Driving Iron, hybrid, or fairway… for 200+

[Billy-Bo-Jim-Bob]

Think about what situation you need that distance the most, try all 3 types and see what characteristics fit best for what you want to address.

Personally, I love my 5 wood over a hybrid or 2 iron. It's like on auto-pilot. I prefer the versatility it gives me from the tee, rough, height to land and stop.....hell, I even use around the green as a chipper.

[ashmore72]

depends on what sets up to your eye really.

i cant swing a hybrid correctly to save my life, it just screams GOING LEFT!  Driving irons are good for higher swing speeds (personally), which I do not have.  So that leaves me with the fairway woods.  Recently I have been able to hit them great.  So I switched to a 3/5/7 wood setup, will not be looking back anytime soon.  

[JeremyD]

200+ starts with my 4 iron which is loftier than most now adays at 25 degrees. I used to hit my 5 iron (28 degrees) that far, but too old, fat, and inflexible for that now.

I also have a 4 hybrid 22 degree that I can hit about 210 yards

I have an old Cleveland 19 degree 2 hybrid that is pretty reliable to go 220 or so

I do occasionally include my old DCI 962 2 iron in the bag to see if I can still hit it, which I really can't.

I've found my Cleveland is the most consistent, and forgiving of all of my 200+ clubs outside of my Driver and 3W

[CFreddie]

Currently game the following:

3W - Titlest 913 (hand me down from my dad, prob the next club to be replaced due to age); generally hit this 220-230

3H - Callaway Super Hybrid (love this club but still new in my bag); hit this 200

Utility Iron - Srixon zx 21 degree (this isn’t my best club, but it’s versatile (especially for low shots out of trouble); hit 180-190

That being said, still trying to figure out the proper gapping here, and open to removing the FW / DI for a more consistent setup (hybrid is new and results are good so far). 

 

[Pooter McGavin]

On 1/25/2023 at 8:04 AM, Parshooter36 said:

I use 5 wood for 200+ because thats the only club I can het 200 off the deck.

Same here.  A hybrid or driving iron might end up 200,  but I can't reliably carry 200 with them.

[BostonSal]

On 1/2/2023 at 1:15 PM, doubleduhric said:

Driving Iron, hybrid, or fairway… for 200+
 

Which, why, what factors did you consider making the choice?… was it performance? personal preference? a tip from a friend or a pro? do you carry both or a combination of sorts?

I go with a driving iron exclusively for tight driving holes: never use it from the fairway.

I go with 18.5, 21, and 24º fairway woods.   

No hybrids.

It was entirely personal preference.

Not a single one of my frequent playing partners or our club's pro plays the same basic set configuration as I do.

 

[CFreddie]

Have always felt most comfortable with a DI and least comfortable with a FW.  Recently picked up a used Hybrid to try out and results are pretty promising (carry is basically the same with DI & Hybrid).  

 

Would love to get better with a FW but I just have issues making good contact with it off the deck.

 

Curious if I should try for a 7W / HW given the high praise for them.

[GolfSpy AFG]

I highly recommend The Sweet Spot podcast with Adam Young and Jon Sherman, and a running equipment series they do with a recognized fitter in NYC, Woody Lashen.  They did a pod specifically focused on fairways vs hybrids vs driving irons, and it's definitely worth a listen.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjF5Jb4vrj-AhUIk4kEHedtCocQFnoECBUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fthe-sweet-spot-golf-podcast%2Fid1552917994%3Fi%3D1000585279491&usg=AOvVaw1tBudoQG1d9-hS1JyV99oP

For me, 240 down to 210 is a Callaway Apex Pro 3 hybrid and a TaylorMade Stealth DHY 4 hybrid.  I use the term hybrid loosely with the TaylorMade though...it's a bit of a mix of hybrid and driving iron and an extremely versatile club. 

I absolutely LOVE this club and highly recommend giving it a try.

[CFreddie]

2 minutes ago, Getoffmylawn said:

I highly recommend The Sweet Spot podcast with Adam Young and Jon Sherman, and a running equipment series they do with a recognized fitter in NYC, Woody Lashen.  They did a pod specifically focused on fairways vs hybrids vs driving irons, and it's definitely worth a listen.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjF5Jb4vrj-AhUIk4kEHedtCocQFnoECBUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fthe-sweet-spot-golf-podcast%2Fid1552917994%3Fi%3D1000585279491&usg=AOvVaw1tBudoQG1d9-hS1JyV99oP

For me, 240 down to 210 is a Callaway Apex Pro 3 hybrid and a TaylorMade Stealth DHY 4 hybrid.  I use the term hybrid loosely with the TaylorMade though...it's a bit of a mix of hybrid and driving iron and an extremely versatile club. 

