Fairway Wood VS. Hybrid VS. Driving Iron | Which one should you use?

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Find out which club design is most suited to your swing delivery and characteristics so you can save shots on the golf course!
Filmed at: Tour Experience Golf
Custom Golf Club Fitting Studio - Toronto, Canada
Featuring: Ian Fraser & Matt Blois

[@nickmarr1]

Absolutely fascinating, chaps. Insights like these are invaluable, even to mid-handicap hackers like myself.

[@clubchampionmedia]

thanks Nicholas!!! that's what we love to hear

[@chiquitoromulo5930]

Great video content! Excuse me for butting in, I am interested in your opinion. Have you ever tried - Yanaylee Yanrooklyn Magic (search on google)? It is a good one of a kind guide for unlocking an effective golf swing technique without the hard work. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my coo-worker at last got great results with it.

[@papab3272]

Ian there is simply no one on KZbin who explains the technical and applicable aspects of equipment in a more simple and understandable way that you! My game is so much better because of the knowledge you pass along to us. Thank you!!

[@IceInNE]

Agreed!

[@Mackaygolf]

The knowledge handed down here is absolutely invaluable. Everyone who watches this is fortunate.

[@winstonsmith11]

I thought I knew some things, before I found Ian and Matt. But, in a short time here, I've learned more than I ever thought I knew. I'm beginning to understand variables I wouldn't have otherwise imagined. What a phenomenal resource this channel has been, and continues to be. Thank you so much, TXG. For this priceless education. Can't wait to see what 2020 brings!

[@wesleyfontaine3438]

Great video. MATTs technique is brilliant in order to showcase the differences in those clubs. He is actually motivating me to swing with more finesse. Cheers and compliments of the season.

[@volleygasm]

What I have learned from watching all your great videos is that any club you put in Matt’s hands looks like it can make you a tour pro. Great swing Matt.

[@joshclayg]

Credit to Matt's skills to be able to help illustrate these differences so clearly.

[@frankyang7958]

Thank you TXG, this will be the reference video I show the Mrs on why I need another club in the bag 🤣😂🤣

[@bobbymcgee9751]

You guys are killing it... so much honesty & lack of ego makes it so much easier to listen to you both AND you know your stuff... great match

[@cheeks9596]

This is why your channel is the best on KZbin....

[@anthonycsimmons7215]

By the looks of things,just shows you how big a deal that a proper club fitting,either individual or complete set really is. Great info,thanks guys.

[@TC-ps9sd]

I love the videos that demonstrate concepts with real ball flight data.

[@sethbeiden1305]

April 2023, still absolutely loving your fitting videos - unreal, love it.

[@brogers_]

As a new player these KZbin videos are amazing! I think I would have struggled to learn without it!

[@orgorg7revisited]

It’s great to see how these clubs perform, and each club’s advantage. Seeing Mike’s swing keeps me coming back to these videos. Inspirational.

[@b.g.7411]

Your consistency is what makes this video so valuable. An excellent showman on what these different clubs will accomplish.

[@petet3907]

Best channel on you tube for understanding the technology and specs of what you should be playing based on your swing characteristics. Thanks for all you do to make us tech nerds happy.

[@DanielRodrigues-hn8cx]

Love how you have added the element of swing characteristics into the discussion

[@jeromeo12]

It’s nice to have an Iron Byron for testing!

[@willl5250]

Iron Matty*

[@GSHOCKOUTDOORS]

Might be the most important and useful video you've done. Awesome demo of overlapping theories and technologies.

[@jonberg469]

I’m brand new to golf and I feel like these videos really help me understand how to use the proper club in certain situations.

[@Somewheredownintexas]

I'm 20yrs into golf and thinking the same thing

[@robbiemulder5961]

Great video guys, i play Callaway GBB woods & hybrid and i was not happy with the shaft in my fw woods. Even at 64 yrs old, a 50 gram Kuro Kage was to lite, so i put my 20 deg 7w head on the 80 gram kuro kage hy shaft that was in my 4 hybrid. Love it,better control and feel.Thinking about getting two more hybrid shafts for my 3 & 5 wood heads! Never really liked the 4 hybid anyway,but glad i can use the shaft!

