3 Wood to 5 Iron Gap

[Alex37]

Hi everyone, 

I am looking for a club or clubs to fill the gap between my 15* 3 wood and my 21.5* 5 iron. I carry my 3 wood about 240-245 and carry my 5 iron about 200. I am looking at an 18* 5 wood, 19* 3 hybrid, and 22* 4 hybrid. What club or combo would you suggest to fill the 40 yard gap? Thanks in advance!

[Lihu]

The hybrid is a bit more flexible.

22 degree that is...

[Shindig]

With a 21.5 degree 5-iron, I don't think it's likely that a 22 degree hybrid will fill the distance gap.  It might afford you more options, such as out of the rough, but that isn't what you were asking.

Are you looking at one club or two clubs for the distance?  Because an 18 degree 5-wood and 20-degree 3-hybrid might have enough separation that you would have two options in there.

As for me, I have a 23.5 degree 5-iron, a 20-degree 3-hybrid, and a 16.5 degree 4-wood.  I don't know if that information helps you or not. I also carry my clubs quite a bit less than you do (5-iron is about 165, give or take).

[upndown21]

I carry 3w, 19* 3h, 21* 4h, 5i

My gaps are 240, 225, 210, 195

Edited July 13, 2018 by upndown21
Added gaps

[Lihu]

The 22 degree hybrid comes in higher and lands softer than a 21.5 degree club.

I have this exact setup except my 5i has a 3i marking on it 😁

Edited July 13, 2018 by Lihu

[MrGolfguy67]

I'd go with both 3 & 4 hybrids, 40 yards is quite a gap and likely needs 2 clubs to fill that (assuming you have room within the 14 club limit).

[Piz]

I care only about the distance and trajectory; not the loft or club designation.  For example: my driver, 5 wood, hybrid, and 5 iron gap well despite lofts of 9.5, 18, 19, and 27.  This is due to the length of the clubs: 45.5, 42.5, 40.25, and 38.5.  I had been carrying a 20 degree hybrid but the 19, for whatever reasons, flies a little higher and shorter.  Go figure..eh?  Good luck in your search.

[c. lassiter]

I would (and i do in my own set) favor the 19 degree hybrid over the 18 degree 5 wood as it is more versatile, better out of the rough and generally I am straighter with it.

[billchao]

I play a 2H and a 4H between my 3W and 5I.

@Alex37, if you like woods, go 5W and 4H. I don't think that gap can properly be filled with a single club, though an argument can be made about whether it needs to be properly filled or not.

[dbuck]

My 3 wood is 15 and my 5 iron is 24. I went with a 21 hybrid. I also have a wide gap, but the hybrid works for me in that I can stretch it out or choke down.

The hybrid I use is a Titleist H1, and it is adjustable from 19-23, with 21 being the stated base setting. I think they come in 19,21, and 23, all adjustable 1 down and 2 up I think.

Edited July 13, 2018 by dbuck

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, MrGolfguy67 said:

I'd go with both 3 & 4 hybrids, 40 yards is quite a gap and likely needs 2 clubs to fill that (assuming you have room within the 14 club limit).

This assessment makes sense for most players, but the OP stated that he carries his 3W 242. So, filling a gap might not be literal? I doubt he’d run into a situation where he needs a 220 yard carry club versus a 200 carry club that often.

[GOATee]

19* 3 hybrid with adjustable hosel shifted down to 20* loft.

[chilepepper]

Try them all out, go with the one you have them most confidence in

[onthehunt526]

Probably irrelevant now but my two cents are this: why in the hell do people need 3 clubs between 3-wood and 5-iron? (I have a 2 and 3 iron utility, then a standard 4-iron). I’m seriously starting to think I can get away with one club between 3-wood and 5-iron. (I never hit the 4-iron, not even off the tee). 
 

I’m thinking off getting a 4-iron utility and just dumping the 2 and 3 iron utilities. (I hit the hell out of the 2 and 3-iron, I use the 3-iron a lot, but I still don’t really need it.)

If I had a 21.5° 5-iron I would just leave my bag as is or add a the matching 4-hybrid. 

[knott]

I have 3w relatively weak at 15.5 due to my swing speed, 5w at 18 and a 22 degree hybrid. I got distance irons so my 5i goes like my old 3i. The 22 degree hybrid still goes one club longer so this works fo me. 

I am not sure I am a fan of it though maybe should have a slim 7wood. My old school orlimar trimetal 5 wood is not much chunkier then my ping g400 hybrid to use in rough either. But gapping wise this does work quite well

[TourSpoon]

I have a 15* 3 wood, an 18* hybrid, and a 24* 4 iron. I cover my gaps and the hybrid is super versatile and can be used in fairways, bunkers, rough, punch shots, even chipping. It's a go to club for sure. 

[onthehunt526]

I’m going to put my 2 cents in here. 
 

I’m going to take two golfers who hit their drivers different distances.

Golfer 1: Hits their driver 200 yards in the air, his 3-wood 180 yards through the air and his 5-iron 148 yards through the air.

Golfer 2: Driver: 250 3-wood 225 5-iron: 185 yards.

How many clubs should these golfers plug their gaps with?

The simple answer is Golfer 1, probably only needs one, where golfer 2, probably needs two. 
 

If golfer 1 is playing the proper set of tees. They probably won’t have too many 150-170 yard shots. But they will probably want to have at least 1 club for that occasion.

If golfer 2 is playing the proper set of tees, they probably won’t encounter very many approaches of 185-225 yards. But may want a back-up club or two for tighter holes and long par-3s. 
 

I think it comes down to how far you hit the ball and what tees you are playing.

[knott]

I am in between those. I maybe average 205 metres on my drives and 190 on my FW 3. I can hit them longer but trying to be real. I find myself often having 180-160 metres left to flag on par 4s and also par 5s second shot of course is often long to make the third shot easier and not long again. But I am still debating sacrificing a wedge for another wood or not if it´s worth it because to be honest I don´t really expect to hit a green from 180 metres. It don´t happen all to often but it´s always fun to have a club you think you have a chance at least and don´t risk oob trying to hit it 80 %. So your calculation works I believe.