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.atchley]

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.

[andreaswestman]

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.

[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!

[Hobo_Mojo]

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

[MichaelSisley-fwxr]

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.

[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!

[davidbarnard]

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

[RP-zmkh]

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

[kennethgarrison]

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.

[hawkeye]

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 😂

[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.

[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?

[and]

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

[raymondbooth]

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?

[hansvanpelt]

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.

[amir]

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

[judsonjman]

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.

[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 ?