[@coleniebur9049]

I can hit a wood, hybrid, and driving iron! My 5 wood goes 250 with a fairly smooth swing, the 3 iron goes about 240 which isn’t much different, but since the flight is lower I use it differently, and I don’t currently have a hybrid but I love how high they go, my problem is I can’t but the driver.... slowly getting there but it has been the bane of my existence the last 3 years

[@m0rbidr00ster6]

You guys are fantastic. Thanks for another video graphically showing me what the heck people are talking about with CG.

[@HabsFan64]

@55 and slowing down every year, rethinking my bag set-up!? Thanks for the great vid. guys!

[@christopherlafreniere7141]

I stopped trying to hit a hybrid or fairway wood and started using a u510 1 iron or laying up if it's not a green I can roll up on. Never played more comfy golf in my life. I'll just stay this setup forever. Driver, 1 iron, 4 iron, 6-SW Putter. Makes for a light bag =)

[@danielhumphreys5089]

Excellent video guys, I'm having this exact problem of what to choose to gap between my 3 wood and 4 iron.

[@jonstyles1811]

Driver comment - spot on. Tested my Rad Speed driver with weight back - every ball ballooned, couldn’t control launch! Now to work out what club to replace my 3 wood, to fit between 4iron and 1iron. Thanks for the insight boys.

[@paulhuff00]

Still one of my favorite videos

[@ioneil1808]

Just bought a 3 hybrid because I was not getting what I wanted out of my 5 wood. This video helped me confirm my decision!

[@dougmael]

I actually carry both a 20* Callaway Epic Flash FW wood (adjustable from 19* to 23*) AND a 21* Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro hybrid. The “7-wood” is a bit shorter than standard at 41.5” and the hybrid is 40.25” long. I use these two clubs for completely different types of shots - 7-wood for when I want to get the ball to land softly; 4-hybrid for tee shots on short, tight par-4 holes and very long par-3 holes where I know that there isn’t trouble off the back of the green in case the ball releases a bit more than expected, or on holes where the green is sloped back-to-front. My carry distances with these two clubs are separated by about 18-20 yards, but when hitting into firm greens or on firm fairways, the total distance usually only varies by about 10-12 yards between the two clubs, with the hybrid running out more.

[@BundyPoppy]

I have 7i - SW irons, 3 Wood 15*and 3 19*, 5 25* and 7 31* Hybrids, I launch high. Glad my thoughts were proven here.

[@joelcrow]

Can't tell you how excited I was when he said Mizuno is offering a low lofted hybrid! I'm building a lightweight Sunday bag, and having a driving hybrid would consolidate 2 big and inconsistent clubs for me! 13, 19, 5, 7, 9, P, 56, putter...done. ;)

[@wally6193]

Good video guys. Shows that each type of head produces a different arch to the flight. One interesting result is that regardless of the shaft length differences(5wd 19* -42", 3 hybrid 19*-40.25" and 19* drv iron-39.25") they all get the same carry distance. I guess that shows that it's the loft that determines the distance when compared to other heads of the same loft and not always the shaft length.

[@ianfrasergolf]

What happens is the launch conditions cancel out the discrepancy in swing speed. So the fastest moving club is obviously going to be 5w but it also has highest launch and spin. The long iron is slower but the launch conditions produce a flatter more penetrating flight which somewhat cancels out the difference in speed. Hope that makes sense now Walter.

[@wally6193]

@@ianfrasergolf Thanks for the further explanation Ian, keep up the great videos.

[@michaelmccarthy5841]

As always loving the technical reasons to support why launch spin etc are slightly different and why they may benefit different golfers for different reasons. Best golf info on KZbin!

[@SnoXRacer183]

Love these last couple videos. Fee” like I’ve learned a ton more the last two videos. Was getting a bit burned out on just product testing videos. Great change of pace!