I absolutely LOVE this club and highly recommend giving it a try.

Great recommendation - just finished Jon’s book (4 foundations) so I’ll need to check out that specific podcast!

[Shlax]

On 1/2/2023 at 1:15 PM, doubleduhric said:

Driving Iron, hybrid, or fairway… for 200+
 

Which, why, what factors did you consider making the choice?

At the top end of my bag, I have:

• 3W (15°)
• 2i driving/utility (18°)
• 4i from my iron set (22°)

I like this set up because the 3W and 2i are great alternatives off the tee. The 2i (TaylorMade Stealth UDI) is an absolute weapon. It is easy to flight down for stingers or hit high and spinny to attack greens. Fairway finders and simply advancing safely during 2nd shots on long par 5s are its main areas of expertise I would say. The build of this club makes it relatively easy to hit from the fairway or rough (provided that you have a decent lie in the rough). I play in Eastern Canada where playing a 2i is basically inadvisable because fairways barely have any roll and wind is rarely a controlling issue. However, it is a club that I strike well and provides shot-making possibilities for me so I plan on keeping it in the bag for a while.

I tried all kinds of hybrids in the past and never truly had much success with this type of club. It most likely had to do with my swing more than with the clubs themselves but that's why I don't play any hybrid.

As for fairway woods (let's say 5W and up), I would personally favor this type of club before hybrids. They usually are a very reliable option in many scenarios (fairway and rough) and easy to hit. Spin is usually good enough to hold greens but I am not able to flight them down. For this reason, higher loft fairway woods are not an interesting option off the tee or with some headwind.

One option is not definitely better than the other. It depends on your personal preferences, swing characteristics and habits on the course/course management (e.g., if you hit 1/14 fairway every round, a driving iron might be of limited interest other than as an off the tee alternative). I say once you've tried a few different options on the range and during rounds, you'll know what you like in terms of feel and performance (what you strike well) and what could be a viable option (how and when you use it during rounds).

[J7Hawkins]

As plenty of other have said, this is the hardest piece of assembling my bag! The 200-250 range can be a headache on the course for me. 
 I have broken it down like this:

• 5 iron - ~205-210 lower flight low stopping power
• 21° hybrid - ~210-220 high flight (or can be manipulated low with swing) very easy to move left/right but typically has more ability to stop on or near the green due to the higher trajectory.
• 3 driving/hybrid iron - ~235-250 low flight very forgiving off the face. This club is a par 5 killer it feasts on yardage and will roll out far even with a miss hit. 
  3 wood - ~230-250 high flight, my go to off the tee on a short par 4 or lay up into a 5. Has wood forgiveness and I can place it on a spot better than the driving iron but lacks the ability to keep it low.  

[Fred Mitchell]

8 hours ago, J7Hawkins said:

As plenty of other have said, this is the hardest piece of assembling my bag! The 200-250 range can be a headache on the course for me. 
 I have broken it down like this:

• 5 iron - ~205-210 lower flight low stopping power
• 21° hybrid - ~210-220 high flight (or can be manipulated low with swing) very easy to move left/right but typically has more ability to stop on or near the green due to the higher trajectory.
• 3 driving/hybrid iron - ~235-250 low flight very forgiving off the face. This club is a par 5 killer it feasts on yardage and will roll out far even with a miss hit. 
  3 wood - ~230-250 high flight, my go to off the tee on a short par 4 or lay up into a 5. Has wood forgiveness and I can place it on a spot better than the driving iron but lacks the ability to keep it low.  

I have a TaylorMade DHY 4 Utility iron ordered to replace my 4 and maybe my 5 lol depending on yardage I get with it with aftermarket shaft I opted for , I can turn down loft on Ping 425 5H to move yardage back and forth if needed. The longest clubs and shortest clubs are easy to decide on, the betweeners are harder imo.

Edited May 12, 2023 by Fred Mitchell

[Jbreck10]

200-210 5I

210-220 4I

220+ off tee-driving iron

250+ into green 3 wood

 

[DiscipleofPenick]

I hit my 4i about 200, then my 18* hybrid is 220ish and if I get lucky, my 3W will go 245. I will only hit the 3W when I can give it a full rip, and if I'm playing into a strong wind, I will still hit the 4i for like a 220 shot because the hybrid can balloon in the wind. Maybe I get lucky with a low 4 and bounce up.

[JudgeSmails]

I think hybrids are just easier for me to hit...i've always struggled with fairway woods