me, starting with my 9 iron going up...my yardage gap betwen each club is 10 yards.  Going down, each one of my wedges has a 15 yard gap.  What you need to determine is where do you have big gaps in your club distances.

I carry a driver, 3 wood, then 3hybrid, 4hybrid, 5hybrid, 6iron thru 9iron and 4 wedges and a putter.

The reason I do not carry a 5 wood is because my 3hybrid distance and the 5woods I have had previously are about the same.  Don't need 2 clubs that I hit the same distance.

When I first started playing golf years ago, I practiced a lot...I really mean A LOT.  I got familiar with how far I hit each of my irons.  Back then I carried 2iron thru Sand Wedge, driver, 3wood, 5wood (or sometimes 1iron instead) and putter.  But, I knew my yardages.

Once you get familiar with your yardages, then build your set around not having huge yardage gaps between your clubs.

Good luck to you.

Golf truly is the greatest game ever.  Play it, enjoy it, respect it.

[onthehunt526]

You don't necessarily need both... what is your current set make-up? That would probably give us a better idea of what you might need... But since you've been only playing a couple months, you may be fine with the set-up you currently have

[boogielicious]

Another choice would be a 4W to cover both.  The 4W is a bit easier off the fairway.  Because you are just starting out, it will take a bit of time to  build confidence with a fairway wood.  You can find them at lower cost on e-Bay, especially right after Christmas.

[Elmer]

I use my 3 wood off the tee all the time. Short par 4's, doglegs or simply when your driver is our of control.

I can hit my 3 wood about 230 or a tee

I carry a 5 wood for 2 reasons

1-to cover distance gap of around 215 (for Short par 4's, long par 3's, doglegs or simply when your driver is our of control.)

2- I got it for free when I purchased my driver.

That being said I have had the same issue with wanting to drop woods and add hybrids.

All I can say is a 3 wood is a mini driver,

a hybrid is more versatile that a 5 wood.

But club options all depend on the what shots you consistently have and what yardage you find yourself at.

If you are finding yourself getting by with a driver/5 hybrind combo then stick with it!

[Langos]

Hello, Um

Driver- Callway Diablo Edge

Hybrid- 22 Degrees Nike CPR

Irons- 5-pw Nike Cpr Irons

Sand Wedge- 60 Degree Forged Maltyby M-Series Ni

Putter-Tommy Armour Bianco Putter

[RickK]

How far do you hit your driver normally?  And, how far do you hit your hybrid normally?  And lastly, how far do you hit your 5iron normally?

Let's see what your yardage gaps are between those clubs.

BTW...Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays

[Langos]

Hello, Merry Christmas to you

Driver about 200 yards ATM got a nasty slice

Hybrid About 165 yards

5 Iron 155 Yards

[PJCdude]

  Langos said:

Hello, Merry Christmas to you

Driver about 200 yards ATM got a nasty slice

Hybrid About 165 yards

5 Iron 155 Yards

You should probably get something in between the hybrid and driver, especially if you got a nasty slice and need something to hit straight off the tee but still get approx 180-190 yds. I would say go to Golfsmith and try out some used 3 hybrids, 5 woods and even 3 woods on the simulators they usually have set up. Pick out whatever feels good. If it's too expensive, look for the same club on E-bay, GlobalGolf or another secondhand site.

You might also want to get 2 clubs. There's a good chance that your driver is too low of a loft and a 3 wood might even be better off the tee and get you in the 200 yd range. A 3 hybrid or 5 Wood would then be a good option for the 180 range from the fairway.

I would also consider getting something in between your pw and 60 degree sw. Maybe like a 52 GW or something. Some people have the philosophy that you should start with a small amount of clubs and learn to hit them first, but I feel there is nothing wrong with trying out a bunch of different types of clubs and seeing what works for you.

I was in a similar situation last year (not that I've transformed into Rory or anything since) but stick with it. As technique improves, distance will improve. Don't be afraid to post a swing video on this site. People here know what they are talking about (mostly).

[RickK]

The slice is costing you yardage.  You need to put in some time on the practice range and work on hitting the ball squarely on the back inside portion of the ball with the center of a square clubface.   Work on trying to draw the ball.  You will add yardage.  Work on watching the clubhead hit the ball on every shot.

I also agree that you should get a 3wood.  If you can get somewhere and check your swing speed that would help you decide if you need regular flex shafts.  Looking at those yardages, I would imagine you do need regular shafts.  With a pretty decent swing, a person in the high 80s/low 90s can get away with stiff shafts usually.  But if your swing is not very consistent, and your swing speed is in the low 90s or even lower...regular shafts are probably better for you.  Too stiff a shaft can produce an ugly going right shot.

[PJCdude]

Also, piggybacking on RickK, what is the loft of your driver?

[colin007]

  PJCdude said:

Also, piggybacking on RickK, what is the loft of your driver?

+1

[Langos]

9.5

[PJCdude]

  Langos said:

9.5

Yea, that could definitely be contributing to your slices/lack of distance. If I were you, I'd look into getting at least a 10.5 or even 12 degree driver. Nowadays there's plenty of adjustable drivers so you can even mess around with the loft and see what's best. I got the original Nike Covert from Global Golf for about 80 bucks I think and it can be adjusted from 8.5 to 12.5. I only ever try 12.5 or 11.5.

[Spitfisher]

Given the choice between hitting a 4 wood off the fair way and hitting a 22 degree hybrid ( FOR MOST 15 PLUS handicappers) they will hit the hybrid much better and consistently from the fairway and rough lies.   No of course it won't go as far as a 4 wood.

I have witnessed first hand a player ( 15-20 handicapper) that would constantly try to hit their 3 or 5 wood off the deck for their 2nd shot on a par five, with very mixed results, never on the green and often no longer on the fairway. I then suggested not to attack the pin or green with a fairway metal, instead try a hybrid, the results are much better and their third shot is often  in the fairway with minimized risk in doing so.  They can now go and attack a pin with a wedge.

My 2 cents

[Spitfisher]

  Langos said:

9.5

for your index that loft is not doing you any favors, my guess lots of side spin and loss of distance.

[TimS65]

  Spitfisher said:

Given the choice between hitting a 4 wood off the fair way and hitting a 22 degree hybrid ( FOR MOST 15 PLUS handicappers) they will hit the hybrid much better and consistently from the fairway and rough lies.   No of course it won't go as far as a 4 wood.

I have witnessed first hand a player ( 15-20 handicapper) that would constantly try to hit their 3 or 5 wood off the deck for their 2nd shot on a par five, with very mixed results, never on the green and often no longer on the fairway. I then suggested not to attack the pin or green with a fairway metal, instead try a hybrid, the results are much better and their third shot is often  in the fairway with minimized risk in doing so.  They can now go and attack a pin with a wedge.

My 2 cents

+1