superfly777

Thanks but yes, my 3 wood is my favourite club in the bag. I've got a 15* Callaway Diablo Octane atm. Since I don't play PGA length courses I tend to use the 3 wood 10-13 times a round off the tee as I can hit it straight 235-255 without having to go after it and my driver isn't consistently straight enough yet. Personally on 400-430 yard holes I'd rather 3 Wood off the tee then trust my 6 iron from the fairway on the approach, rather than risk gaining an extra 25 yards with the driver just in order to allow me an 8 or 9 iron approach. I'll take 25 yards further from the fairway than shorter but in the rough any day. I'll probably get fitted in a year or two for a new 3 Wood and will go with whichever loft gives me the best numbers but I don't see myself ever replacing that loft with a hybrid. I know I'm gonna get a longer hybrid, so basically my question is really all about what to do at my 21 degree club. For an above average length hitter heading towards low teens handicap would people tender to favour? 21 degree Hybrid v Utility Iron v Regular Iron (Cavity Back)

I've currently got a 15* 3 Wood and Cleveland CG16 irons with lofts 21*, 24*, etc. I want a hybrid to plug the gap and am pretty much decided on the Titleist 913H. I've tested it in 19* standard setting and loved it. Thing is, I could hit the hybrid 210-215 yards regularly whereas my 21* iron only goes 190 and 24* 180 yards. Also I'm a lot more consistent with my contact with the hybrid while the 21* iron can be perfect one day and a nasty hook the next. So my options as I see them: 1) Get the hybrid to plug the existing gap. Simple (and cheapest) and the more I practice with the 21* iron the better I'll get, however this could still leave a gap. 2) Get two 913Hs in the 17* (longer shaft that the 19* so more distance) and 21* then set them to 18* and 21 using the Titleist surefit hosel. I figure this set up would give me distances of around 220 yards and 205 so would plug the gaps. Though this would cost the most. 3) Get one 913H in either 17* or 19* (then set as appropriate) and pair it with a proper 21* hybrid iron like the Cleveland 588 MT or similar. Middle option for cost but I've never hit a proper utility iron so don't know if this would give me extra distance or not. Can anyone who's tried a proper hybrid iron how it compared to an iron of the same loft? Has anyone had to figure out the same problem? FYI - I'm a transitional 14-16 handicap as I just got back into golf and I'm targeting single figures over the next few years.

What degree is your 9 iron?

I'm a precision player rather than a feel so prefer to take a solid swing at anything of 80 yards and over and I have a club for any yardage. I'm a reasonably long hitter so 3W off the tee probably on 12-14 holes a round. Driver on a couple (but have played rounds without it completely) and whichever iron is appropriate for the distance on par 3s. Love my 3W off the fairway on good lies and use the hybrid from 200-220 yards or shorter shots from the rough. Because I get good distance off the tee and don't play PGA length courses I'd say my approach shots are usually 6-PW. However I still do get the 4 and 5 irons out especially if I'm on a 180-195 par 3. Use my 56* a lot. Reckon least used club are 4i, 5i, 50* Gap Wedge and 60* Lob Wedge, however I've built my bag to have specific purpose/distance in any situation so there's no chance I'd be taking any of them out (except I might try a hybrid iron to replace 4i to see if I can close gap between my 5i and my 3 Hybrid).

Thanks, I actually just bought the 2012 Callaway RAZR Fit in the sales a couple of months ago so not looking at upgrading. It was mostly curiosity and I enjoyed reading those threads. Obviously the pros that have upgraded have nearly all gone for the Xtreme but a couple have gone for the X Hot (like long drive champion Jamie Sadlowski). I've also seen stories of celebs in the last couple of months getting fitted at Callaway performance centres and and every single one I've seen has come away with the X Hot. Money can't be an issue so figure it must have just given them the best numbers.

Obviously all golf brands immediately forget about their equipment from the previous year as soon as they bring out the latest models. In 2012 Callaway's drivers had the Razr Fit as the flagship and X Black as the next model down. In 2012 their models are the Xtreme as the flagship and X Hot as the next one down. I was interested whether anyone knows how the 2012 Razr Fit is meant to compare to the X Hot? So the best from last year compared to the 2nd model for this year. Is newer better, meaning that new technology in the X Hot has simply moved on over the last 12 months or does the more expensive technology from last year's Razr Fit still beat it?

I've been trying to find people who have tried them as well. I've borrowed demos from my pro for pretty much everything else and favourite so far is Titleist 913H. The Callaway X Hot and Pro are the only hybrids I still want to try but his demos haven't been delivered yet.

I'd say seriously reconsider dropping the 5 Wood but if you're dead against it then you should drop the 19* Hybrid and switch the 4 iron for a 22*/23* Hybrid. The hybrid won't be as workable as an iron by it'll give you a flexible option for blasting out of the rough on wayward par 4 and 5 drives.

