3 Hybrid or 5 Wood?

[aguybadatgolf]

I currently have a 3w and a 3H. I’ve heard a lot of positives about adding a 5W but I feel it would be similar in yardages to my 3H. Curious what people have to say. 
 

thanks! 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Sign me up in the 5 wood category. Good versatility, little better for options and at least for me a higher ball flight along with some added forgiveness!

[AdamHeard1511]

I’m well and truly in the 5 wood camp.

Tried a 2 iron and a 3 iron in the past and just couldn’t got on with them.

Distance and loft sits quite nicely between my 3 wood (15 degree) and 4 iron (21 degree).

I find I hit woods better than I hit irons so it makes sense for my game. 

If I had enough money, I would buy a 7 wood and experiment between that and my 4 iron.

[Gino5778]

I personally like the 3H better than the 5W.  For me the same distance but with the 3H I think it's easier to hit.  I also like the 3H out of the rough better as well. 

[Bobvon24]

I love my 5 wood easy to hit and  gets in the air faster but If you can keep both in the bag. The hybrid is much more useful in the rough and even some delicate chipping around the green.

[Old Joe]

after great success with a 17 degree Callaway UW (a more hybrid shaped 4 fairway wood with hot enough face to replace 3wood), i recently acquired a 19 degree UW cut down an inch to hybrid length. fits perfectly between lower flighted fairway metal and 4 iron, offering higher apex and steeper descent due to shorter shaft, but more forgiving than hybrid or driving iron (which i had to give up as swing speed declined). 

[Kwoodfield]

If I had to pick one it would be a 3h. 5W just tended to be too high off the tee and not as easy to hit from the rough if needed. I personally carry a 18* 2i which gives me, for my game, the most versatility. I can keep it low if the tee if needed. And much easier out of the rough. There is very little chance if the ball is sitting down of getting a 5 wood on it. 

[sipsong]

I played with a 3 hybrid for about 5 years and found them easy to hit rather than long irons.  Two years ago I went to an outdoor Ping fitting site in Scottsdale and spent a while hitting various heads and shafts as part of the fitting process for new clubs.  Watching the ball flight and looking at trackman data I switched to the 5 wood in my new set as the gap between 3 wood and the other hybrids.  I had similar distances with the 5 wood and 3 hybrid but consistency was better with the 5 wood.   I would recommend trying both and see what you are most comfortable hitting as having confidence in a club is a key to getting desired results.

[PrisonMikeNC]

I carry both. my 3H is a 19 degree loft and my 5 wood is set at 17 degrees. Not a ton of difference in yardage, but (and I am sure its in my head) but I like the hybrid better off the tee and the 5-wood out of the fairway. Wasn't fitted for either, and I do still swap out the 3H for my 4-iron (same loft) from time to time.

[MHock]

 Have both and I find the 3h a bit easier to hit. 

[Shinnman]

8 hours ago, aguybadatgolf said:

I currently have a 3w and a 3H. I’ve heard a lot of positives about adding a 5W but I feel it would be similar in yardages to my 3H. Curious what people have to say. 
 

thanks! 

They will be very similar in distance.  I used to have a 5W, but moved to the 3H.  I found more control with 3H and less dispersion.  That is largely driven by the shorter shaft length. It also is easier to hit out of the rough than a 5W in my opinion.  

[Seany D]

I have a 3h and 3w in my bag.  I thought about taking one out but the 3h is better out of the rough while the 5w flies higher off the fairway and holds the green more often. 

[acatalano32]

I think either one is a great option and I think the real / annoying answer is “get fit by a reputable fitter” with that being said, I just switched from 3h to 5w, I get a little more distance from the 5w, I like it more off the tee and from the fairway. The hybrid did launch and spin a little higher but I could not keep it from going left, got fit for a 5w and I’ve been happy with that decision

[RBEUTLER]

I have both the five wood at 18° and the three hybrid at 20°. I like the five wood over the three hybrid because I can hit it farther and higher, I can also choke down for a little less distance.

