Confused about rescue / iron-woods

[sidneysides]

I have never had any kind of rescue club in my bag before, but decided to go for one of these Nike Iron Woods:
http://www.onlinegolf.co.uk/708-17955

Now are these actually classed as rescue clubs? Do they do the same thing? I know there's a wood version of the same club but I figured that as I'm not not normally a fairway wood hitter then I might find these easier to hit.

[rock2104]

I found the hybrids I tried all were easier to hit from various lies than a fairway wood. I carry a 19* 2i Cleveland Halo and use it for many shots from many lies. The best advice is to go play different models and find what fits your swing. Good luck

[Kiwi Player]

I have never had any kind of rescue club in my bag before, but decided to go for one of these Nike Iron Woods:
http://www.onlinegolf.co.uk/708-17955

Now are these actually classed as rescue clubs? Do they do the same thing? I know there's a wood version of the same club but I figured that as I'm not not normally a fairway wood hitter then I might find these easier to hit.

They were originally called 'rescue' clubs because they were designed to help rescue your ball from a wayward tee shot that finished up in the rough i.e where a long iron would be pretty tough to hit.

Now they are becoming more common simply as long iron replacements for those that struggle to hit 2,3,4 irons or fairway wood replacements for those that don't like high lofted fairway woods i.e. 5 wood, 7 wood.

They are a cross between long irons and fairway woods the main difference being

1. more weight in the head than an iron or wood (which makes them easier to hit from the rough).
2. Equivalent or slightly longer shaft compared to long irons but shorter shaft than an equivalent fairway wood therefore offering more control.