Hybrids vs. Fairway woods

spencer0071 · May 27, 2006

found this on Callaways website

http://www.callawaygolf.com/en.cg.Features.FWWvsHybrids.html

taylormadefan · May 27, 2006

Pretty cool:

In recent years there has been a tremendous increase in the awareness and popularity of hybrid clubs, but we still get a lot of questions about the differences between hybrids and fairway woods and about where hybrids fit in. First of all hybrids are not intended to replace fairway woods, they are designed as another alternative to replace your hard-to-hit long irons.

Hybrids and higher-lofted fairway woods, such as the 5-, 7-, 9- and 11-woods, exist as alternatives to long irons. Everyone has a point in their set where they start to get uncomfortable with their long irons. For some it may be the 2-iron. For others it may be the 5-iron. Wherever that point is for you is a good place to start looking at substituting fairway woods or hybrids for those more troubling irons.

Fairway woods have a longer shaft than their hybrid counterparts and a larger head, resulting in a higher Moment of Inertia (MOI) and a deeper center of gravity (CG). This makes fairway woods the most forgiving and highest trajectory option. For slower swingers and those with low ball flight, fairway woods are the way to go. Hybrids are also more forgiving and easier to get up in the air than long irons. They also offer a shorter shaft length and lower ball flight than fairway woods, so some players find them easier to control. Players with higher head speeds and ball flights might prefer the lower flying option that hybrids provide.
No matter which option you choose, Callaway Golf has great options for you. The Fusion Fairway Woods feature Fusion technology, which allows us to increase our discretionary weighting in order to optimize the CG location and maximize the MOI of the clubhead. Our new X Fairway Woods are the best all- stainless-steel fairway woods we’ve ever produced. They feature the best features from our lengthy history of exceptional fairway wood designs as well input from Tour players. In Hybrids, we also have two offerings. The new FT-Hybrids feature Fusion technology and come in both Neutral and Draw ball flight options, while the Big Bertha Heavenwoods are all stainless steel and feature proven Callaway Golf core technologies.