The Fairway Wood/Hybrid/Long Iron Bag Gap

I'm struggling with what to do with the gap between my 4 iron and 3 wood. I know the right way to address gapping is by distance and not by club loft, but I am unable to go to a high quality fitter for this gapping issue and my budget for this gap is pretty small (I am trying to spend under $100 used).

My 4 iron is a 23 degree with 220 carry and my 3 wood is 15 degree with about 245 carry. Here is my delima. Do I try to find a driving iron, hybrid, or another fairway wood?

Driving Iron - I am comfortable hitting long irons and do like the thought of a low penetrating ball flight with lots of run out. However, I live in Florida and hard dry courses are not the norm. Then the question is what loft? Do i go with a 20ish degree 3 iron or an 18ish degree

Hybrid - I have typically stayed away from hybrids because I usually have trouble hooking them. I think something like the Callaway Apex would work since it is a smaller head, but I'm not sure. I would also have no idea what shaft would work. I play KBS c-taper lite 110 stiff in my irons and MCA Tensei AV blue 65x driver and 75x 3w. The same loft question would also apply. Since it is a hybrid I would think it would carry further than a driving iron, so maybe a 20 degree?

Fairway wood - Would another fairway wood be best? such as 18 degree 5w? I used to have a 5w and carry average was 230 yds.

Any thoughts/feedback is appreciated. Thank you!

> @steeletaylor said:

Would another fairway wood be best? such as 18 degree 5w? I used to have a 5w and carry average was 230 yds.

>

That yardage seems just about spot-on for what you're looking for. If you previously hit your 5W well, that certainly seems like a good option.

Depends on course and conditions in my view. I alternate long end of bag accordingly, even dropping driver on shorter or tighter courses. I have Ping G Driver, G400 Stretch 3 Wood(13*), G400 5/4 wood, 18* Ping Rapture DI, G15 17&20* hybrids, Ping G crossovers @ 21&24*

@Thrummyfox I like the idea of having options, plus it gives me an excuse to buy more gear. I may have to just build that part of the bag up slowly though.

@Celebros I agree that another 5w may be the best bet. Maybe its just the gear nerd in me that wants to try something new.

I had the same issue this summer as I couldn't hit my p790 4 iron so took it out. I decided to go 3 wood then Hybrid at 19*, Callaway Apex UT 21* as strong 4 iron replacement mostly for off the tee, then to P790 5 iron which is 23.5*. This has worked well for me so far but still tinkering.

A hybrid lets you hit different shots that you can't hit with fairways, I vote for hybrid .. Apex a good call ... not hooky (my old problem)

> @Mainehacker21 said:

> I had the same issue this summer as I couldn't hit my p790 4 iron so took it out. I decided to go 3 wood then Hybrid at 19*, Callaway Apex UT 21* as strong 4 iron replacement mostly for off the tee, then to P790 5 iron which is 23.5*. This has worked well for me so far but still tinkering.

what weight is your hybrid shaft?

A 25yd gap btw a 23* 4I and a 15* 3W seems awfully small. If you are really hitting the 4I that well, it seems the obvious answer is to get the 3I to match.

> @webwarmiller said:

> A 25yd gap btw a 23* 4I and a 15* 3W seems awfully small. If you are really hitting the 4I that well, it seems the obvious answer is to get the 3I to match.

I'm still figuring my 3w out. I've always been a better iron striker than woods.

Ping G or G400 3 hybrid with your budget on eBay. Pay attention to the shaft weight options and get one that suits your likes/game.

> @steeletaylor said:

> > @Mainehacker21 said:

> > I had the same issue this summer as I couldn't hit my p790 4 iron so took it out. I decided to go 3 wood then Hybrid at 19*, Callaway Apex UT 21* as strong 4 iron replacement mostly for off the tee, then to P790 5 iron which is 23.5*. This has worked well for me so far but still tinkering.

>

> what weight is your hybrid shaft?

85

Yeah I was going to say if you're hitting your 4i 220 your 3w should be in the 270ish range then you could throw in a 235-250 club which for me would be a 5w or 2/3h depending on loft brand etc.. I currently go 3w/i500 3i (which is 18* so more like a 2i)/4i but may be switching to a 19* hybrid. The i500 3i is nice off of the tee but can be difficult to elevate off the deck sometimes depending on lie. So for me its either do i need the 3i for tee shots or the hybrid for 2nd shots into par 5's. The 3i can be a little easier to work off of the tee for me. low/high/draw/fade etc..

I think I am going to give a hybrid a try for now. @cardoustie got me thinking about all of the creative shots I could attempt with a hybrid. Thank you everyone for your input!

> @steeletaylor said:

> I think I am going to give a hybrid a try for now. @cardoustie got me thinking about all of the creative shots I could attempt with a hybrid. Thank you everyone for your input!

I have the original cally 2h and 3h laying around fwiw

hybrids are amazing for:

- higher and longer shots than the equivalent long iron

- punch outs

- bump and runs around the greens

- advancing a ball down the fairway from an atrocious lie in deep rough

- attacking par 5's in two

i will add I did not find a hybrid I liked until G25 . .then moved to the apex, so many older models produced massive hooks, which rarely happened with a 7 wood

Get a 5w like the Flash or F9 Tour. 25 yard gap in that range is probably fine... I find myself rarely even having to hit an approach in that range anyway. Seems like I'm either trying to slug my longest wood >250 yards or I'm laying up with a 5i or 6i to a safe spot. The 220 to 250 yard range is just something I rarely see. I'm honestly even thinking about dropping my 4i totally in favor of D --> 3HL ---> 5w --->5-PW and then add a 64* for deep rough and tall/firm bunkers.

Ideally you are looking for something around a 230-235 carry. Based on your 4 iron distance I would go with a 3 iron driving iron. I think a 5 wood or hybrid are going to be a little long to fill that cap. Although I do have question on that Gap. If you are hitting a 23* iron 220 you should be seeing a hell of a lot more carry from your 3 wood unless you are getting 20-30 yards of roll out with it. I would assume you would carry a 5 wood around where your 3 wood currently sits. Are you playing your 3 wood at very high loft or very short length or something?

> @ProjectX said:

> Ideally you are looking for something around a 230-235 carry. Based on your 4 iron distance I would go with a 3 iron driving iron. I think a 5 wood or hybrid are going to be a little long to fill that cap. Although I do have question on that Gap. If you are hitting a 23* iron 220 you should be seeing a **** of a lot more carry from your 3 wood unless you are getting 20-30 yards of roll out with it. I would assume you would carry a 5 wood around where your 3 wood currently sits. Are you playing your 3 wood at very high loft or very short length or something?

I tend to hit my woods very low with lots of run out when I hit them off of the fairway. So, I think that is my issue. There are always things to improve on. Unfortunately, My whole game is a work in progress right now. My old 5w was a 230 carry club, but that is what I traded for the new 3w.

Driving iron, hybrid or fairway wood. Your choice, depends what your needs are.

If you want something from the tee on tighther holes then the driving iron.

Versitility=hybrid

Ease of use, higher launch then go 5 wood or 7 wood.