Club Selection:3 Wood, or Hybrid ?

**jayt1234** · 12-23-2004

O.K. If anyone can give me some advice here it would be greatly appreciated. I am new to golf, and have been struggling with getting my bag complete. I started with a used set of Callaway X-14's which are fine and I do not intend to replace those anytime soon. I replace the 3 and 4 irons which I could not hit at all with a Cobra 23 degree baffler which has helped out tremendously. Driver is a King Cobra 440SZ and could not be happier with it. Hear is my dillema, I can hit the driver great but for some reason struggled with the 3 wood off the tee's. I was using a steel shafted Callaway warbird 3, and just could not control the thing off the tee. The only way to get it down the middle was to use a slower than normal swing speed, which minimized distance, and I might as well hit a 5 iron with a full swing. I retired the 3 wood for now, but are hybrids good enough to replace this club? I was thinking of buying an 18 degree Cobra baffler to replace the 3, but I just want some feedback on if this is a viable solution. I figured that it would be a more versatile club in the long run, since I could not hit the 3 off the fairway anyway, and this could be used more frequently for long second shots. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jay T

**Husky** · 12-23-2004

Originally Posted by jayt1234

O.K. If anyone can give me some advice here it would be greatly appreciated. I am new to golf, and have been struggling with getting my bag complete. I started with a used set of Callaway X-14's which are fine and I do not intend to replace those anytime soon. I replace the 3 and 4 irons which I could not hit at all with a Cobra 23 degree baffler which has helped out tremendously. Driver is a King Cobra 440SZ and could not be happier with it. Hear is my dillema, I can hit the driver great but for some reason struggled with the 3 wood off the tee's. I was using a steel shafted Callaway warbird 3, and just could not control the thing off the tee. The only way to get it down the middle was to use a slower than normal swing speed, which minimized distance, and I might as well hit a 5 iron with a full swing. I retired the 3 wood for now, but are hybrids good enough to replace this club? I was thinking of buying an 18 degree Cobra baffler to replace the 3, but I just want some feedback on if this is a viable solution. I figured that it would be a more versatile club in the long run, since I could not hit the 3 off the fairway anyway, and this could be used more frequently for long second shots. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Jay T

Jay,
I am a high handicapper, and have the same issue with 3 woods. I decided to go with TM rescue mid 22 degree. I have found this much easier to hit than a 3 wood off of the fairway, and get a decent angle and distance with this club. It may be something you want to look into.

My $.02

**rsr72** · 12-23-2004

Keep the 20+ degree hybrid and the 3 wood. Practice with your 3 wood. My opinion, you'll get more distance eventually from the wood, than a 18 hybrid. You might look for a different shaft for the wood.

The 18 degree would be a quick fix, but I bet you could get 20-30 more yards out of the 3 wood once you feel more comfortable with it.

**rockford35** · 12-23-2004

Try setting yourself up with something from Cobra. That way, you'll have a familiar head to look down on.

I personally like the 3 wood idea. It's not only great off the tee, but out of the fairway and deep rough as well. Nothing against hybrids, but woods are easy to hit if you work at them.

But honestly, try as many clubs as you can. What works for some won't work for all, and the best bet for a correct fit is to try as many as you can.

Good luck, and let us know how your search goes.

R35

**midnight** · 12-23-2004

Is that a good idea to replace a 3 Wood with a 15* utility such as a Callaway Hibrid heavenWood? and also replace 5 wood and 3 iron with a 20*utility such as a Callaway Hibrid heaven wood?

Any comment on this combination ?
or just a 15* utility is enough , u may use it on Tee and fairway

**kirksey74** · 12-23-2004

A scratch golfer told me this about your 2,3,4,5 irons and hybrid replacement clubs...."You can hit some great shots with those clubs but i can give you a hybrid club to replace those irons and you'll smile every time you hit them"...
I think having a hybrid or a utility club is kind of...seniorish...maybe that's just me stereotyping...

**racerboy52** · 12-23-2004

i agree with rockford, get a cobra 3 wood to match your driver and go with a similar shaft. becoming consistant with a 3 wood is very valuable tool and i am more consistant with my 3 wood (13* titleist 980F strong) than my driver. i use my 3 wood in places where i need it to be in control or on shorter par 4's to put myself where i'm not between clubs. i also have a 19* 503.H that gets the job done also.

try different clubs out and use what BEST fits your swing and game. if using a hybrid 16* inspires confidence and you can hit it well, use it. if you are able to get a good yardage and do it consistantly then it will only do good things for your game.

**dorkman53** · 12-24-2004

I agree with Rockford that if you work at it a 3 wood is a better club to have in the bag than any lower lofted hybrid I've tried. I'm a big hybrid fan and my favorite hybrids are the Hogans, but if you can work at it, a 3 wood will be a bit longer off the tee. 3 woods I've personally found very easy to hit are the Nakashima and the AGT Supernova. The Hogan 17 degree #1 for me is almost as easy to hit, but I definitely give up a few yards vs. a 3 wood. I find hybrids more helpful for replacing long irons than fairway woods. Just my opinion, though.