Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Anyone else ditching fairway woods for low lofted hybrids?”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from Crazy About Golf who has recently traded in his 3-wood in favor of his 16-degree hybrid. The reasons behind the move, according to Crazy About Golf is
“I’m more comfortable hitting it off the deck and off the tee, and only seem to lose about 10 yards of distance compared to the 3-wood (assuming I strike the 3-wood perfectly). More often than not, I have a slight mishit on the 3-wood and end up short and or offline from where I would have otherwise been with the 16-degree hybrid. I’ve tried out a number of new fairway woods and haven’t yet found anything that has “WOWed” me. With hybrid clubs getting better and better, I’m not seeing much of a downside.”
Crazy About Golf asks fellow members what they make of his strategy and how the approach has worked out for those who have done the same, in what has turned into a very insightful discussion.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire thread and have your say in the discussion at the link below.
- North Butte: “For quite a while my top-of-bag setup was a 10.5 driver (set to 12 degrees) then an 18-degree 5-Wood and then a 23-degree 4-Hybrid. In my most recent equipment “replacement cycle” (rhymes with “ho”) I’m using driver then 18 and 23-degree hybrids. I’m not sure I’m giving up any distance at all on average with the 41″ hybrid vs 42-1/2″ 5-Wood, and I am certainly gaining consistency and straightness. The trajectory is lower with the hybrid, but it isn’t like I was stopping 5-Wood shots on a dime either. Net benefit isn’t huge, but it’s been a worthwhile change. Plus my 18 and 23-degree hybrids are the same model with the same shaft, so that’s twice as many shots per round with near-identical clubs, helping me even more with consistency and confidence.”
- gioguy21: “I’m currently on the fence about whether to keep my 3w in the bag or just use my epic 3i w/ hybrid shaft; b/c they’re close in terms of distance, and the driving iron is much more consistent and goes straight as an arrow. the 3w has the extra distance but, it is more workable and sometimes that is good – others it can be bad.”
- jimb6golf: “Swapped out my 5 wood for a 2 hybrid. The hybrid is much easier to hit off the fairway and especially in the rough. Occasionally put the 5 wood back in on courses where I might use it off the tee a few times though.”
- NRJyzr: “Currently playing with no 3w, only a TM Stage 2 Tour 2h between my irons and driver. Primarily playing one course that’s par 71 6100/6500 from whites/blues, there’s not much call for a 3w shot off the deck, and shorter tee shots can be handled with the 2h. Other nice aspects… The 2h can also more easily be shafted with a 100g+ shaft than a fairway wood; I’m using an NV105 iron shaft in it. I tend to prefer shorter club lengths than are currently “standard” in drivers and woods; the shorter hybrid length appeals to me greatly. Since making the switch, it’s been working quite well.”
Entire Thread: “Anyone else ditching fairway woods for low lofted hybrids?”
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Equipment
Wilson introduces new Staff Model ZM wedge series
Wilson Sporting Goods has today unveiled the introduction of its Staff Model ZM wedge series which become available for presale on Wilson.com starting Tuesday, March 19 and at retail beginning Tuesday, April 2.
The new Staff Model ZM Wedges incorporate a new high-spin groove construction, face milling and Garnet Face Blasted finish that all work together in design to to ensure a faster, deeper and longer ball interaction. The combination aims to provide golfers with more consistent spin and control in all weather and lies, with a special focus on wet conditions.
Constructed from soft forged 8620 carbon steel, the new Staff Model ZM Wedges are designed with a straighter leading edge and elevated center of gravity (CG) in design to improve trajectory control in the higher lofted wedges. A new progressive CG design exists as the lofts increase in a bid to promote a more consistent and controlled ball flight.
“The meticulous level of detail our team invested in perfecting the grooves of this wedge lineup really paid off. From Tour player testing to amateur player testing, the feedback is resoundingly favorable that these are the highest-spinning – and most consistent-spinning – wedges Wilson has ever produced.” – Bob Thurman, Global General Manager of Golf and Vice President of Research & Development at Wilson
The new Wilson Staff Model ZM Wedges will be available in six loft options – 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60-degrees with 46 and a 48-degrees available through custom order. Golfers can select between various bounce options in the 56, 58 and 60-degree lofts. All lofts are available in right-handed, with the 52, 56 and 60-degrees available in left-handed.
A high toe offering, the Wilson Staff Model ZM HT, launches alongside the lineup and is distinguished by a high toe shaping, wide sole construction and full-face grooves. The ZM HT model infuses the same performance features as the Staff Model ZM Wedges.
All ZM and ZM HT Wedges come equipped with a True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner stock shaft and a Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip.
Wilson Staff Model ZM Wedge Highlights:
- ZM Grooves: A deeper ZM groove pattern combined with a high-tech garnet face blasting and milled face ensures faster, deeper, longer ball interaction resulting in higher consistent spin and control in all weather conditions.
- Versatility First: Ranging from 6 to 12 degrees of bounce, ZM Wedges provide the versatility necessary to cover a range of skill levels, attack angles, divot depths and course conditions.
- Forged 8620 Carbon Steel: The soft forged 8620 carbon steel comes with a straighter leading edge, and elevated center of gravity for trajectory control in higher lofted wedges.
