Claw it back into play

Are you using fairway metals or hybrids, or a combination of both? What do you use and what advice can you give to those considering a switch to clubs to play from on or off the fairway?
Posted: 14/05/2008 11:26

I use both. My FW/hybrid set up is Benross V5 4 wood (17 degree) and 20degree rescue and a Srixon 23 degree rescue. I tend to use the 4wood off the deck on the fairway and the rescues off the deck in the rough (the depth of the rough dependant of course! - sometimes a wedge is better!). I chose the 4 wood rather than the traditional 3 and 5 becuase it offered the best of both worlds - the length of the 3 and the controllability of the 5 (which I was consistently hitting better). It also meant I could keep my lob wedge in the bag (sorry 23rd!). As far as advice goes, I'd say test both options. If money/bag space is tight, go for just a rescue (more potential uses).

BB

Posted: 14/05/2008 12:18

I use both a fairway and utilities.

3 wood, MD superstrong 15 deg, Graf prolaunch blue stiff. Goes great off the tee as a safe option, don't use it very often from the fairway.

18 and 21 deg utilites, 18 graf prolanch stiff and 21 apollo ballistic steel stiff. Use the 18 off the tee sometimes and mostly off the fairway, par 5 seconds etc. The 21 with steel, is a little heavier so I like that for when I'm off the fariway, seems to dig better for getting the ball out of the rougher stuff. Also use the 21 for long par 3's got a couple at my course which are around 200-210.

The 21 is used a lot for tricky shots, going under trees and sometimes long chip and runs.

Utilities are in the bag as they are easier to hit, why make it harder for yourself? I have the long irons, inc 2 iron, and I use them to challenge myself on the range.

Posted: 14/05/2008 12:40

I use one of each, I have my trusty Callaway X-Tour 3 wood and a FT Hybrid with 20 of loft.

I absolutley love the compact X-Tour 3 wood but couldn't find a similarly compact 5 wood anywhere so I went down the hybrid route.

Finding the right club in my opinion requires one to first establish what they are looking for in each club, and then demoing as many options as possible until you find the best option for your game.

For me I really wanted a compact headed, shallow faced 3 wood for picking the ball off tight fairways, I wasn't too concerned with performance off the tee as I knew if I found the right club for playing off the fairway I could experiment and find the right tee height if I needed to use it for these shots. After many trials and demo's I decided the X-Tour was a good match for me, I then just had to locate one for sale. (they are scarce as hobby horse poo!)

 The hybrid choice was a similar process, although I started looking for a 5 or 7 wood with the same characteristics as the 3 wood initially, but couldn't find anything which suited! (The X-Tour 5 wood is actually bigger than the 3 wood!!!). From there it was just a natural progression to try another avenue....the trial and error took a little longer as hybrids tend to go left on me, but over time I narrowed my options and found the best out there for me.

The above is time consuming, but I'm a teensy bit obsessive about my golf so it was, for me, a highly enjoyable process.....I'd thoroughly recommend it. Probably best to build up a supply of Brownie points with the wife beforehand though!

Posted: 14/05/2008 22:28

I have a Ping G10 3 wood which is a superb club. I prefer to hit it of the grass than teed up but that's not been a problem. It has replaced my TM 16* rescue, and it goes 10 -15 yds further.

I have a TM  19* rescue which I use instead  of a 5 wood , or if the lie is poor. I find it very versatile distance wise, and good for escape shots.

I also have a 24* Ping G10 rescue which goes about 4 iron distance, but higher flighted. It's the most reliable and easiest club to hit in my bag. It just goes so straight. It's also great for long shots over trees.

Posted: 14/05/2008 23:15

Dont use woods off the fairway,never seemed to be able to adjust the swing to the required "sweep".

My 21* Mizuno Hi/Fli is my club for long fairway shots,reliable straight 180-210 depending on conditions,get on with it so well am thinking of giving the 18* version a go.Would recomend the HI/Fli to anyone who like me struggles with woods on the fairway.

Also usefull if your having a bad dayoff  the tee

Posted: 14/05/2008 23:19

Just hybrid clubs for me now, 1iron (cleveland Hi-bore), 3iron (adams boxer) and just got a new Adams pro gold hybrid in a number 4, not released until June.

Keep demo (ing) different 3 woods but cant get the same consistancy out of any as I do with the hi-bore utility

Posted: 15/05/2008 06:47

I ditched 3W/5W for a 4W but use it almost exclusively for tight tee shots, so it's not really a fairway wood for me. My longest FW is my 7-wood (20*), then currently a 25* 5-hybrid and soon also a 23* 4H, which I hope will give me the option on a 165-yard Par 3 I'm currently lacking.

Posted: 15/05/2008 08:59

I solely use a 3W (Burner TP), next club is a 4 iron which Ive had bent to close to a 3I loft.

Posted: 15/05/2008 09:12

Two hybrids in my bag right now. Just bought a TM dual with irod shaft in 16* - the jury is still out on this one. Also have a Nike CPR hybrid 21*. This is the small headed version with the ridiculous length shaft (it's an nearly an inch longer than the 16* Dual!), which I'm about to cut down this morning.

Tried woods, but just find the hybrids more versatile. I'm not looking for distance over accuracy from them anyway.

I've just dumped my 60* wedge in favour of a 3 wedge system over the 4 I used to carry so I've now got room for something up top in 19*. 

Posted: 15/05/2008 09:26

I use a Taylormade V steel 3 wood with a Senior Flex TM shaft, its proving to be a good asset when my second shot has to cover a longer distance , from the rough I use that old trick of going down the grip an inch and a half and aiming two inches ahead of the ball I swing the club like a 7 iron, it punches the ball out with not much loss of distance or accuracy , from the fairway its awesome and goes just as far as my Driver at times.

I use my Maxfli 3 and 4 hybrids for 150 to 170 yds  from the fairway but they don't perform well from the rough and as the course is drying out I'm struggling to get consistant yardages as the extra roll is cocking up my yardages at the moment, Perhaps I'll put the 7 wood back in as it comes down vertical so the roll on won't be as big a problem.

Posted: 15/05/2008 11:01