[@craigedga4r]

This shows why we all as golfers need to be fitted and then get to know your own game by using skytrak / book some some with trackman / gc quad. As per Ian / Mat you need to know it for different courses, conditions, confidence, mindset, thinking, etc Great vlog again guys 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@PbD187]

I use 3 wood, 3 and 4 hybrids. I have never used a driving iron. I preferred irons to hybrids for a long time because I always hooked hybrids. Once I bought a Titleist hybrid that I could flatten it was a game changer and I bought another! My 3/ hybrids are probably the most consistent clubs in my bag.

[@pottsyweb]

I’d love to see more of this type of videos lads. It’d be great to see the different setups with some of the different swing characteristics of your clients. The top end of the bag can be a hard one to figure out. To make sure you have enough options in the long end and make sure that it doesn’t influence the wedge setup. I have a steep angle of attack and decided to experiment with a different set up and dropped the 3 wood (keeping 4 wedges). I’ve just changed to a 16 and 20 deg hybrid Exotics CBX. Looking for one consistent swing with both... not missing the 3 wood from the deck but being honest miss it a little from the tee as a driver back up. I feel I’m still searching for the ultimate setup but will stick with this one for the summer.

[@vegas005]

Every video you produce has invaluable information. Thank you and all the best for 2020.

[@chrisfreitag2603]

Elegant demonstration of difference between 5 wood, hybrid and driving iron and impact on launch, height and spin. Matt makes it look effortless. So one of each?

[@Knickerson]

Love this video. Thanks for explaining the differences among the different heads. I never had the words for them, so this is exactly the kind of lesson I love to learn. Before there were driving irons, I used to play a course regularly that had a par 3 hole that I could not hit with any club in my bag. The tee was slightly above the hole, and the fairway leading up to the green was inclined. My 3 wood would hit the ball on the back of the green before bouncing off, and my 3 hybrid didn’t have the arc, so the ball would hit the fairway with no energy to climb up to the green. Then I thought, what if I had a 5 wood? So, I tracked one down, bought it, swapped out my 60-degree wedge-and sure enough, the ball lofted up, dropped onto the front of the green and rolled just below pin height. There’s nothing like the feeling of finally conquering a troublesome hole. And honestly, it was fun carrying a 5 wood just for one hole, like a secret weapon in my bag.

[@ClovisGeneral]

Outstanding and very educational comparison. Thank you gents!

[@marc6652]

Thanks for sharing. In my opinion, the choice has to be made considering all kinds of strikes on a real golf course : tee shots, rough, fairway, bad lie etc... not only practice station shots. Not sure the results would have been so closed.

[@strykeryeh5601]

Incredible analysis of the technical aspects of different clubs! All the club reviews on the web only talk about key features of each brand/model and trying to sell something. You guys brought club design and technology to a totally new level. Great job. Nothing else comes close. Thanks for being so open and sharing all these knowledge.

[@dougmael]

For me, if I am facing a tee shot on a long par-3 hole (210-220 yards), or an approach shot from a similar distance, I am almost always choosing my railed 5-wood with a slightly shorter than standard shaft length (41.5”). My only other potential choice would be my #3 hybrid (19* loft, 40.25”long). I’m not playing any 258-yard par-3s, and if I ever did step to the tee at that distance on a par-3, I’d be pulling my driver, or at least my 13.5* strong 3-wood.

[@harpsno1]

Hi Ian, I completely get where you're coming from with the video, but testing the driving iron on a long US Open Par 3 might do it a bit of a misjustice. But if you're playing link in Ireland or the UK then the driving iron as a replacement tee shot is the club. But really agree. You need to have some variety capability in your set 👍👍👍

[@dustinmize994]

Absolutely love this channel! Learning how much the DNA of the head makes so much difference. I used to think it was all about the shaft. Would like to see a video on a high speed, low spin player get fitted.

[@derekharkins5519]

You guys are absolutely the best in the business. Your amount of knowledge and way you explain it so it’s easy to understand is amazing. I think you pretty much ruined any fitting experience I can get around here as I would feel ripped off. I might have to plan a trip to Toronto come spring!

[@iainlogan2701]

You chaps combine fantastic technical insight to how that directly correlates to outcomes. Quite a complicated process but done simply to help the everyday layman such as myself. Cheers lads. Keep it up.

