Fairway/hybrid or fairway/driving iron or hybrid/driving or hybrid/hybrid. Yikes

[hackalot]

It’s winter and planning on new sticks. I’m stuck on what comes after driver. Like the idea of 4 wood and 20 degree driving iron but I rarely hit a fairway wood. Makes me think 17 hybrid and driving iron instead. Then I start thinking what’s best off tee for hitting fairways and then will driving iron suck coming into greens. You all know how the thinking goes. Since winter and virus raging, can’t really go test anything so thought I’d get opinions. What combos are WRX’s finding works best for them on this section of the bag. Happy New Year 

[Krosch3]

So many options to consider and opinions to consider. Will be very personal to your game and swing. 
For me, I landed on a 16 degree hybrid and a game improvement 4 iron. 
I can hit the 16 hybrid off the tee for control and still off the deck. Fly it 225, can get rollout to around 245 off deck. Can flight it low off tee easily. 
the 4 iron flies 215 and can hit it high enough to land relatively soft into greens if needed. 
I never saw a need for 3 wood with my length. 
I do keep a 5 wood 18 degree in backup which is another fairway finder but harder to flight down. Awesome club though. 
If you can test out some tour edge exotics hybrids and woods I would recommend. Can be found on the cheap as well if you are okay with finding a gently used one. 

 

[third-times-a-charm]

Fairway/fairway/UDI

 

boom

[Dan Drake]

@hackalot Great question and one that requires a LOT of thought and work.  May i first ask what main jobs you would like these clubs to do, and how often you would like them to do that job?

[Shupe]

Depends on two things: 

1) What are you comfortable hitting?

2) What course conditions do you play on?

 

As a general rule: 

Start at where your irons end ex. 3 iron or 4 iron, figure out what you would like the next club to be and then fill the gap between your driver and first club after your irons.    This is for a non-specialized bag.  I would always start low and work your way up to the driver filling out things that you need to your style of golf.

 

 

[hackalot]

9 minutes ago, Dan Drake said:

@hackalot Great question and one that requires a LOT of thought and work.  May i first ask what main jobs you would like these clubs to do, and how often you would like them to do that job?

That’s a good question. Wondering what others are using in this space. Right now I go 18 hybrid then 3 iron. Turned 50 and not getting distances I use to so thinking I need another option in that area.  Good iron player and like idea of driving iron, but it would need to fit into the 230 yard approach shot and worry it would be coming in hot. Could always cut it in to help, but just over thinking in winter. Not sure what distance differences or height of 19 hybrid vs 20 driving since can’t test, but wanted to see what others are doing. Currently only using 3 wedges so could still keep 3 iron if needed. 

[Sea-Hawks]

In the same boat right now. Used to play 3wd and 2h...the 2h being a fairway finder on short par 4s. Switched back to a 5wd instead of 2h and it hits very nice high softer landing shot that doesn't run away through a fairway and softer on approach shots on par 5s.

 

Looking right now at updating my bag. Still think I'm going Driver/3wd/5wd....BUT...also buying a driving iron or hybrid for days the wind is up for a lower flight....although I CAN knock down the flight on a 5wd...🤪

[MPAndreassi]

I think I’ve given up on that part of the bag. Reverting back to Driver, 4 wood, 7 wood, 4 iron to start the season. Hybrids, I still can’t find one in comfortable with so at least I can remove that as an option. The utility is good for me, but also very one dimensional. 

[wcdixon]

42 minutes ago, hackalot said:

That’s a good question. Wondering what others are using in this space. Right now I go 18 hybrid then 3 iron. Turned 50 and not getting distances I use to so thinking I need another option in that area.  Good iron player and like idea of driving iron, but it would need to fit into the 230 yard approach shot and worry it would be coming in hot. Could always cut it in to help, but just over thinking in winter. Not sure what distance differences or height of 19 hybrid vs 20 driving since can’t test, but wanted to see what others are doing. Currently only using 3 wedges so could still keep 3 iron if needed. 

