5 wood vs 3 hybid yardage

[laportian]

I am wanting to take my 3 wood out of the bag. I cringe when using it and it causes far to many meltdowns on par 5's. Would a better option be a 5 wood? Right now I drive about 220 to 230 with my driver. On a good strike off the deck I might get 200 out of my 3 wood. But lack any consistency with it. My next club in my bag is a 3 hybrid. I'm pretty consistent with it and get 180 to 190 out of it. So I guess my question is what kind of yardage differences can I expect between a 5 wood and a 3 hybrid? Or are they too close in yardage to see any real benefit in carrying a 5 wood?

[newtogolf]

I am wanting to take my 3 wood out of the bag. I cringe when using it and it causes far to many meltdowns on par 5's. Would a better option be a 5 wood? Right now I drive about 220 to 230 with my driver. On a good strike off the deck I might get 200 out of my 3 wood. But lack any consistency with it. My next club in my bag is a 3 hybrid. I'm pretty consistent with it and get 180 to 190 out of it. So I guess my question is what kind of yardage differences can I expect between a 5 wood and a 3 hybrid? Or are they too close in yardage to see any real benefit in carrying a 5 wood?

It depends on your particular 3 hybrid and 5 wood.  Generally, I'd say a 5 wood is slightly longer than a 3 hybrid but I've seen 3 hybrids with 17* or 18* lofts and longer shafts that can come pretty close to 5 wood yardages.  Have you considered trying a 4 wood and 3 hybrid?

[laportian]

My 3 hybrid is an Adams Idea Tech V4 it's got 19 degrees of loft. I think it's got a 40 inch shaft. My fear with going to a 4 wood is that its length is still so close to that of a 3 wood that I' still have trouble controlling it. Plus being a lefty I don't have as many choices in clubs as righty's do.

[newtogolf]

My 3 hybrid is an Adams Idea Tech V4 it's got 19 degrees of loft. I think it's got a 40 inch shaft. My fear with going to a 4 wood is that its length is still so close to that of a 3 wood that I' still have trouble controlling it. Plus being a lefty I don't have as many choices in clubs as righty's do.

I'd guess the average 5 wood is 18*-19* and 42"-43" long, so you might get slightly more distance (assuming you can hit them both equally well) out of the 5W compared to your 3 hybrid.

I'm a lefty too so I know the pain, but a club you could adjust the loft on, like a Cobra Fly-Z would give you the flexibility of 5 wood length (43") with a 4 wood loft (17*-20*).  Another option would be a Fly-Z 2 hybrid which would give you 16* - 19* loft and 41.25 shaft length.   I'm suggesting Cobra only because I know they have pretty wide loft settings and are available for lefties, I think Nike does as well.

I'd go to your local golf store and hit some different combinations and see which one you hit most consistently off the deck.

[WUTiger]

... My fear with going to a 4 wood is that its length is still so close to that of a 3 wood that I' still have trouble controlling it. ...

A couple of extra degrees of loft makes a 4W much easier to hit for many than a 3W. (Golf Digest published a report on this a couple of years ago).

I'm in my fourth season with a 4W + 7W combo, and I find the 7W and 3H have about the same distance. I carry an Adams V4.4H, and own a V4.3H that replaces the 7W during colder weather.

You would have a better chance of distance separation with a 4W and 3H than a 5W + 3H.

This is one case where you'd have to test things out in person to find the best combo.

[laportian]

I looked at 2 hybrids and really like that Cobra Fly Z. But I am a notorious cheapskate and usually buy used or demo clubs, or if I do get new its at a deep discount for an old new club. So I was looking around on the internet and ran across some reviews of the Cobra Amp Cell Fairway Woods. All were pretty favorable. The 5-7 Wood adjust from 17 to 20 degrees. So at its lowest setting it would be 2 degrees lower that my current 3 hybrid. I'm thinking I might shop for one. It's a two year old model now and I should be able to get one for pretty cheap. If not Adams makes a 17 degree Super Black 2h in left hand that I may try. I really like Adams Hybrids, I bag Idea Tech V4 3 and 4 hybrids and they are the bees knees.

