Lower End Choices & Gapping

[JB]

So I am in a rather unique situation. Something I have not really dealt with in the past, but one that is causing me to have some fun choices. My bag and distances (measured via GPS & launch monitor on range). These are carry distances.

Metal Woods
Driver - 250+
Big Bertha 3 Wood - 230
Cleveland Mashie FW 5 wood - 210-215

Irons
5 Iron - 185

Right now I have a X2Hot 3 hybrid and I am hitting that about 210. My previous hybrid was 200 yards and this one ranges from 200-210 depending on if I step on it or not. So that leaves me questioning my setup.

230
215
205
185

Now I can take something off the 3 hybrid and have it go 195, but I am wondering if I am looking at this wrong and should remove the 5 wood and go with an X2Hot 4 hybrid to cover that 195 gap. That would leave me like this

230
205-210
195
185

Now it looks more consistent and more importantly in an area where I am more inclined to have the green light than having another fairway wood that I am not using as much since the 3 hybrid has given me more distance. The other option is changing the 3 hybrid to just a 4 hybrid and stepping on it when I need to or taking a bit off the 5 wood.

Im more or less thinking out loud here, but its an area I have been thinking a lot about recently and it came into play once today and I ended up choosing poorly.

 

[Wicked Cool Bearded Man]

I say scrap the 5 wood and go 4 hybo. The gaps look better to me

 

[GregDan]

I am having the same issues right now as well. I have my 3H going almost as far as my 5w and am thinking of taking the 3H down to a 4 and filling the gap a little better that way.

If I were you I think I would be more comfortable in the second setup and getting rid of the 5w. I think the gapping that way would help you out better and give you a better chance for success without having try and take something off of a club. Of course if you are more comfortable taking something off than grabbing some extra yardage than the other one would work well too. Haha

Kind of a catch 22 here me thinks.

 

[Brianbigoats]

I think i would pull the 5 wood at that distance 5 yards diffrence will not be much
I always prefer to take a full swing rather than partials

 

[Trout Bum]

I agree with WCBM, the gaps look much better and the hybo would probably be a little more consistent.

 

[Wicked Cool Bearded Man]

I agree with WBCM, the gaps look much better and the hybo would probably be a little more consistent.

I guess my only question would be what are you losing by taking the 5 wood out? Tee shots? As in what is the 5 wood bagged for ? For me it is for off the tee. I hit that club significantly better than my hybrids off the tee.

 

[kc720]

Seems to be a common problem when sticking some of the new tech gear out there. Personally I would get rid of the 5w. Taking something off to get less yardage usually equals to putting on a lazy messed up swing for me. Plus the shorter length shafts on the hybo means more consistency for me

 

[staticline]

I guess you might want to look into some sort of "success %" when you "step on it". To me, that implies that you are not using your normal swing. If you can get a club to fill that gap, that uses your normal swing, that would seem like the best solution.

 

[JB]

I guess my only question would be what are you losing by taking the 5 wood out? Tee shots? As in what is the 5 wood bagged for ? For me it is for off the tee. I hit that club significantly better than my hybrids off the tee.

The 5 wood is great off the tee and deck. Easiest fairway wood I have ever hit off the deck. But at the same time, the hybrid is very easy and I am almost getting that distance.

 

[Johnny mojo]

If it was me and those were my distances, I would want to go with the more consistent gaps and the hybo. It sounds like maybe the more consistent gaps would be a little more comfortable for you? Sort of reading into it a little maybe. If so, the comfort would maybe foster some additional confidence. It would for me.

Make sense?

JM

 

[Howzat]

I think I see an x2hot 4 hybrid in your future. This is one part of my bag I really need to figure out for 2014. It will be interesting to see which way you go.

 

[tpluff]

Exactly why I went 4 hybrid in the X2Hot, they just go and go like my old 3 hybrid. I'm not one to give advice, but if you love the 3 hybrid like I think you do, a 4 would look great right next to it in the bag.

 

[Drumdog]

The 5 wood is great off the tee and deck. Easiest fairway wood I have ever hit off the deck. But at the same time, the hybrid is very easy and I am almost getting that distance.

I think you just answered your own question right there.
I have fallen in love with the hybrids and now only carry a driver and 3 wood.
The gaps look great with that hybrid combo.

 

[KnightLightPro]

I think I would go with the 4 hybrid and remove the 5w. I think it would be better to take your full swing with the 4h than to take some off for the 5w and possibly miss hit it. IMO

 

[SkiBumGolfer]

Echo what others say and say drop the 5w and stick in the 4 hybrid. Sucks to pull a club you have confidence in, but if you're hitting the 3h pretty much the same distance then it doesn't make sense to duplicate.

 

[JB]

I think I see an x2hot 4 hybrid in your future. This is one part of my bag I really need to figure out for 2014. It will be interesting to see which way you go.

I happen to have one too.

 

[arydolphin]

Play the 4 hybrid head with the shaft at the 3 hybrid length. You get the height of the 4 hybrid and a little extra length to bridge the gap to the 5 wood.

 

[lightningbolt44]

Personally I would take the 5 wood out and add a 4 hybrid. Which club do you use the least in a round? I tracked my usage of each club for about two months and found I used my 5 wood pretty much once every two rounds or so it came out of the bag after I realized how little I actually used it.

 

[Parshooter36]

I dropped the 5 wood a couple of years ago for this very reason. The distance gap between my 3 hybrid and 5 wood was so small, I did not need to carry both.

 

[golf4life]

Personally, I'd go with the 3 and 4 hybrids and drop the 5 wood. I just find hybrids to be much more versatile (from the rough, for punch shots under branches, from fairway bunkers) than a fairway wood. Since the distance is virtually the same, I think you gain flexibility and get better gapping to boot.

 

[#Cookie]

Personally, I'd go with the 3 and 4 hybrids and drop the 5 wood. I just find hybrids to be much more versatile (from the rough, for punch shots under branches, from fairway bunkers) than a fairway wood. Since the distance is virtually the same, I think you gain flexibility and get better gapping to boot.

Couldn't agree more but it's no secret that I'm a lover of hybrids.

As others have said, you seem to hit both equally well so it comes down to which you can hit more often.

Like Brett said, I just find hybrids more versatile.

 

[ddec]

I do one of these

I bring back the old hybrid
I take the BB 3 wood, add more loft, ditch the 5 wood and add the 4 hybrid.

 

[JB]

I do one of these

I bring back the old hybrid
I take the BB 3 wood, add more loft, ditch the 5 wood and add the 4 hybrid.

I have thought about those options too. I still have the old hybrid. I played it for a long time and loved it.

 

[ddec]

I have thought about those options too. I still have the old hybrid. I played it for a long time and loved it.

and played it quite well. It's an interesting decision. It's an area of my bag that I am constantly tinkering with.

 

[mikeg_74]

Like others have said I like the versatility that hybrids provide. Distances being close to the same & being able to hit your hybrids off the tee if needed is a big plus and even more reason to ditch the 5W.

I was in a similar situation last year where I took a step back and looked at the top of my bag. I not only looked at distance gaps but how many times I use my hybrid versus my FW. After a few rounds it was clear I needed to ditch the FW & add hybrids. This also allowed me to manage my way around a course better and not try to hit the hero shot with my FW that I knew I Was 50/50 at best executing. The hybrids have me confidence & subsequently had me working on those touch shots (50yd & in). Scores went down & penalties from an unplayable 2nd shot were greatly reduced.