Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from Crazy About Golf who has recently traded in his 3-wood in favor of his 16-degree hybrid. The reasons behind the move, according to Crazy About Golf is
“I’m more comfortable hitting it off the deck and off the tee, and only seem to lose about 10 yards of distance compared to the 3-wood (assuming I strike the 3-wood perfectly). More often than not, I have a slight mishit on the 3-wood and end up short and or offline from where I would have otherwise been with the 16-degree hybrid. I’ve tried out a number of new fairway woods and haven’t yet found anything that has “WOWed” me. With hybrid clubs getting better and better, I’m not seeing much of a downside.”
Crazy About Golf asks fellow members what they make of his strategy and how the approach has worked out for those who have done the same, in what has turned into a very insightful discussion.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire thread and have your say in the discussion at the link below.
- North Butte: “For quite a while my top-of-bag setup was a 10.5 driver (set to 12 degrees) then an 18-degree 5-Wood and then a 23-degree 4-Hybrid. In my most recent equipment “replacement cycle” (rhymes with “ho”) I’m using driver then 18 and 23-degree hybrids. I’m not sure I’m giving up any distance at all on average with the 41″ hybrid vs 42-1/2″ 5-Wood, and I am certainly gaining consistency and straightness. The trajectory is lower with the hybrid, but it isn’t like I was stopping 5-Wood shots on a dime either. Net benefit isn’t huge, but it’s been a worthwhile change. Plus my 18 and 23-degree hybrids are the same model with the same shaft, so that’s twice as many shots per round with near-identical clubs, helping me even more with consistency and confidence.”
- gioguy21: “I’m currently on the fence about whether to keep my 3w in the bag or just use my epic 3i w/ hybrid shaft; b/c they’re close in terms of distance, and the driving iron is much more consistent and goes straight as an arrow. the 3w has the extra distance but, it is more workable and sometimes that is good – others it can be bad.”
- jimb6golf: “Swapped out my 5 wood for a 2 hybrid. The hybrid is much easier to hit off the fairway and especially in the rough. Occasionally put the 5 wood back in on courses where I might use it off the tee a few times though.”
- NRJyzr: “Currently playing with no 3w, only a TM Stage 2 Tour 2h between my irons and driver. Primarily playing one course that’s par 71 6100/6500 from whites/blues, there’s not much call for a 3w shot off the deck, and shorter tee shots can be handled with the 2h. Other nice aspects… The 2h can also more easily be shafted with a 100g+ shaft than a fairway wood; I’m using an NV105 iron shaft in it. I tend to prefer shorter club lengths than are currently “standard” in drivers and woods; the shorter hybrid length appeals to me greatly. Since making the switch, it’s been working quite well.”
Entire Thread: “Anyone else ditching fairway woods for low lofted hybrids?”