- Pricing Information: $149.99 USD ($199.99 CAD)
Wilson Staff Model ZM HT Wedge Highlights:
- ZM Grooves: A deeper ZM groove pattern combined with a high-tech garnet face blasting and milled face ensures faster, deeper, longer ball interaction resulting in higher consistent spin and control in all weather conditions.
- High Toe & Wide Sole Construction: The high toe and wide sole design allow the club to be played at a variety of open and closed face positions.
- Forged 8620 Carbon Steel: The soft forged 8620 carbon steel comes with a straighter leading edge, and elevated center of gravity for trajectory control in higher lofted wedges.
- Pricing Information: $149.99 USD ($199.99 CAD)
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (3/19/24): Custom Ping PLD Prime Tyne putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Custom Ping PLD Prime Tyne putter.
From the seller: (@nelsonbr.15.15): “Custom Ping PLD Prime Tyne $775 shipped OBO. Finish: Patina. Length: 34.5″. Loft: 3°. Lie: 1° flat. Head material: Carbon w/tungsten toe and heel weights (headweight I believe is 370g ish). Face milling: TR grooves. Shaft: Flat black. Grip: Garsen Quad Tour Non-Tapered. I am not the original owner and do not have the original headcover, there are a couple of marks on the neck. Let me know if you have any questions or want additional pictures.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Custom Ping PLD Prime Tyne
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Whats in the Bag
Russell Henley WITB 2024 (March)
- Russell Henley WITB accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT Hybrid 100 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S, @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron T5 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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jc
Oct 16, 2019 at 4:58 pm
I used to not like my 3 wood, crooked and low….but after coming back from a stroke and not swinging as hard, I suddenly could hit it pretty well. Guess staying down is the trick. I also have a 4 wood 16.5 and it is almost the same disance so now I rotate my 3,4,5,7 woods with my hybrids….out of the rough, the hybrids are still the club to hit though.
Eric
Oct 7, 2019 at 12:00 pm
I am just doing this. Picked up a Cobra Oversized Hybrid to replace fairway. Keep it playable!
Webster
Oct 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm
This is really people just realizing that it’s easier to hit shorter length clubs; it’s not the fact that one is a called a FW wood and the other a Hybrid. It’s easier to make solid contact with a similarly lofted hybrid that is around 2″ shorter than the corresponding FW wood. I play my 3w(13.5) and 5w(18) at 41″ and 40″ which is pretty much hybrid lengths. And I play my 3H(20) and 4H(24) with at traditional iron lengths; 38.75″ and 38.25″.
Scratchscorer
Oct 8, 2019 at 3:32 pm
I agree. I put a 5-wood shaft in the 3-wood head and consistency improved. Cut Driver shaft down 1/2 and inch and got more consistent and longer because I hit the middle of the face more often.
Brett
Oct 1, 2019 at 10:38 am
I went the other way. When I was a 20 handicap I “upgraded” from a fairway wood to a low lofted hybrid, rationalizing that it was easier to hit and gave up only moderate distance. In reality, I just wasn’t that good a holler and couldn’t consistently hit either. As I’ve lowered my handicap to a 10, I realize that it didn’t matter which club I hit, if I couldn’t hit the center of the club face consistently, then the result would suck. Learn how to hit the center of the club face and you’ll likely much prefer a fairway wood, which has a bigger, more forgiving face and greater distance and accuracy.
Ray
Oct 1, 2019 at 7:27 am
I now use my 3 wood instead of a driver and use hybrids off the fairway.
Alex
Sep 30, 2019 at 8:40 pm
Bol playing a 7000 yard course with no 3 wood.
Joeoe
Sep 30, 2019 at 8:55 pm
Exactly my thoughts.If you want to stay a high handicapper then ditch the 3 wood
John Ponterio
Sep 30, 2019 at 5:56 pm
Get a 4 hybrid and a 5 wood for off the tee
Clay Reed
Sep 30, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Exactly like the gentleman with screen name NRJyzr
above. I get a lot of distance with 17 degree hybrid and 19 and 21. I have slightly less distance but the margin of error is almost zero. It takes a horrendous swing to hit a hybrid very bad or off track at all. I also have a bit of a steep swing and I have always been able to hit a driver off the deck with ease. So for anything freakishly long it’s driver, otherwise I am all about consistency and minimizing my bad swings. I been quoted at times as saying hybrids are almost like cheating. There’s not many places that I can’t hit one from and I tend to play hybrids that I derive a ton of feel from. So if I am off in some pine needles, sandy gravel, or any type of rough that’s not high grass there’s a high probability that I can hit a choke down hybrid off of the surface and have the end result be far better than any iron or wedge in my bag.
golfraven
Sep 30, 2019 at 3:35 pm
The average Joe is better staying away from a 2 (17 degree) or even 3 (19 degree) hybrid. If you don’t swing it faster than 100 mphs than you will benefit from a 4 or 5 wood. Ditched my 3 hybrid and got a 21 degree one and a 17 degree 4 wood.
Adam
Sep 30, 2019 at 2:45 pm
Adam’s Idea Super Hybrids (before Taylormade buyout) are on ebay for less than $50 and they’re the best hybrid you’ll ever hit. I have 2 21, 2 19 and a 15 is on the way. No need for the 3 wood for me, I hit the 15 255