Hybrid or Fairway Wood | Which should you choose?

So many golfers are confused about the differences between hybrids and fairway woods. In this video, Simon tackles the subject head on, comparing the two options and helping you determine which club you should be playing.
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[@johnk.atchley5079]

Another great explanation. Being a golf geek, I have bought both to see how they compare. To explain, I am 83 and have played forged blades with traditional lofts for decades. But like most of us, with age I have found it difficult to hit the longer irons. I also wanted to move from my old stiff flex shafted Sonartec NP99 fairway woods to regular flex. So three years ago I got a Callaway Epic 15 degree 3W, 18 degree 5W, and 21 degree 7W with HZRDUS Smoke iM10 shafts, all in mint condition from Callaway pre-owned at a nice discount. Then a year ago I got a Callaway Paradym 24 degree 9 wood with the stock Aldila Ascent blue 50 gram R flex shaft. And this year I picked up a Callaway Paradym 27 degree 11 wood demo with Aldila Ascent blue shaft. I can still manage to use my 34 degree 7 iron and can just get my 31 degree 6 iron to produce a descent angle a degree or so over 40. So the woods replace my 5, 4 and 3 irons. However, since these clubs are going to see a lot of use on par 3s and approaches on par 4s, I was also curious to know how hybrids would perform in the same role. So this month I was lucky to find in the demo clearance barrel a 23 degree Titleist TSR1 5 hybrid and a 26 degree TSR1 6 hybrid with stock Mitsubishi MMT R flex shafts, both clean and possibly never hit. I am now hitting both the woods and the hybrids in the practice bays with launch monitors that give data in order to see how they compare. One thing I like about the hybrids is they are adjustable, which the woods are not, so if need be I could adjust the lofts to get desired gaps. The hybrids feel heavier in the head, and you have to swing a bit differently than with the woods, as you point out. Maybe I will use the 9W and 11W for one round and the 5 and 6 hybrids for another round. May sound crazy, but hey, it keeps the game fun.

[@Precision_Golf]

Both clubs do slightly different jobs but will be easier to flight than the long iron. The hybrid can be a straighter hitting club due to the shorter shaft but the fairway wood will fly higher and land softer so if you can mix and match them to suit the course and your game on the day then why not!!!

[@andreaswestman2365]

I play a 5 wood and a 4 hybrid. I tend to use the hybrid 10 times more because of consistency of strike and versatility. The shaft length make a huge difference for me. When i hit the 5 wood well it goes 10-15 yards further, but the lie has to be good.

[@Precision_Golf]

All important things to think of when looking at what club you need more in the bag!

[@BKellyS]

Same here, I’ve settled on those two clubs exclusively for woods. The 5W (~185y) is more consistent than the 3W, and the 4H (~170y) is my favorite.

[@kennethgarrison521]

For us high handicap players adding some “how to” to “which one” would be very helpful. Such as: ball placement for equivalent iron, hybrid, fairway wood.

[@Precision_Golf]

Got it - thanks for watching Kenneth!

[@cjetblack]

I did the same experiment with a 19 degree hybrid. I’ve found that going one flex weaker in the hybrid allowed me to get the best benefits of it while gaining a little bit more launch and height. Thank you for the vid. Your swing is so efficient!

[@Precision_Golf]

@@cjetblack thank you and glad you liked the video

[@MichaelSisley-fw3xr]

I tried both and settled on woods. I use a 3W as my driver, 5W, 7W, 9W, 11W, 7-PW, 52GW, 56SW, 60LW. I am back down to a steady 16handycap now. I suppose it depends as you said on the individual and how they are approaching the ball (angle). One of my buddies in my foursome switched to hybrids and it was a fantastic change for the good. He is a pretty tall fellow. It is funny, we were drinking a few cold beers after a round recently talking about what is available for club options today. Being 65, I know personally, when I was a kid learning the game, game improvement was not a thing. One of the guys in our group has a full set of Eleven hybrids. I have NEVER seen him play so well! Clubs are improving.

[@Precision_Golf]

Perfect - it sounds like you had your friends are finding clubs that work for you not just having clubs in your bag “because that is what golfers are meant to have!!” Brilliant stuff!

[@CatGPT_]

11 wood?! What's the loft on this? And what brand makes it?

[@MichaelSisley-fw3xr]

@@CatGPT_ 31 degrees. Works like a champ. All of these fairway woods are low profile. Super easy to hit straight and get the ball in the air.

[@mesh_kumar]

A useful, clear and informative video! I am a new golfer and naturally a high handicapper but definitely working towards getting a custom fitting and figuring out what I need to significantly improve my game!