I've just been testing the 19* and it's phenomenal. I've currently playing a 15* 3 Wood, 19* 913H (testing) and a 21* iron. Might even switch the 21* iron for a 22* 913H. Then could switch the lofts to 18* and 21* depending on my distance gaps. Are you a long hitter? If you are getting the 17* off the ground in order to get more distance might not be the easiest. I don't know how you buy a surefit wrench but you must be able to get them somehow. Worst comes to worst you might be able to build relationship with a golf pro and ask him to change the loft of the 19* for a week and see how you go. Then change it back if required. Alternatively find a golf pro with a simulator and pick the best lofts to fit in your set.

That's like having a doping test an hour before your round but then obviously having time to pop some focus pills before play actually starts. Or having clubs with illegal groves but promising not to use them in the rough. Sorry but if you want to use a gentleman's agreement in a friendly game with your mates then that's up to you all to decide, but the Slope editions of rangefinders are illegal in competitions. I'm afraid using them at all is cheating. On a lighter note, you'll be a better player in competitions if you play your friendly rounds without a slope edition and learn to compensate yourself. More consistent.

I agree about Mark. There's some decent reviews but quite biased. He had one last year for the Callaway RAZR FIT and just because they wouldn't give him a demo model he got it in his head that they were trying to hide it from him. The whole of the rest of the video you could tell how good he thought it was but he kept saying things along the lines of "I don't know what they've got to hide".

Sorry but a white club will never, in a million years, find its way into my bag. Also rules out the Adams Super S. Fair play. I'm sure the Cobra clubs are great but I've not really developed an affinity with them in the way I have for Callaway, Titleist and Ping equipment. I've just taken the Titleist 913H for a proper test and think the others are gonna have quite a job on their hands to be any better.

I take it from the limited responses that everyone has a TaylorMade Hybrid then?

That's a fair point. When I have said to several golfers and pros that I was considering a 60* they said that they wouldn't recommend higher than a 58* and that I could just open the face to lob it higher. However I find that my 56* has a specific purpose from short range to let me chip and run. However there are specific lob shots that I have wanted to play probably 5 or 6 times every round that a 60* would make much easier than opening the 56*. Personally I could only see myself using a 64* for an extreme lob once every 4 or 5 rounds so it's not even slightly worth it. But at the end of the day if you have a use for the 64* wedge several times a round then I guess it's worth considering. As TUTiger says, see if you can borrow it for a whole round and see if you think you need a 60/62/64*.

No I've got a 56* Sand Wedge and 60* Lob Wedge which is a perfect setup for me. Phil Mickelson is the only player I know of with a lob wedge greater than 60*. I'd stay keep the 56* as it is and get a 60* to compliment it when you need to lob over a bunk or bush.

Yes that's it. If that could please be added to the signatures smileys that would be brilliant. Thanks.

As a 12 handicap I'd definitely go for the Rescue at 18/19*. Maybe if you were lower single figures or pro it could be worth considering the 19* iron but probably not advisable as a 12 handicap. I think the majority of pros have Hybrids or 5 Woods as their 18/19* clubs rather than strong irons. I'm a 14 handicap (targeting 10) and in the process of selecting my 18/19* Hybrid. I was even thinking of taking my 21* and 24* irons down to my golf pro to see what my distance gap is. If my gap between them is less than 10 yards I might even switch the 21* for a Hybrid as well. Ultimately it depends how you hit your irons compared to rescue clubs, however I would definitely recommend at least one Hybrid for blasting out of the rough after a wayward drive on par 4s and 5s.

MD Golf doesn't seem to be a well known brand in the US however there are a lot of places that sell them in the UK as they make good wedges in particular. I have noticed that the there isn't a logo available in the signatures for MD Golf. I found a reference to Feedback Forum where we can post comments to the Sand Trap staff with suggestions but I can't actually find the forum anywhere. Anyone know how I can make a suggestion to them?

Thanks. My pro showed me in the shop how the X Hot Pro had a little more offset than the 913H, and even more so in the standard X Hot. I didn't think it was that much though; certainly not compared to the Ping G20 form last year. I'll have to try it though and see what I think.

As cooke119 you need to fill the gaps in distances. What loft is your lowest Wood? If you have a 5 wood (18 degrees) and start at a 5 Hybrid (about 27 degrees) then a 4 Hybrid (24 degrees) could definitely fill the gap. Maybe even a 3 Hybrid (21 degrees). Depends whether you are getting good distance on your woods. There's no point packing loads of clubs at the top end if there's no difference in distance. Personally I have a 24 degree iron, 21 degree hybrid and 18 degree 5 wood.

Golfshot

I think it looks great and a really interesting concept. Can't wait to try it out.

Fair point, but it's pretty unlikely that the TaylorMade driver is notably different from the equivalent Callaway, Ping, Titleist, Nike, etc. drivers at the same price.

Thanks all. It's not exactly that I have a problem stopping the ball. With my 56 ° I can hit is between 60-90 yards and stop it dead. I can also open the clubface and stop it 40-60 yards, though this is obviously less accurate left and right. I figure having a 60 ° would let me get the ball up between 25-55 yards with a normal swing/setup. As people say you won't know until you try one.

I've being trying to book a single recently. A lot of clubs are now preferring online booking but when you are choosing the number of players they only give options of 2, 3 or 4. Frustrating.