[mdaugherty24]

I took my 15 degree 3 wood out of the bag over a year ago and replaced it with a 17 degree Titleist 913h hybrid. Sure I lost about 10 yards off the tee compared to the 3 wood but I gained far more versatility with the hybrid. Personally, I hit hybrids way more consistent off the tee and more so off the deck. I always had a hard time hitting a fairway wood off the deck. I just cant get the trajectory with a fairway wood to do me any good on the par 5's. I hit my 17 degree 3 to 4 more times a round than I did with my 3 wood. I have no regrets what so ever!

[newtogolf]

I looked at 2 hybrids and really like that Cobra Fly Z. But I am a notorious cheapskate and usually buy used or demo clubs, or if I do get new its at a deep discount for an old new club. So I was looking around on the internet and ran across some reviews of the Cobra Amp Cell Fairway Woods. All were pretty favorable. The 5-7 Wood adjust from 17 to 20 degrees. So at its lowest setting it would be 2 degrees lower that my current 3 hybrid. I'm thinking I might shop for one. It's a two year old model now and I should be able to get one for pretty cheap. If not Adams makes a 17 degree Super Black 2h in left hand that I may try. I really like Adams Hybrids, I bag Idea Tech V4 3 and 4 hybrids and they are the bees knees.

Cobra Amp Cell has a 2 hybrid as well.  If you plan to use it off the tee and fairway the 5 wood is a good option but hybrids work well out of light rough and fairway bunkers too.  What are the other clubs in your bag, especially woods and long irons?

[laportian]

I have been using a Cobra Amp 3 Wood. But like I said it causes me more problems than good. I tee off with it well, but on my home course it isn't needed off the tee. Prior to this I had a Nike VRS 3 Wood and was even worse with it. My irons are Cobra Baffler XL's. I bought the set that had 4h-6h and then 7 to Gap in irons. I only game the 5 hybrid out of that set though. So right now in my bag: Driver Cobra Amp Cell, 3 Wood Cobra Amp, 3 & 4 Hybrid Adams Idea Tech V4, 5 H Cobra Baffler XL, 6 iron Callaway Razr XF, 7 to GW Cobra Baffler XL's, 55 and 61 degree Cobra Trusty Rusty Wedges and a 33 1/2 inch Odyssey Dual Force 550 putter.

Out of all those I am most displeased with the 3 wood, I'm thinking of switching wedges too. But who knows thats a whole new can of worms there.

[WildTurkey]

I was having an issue with hitting 3 woods and hybrids as well. Then I found a Peter finch u tube on how to set up to hit them. It took a couple of range sessions to get it. I would check your set up before dumping anything.

[Fozcycle]

I get about 180 - 190 from my 3 Hybrid and only 170-180 from my 5 wood, so I keep both in the bag, along with my 3 wood.  I have some duplication with my 5 wood and my 4 hybrid though.  Both are 170-180 yds. That is also the range of my 4 iron, so I change them out based upon the course I am playing.

[Grumpter]

Replace the 3w with a 2h. Maybe one that has an adjustable loft.

[Fozcycle]

Replace the 3w with a 2h. Maybe one that has an adjustable loft.

That's what I do.......I have the Bio Cell 2-3 currently set at 19*.  It goes the 180 -190 distance and is very serviceable when unde the trees.

[Hatchman]

Hi @laportian, I am looking for the thread or post that addresses 5 wood / 3 wood. I believe it leaned towards the 5 wood in cases like yours. I hit hybrids (1-4) until I could thread the needle. Didn't even carry a driver, 3, 5. Used a 1h to tee with. However there was a reason and a cost. Distance. I now can play the woods and hit the 5 wood as my go to club over the 3 wood. For example, par 5 hole: driver, 5 wood, sometimes on or a wedge-pw in depending on the length. So, I pulled the 1-3 hybrids. I picked up a used 5 wood to test and glad I did fellow lefty. Just my POV.

[laportian]

Yeah I'm pretty settled on a 5 wood. I'm looking for 190 to 200 yards with it. I'd use it primarily as my second shot on par 5's as long as I have a good lie. As it stands now I have the urge to pull my 3 wood out and that simply is not working. It's a lot of things as to why. I think most of it has to do with the urge to knock the snot out of it for maximum distance and I screw it up. If I do hit good with it I'm usually really loose and mentally relaxed. It seems to be a club that I loose control of. Where with my hybrids I often get good results when I really give them the onion. Shorter clubs equal more control. If the 5 wood doesn't fill my need I think I'll start shopping for a 2 hybrid in a 17 degree loft.