[@Precision_Golf]

Many thanks. Glad you like the video

[@Hobo_Mojo]

I split the difference and got a 3 Hy-Wood by Cleveland. Absolutely love it!

[@Precision_Golf]

Good club that

[@bobpegram8042]

You do something I also find helpful. You address the ball on the toe of the head. My swing (and apparently yours) extends a little outward away from the body at impact due to centrifugal force. That is normal. Addressing the ball on the toe also avoids shanked shots caused by a swing with no flaws to speak of, just more flexibility than most perople and/or being more comfortable adressing the ball a little less extended than where we would be at impact. Some flaws really aren't flaws, just preferences. This illustrates that some bad shots can be corrected with extremely minor adjustments at address and no swing changes. Some teaching pros don't understand that. Instead they tear apart a good swing unnecessarily and screw up a good golfer's ability.

[@Precision_Golf]

Haha - thank you for being the first person to comment but without asking me why I do it! I completely agree that too many pros try to change it without thinking why it might work for that player.

[@FelixSava]

Very good explanation

[@Precision_Golf]

Thank you

[@StanoTomka]

Note to video editor: please, check the spelling on the labels in videos (not only in this one). Not that my English is great, but I do not like seeing mistakes. This part also represents the product Simon is talking about.

[@Precision_Golf]

Noted, thank you 🙏🏼

[@davidbarnard2716]

thank you, very interesting, helpful and well presented video.

[@Precision_Golf]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bobpegram8042]

Another consideration: when windy, use the hybrid to keep the ball down, when calm, use the fairway wood for high longer carry shots.

[@Precision_Golf]

Absolutely.

[@RP-zm9kh]

Excellent explanation. Exactly what i wanted to know. Thankyou.

[@Precision_Golf]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hawkeye9293]

Great video similar to others I have a precision fitted 18 hybrid which is great but lower trajectory..added an unfitted 😮5 wood to get higher trajectory 😂

[@Precision_Golf]

Thanks - as long as it works!

[@gamebaggolf]

Good timing of the video, I'm currently playing 5w and 3h, but my 3h is quite old (Cobra F7) and am thinking of replacing with a 7w for a couple of reasons: 1) I think it may mean I don't have to chop and change swing styles as much since I already play a 5w (Titleist TSR2) and really like it and 2) my hybrid can pull left quite hard sometimes with the draw bias, my thinking is that the 7w may have a more gentle turn. Are these valid reasons to consider the 7w?

[@Precision_Golf]

True regarding being able to swing it the same and the 7w should be a slightly softer shit shape but it will also be a noticeably higher flight so bear that in mind too when deciding. The draw bias could be club set up rather than the hybrid head (ie if shaft is too light) so don’t rule it out completely

[@and16942]

I did the move from a 3 hybrid to a 7wood this season and absolutely love it. I also play a 5W. The 3H for me was just for off the tee. Even when hit high it rolled out too much to attack greens. I would have to hit a cut if I wanted a chance for the hybrid to land soft- but every hybrid I’ve owned has that draw bias. They just sit closed in my eyes. With woods though, you HAVE to be able to control your height. Played in high winds yesterday and let’s just say it was an adventure whenever I had to pull a wood. Stock 7W goes almost 120’ peak height for me. It was getting absolutely battered by the wind

[@gamebaggolf]

@@and16942 interesting - I’ve been cutting the 5w in place of my hybrid and its been working very well, apex is around 100 so not crazy high like your 7

[@and16942]

@@gamebaggolf my 5w is similar to yours.. I would recommend getting fit for the 7w just to see if it works for you. I didn’t spend extra for the premium lower launch shaft for my 7w but it’s still working well for gapping on a stock x flex for me.

[@fishstick9923]

great vid!

[@Precision_Golf]

Thanks for watching!

[@and16942]

As my game improved, I moved away from hybrids into woods. For me, it’s just the way they sit at address. It just looks really closed and doesn’t inspire confidence. Majority of my shots go left. Woods go a little too high but fairly easy to control height/spin on it. I found it easier to attack par 5s in 2shots with woods. Steeper decent angle means balls just stick to the green

[@Precision_Golf]

Hybrids tend to be designed with more draw bias and the head shapes can make them look closed too. Absolutely correct that woods give a higher flight and steeper descent angle so unless you play on a links of naturally hit a high ball the lofted wood does suit a little of players and we are doing many more 7 woods and 9 woods than ever before

[@mannyo1968]

Good video thanks.

[@Precision_Golf]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@marcelguldemond2523]

I’m not accurate enough to go for a green with either my 5W (19) or 4 hybrid (20), so I use them mainly as fairway finders from the tee. Would a driving iron be more useful when fairways are firmer for more rollout? Even if it’s not getting launch and spin at moderate swing speeds?