[@peturstefansson]

Great video guys. This video will go to a saved TXG folder :-) I own a Hybrid and its phenomenal to see what this little head can kick the ball far away, that is when I hit it right :-)

[@rdickens1]

Great video! A master class in long clubs and the robot testing doesn’t hurt!!!

[@bradleysmith7281]

Prior to the launch monitor era, I used to be a small time clubmaker/fitter. I never built sets considering swing weights of gripped clubs - only ungripped. I believed that the impact on swingweight of grip weight changes was illusory because while the machine would measure the change. in reality, I didn't believe the swingweight would actually FEEL different because the lighter or heavier grip element. The changing grip weight was in your hands, not 3 ft out in front of your hands in the head where it could readily be felt. Maybe some golfers could feel the difference in WEIGHT with an ultralight or heavy grip, but not in swingweight. For swingweight fitting with irons, I made a set of identical 7 irons (heads, shafts and grips), except for swingweight which was controlled by added lead weights - C7, D0, D3, D6 and D9.. The customer would hit them and we'd determine which seemed to perform best and hopefully feel best. That would be his "fit" for swingweight. If it was, say, D3, I knew that the standard weight grip on chosen club would lower swingweight of an ungripped club by about 10 points. So I'd build/swingweight the iron set I made for him to E-3 ungripped.

[@FF04RDF]

Excellent insight from both Ian and Matt. Helps me when I’m buying and playing 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇨🇦

[@damienfarrell9475]

Great illustration of the differences. One is not better than the other. It’s what you need personally that matters. Looks like I need a driving iron for non driver tee shots. Thanks guys

[@kameronhallas509]

Love this, will keep this video in mind when I get fit for that part of the bag

[@glennsmith7897]

I ended up with a 15° Epic Flash Subzero 3W and 18° Srixon ZU85 in my bag and they give me so many options for shots now compared to my old 3W/5W/4i setup. Brought my handicap down to single figures and shot a PB of +2 in October as have more confidence in every club in the bag

[@NickPage]

I perked up when Ian mention my exact delivery type “delivers too much loft .. hits everything super high... does well with shorter shafts” I would love to hear more on that subject!! I already cut down my driver and Threewood to shorter lengths and play my driver at 7.5

[@richmoorephoto3875]

Love seeing one of my favorite photographers here haha.

[@NickPage]

@@richmoorephoto3875 haha! now you see the youtube videos that I watch :) TXG is pretty much my favorite channel these days . Thanks for the kind words Rich!

[@richmoorephoto3875]

Nick Page Be sure to bring those clubs if you ever make it to Reno/Tahoe! Maybe I can even talk you into shooting with me haha

[@NickPage]

Rich Moore Photo Sounds like a plan!

[@neutrino61]

well performed and sophisticated help to draw a decision between those clubs! Nicely done guys👍🏻

[@chrislewis7]

Very interesting. I love these technical data videos. Bring the pin back to around 200 yards and I get similar (but more widely dispersed) results. I I can hit my 5 wood and 4 hybrid the same distance if i really go after the hybrid but the 5 wood flies all the way and the 4 hybrid would need to chase up to the green. I carry both as I generally use the hybrid to fill the gap 10-15 yards shorter.

[@robpottergolf]

Absolutely brilliant Vlog gentlemen! This is so so useful for every standard of golfer! It’s also good for not only long par 3’s but what you’d take off the tee for par 4’s for particular players. Especially on links golfs. These vlogs just keep getting better and better. Happy New Year, gents 👍🏻

[@TheSjenk]

Fantastic video, currently looking for something to fill in the gaps better than what I have now between driver and irons, and this video helped a lot (Mid handicap). Keep up the brilliant work!

[@nkorpan83]

Excellent video as always. Sitting here in Manitoba all we have are videos to tie us over till spring.

[@patrickmonell6536]

I play a callaway x forged 2018 2 iorn at 19 degrees and a ping g410 2 hybrid set at 15.5 to replace a 3 and 5 wood. And I love it. Easier to control due to the shorter shaft length. And I get the benefits of having a 2 iorn as well!