 

10 years older than you and not getting distance i once did even more so haha...so trying out the following:

 

Removed 3w and 5w for either a Callaway Epic Flash 5w at 17* or Ping g410 5w at 16.5* - both great clubs and hit them equally well...will pick one in the spring.

That left room for a driving iron and hybrid, or two hybrids. Right now happy with Epic Flash 4 hybrid at 20* and Ping g410 4 hybrid at 22*...again both great clubs and hit both well and they fill gaps nicely. But trying out a Gapr Mid 4 at 21* and a Ping Crossover 4 at 21* for more of a driving iron/low fairway finder...hit both okay but not as far or as consistent as the two hybrids. Have till spring to decide. Anyway...if you're a decent ball-striker none of the above clubs mentioned would disappoint you i'm sure.

[LOA]

58 Years old.   Lost lots of juice off the fastball.  Clubhead speed with Driver 104.

 

I go   Driver,  15* 3 wood.    18* 5 Wood  20* Apex hybrid (kinda iron like, does not hook)   22* Mizuno HMB 4 iron 

 

I only play 3 wedges though.   46* PW.   52* Gap. 58* Sand/Lob.      

 

I need more help at the top of my bag and have a sweeper swing, so these clubs fit.    Getting the distance gaps covered is most important, which is what I would suggest.   

[DGfromBC]

I'm definitely having a similar debate with myself. There's few things I like more than hitting a good driving iron off the tee, but I get a little shaky when i have it in my hand for an approach shot or long par 3. Played a Gapr Lo 3 this year and it was as hot-and-cold a relationship I've ever had with any club. I haven't heard many great things about Gapr Lo so it may have something to do with that, but i think I'm going to at least try hybrid for the spring and see how it goes. Maybe Utility 4 iron for best of both worlds? I dunno Last hybrid i had was the original TM Rescue so I'm excited to see how nukey things have become. 

 

 

 

 

[lefthack]

I had never played a hybrid until I got a 3 and 4 to replace my long irons a few months ago. They both hit amazing, then got newer 5-PW and am loving this 5i so I am trying to find a 3 and 4. If I can, I might keep the 3h and get a 2h, or might keep the 4h depending on range gaps.

 

<edit>I have been considering a driving iron, but only the Srixon utility looks interesting and is out of my price budget.

Edited January 3, 2021 by lefthack

[Aviador Naval]

Same dilemma- a few months from 54 and in a place to overhaul bag.  Following are set:  D, 6i-PW, putter.  Current leading contender for remaining 7 clubs are:

 

2 x FW:  16.5 primarily for tee and lower spin 18 deg with 7w shaft for max distance from turf (16.5 may be replaced with the Ping 425 14.5 deg 3w which is a sweet looking, feeling, and well performing club).

 

2 x hybrid:  21 and 25 deg with short heavy shafts to fill “3i-5i” slot.

 

2 x wedge: 52/53 and 58.

 

1 x 17 hybrid :  I don’t have the swing speed to elevate this properly from turf and the 5w and 21 deg hybrids are in the bag for the long/high shot.  This club is for tee shots, trouble, and the long low runner into the wind - essentially, for me, it is a full swing ‘stinger’ club.

 

Basically, I would have three par 4/5 tee clubs (D, 4w, 17 hyb), and my gaps covered well with clubs I can hit high enough to hold good greens at my current swing speed (5w, 21 hyb, 25 hyb).

 

Many folks would posit that there is more utility in another wedge but I’m very comfortable manufacturing shots at the shorter end and less so with longer clubs.

Edited January 3, 2021 by Aviador Naval

[azgreg]

I keep trying different things as well but always come back to the old faithful of Driver, 4W, 7W, and 4H.

 

[Rbsiedsc]

I’m stuck too. I have three clubs for two spots. Trying to ditch the 3w since I never hit it but would consider a 5w or super hybrid for approach shots as I struggle with my sub70 3H. My DI 2i is my most consistent but needs work from the deck. 