[@Precision_Golf]

The Driving iron would be good on shorter, tighter course or with firmer fairways giving more run out but consequently playing my tighter as well. As long as you can get enough carry out of it!

[@derekwhyle1884]

Struggling to understand why the substantially longer shaft of the 5w is not really affecting ball speed more given both clubs are the same loft. Could you shorten the shaft of the wood to make it more playable?

[@Precision_Golf]

That is certainly an option. Hybrid faces have become a lot “hotter” of late but we are seeing substantially lower spin as a result too meaning more players are going into lofted woods to get the height

[@judsonjman26]

Don't rule out 5 woods! 90% of you, including myself would benefit from one. I swapped out my hybrid for a 5 wood and was the best golf related decision I've made all season. Can reliably go for par 5s in 2 and it's the "break in case of emergency" club off the tee that's a reliable fairway finder.

[@Precision_Golf]

Absolutely - I put one in for occasional use at specific courses this year having never got on with a hybrid and certainly enjoying using it

[@hansvanpelt245]

Thanks, good explanation. I have been swapping a 3HL Paradym at 42.75 length alternating frequently with a 2H. 16° on the hybrid, which has a Hzrdus black 6.0 shaft 2” shorter at 40.75. I hit the ball high, handicap is 16, age 57 and it’s winter in Melbourne AU. Question related to your ending on this video, is it realistic that I can actually hit the hybrid as long, or even longer and have a tighter dispersion? Evidence says yes, but go looking for a new 2 hybrid and the tide is against you.

[@Precision_Golf]

It might well suit you better and spin better therefore giving you better distance , but there are very few 2H heads out there just due to little demand as most players cannot launch them at that loft!

[@hansvanpelt245]

@@Precision_Golf Thanks, can I ask a follow up question. How would the 17 degree Callaway UW play into this conversation?

[@2Eaglez]

Thanks for this video. Currently experimenting with a 5 wood vs my 3 hybrid, both are adjusted to 18*. As a senior player, age 76, my swing spreed has decreased and my trajectory on shots is lower now. I am hoping that the 5 wood will allow me to again hit the ball 175-180 on the fly with total yardage in the 200 range. I still hit my 21* 4 hybrid 165 on the fly with roll out to about 180 and have no issues on getting the ball airborne. I haven’t carried a fairway wood for over a decade as a 3 hybrid was long enough (now due to lower trajectory of the 3 hybrid, it is about the same distance as my 4 hybrid). Currently carrying an index of 10.8 and score in the mid to high 70s from the senior tees.

[@hawkeye9293]

Great video

[@Precision_Golf]

Thank you

[@jimwocha4949]

Driver, 5w, 7w, 9w 5-pw, 50, 54 and 58 for me. I like the idea of hybrids but they just go low and left for me. Find lodted fairways much easier to use. I think i need tbe extra spin that a fairway gives . I also hit a low ball so the hybrid is just not the one

[@Precision_Golf]

That makes sense and the lofted woods definitely are less draw bias than lofted hybrids

[@jimwocha4949]

@Precision_Golf yes, although I have been careful which ones I choose. The pings are great as you can set them up in a flat lie setting. I have g430 5&7 currently but would love a 9 at some point. Playing an old TM M2 hl 7 wood currently which has 24 degrees of loft but a 45g ladies shaft in it which isn't ideal. It's my 180-185 club which replaces a 4 iron I guess

[@bigpardner]

Why do you address the ball so much of the toe of the club ? When you swing do you try to swing where the clubhead is at address knowing that the clubhead will go further out ?

[@Precision_Golf]

It’s just something that has developed over the years. Not conscious at all and I don’t try to avoid anything or consciously do anything but strike is in the centre so all good!

[@longbowken]

I do the same. It helps me to swing more from the inside with my driver and not over the top (slice).

[@amir3992]

I use both... but if my life depends on it, I'll always grab my 7wood over a hybrid

[@Precision_Golf]

Glad to hear it Amir 💪🏼👍🏻

[@johnpaton8047]

Fairway.

[@Precision_Golf]

Fairway has become much more used particularly in the higher lofts

[@raymondbooth3189]

I've an old Callaway big Bertha steelhead 111 7 wood . Must be 20 years old would you say I'm missing out on distance and forgiveness compared to more modern 7 woods?

[@Precision_Golf]

Absolutely - from a forgiveness point of view you are definitely missing out and a new head will make it easier to pick the ball up more quickly off the turf too as well as having a thinner face for more ball speed. The old 7w is almost now more like a hybrid head in terms of size and performance

[@TimChump]

Why choose when you can have both 😅

[@Precision_Golf]

That is an option!