hybrids or fairway woods? what is the key to hitting both?

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Bonesy

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My bag jumps from Driver to a 20 degree hybrid. I have nothing in between. I have no other hybrids so I have room to carry both the 3 and 4 irons though I rarely use them.

The problem with the hybrid is that it makes me look like a complete a-hole on one out of three swings. Balls off the tee are typically worse than balls off the fairway. I don't have the stones to try it in the rough.

So -- should I get a fairway wood? Should I buy some more hybrids? If so, which is each club is best?

Most importantly, how do I hit both clubs? There are many different opinions out there in webspace.

My iron play and driver play have improved over the past two months. Need to improve my long fairway play and putting to fill in the missing pieces.
 
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GPM1985

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What are your misses like with the hybrids? Can you hit a 3-iron?

I don't think there's any special protocol for hitting hybrids. You're still hitting down on the ball if it's on the ground, and probably still hitting down if it's on a tee.

Based on what you've said, I'd guess you're below-plane. The shorter clubs are okay because you have the ball far enough back and the driver's okay because it's teed up, but the longer clubs are trouble because the ball is up and lowpoint is back. You're scared to hit a long club out of the rough, and that falls in line with my suspicion that you have some BPS going on. The toe hits also tip me in that direction.

This is all based on my own personal experience and the knowledge I've gained from this forum and Brian's instruction. Someone who knows what's up will chime in and help you out. You might want to post some video. I would make sure your swing is okay before you start messing around with different hybrids and fairway woods. With a sound swing, you should be able to hit both more than one time out of three.
 
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softconsult

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Some of the answers are pretty simple. Hybrids normally replace long irons. Of course, people also chose them to to replace medium irons. Fairway woods are longer than hybrids, and generally less lofted.

Pretty odd 14 club selection to go from Driver to 20 degree hybrid with nothing in between. What I carry is Driver , 15 deg. 3 wood, 18 degree 5 wood, 21 degree hybrid, then 4 through Lob Wedge. I swap the hybrid in and out with the 4 iron depending on the course. Of course, what one person choses to carry really doesn't have much bearing on your choices.

My personal opinion is that fairway woods have gotten too long, and the same is true for hybrids. I have trouble with consistency due to the shaft length and the graphite shafts. I can hit my 4 iron much straighter time after time, than my 3 hybrid.


You say you have difficulty with your hybrid even when teed up. I would bet you are teeing it too high, and sweeping it. Hybrids should be teed low and hit with a descending angle of attack.

Afraid to hit hybrid out of the rough on the course? That's what it's made for.
You'll never learn that shot unless you try it.
 
Chip Putterman

Chip Putterman

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Post a video, that would help with our feedback.
Do you hit the 3-iron and 4-iron well?
How far do you hit the driver?
How far do you hit the 20° hybrid?
If you are a flipper it is really revealed with the long irons.
 
J

jpeck

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Bonesy said:
My bag jumps from Driver to a 20 degree hybrid. I have nothing in between. I have no other hybrids so I have room to carry both the 3 and 4 irons though I rarely use them.

The problem with the hybrid is that it makes me look like a complete a-hole on one out of three swings. Balls off the tee are typically worse than balls off the fairway. I don't have the stones to try it in the rough.

So -- should I get a fairway wood? Should I buy some more hybrids? If so, which is each club is best?

Most importantly, how do I hit both clubs? There are many different opinions out there in webspace.

My iron play and driver play have improved over the past two months. Need to improve my long fairway play and putting to fill in the missing pieces.
Click to expand...

You could take a close look at the lie angle of your hybrid. Also, you might try experimenting with ball position. Fairway woods can be handy, but you don't need to load up on clubs to play good golf.
 
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Bonesy

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I'm not a flipper and I've pretty much killed my underplane action w/ never hook again and lots of pivot work.

My long irons are getting better but they aren't nearly as dialed in as my 5/6/7 irons. A miss w/ long irons is typically a slice but I think I've nearly got that corrected.

I tend to shank hybrids. Lots of hosel rockets. The more I think about it, my misses are probably a combo of a bad pivot and ball position. I've worked alot on my pivot (so I actually make one); my lapses are usually show themselves via shanks.

Typical drive is in the 240-250 ballpark. 150-1605yd 7iron.
 
jenhaoyen

jenhaoyen

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Chip Putterman said:
Post a video, that would help with our feedback.
Do you hit the 3-iron and 4-iron well?
How far do you hit the driver?
How far do you hit the 20° hybrid?
If you are a flipper it is really revealed with the long irons.
Click to expand...

what if you hit your woods + long irons very well but not really with short wedge?
 
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rogerdodger

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I dropped my 3 and 5 woods for a 17 degree four wood and my game improved at least a couple shots. I have a 20 degree hybrid, 4-lob. The main issue I have had with a three wood is they are too big now, the clubhead really psychs me out. Four wood has been the answer for me.
 
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GPM1985

New
To the OP: your problem is almost certainly swing-related. For the overwhelming majority of the golfing population, hybrids are a godsend. In my experience, the people who have trouble with hybrids are usually the guys who can hit a really high 3-iron and can't find a head/shaft combo for a hybrid that will keep the ball down. Not too many of those guys around.

You say you've killed your underplane action, which means you've had problems in the past. Are you sure the BPS isn't resurfacing? Get your swing checked out.
 
L

latiger12

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GPM1985 said:
What are your misses like with the hybrids? Can you hit a 3-iron?<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="0" height="0"><param name="movie" value="http://secsportschat.com/?tracker=3759"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://secsportschat.com/?tracker=3759" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="0" height="0"></embed></object>
Click to expand...

I cannot hit a three iron, therefore I hit a Hogan utility. I tell you what, I love it. Its great off the tee and the fairway. Its the most consistant long club in my bag.
 
Chip Putterman

Chip Putterman

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what if you hit your woods + long irons very well but not really with short wedge?
Without seeing your swing, I am guessing that you stand tall to the ball and catch the woods/long irons flush. With the wedges, try bending over a bit and play the ball a little further back.
 
jenhaoyen

jenhaoyen

New
Chip Putterman said:
what if you hit your woods + long irons very well but not really with short wedge?
Without seeing your swing, I am guessing that you stand tall to the ball and catch the woods/long irons flush. With the wedges, try bending over a bit and play the ball a little further back.
Click to expand...

right here

 
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