[@davidcarnicom5635]

Just rewatched this video. Absolutely great information and great video. Mr Frazier you are a golf club Encyclopedia!

[@beanturd2686]

So tempted to fly to Toronto just to get fitted by TXG. Top notch experts.

[@craigmiller936]

Great video, I am just about to put a 5 wood into my bag for the first time in many years at the expense of a hybrid and it is primarily because I think that it will be better suited to the course that I am playing now, especially when it starts to firm up in the summertime.

[@dillonwest9134]

Awesome video! I just added the MP20 HMB 2i to the bag. It’s an absolute rocket when flushed, but you definitely know it when you don’t. I change it out with my 5wd depending on course. Love to see your in-depth analysis. Thanks gents!

[@deuce3811]

Awesome vlog as usual. I recently made the change from a driving iron to a hybrid. Needed more height. Driving iron was only a tee club where the hybrid is both a tee and fairway club.

[@bryanciaccia6231]

Great insight. Have been battle testing all 3 the past two years. For me, the more the CG goes back the less control I seem to have. 5 Wood always seemed to be hit or miss for me. Driving iron worked great but always came up a bit short. Hybrid seemed to fit in the bag best, evening out the shortcomings. Listening to the info you have put forth it makes a lot of sense why now.

[@Raymond-sj7cn]

First of all best wishes for 2020...and at the beginning of 2020 another great video...but what else is new🤓😇 I have a hybrid Ping g410 2 (set to 16 degrees and flat) but also a MP20 HMB 2 iron. Depending conditions (course and weather) I change them because the 2 iron launches (as Ian mentioned) lower and the hybrid launches higher. Hybrid is (for me) easier to hit from the deck when it is very wet /“soppy” ground conditions.

[@TommyDawson]

Ian, would love to see you do some of these tests. We always see Matt do them but it would be nice to see you.

[@nicklasnatzke5892]

Starting to see some major changes in Matt‘s swing, awesome to see such big changes and a gain in speed at the same time.

[@mcalette]

Again awesome content! Understanding the ball flight and course conditions is so important. Also, understanding the forgiveness level of each club at the same loft is a game changer. Thank you!

[@keehan81]

I have the epic flash 5 wood in my bag and I would say I use it more often than my epic flash 3 wood, I feel so confident using it compared to pretty much any club in my bag.

[@danielcuthbertson6642]

I always thought one would run out of topics to discuss when talking about shafts and club heads. However you guys keep coming up with fantastic topics to delve in to... excellent content gents. Great to watch. Well done!

[@brettsteven3244]

Next level content, thanks guys. Happy new year, looking forward to all the videos to come in 2020.

[@Alan1michel]

He hits it so perfect. Insane.

[@josephdubiel7129]

I like a good hybrid and a 5 Wood too. When I need to hit a long shot I usually go for a 5 wood. Not crazy about driving irons. This is a great review though guys. Thank you Matt and Ian !

[@pjas09]

Thxs guys I am In the market for one these to finish off my new set & this was gr8 way to confirm my thoughts ... I am a low teen hacking handicapper & hit the ball high naturally so going with a 3 hybrid is a perfect choice after see this video.

[@jlunde35]

Great info guys. Thank you. I do like seeing pros play 250+ yard par threes and 320 yard par fours.

[@ignorance123]

Watching this I think I'll keep both 3hybrid and 5wood, depending on my swing and course/weather conditions. Great information...

[@austinlauer1910]

Awesome guys! Rethinking about adding a hybrid back into the bag this year.

[@MattChat56]

I predominantly use an 18 degree lofted club as a comfortable safe tee shot iron. I switch back from hybrid to driving iron.

[@MikeDoba]

Funny you mention a 3 wood at 3 hybrid length. I already have that experiment awaiting me as I took my old 3 hybrid shaft and put it into my 14 deg 3 wood head. Just havent hit it yet..

[@winstonsmith11]

How'd it go?