Edited January 3, 2021 by Rbsiedsc

[ChipNRun]

5 hours ago, hackalot said:

Like the idea of 4 wood and 20 degree driving iron but I rarely hit a fairway wood.

What is the reason for you rarely hitting fairway wood? Pros and better competition amateurs say they hit a fairway wood off the deck maybe once or twice a round.

 

Is it a matter that club choice of 4W doesn't happen often? Or, do you have trouble with the 4W?

 

A 2H (about 17*?) has its uses, but may not get you out of the rough very well.

2 hours ago, azgreg said:

I keep trying different things as well but always come back to the old faithful of Driver, 4W, 7W, and 4H.

I may not be much help, as you can see in by sig line. I'm also in the azg society. I have 4W + 7W + 4H... through there should be an asterik on my 4i.

 

The 4i is 22*, an I had it refit from KBS Tour 90 to a lighter SteelFiber hybrid shaft. It is now my homemade driving iron... I use it for shorter holes where a driver would run through the landing area. It launches fairly low and hot; I play 4i from a closed stance to get a slight draw.

 

(I am entering my tenth season of 4W + 7W; and I only carry three wedges.)

 

As for a driving iron, do you want one that is mainly a dedicated driving iron, or do you want a couple of utility irons at the long end? You might consider softstepping your 3i to do the job.

 

Two decisions you need to make:

• What do you want the bridge clubs to do for you?
• What do you feel comfortable hitting?

Remember, we only get to carry 14 clubs.

[staysober for golf]

Fairway, Hybrid, Udi and 5i the best of all worlds.

Fairway is 3 wood loft with 4 wood shaft in it.

 

Im only 5'-7" tall and @ 42.5" the fairway sits square and      confident.

 

I love the taylormade woods but a lot of them start at 59.0* degree of lie angle and that sends up and left.

 

I think the m5 wood started at 56.0* but nearly as much as a driver cost.

Edited January 3, 2021 by staysober for golf

[Bye]

I am fairly settled on 3w - hybrid @20 degrees and 4i. This seems to cover the gaps well and the shots I need to play. My 3 wood is not super hot, probably spins a bit more than most. 

 

It is often windy where I play, so versatility is useful. I find a 5 wood is hard to hit low (and fade) where a driving iron is hard to hit high enough from the ground.
 

Both are perfect for their designed function, but limited. A hybrid is not as good as either for their designed purpose, but can do both jobs adequately. 
 

 

[hackalot]

Just on a confidence level, I’d pick a hybrid 8 out of 10 times for most long shots over a fairway wood. Have never carried a driving iron,but imagine would be great off the tee and unknown off deck. Hit some into simulators last year and smoked them especially with graphite shaft. I still hit 3 iron off tee when need to run one out there and hit fairway. When I do carry a 3 wood, I might hit it once every 5 to 10 rounds max. 

[NRJyzr]

14 hours ago, hackalot said:

That’s a good question. Wondering what others are using in this space. Right now I go 18 hybrid then 3 iron. Turned 50 and not getting distances I use to so thinking I need another option in that area.  Good iron player and like idea of driving iron, but it would need to fit into the 230 yard approach shot and worry it would be coming in hot. Could always cut it in to help, but just over thinking in winter. Not sure what distance differences or height of 19 hybrid vs 20 driving since can’t test, but wanted to see what others are doing. Currently only using 3 wedges so could still keep 3 iron if needed. 

 

Just turned 57, and like most, have lost a bit of the figurative junk in the trunk.

 

What I have been doing...  carry a King LTD 3w.  I'll sometimes adjust it up one tick, but at the end of the season, I was using it at standard loft.  I also alternated between using a 2 iron and TM Stage 2 Tour 2h or 3h, at 16.5* or 17*.  

