Is the 5W dead (replaced with hybrids)?

[vangator]

I'll be playing a tourney tomorrow that has a par 3 that is just over 200 yards up hill and mostly into the wind.  That's a stretch for my 4 hybrid, so I'll probably bag my 5 wood just for that hole.  Plus there is water left and if I mishit my hybrid, it's a hook.  Not good.

[ryebread]

Some really good posts and advice in this thread.  I think what you may want to look at are the specs in the 5w.  In the last ~ 4 years, the OEMs have really lengthened the shafts on the FWs (I call it the RBZ effect).  You might find a 5w now has 18 degrees of loft, but is sitting on a 43 inch shaft!

In contrast, the 2H that is 18 degrees is probably on a shaft that is about 41 inches.  That 2 inches cuts both ways.  It's easier to make center contact with, so it is probably a bit more consistent for most players.  You don't generate as much clubhead speed though, so for most players it won't go as far.

I think for players of average swing speed (say 85-95 MPH with the driver), you will likely hit a point of diminishing returns with the hybrids.  My driver swing is right at 90-92 depending on the day.  What I've personally found is that you hit a point at about 20-21 degrees.  Going with a lower lofted hybrid than that really doesn't generate any more distance.  The 2H might go 5 yards longer, but often will be shorter because it is harder to make clean contact.

I find the modern 5w and the modern 3H fairly complimentary.  I personally prefer a 4w, 7w, 3h setup.  They gap off pretty evenly (for me about 10 yards difference), but provide vastly different trajectories in the 7w vs the 3h.

Hope this helps!

[cooke119]

No, I hit the 'you know what' out of mine.

[Mr. Desmond]

Callaway is still showing a 5 wood at 42.5 inches, and you can always cut another .5 inches. The problem is the light stock shafts. I special order everything. I have a GBB 5 wood from 17-20 degrees at 67g and 42.5 in. It brings down the spin while still getting great launch and height.

[Natural Patrick]

My 5W is alive and well, thanks for asking.

[DutchGolf]

i had to walk out to my car to make sure my 5w was not in fact dead( well technially it is) i certainly love my vapor speed 5w. the club i fell the most confident with on any lie really. it all depends on your preference as other guys in this thread have already mentioned. you gotta hit all of the clubs to see what works for your swing. 

I also purchased the vapor speed 5w two months ago, as there was a gap between the 4h and 3w (which is tough to hit of the ground). Absolutely loving the 5w, finally I can get some yards of the fairway, to get close on the Par5s or longer Par4s. Also nice for tee shots on really long Par 3s as well. So I would say in my case the 5w is very much alive.

[Divotmaker77]

I recently bought a Titleist 915 5 wood.  I absolutely crush the ball with it.  Is perfect off the tee on shorter courses.  I can't remember the last time I used my 3 wood.  Like others have said, it totally depends on the player and their swing.  By no means is it dead though.

[pganapathy]

My ideal set would consist of D, 4W, 3i/2h/3h (distance dependent), 4-9, P, G, S, L, Putter.  I don't think a 3W and 5W actually make that much sense anymore given the quality of clubs today.  But still got a 5W in my bag.  Need to work on it cos when nut it clean, an amazing club

[Mr. Desmond]

The 5 wood is alive and well, although the golfer may be dead... (language at the end)

Curb Your Enthusiasm ... the 5 wood incident

https://youtu.be/axFmqBrTn-s

I find it more difficult to insert with the new software. Sometimes it inserts a URL, sometimes it does not work.. 

Edited November 5, 2015 by Mr. Desmond

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Mr. Desmond said:

I find it more difficult to insert with the new software. Sometimes it inserts a URL, sometimes it does not work.. 

It doesn't work for videos that are disabled from embedding, though. As that video is.

[adam3553]

I use an 18* 5 wood and its one of my favorite clubs in the bag. For me its easier to hit than a 3 wood. I can hit it off the tee on tight driving holes and I really like it on par 5s. My distance with it is around 225 yards.

[Gunther]

It is for me, haven't gamed a 5W in maybe 5 years.  I use an RBZ 18.5° hybrid now but have been through a few different ones since I last had a 5W in my bag.

[RFKFREAK]

On 10/6/2015, 10:20:26, onthehunt526 said:

+1, Pretzel, the 5-wood is far from dead, for some mid-to-high handicappers it is a better choice of the turf than the 3-wood, because of the shorter shaft and the added loft.

That being said the reason i believe that the popularity of the 5-wood has gone down among better players is: Because of the lofts in the irons getting stronger, it has necessitated that a lot of better players add an extra wedge. Some tour pros still only have the 3 wedge set-up, so players like Rory and Tiger still have a 5-wood in their bags, but a lot of lower handicap players I know either have 4 wedges, or a driving iron instead of the 5-wood...

So to the original poster"s question, The 5-wood isn't dead, or even dying... it just seems to me that the 4 wedge set-up and driving irons among better players is taking the limelight. There are still a lot of 5-woods floating around

This might be what I'll be facing soon. 

Right now I carry, D, 3W, 5W, Hy, 5I-PW, 52°, 56°, and 60° wedges.

I believe the loft on my current PW is 48° and the PW is 44° on the new set I'm looking to get.  You can get an addition wedge with a loft of 48° but that will leave me in a spot where I'll have to probably not carry my 5W unless the PW on the new set goes the same distance as the PW on my current set.

[snoopaloop]

I personally liked hitting a 3 hybrid more than a 5 wood, I am more consistent with a hybrid than a wood because my attack angle and shaft length. My bag goes from 3 wood to 3 hybrid, 3 wood goes 245 and 3 hybrid 225. Having a 5 wood for me won't do much, for my game. My 3 wood is mostly used for positioning and off the tee... can't hit it consistently enough to game it on the fairway...and I have no right to going after green on long par 5's anyways, so positioning myself nicely for the 3rd shot with a 52/56/60 (best clubs in my bag/most consistent) gives me a nice birdie shot, if not a lag putt for a par. 

[jbishop15]

I carry both a hybrid and a 5W, and I much, much prefer the 5W; it's my favorite club to tee off with.  I'm probably going to dump my hybrid for a 3 iron, because they just don't feel right to me. 

[arturo28mx]

If my driver is not behaving well, I much prefer to tee off with my 5 wood than my 3 wood.

If the driver is not working well most likely the 3 wood won't either. However, the 5 wood is very forgiving all the time.

[Mr. Desmond]

On November 10, 2015 at 11:00:59 AM, RFKFREAK said:

This might be what I'll be facing soon. 

Right now I carry, D, 3W, 5W, Hy, 5I-PW, 52°, 56°, and 60° wedges.

I believe the loft on my current PW is 48° and the PW is 44° on the new set I'm looking to get.  You can get an addition wedge with a loft of 48° but that will leave me in a spot where I'll have to probably not carry my 5W unless the PW on the new set goes the same distance as the PW on my current set.

I can go D, 3 wd, 5 wd, 22H, 28H, 6-9, Putter - that leaves wedges - 45, 50, 55, 60 - 5 degree gaps work well for me. Good luck.