Playing in wind - alternative to 5 wood

[SJP1]

UPDATE: After testing lower-spinning 5 wood heads as well as hybrids and driving irons, I ended up in a G430 2 hybrid at a half-inch short.

 

The G430 hybrid manages spin incredibly well and is way more forgiving than a driving iron, while also allowing me to manipulate launch. 

[Nickb333]

👍

[nosedive32]

2021 Version of the Apex UW in 17 or 19 degrees is worth a try. You can probably get a good deal on one with a replacement having been out for a few months now. I played the 19 for a while previously and usually have a 17 degree in now. 

[blades_are_life]

On 4/7/2024 at 8:57 PM, RolandofGilead said:

This will sound crazy in the modern era, but a steel shafted 5W is a great option for this. Much easier to bring down launch and spin than a more modern configuration, but still can launch well.

the correct branding is "innovative"

[vtpachyderm]

On 4/8/2024 at 1:26 AM, SJP1 said:

UPDATE: After testing lower-spinning 5 wood heads as well as hybrids and driving irons, I ended up in a G430 2 hybrid at a half-inch short.

 

The G430 hybrid manages spin incredibly well and is way more forgiving than a driving iron, while also allowing me to manipulate launch. 

On windy days, I use the old TM Gapr Mid 3 turned down 1 deg instead of my fairways. 

[adamwon84]

I have a 5 Wood, but I tend to play a utility most of the time even in non-windy conditions. I have a couple different utility irons that I like a lot, listed below:

 

Utility Irons:

Titleist U505 1 Iron (16 degrees)

Ben Hogan UiHi 3 Iron (18 degrees)

Haywood Utility (18 degrees) 

Pin iCrossover 2 iron (18 degrees)

 

5 Wood:

Cobra Aerojet LS (18 degree) 

 

The utility irons work the best for my current setup and courses that I play, but when I travel to more northern or hill courses, the Cobra will end up in the bag. I can also hit the Cobra pretty low when I need to, which is why I like it so much as a backup to the utility irons. 

[Thrummyfox]

13 hours ago, adamwon84 said:

I have a 5 Wood, but I tend to play a utility most of the time even in non-windy conditions. I have a couple different utility irons that I like a lot, listed below:

 

Utility Irons:

Titleist U505 1 Iron (16 degrees)

Ben Hogan UiHi 3 Iron (18 degrees)

Haywood Utility (18 degrees) 

Pin iCrossover 2 iron (18 degrees)

 

5 Wood:

Cobra Aerojet LS (18 degree) 

 

The utility irons work the best for my current setup and courses that I play, but when I travel to more northern or hill courses, the Cobra will end up in the bag. I can also hit the Cobra pretty low when I need to, which is why I like it so much as a backup to the utility irons. 

Love how we golfers are! I have a “couple” too!🤣

18* Rapture 2 iron

21 and 24 * Crossovers 

17 and 20* G15 Hybrids 

 

🤣🤣

[vonbonds]

On 4/7/2024 at 7:26 PM, SJP1 said:

UPDATE: After testing lower-spinning 5 wood heads as well as hybrids and driving irons, I ended up in a G430 2 hybrid at a half-inch short.

 

The G430 hybrid manages spin incredibly well and is way more forgiving than a driving iron, while also allowing me to manipulate launch. 

I’ve been contemplating getting a G430 2H to act as a “driving iron”. Something I can possibly hit straighter and still get out there. Can you share your numbers such as swing speed and carry/total distance assuming you got for for it?

[SJP1]

On 4/10/2024 at 11:24 PM, vonbonds said:

I’ve been contemplating getting a G430 2H to act as a “driving iron”. Something I can possibly hit straighter and still get out there. Can you share your numbers such as swing speed and carry/total distance assuming you got for for it?

 

That's pretty much the job it did for me. A very straight and penetrating driving iron-like flight, but way more forgiving than a driving iron. Club speed was 99mph, carry was 205 metres, just over 3000 rpm, 43 descent angle. 

[SJP1]

Just now, SJP1 said:

 

That's pretty much the job it did for me. A very straight and penetrating driving iron-like flight, but way more forgiving than a driving iron. Club speed was 99mph, carry was 205 metres, just over 3000 rpm, 43 descent angle. 

And also found that if I needed to step on one/get more out of it, I could get it to 217 metres total distance with a hard draw.

[blades_are_life]

On 4/10/2024 at 1:24 PM, vonbonds said:

I’ve been contemplating getting a G430 2H to act as a “driving iron”. Something I can possibly hit straighter and still get out there. Can you share your numbers such as swing speed and carry/total distance assuming you got for for it?

2H are great driving "irons", not as precisely pure as a blade 2 or 3 but not much different than a typical utility, very effective with a nice penetrating flight.

[uglande]

On 4/7/2024 at 6:26 PM, SJP1 said:

UPDATE: After testing lower-spinning 5 wood heads as well as hybrids and driving irons, I ended up in a G430 2 hybrid at a half-inch short.

 

The G430 hybrid manages spin incredibly well and is way more forgiving than a driving iron, while also allowing me to manipulate launch. 

I just picked up a TSR 3-hybrid for similar reasons. I love 5w but there are times when I would like something more penetrating and that allows for more creativity. I'm really becoming a hybrid convert lately. So easy and so versatile. 

[HoosierHacker89]

This is a tough one for me as well. I don't really have the club head speed for a 3 wood. I end up hitting bunt drivers even off the deck in the wind. its not ideal, but i can keep it lower than I can my 5 wood. My next club is a 23 hybrid which is a lower flight than the 5 wood. I think if I was going to buy a club to hit into the wind an 18-20 hybrid would be my choice. I don't generally hit them much farther than a 23 so I don't own one. It does fly a litter lower though. 

[blades_are_life]

21 hours ago, uglande said:

I just picked up a TSR 3-hybrid for similar reasons. I love 5w but there are times when I would like something more penetrating and that allows for more creativity. I'm really becoming a hybrid convert lately. So easy and so versatile. 

2H is legitimately my favorite non-blade long iron (nothing can compete with these) club in the bag. So much can be done with it.

[Pepperturbo]

On 3/20/2024 at 12:43 AM, SJP1 said:

Looking to do some testing this weekend on alternatives to 5 wood for windy days.

 

I love my 5 wood but it gets chewed if there’s a significant headwind and my next club down is a 4 hybrid.
 

Any feedback on alternatives that still launch a bit, but manage spin, like U505 and Mizuno Fli-Hi? 

Woods and hybrids are designed to get the ball up.  Not one of them is designed to keep the ball low and bore through the wind.  Guys with really high SS/ball speed can make them work, but the rest of us humans can't.

 

I say that because I play in wind often. Just got back from a five-day golf trip to an area where wind was worth 3–4 clubs, it was cold, even drizzled a few days.  One day, it was so ugly, we were the only people on the course.  The driver got me down many fairways but 3wd was worthless.  A 5wd would have been ugly.

 

Titleist new T200 17' 2 iron with Tensei AV Raw White Hybrid 90S was the star of the trip for me.  I was able to keep the ball low, punch it straight into the wind, and high enough to benefit down breeze, able to still score when my buddies  struggled.

 

If a person doesn't benefit from long irons, maybe it's time to reconsider.  Wind can be your friend, moreover we need all types of shots in the bag.