 

What I'm toying with...  dropping the 3w and replacing it with a Ping G410 2h, that I might loft down to 16*.  My motivation for going that route, I prefer shorter club lengths when I get to what would be the fairway wood part of the bag, and I also much prefer heavier shafts (80g is not heavy by my standards).  Much easier to accomplish this with a hybrid, which brings graphite iron shaft options into play.

 

Disclaimer for the above:  I play a course that's not especially long, and I rarely have a 3w distance shot.  Front nine is mostly driver, back nine is mostly less than driver.  Anywhere I could use less than driver off the tee, a longer hybrid, or even a long iron, is almost always a better play for me than a 3w.

 

A last add, I'm a moderately high trajectory player.  And if it matters, my wedge config is 53/58.
 

Edited January 3, 2021 by NRJyzr

[b.mattay]

Why not fairway/fairway? I think a lot of people would benefit from that setup. 

[justcallmemoses]

I’m playing the following:

 

g400 5 wood @ 16.5 

g410 22 hybrid @ 21 flat 

p760 4 iron @ 22.5

p760 5-PW

sm7 54

sm7 58

 

 

 

 

[DGfromBC]

1 hour ago, justcallmemoses said:

I’m playing the following:

 

g400 5 wood @ 16.5 

g410 22 hybrid @ 21 flat 

p760 4 iron @ 22.5

p760 5-PW

sm7 54

sm7 58

 

 

 

 

Seems like you're covering all the bases here. I have thought about how one less wedge might simplify my decision making around the greens... 

[justcallmemoses]

1 minute ago, DGfromBC said:

Seems like you're covering all the bases here. I have thought about how one less wedge might simplify my decision making around the greens... 

 

I have room for 1 more club just not sure what. I don’t miss the gap wedge at all. I never really hit a wedge 100% but I’ve become comfortable hitting partial shots with PW/54/58 and less selections. 3/4 wedge swings with each club for certain distances. No effect in my scoring.

[Chuck905]

22 hours ago, hackalot said:

It’s winter and planning on new sticks. I’m stuck on what comes after driver. Like the idea of 4 wood and 20 degree driving iron but I rarely hit a fairway wood. Makes me think 17 hybrid and driving iron instead. Then I start thinking what’s best off tee for hitting fairways and then will driving iron suck coming into greens. You all know how the thinking goes. Since winter and virus raging, can’t really go test anything so thought I’d get opinions. What combos are WRX’s finding works best for them on this section of the bag. Happy New Year 

Been there done that. My personal experience is if you are going with a driving iron, go with the lowest loft you can get away with it off the tee and deck. My UDI happens to be 17*. The versatility equates to better scoring.

 

As for 3 wood after the driver, I have experimented with 12.5, 13.5, 15 and 16 degrees. I ended with preferring a 16* despite being 1* apart from my driving iron, but the versatility and yardage gapping worked out well.

 

In conclusion, you’re going to have to hit the simulators to round out the long end to fit your game.

Edited January 3, 2021 by Chuck905

[ChipNRun]

10 hours ago, hackalot said:

Just on a confidence level, I’d pick a hybrid 8 out of 10 times for most long shots over a fairway wood. Have never carried a driving iron, but imagine would be great off the tee and unknown off deck. Hit some into simulators last year and smoked them especially with graphite shaft. I still hit 3 iron off tee when need to run one out there and hit fairway. When I do carry a 3 wood, I might hit it once every 5 to 10 rounds max. 

Very true... A lot of this has to do with what people can hit with confidence.

 

Similar to you, a couple of pros who have played mini-tour say they hit a fairway wood off the deck once a round. I walked a regional tourney round with the one pro, and saw him he hit a 3W - out of first cut - 280 yards uphill and chase it onto the par 5 green for an eagle putt. (He missed from 25 feet for a tap-in birdie.)

 

Way different than someone like me, who hits a driver maybe 220 and uses a FW off the deck 5 to 7 times a round.

