3 wood vs. 16* hybrid

jallstar23 · August 4, 2006

I have a question. Let me first give you a little background into my game. I am a pretty big hitter. I usually hit my drives between 310-330. I do fight the occasional hook. On tight holes that are 415-420 i have an issue on what to hit. I currently have a 16* Tour Edge Hybrid, that i have been hitting fairly well in the past. Lately I have been having some trouble with it and i am now considering buying a titleist 904f or 906f2. I have been hitting the hybrid between 250-270 and on the launch monitor i have been hitting the 3 wood around 270-290. I also hit my 3 iron between 230-240. Does anyone think that it is worth buying a new 3 wood or if my money would be better spent toward a Scotty Cameron?

themouth1 · August 4, 2006

:drinks:

Simp · August 4, 2006

I have a question. Let me first give you a little background into my game. I am a pretty big hitter. I usually hit my drives between 310-330. I do fight the occasional hook. On tight holes that are 415-420 i have an issue on what to hit. I currently have a 16* Tour Edge Hybrid, that i have been hitting fairly well in the past. Lately I have been having some trouble with it and i am now considering buying a titleist 904f or 906f2. I have been hitting the hybrid between 250-270 and on the launch monitor i have been hitting the 3 wood around 270-290. I also hit my 3 iron between 230-240. Does anyone think that it is worth buying a new 3 wood or if my money would be better spent toward a Scotty Cameron?

What's your handicap? If the answer is below 10 then throw out the 3 wood and hit the hybrid on the tight/short holes. If the answer is above 10 then don't but anything, throw the driver out and get some lessons to get rid of that hook. If you're hitting 3 wood that far then you don't need driver IMO. Simp

mr_divots · August 4, 2006

:drinks:

laseranimal · August 4, 2006

I assume with those yardages that you're on one of the tours?

tbowles411 · August 4, 2006

Easy fellas...

You have to forgive my brothers here. Yardages like that are bombs that us mere mortals can't approach. Have I hit a 300 yard drive? Sure I have...swinging out of my Adidas' on dry fairways, downhill... :drinks:

To answer your question...IMO, if you bomb a 3 wood almost 300 yards, the wood is going to run a bit more than the hybrid will. I'm experimenting going back to a 3 wood to get some extra yards. I only hit my 16 degree hybrid no farther than 240, and again, that's laying into it and hoping it stays in play. It really depends on the hole.

It's going to be situational. If it's wide open, bust out the 3 wood. If it's tight, use a hybrid, but I would give myself the option of a 19 degree hybrid for that because if the yardages are correct, you're easily going to make up the 15 yards or so on your second shot.

jallstar23 · August 5, 2006

Thanks for your help. Yeah I hit the ball a long way. And no i dont play on any of the tours. i play to about a 4 handicap. I am considering trying to qualify for the long drive. Yeah I really need start working on keeping the driver in play consistently. And hitting my irons to were i want.

larryd3 · August 5, 2006

I'd say to keep the hybrid. They are easier to hit consistently then 3 woods. I'm using a nickent 15.5 instead of 3 wood and you loose a little distance but I hit it straight and know where's it going. The nickents are just stupid easy to hit.

jscw · August 5, 2006

I do offer another approach to think.

If you can, get the 4 wood (16.5 or 17) instead. The new wood might fly a little bit longer than or equal to your hybrid 1 distance, but offers a completely different feeling.

Like human beings, each club has a good day and a bad day. When hybrid 1 felt bad, give 4 wood a chance, and vice versa.

Some people uses this approach for their putters. If the blade one fail, go to the mallet one, and vice versa.

For me, I can't hit as far as you did so I keep a 3+ wood (13) in the bag, even hybrid 1(16) is already there.

(PS although Cally X 13 is very easy to hit, the baffler 16 is stupid easy to hit -- so easy even a gelcoman can hit it :-).)

herkyjerk · August 6, 2006

I have a problem from 150-160, don't know whether to hit my gap wedge or a knock down pitching wedge. Joking. Nice problem to have partner. I second the previous response, lose your driver. There is no shame in playing well without one. Tiger has won 2 tournaments in a row hitting 2 irons & 3 woods. He doesn't look torn at all.

tbowles411 · August 6, 2006

I have a problem from 150-160, don't know whether to hit my gap wedge or a knock down pitching wedge. Joking. Nice problem to have partner. I second the previous response, lose your driver. There is no shame in playing well without one. Tiger has won 2 tournaments in a row hitting 2 irons & 3 woods. He doesn't look torn at all.

IMO, Take the longer club....better to be sure than potentially short.

Evil R1 · August 8, 2006

I don't see why people think those distances are that unbelievable. My brother-in-law is about 6' 4" with long arms and I'm 5' 9". He's always about 2-3 clubs lenghts longer than I am with his Hack vs me hitting it pure and hits bombs with the driver (as long as they stay straight)

Thanks

bpratt · August 8, 2006

I can't figure out why you're playing a stiff Speeder shaft in your 905R. If you can generate the speed to hit it 330, you should play an X shaft, and a stiff X at that. If you get the right fit, your shot dispersion would almost definitely improve.

jallstar23 · August 8, 2006

You are probably right about the shaft what shaft would you recommend. THe problem i have is that i have a hard time finding X stiff Shafts. and my tendency is to buy of ebay and i found a deal on this one.

Tomba29 · August 8, 2006

THe problem i have is that i have a hard time finding X stiff Shafts.

Check the Classifieds. Either check in the For Sale or post an ad in the Want To Buy.

vandenl · August 8, 2006

I recommend looking at the Diamana 83x. It is a fantastic shaft which I use in my 905R. I think it is a perfect combination and the same shaft Tiger uses.

http://mitsubishirayongolf.com/

Four-NL · August 8, 2006

If he is fighting hooks I would have thought a stiffer shaft would only compound the problem. I have competed on the professional long drive circuit and I know lots of Lders who use Xstiff shafts. For maximun distance a weaker shaft will give you plenty more kick, however it is obviously harder to control. Flex preference has a lot to do with the individual golfer and how he loads the shaft not necessarily the swing speed.