[mgatesjr]

I'm team 3H.  It's one of my favorite clubs to hit, and I feel very confident over the ball when I setup with it (this is likely purely mental, no reason I might not get the same result with a 5W but why mess with what works?).  Besides the way I feel when I setup with it (comfortable, confident), I use it when I need distance and accuracy, and am not worried about a higher flight and softer landing.  If I was looking for the latter I might consider a 5W instead.

Maybe see if your local club has a demo 5w that you can hit on the range/take out for a round, or hit one at golf shop on a simulator, and see what feels better to you.  Good luck!

[Shinnman]

6 minutes ago, acatalano32 said:

I think either one is a great option and I think the real / annoying answer is “get fit by a reputable fitter” with that being said, I just switched from 3h to 5w, I get a little more distance from the 5w, I like it more off the tee and from the fairway. The hybrid did launch and spin a little higher but I could not keep it from going left, got fit for a 5w and I’ve been happy with that decision

You are playing the hybrid too far forward in your stance if you are hooking it.  You cannot play it as a wood.  You play it as an iron.  Slide the ball back a little and you will be hitting it great.

[russtopherb]

All depends on your swing and your needs. I'm always favoring a fairway wood over a hybrid because I personally find them more forgiving and to have a better ballflight. YMMV.

[Ivanh2907]

I have both and I find the 5 wood launches higher and lands softer with better stop from the fairway than my 3 hybrid but the hybrid is better from the rough. I can hit both of between 200 and 220 yds. 

[JudgeSmails]

I have played both very recently.....distance off the tee seems to be about the same, I have an easier time hitting a hybrid off the turf though.......I may still go back and forth though

[Parshooter36]

3 hybrid launches too low for me, I have a 7 wood in that spot.

[warrenator8]

I always have preferred fairway metals to hybrids. I tend to hook every hybrid, and I feel that the five wood is more consistent for me.

[Pvicary]

I have both but find myself more in the 5W camp. I find that for my swing speed I get more loft more forgiveness and hence a bit more distance. 

[Dalilama8893]

You’ll likely hit the 5 wood farther than a 3H. I’d dump the 3 Wood, add a 5 Wood and keep the 3H.

[rjacobs4]

I also debated between the 3H and the 5W.  After hitting both in a bay I ended up with the 3H. 
 

I find I am using it more and more. It’s frequently my get out of jail club if I’m in a tough spot and need to punch out.  I used to use my 4 iron a lot for that but my club pro advocated using a hybrid as it’s much more forgiving in tough spots.

It’s also my go to from the rough although I’m comfortable playing it from the tee and fairway too.

p.s.  I find I’m using my 3H so much that I recently dropped my 4 iron and added a 4H to my bag.

 

 

[MarvChamp]

I'm an old guy. Really old. As my swing speed slowed, I put the 3w and 3h away. Now have 5w and 7w, with proper shafts for my swing speed. These work for me. I reviewed numerous pros and cons before making the switch. Most were positive. Best, -MarvChamp

[Murv]

For the old timers my advice is to go to woods. Last year I added a 7 wood and then a 9 wood to my bag. Easier to hit and get some elevation. 

[Kevin W]

A lot of good answers here. All things being equal with your swing, the 5 wood has a longer shaft and bigger head and launches higher and travels further whereas a 3 hybrid has a shorter shaft and smaller head, launches and flies lower and isn't as long. Hybrid better out of the rough and maybe a tad easier to hit because of shorter shaft. Go to YouTube and watch some videos of comparisons, there are plenty on there.

[KG0716]

I have both a 3H and a 5W on average my 5W goes about 20-30 yards further. I find I like the hybrid more, because i can work it as a draw or fade, however the 5W I have really only one shot type with. Both are good off the tee though. For my setup I removed an "extra" wedge to make room to keep the 5 wood. In my area I find I use it more than having an extra wedge in the set.

[Jake-mediocre]

3 hybrid for me. I carried both for a bit, but the 5w just wasn’t getting used to a went with a 3w, and 3h. I feel the hybrid is easier to hit from the rough. 

[Waximus Prime]

2 minutes ago, Jake-mediocre said:

3 hybrid for me. I carried both for a bit, but the 5w just wasn’t getting used to a went with a 3w, and 3h. I feel the hybrid is easier to hit from the rough. 

Same here!