 

Some players with really strong swings can hit a hybrid almost as far as a FW, or sometimes more accurately and almost as far. One such person was a young assistant pro who was preparing for his PAT at our course. On our two shorter par 5s, he had the power to get home in two with hybrids. He carried no FWs.

 

I find the whole "driving iron" thing is semi-humorous. Can't see how the DI is much different than a friendly long iron.

Edited January 4, 2021 by ChipNRun

[azgreg]

19 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

What is the reason for you rarely hitting fairway wood? Pros and better competition amateurs say they hit a fairway wood off the deck maybe once or twice a round.

 

Is it a matter that club choice of 4W doesn't happen often? Or, do you have trouble with the 4W?

 

A 2H (about 17*?) has its uses, but may not get you out of the rough very well.

I may not be much help, as you can see in by sig line. I'm also in the azg society. I have 4W + 7W + 4H... through there should be an asterik on my 4i.

 

The 4i is 22*, an I had it refit from KBS Tour 90 to a lighter SteelFiber hybrid shaft. It is now my homemade driving iron... I use it for shorter holes where a driver would run through the landing area. It launches fairly low and hot; I play 4i from a closed stance to get a slight draw.

 

(I am entering my tenth season of 4W + 7W; and I only carry three wedges.)

 

As for a driving iron, do you want one that is mainly a dedicated driving iron, or do you want a couple of utility irons at the long end? You might consider softstepping your 3i to do the job.

 

Two decisions you need to make:

• What do you want the bridge clubs to do for you?
• What do you feel comfortable hitting?

Remember, we only get to carry 14 clubs.

Here in Arizona a large majority of the courses are target oriented. Tee box - patch of desert - patch of grass - patch of desert - patch of grass and green complex. It's all about hitting a distance. With that in mind I've sauced out my yardages with the top of the bag with that in mind. 

Driver: 260

4w: 235

7w: 215

4h: 195

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by azgreg

[ChipNRun]

32 minutes ago, azgreg said:

Here in Arizona a large majority of the courses are target oriented. Tee box - patch of desert - patch of grass - patch of desert - patch of grass and green complex.

 

This explains a lot. Some overhead shots I've seen of desert edge courses show turf... and non turf zones.

[MattGolfs]

22 hours ago, staysober for golf said:

Fairway, Hybrid, Udi and 5i the best of all worlds.

Fairway is 3 wood loft with 4 wood shaft in it.

 

Im only 5'-7" tall and @ 42.5" the fairway sits square and      confident.

 

I love the taylormade woods but a lot of them start at 59.0* degree of lie angle and that sends up and left.

 

I think the m5 wood started at 56.0* but nearly as much as a driver cost.

This is what I’m moving my back towards. 

 

- G410 5 Wood

- z545 3 iron (Only used on tight tee shots, never off the turf)

- PXG Gen 2 Hybrid or G410 hybrid: Haven’t decided which one and it will be either the 4 or 5 hybrid depending on what gaps best between my 5 wood and 5 iron. 

- z585/z785 5-PW

 

Going straight to the 5 wood was the best decision I’ve made in my bag. Consistent 225 carry off the turf, if i’m any further than that odds are I’m not hitting the green anyway lol I’m a lot more accurate with irons than hybrids so I like having the 3 iron off the tee, I don’t hit it well enough to hit it off the ground. Replacing my 4 iron soon with one of the above hybrids, I don’t hit a 4 iron great off the ground so figure a hybrid will by more consistent and will add a lot more versatility. 

 

 

 

[phizzy30]

For me it's always been 3 metal/2 hybrid combo that's worked best for me.  I'm more shallow on the way down so this combo works.  If you're more steep then the fairway metal/DI combo would probably work best.  In most cases with golfers, there's going to be too much of a gap in distance when you compare a 3 metal to a 2/3 hybrid which is why I suggested the fairway metal/DI combo over the hybrid/DI combo. 

Edited January 4, 2021 by phizzy30