[@MikeDoba]

@@winstonsmith11 .. Only hit it in a simulator at golf town since courses are closed. I dont swing the same outside vs indoor sim so no real indication as to how it will perform yet. But did hit bombs in the Sim

[@eddiex72]

Happy New Year guys. Thanks for all you do. Love this video. Decision making demonstration here can help us with our scores. Picking the right club beyond distance alone.

[@parnopsiripornpak5632]

Loads of information guys. This is awesome and answered so many questions. Thank you so much.

[@jnzk712]

I love this video. Learned so much.

[@scottmunro3167]

Great video! Currently got epic 5w, 818h2 3 hybrid and 716tmb 3iron in uk. The TMB I love though for windy, dry conditions (2 months or links in uk) for hitting low however mainly redundant in current uk weather. Tempted to only carry one of the other two and add another wedge in bag though large difference in gapping at top of bag for me being moderate swing speed. Maybe 2020 would allow 15 clubs in bag!

[@bslee2000A]

Love these videos. I learn a lot! I'm trying to figure out what to put into the bag between my driver and 5 iron given the gapping I need and the different courses I usually play. This was very helpful.

[@danielcowell8346]

Great video. I'm a high spinner and was thinking about a 5 wood instead of hybrid. Totally wrong! I'll just work on contact and plane. That might help more 😂🤣😂🤷‍♂️

[@tlg6339]

Very helpful video and explanations. I am confused, however, why we saw the driving iron rolling into the back bunker but the summary of the results show it stopping quicker than the other two (10 yard rollout vs. 12 vs. 14) and finishing 3 yards shorter on average than the 5 wood despite lower launch, spin and descent angle.

[@johnk.atchley5079]

Agree this is eye-opening and invaluable. Not sure if you will see any new comments a year afterward. But clearly this indicates the higher handicap player like myself who still plays forged blades does need to swap out his 3 iron, and maybe also his 4 iron, for a 5 wood and 7 wood. Your demo provides the answer to why when I try a hybrid at the range I often find it not that easy to hit, to get a high trajectory, not the same for me as the advertising suggests. I am often faced with a rather long second shot into par 4s, not to mention par 3s. The last thing I need is to hit a nice shot straight at the green and then see it roll off the back or side. I have a related question. Has the technology in fairway woods changed substantially from 15 years ago to help get that higher trajectory and softer landing on the green? I have a Sonartec Driving Cavity 5 wood with 19 degree loft, the NP99 model I understand was made with Nick Price in mind. It has a Sonartec Aldila NV shaft, 75 gram R/S flex. I bought it from the factory and they said it was the last one they had. I think it was designed to have a more penetrating flight with a CG that is higher and more forward than the Callaway Epic head used in your demo here. In other words, today's 5 wood is not the same as one, even a good one, designed 15 or more years ago.

[@ernestolupercio3168]

Great video backed up data. Best channel on the tube

[@Talesofthegrape]

If you tested the sub zero model 5 wood alongside would you get something more like the hybrid in flight characteristics?

[@clubchampionmedia]

would be a bit closer to the hybrid in flight, yes

[@Talesofthegrape]

Cheers thanks!

[@Talesofthegrape]

So in that case why would a player choose a sub zero fairway over a hybrid or vice a versa? Who would you fit into each?

[@dougwhidden]

Great video and great timing. I have been contemplating moving to a 5 wood from a 3 hybrid cause I find the hybrid hasn’t been holding greens enough when I have long approach shots. I think I’m going to give it a try. Thanks guys!

[@ricedaddy88]

The insights you all are seeing here are pretty much exactly what you would think with the technologies at play. However, I was left wondering, I don't think you're going to see many players who game hybrids or really any players at all hitting their tee shot off the deck on a Par 3 of this length. Would the characteristics of how the ball interacts with the green be similar to what you found? Granted spin, carry, etc won't change much but I just have a feeling that you would think attack angle, launch angle, and therefore descent angle would all change marginally in the direction of having a softer landing and therefore not rolling out through the green.

[@agustinfeliciano9715]

3 wood, 2 hybrid and 4 driving iron set up gives me the best results in the bag.

[@BeastLikeBentley]

Subbed! Love your channel, keep it going guys!

[@rowlandbarrett6594]

Once again, awesome video.