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

[3_Jack_Par]

I keep a few different clubs around to fill that gap between the driver and my irons. my usual setup is to use a 13* 3 wood and a 17 degree driving iron. This works well on most courses, especially since I was fortunate enough to get chosen to do Ventus HB shaft testing in my driving iron and had that re-shafted with a Ventus HB Blue, which has given me a little extra height that makes the driving iron more useful for approach shots. I hit the 3 wood off the tee a fair amount, so I almost always keep that in the bag, unless I'm playing a really short course. I also have an 18* 5 wood that I use sometimes when I know that a course won't call for many tee shots with shorter clubs, and where being able to get some additional height for approaches could be useful. Over the last year, I've stuck with the 3w/DI setup probably 85% of the time, but I do like having the option to change things up a bit from time to time.

 

[hackalot]

I like the idea of TS2 17 degree as lowest club after driver, but that’s just a comfort pick since I haven’t hit it or other woods. Oh the mind 

[joostin]

Maybe the most experimental part of the bag!  I've tried to fill every role with all club types at the top:

 

- 3W - optional club, strong loft almost as 2nd driver, low-mid launch

- 5W - versatile club for tee or long turf shots, low-mid-high

- 3I - mainly as a "driving iron" favorite fairway finder, low-mid

- 4 hybrid - versatile club covers large range of yardages and any kind of lie, mid-high

 

I think it's a good idea to have all kinds of clubs on hand depending what will play best for different conditions, or just to switch things up when you change your mind 🙂

[amking]

On 1/3/2021 at 6:15 AM, 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.

 

this is the direction I am leaning. Best of all worlds for my needs/courses. 

 

timely thread as I’m think about exactly this topic

 

i have plenty of length for the courses I frequent, so the issue is more accuracy and right shots vs distance... I have no need for lower lofted FW so I stick to a 4 wood 16.5 with slightly shorter shaft. 
 

On other end my T300 5 iron is my max consistent long iron.  To bridge the gaps and needed shots I am thinking like a 20 deg UDI as a tee club and then a 21 or 23 hybrid as effectively a higher launch / marginal lie “rescue” hybrid.  Wouldn’t hit the hybrid off a tee unless it was a long par 3. 
 

following thread 🙂

Edited January 6, 2021 by amking

[OsnolaKinnard]

On 1/2/2021 at 6:30 PM, 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 

ALL OF THEM!!! Don't limit yourself...as long as rhe fulfill a purpose for your game.

I have driver, 3 wood, hybrid, and 2 utility irons. 

 

I use them for all manner of tee shots, approaches, even greenside. 

 

Get what works.

[EaglesGolf99]

Well.

 

The all time, consistent, day to day, gamers are....

 

Driver, 2 Hybrid, 5-9 Iron, 46°, 52°, 58°, 64°, and Putter.

 

That's 12 out of 14. 

 

Typically, a 4 Hybrid sneaks in, making it 13 out of 14. Occasionally, a 4 Iron spells the 4 Hybrid. 

 

The 14th is the tough one. More often than not, I stick with a Bag consisting of 13 Clubs. I don't fill 14.

 

In an ideal world, a 16° 'Small' 4 Wood fills the void. 

[geochitown]

Latest and greatest

I was using a 4 wood for tee shots only (my TEE fairways are deep faced and I didn't feel comfortable hitting from the fairway).

BEFORE
Driver - 4 wood - 4 hybrid (22)

 

NOW

Driver - 17* hybrid (2 hybrid) - 4 hybrid (22)

 

going forward, may try short fairway wood at 17* instead of hybrid.

 

17* fairway at 40-40.5", instead of 17* hybrid at 40".

 

I may be splitting hairs (may get higher ball flight with fairway vs hybrid).

 

[FlyingLaw1]

I'm with you on this--I'm always moving the first few spots in the bag around. My driver and 3wood don't change but between my 3wood and my 5 iron are always changing... I have an 18 degree driving iron, a 5 wood, a 20 degree hybrid, a 4 iron, and a 23 degree hybrid. All for two spots. The 5 wood is a Ping G25 and is probably the easiest club to hit I've ever owned--If I'm playing a very tight course or not hitting the ball well I'll put that in the bag. If its very windy I'll put the driving iron in the bag. The 4 iron has pretty much found it's way out of the bag for now--I just don't play enough to count on hitting it well on the course. Right now with it being wet and cold I've got the two hybrids in the bag.

[Bronzed aussie]

Spoiler

 

Driving irons are a complete waste of time, those searching for a saviour are oft left disappointed. For a teen HC I’d highly recommend a couple of hybrids in the bag in favour of long irons or fairway woods , set up like a mid  iron and fire away 

[Shupe]

11 minutes ago, Bronzed aussie said:

  Hide contents

 

Driving irons are a complete waste of time, those searching for a saviour are oft left disappointed. For a teen HC I’d highly recommend a couple of hybrids in the bag in favour of long irons or fairway woods , set up like a mid  iron and fire away 

Just because they don’t work for you doesn’t mean they don’t work for others.  Many of the new driving irons launch just as good if not better than a hybrid depending on player’s delivery characteristics.

[Bronzed aussie]

1 minute ago, Shupe said:

Just because they don’t work for you doesn’t mean they don’t work for others.  Many of the new driving irons launch just as good if not better than a hybrid depending on player’s delivery characteristics.

I prob should have qualified higher markers seeking a solution off the tee are oft left disappointed with driving irons , it’s my experience in club golf , I don’t know anyone who  has one in the bag as a permanent fixture . Low markers will use a long iron, and as I say higher markers would be suited to hybrids 

[Shupe]

51 minutes ago, Bronzed aussie said:

I prob should have qualified higher markers seeking a solution off the tee are oft left disappointed with driving irons , it’s my experience in club golf , I don’t know anyone who  has one in the bag as a permanent fixture . Low markers will use a long iron, and as I say higher markers would be suited to hybrids 

It probably comes down to getting properly fit.  There are a lot of variables in the hybrid/driving iron debate.

[dcm325]

I fight this battle every few rounds ... current setup is 15° 3W/ 19° 5W and then a 22° hybrid. But I’ve been hitting my 4 iron pretty well lately, so I’ll put that back in the bag.. shelve the 22° hybrid and then sacrifice the 215-225 yardage gap. 
 

I’ll hit a few bad shots with my 4iron, toss that in the trunk and put the 22° H back in... but now I’m literally hitting my 22° 5 yards shorter than my 19° 5W. 
 

I can’t figure that spot of my bag out! 
 

To answer the OP: IMO it depends on preference, course length and layout as well as how you want to fly the ball into the green on those 200+ yard shots. I keep all of them in my car and make that decision before each round. 

[nfogle]

I struggle with this part of the bag as well. I currently go driver, 2 iron then 4 hybrid. Looking into getting a 17 degree super hybrid when I find a good deal. 

[Rbsiedsc]

I am thinking of replacing my 3w with a super hybrid as well. Just need someone to take it off my hands. 

[wdaig1]

Here is my current setup:

 

5 iron   205 max carry

Strong 4 iron  220 max carry

P790 UDI 2 iron  235 max carry

3 wood  255 max carry

 

I am currently looking at the new SIM 2 adjustable hybrids that look great and the numbers looked good.  Will test the 19.5 and 17.  I would like to have a good hybrid for some courses.

[JDennis]

For me, it depends on the weather or the course. I carry my 3w, Sim UDI on windy days of play. Otherwise it is my 3w and my 3 Rescue when wind isn't crazy.