Fairway Woods vs Hybrids – Pro Tips
Fairway Woods vs Hybrids
The fairway wood vs hybrid debate does make a compelling argument. The three wood could be replaced for having extra wedges allocated in the bag. The benefits for both are considered from skill acquisition through to on-course club selection.
I recently heard an interview with the legendary Gary Player. What he said, still makes me think about how spoilt we are golfing wise with the advances in golf club technology.
It was clear when during a live European Tour broadcast, the players’ ball (Not Gary Player!) came to rest in some semi-rough, and the straight go-to answer was the straight-faced hybrid would be Player’s first choice for club selection.
The problem with the rough is that irons lose club head speed upon ball impact. This may be compromised more as the rough thickens with growth. As Mr Player pointed out, the hybrid is so versatile, this club for beginners will save strokes in the round.
Hybrid Swing
The hybrid swing can be broken down technically as: -
In an interesting article in Golfers Digest featuring Anna Nordqvist, she has similar thoughts regarding the use of hybrids. Players elect to keep both fairway woods (3w and 5w) and use the 3-hybrid which replaces the three iron, bent to 19,5 degrees.
Fairway Wood Swing
The 3-Wood swing attributes are the following: -
Tips on the Teebox
Some players know their yardages, and if it means hitting a three wood, then that could mean a wedge approach instead of considering the hybrid off the tee.
Tips on the Fairway
For beginners, the three wood off the deck may be a goal to work on. It takes time to master the stroke of launching the ball flight higher and knowing how to do it under pressure.
Anna said that she knows that the 3wood cannot be less than 215 yards of carry, and her hybrid will be perfect for those high fades of 190 yard carry on a second shot par five scenario. Remember that the sweeping draw will always out-carry the high fade. This comment could also be interpreted as her hybrid carrying over 200 yards with the draw shape. Her 3 wood would carry maybe another 15 yards if hit with a draw and a tailwind towards 240 yards carry. Wind will affect the ball that is launched higher, and the spin rate interacts with the carry dramatically.
Tips for the Fairway Bunker
Anna uses the fairway bunker as the case for rather taking the hybrid and leaving the fairway wood alone. The hybrid as she describes, allow hers to “hit down” much like she does with her irons.
Tips from the Rough
The rough can be penal, if the lie allows for the 3H to slide over the grain, then that’s the best way to handle a ball resting on top of the rough, if the assessment of the lie is deeper, then take your medicine and get back on the fairway with explosion wedge shot.
Summary
Even with the Callaway super hybrid set to launch, I still believe the 5 wood and the 7 wood have their place. Not replacing the woods entirely keeps the skills acuity active in dealing with wind, tight lies, and higher approach shots.
If you are a beginner, and you compare the standard shots of a fairway wood vs hybrid, the carry distance is always further except in the conditions of a tail wind, in which the launch height travels further. Cut Spin will not travel as far as draw spin, and these are also noted from the different lies what the different carry distance will be with hybrids and woods.