Golf Club Comparison: Fairway Woods vs. Hybrids

While a carpenter never blames his tools, every golfer worth their salt knows that your clubs can make or break your game. Finding the best 3 wood for golf is one of the ways you can take your game to the next level.

Only a few years ago, it was rare to see a hybrid or fairway wood in someone’s bag on the course, or even in the bags of pro golfers. They relied on their long irons to make those shots. But times have changed, and these clubs are gaining in popularity amongst pros and amateurs. 

Understanding the critical differences between a 3-wood and a 3-hybrid

While there are some significant differences between a 3-wood and a 3-hybrid, the key thing to keep in mind is the circumstances, and the skill of the golfer is what’s going to be vital in choosing the right club for your next game.

The 3-wood

The 3-wood, also called the Fairway wood, is traditionally used when a player has to hit the ball from the fairway, usually your second shot of the game. It has a 13 to 17 degrees loft.

The 3-wood offers a golfer greater consistency in their shots. It swings a straighter line, which helps you square the clubface and allows you to hit the ball to the correct distance. Because of its greater loft, the 3-wood gives you reliable accuracy. Compared to a driver, when you hit the 3-wood squarely, it gives you twice as much backspin. If you hit consistently on a 3-wood, you can end up inside the 40 yards of a hole. So if you use the 3-wood consistently, you’ll have a greater advantage over amateur players.

If you miss your drive, the 3-wood can get you back in the hole and give you some birdie opportunities. It can also help you hit more fairways. Once you’re at par 5, it won’t matter if you’re facing a tight or rough fairway. Since the 3-wood’s edges are rounded, the club moves seamlessly through the grass and hits the ball for the target. If you were to use an iron for this shot, you could quickly get it stuck in the grass and miss the shot.

The 3-hybrid

The 3-hybrid, also called a utility club, is a cross between an iron and a wood. The club’s head is crafted in a way that promotes a consistent shot with a good trajectory. Its loft is around 19 to 21 degrees. The 3-hybrid and the 3-wood are very different clubs. 3-hybrid works closer to a 3-iron, while 3-wood works more like a 1-iron. The 3-hybrid is designed in such a way that it makes hitting the long iron from the fairway easier. Since the 3-hybrid have a shorter shaft, it’s easier to keep under control. Its deeper head gives the clubface more stability, resulting in straighter shots.

Due to its back weighting in the head, the 3-hybrids launch the ball high and clear in the air. The 3-hybrid gives good results on clean swings and more accuracy than the 3-wood. If you want distance, you’ll use the 3-wood. If you want accuracy, you’ll want to grab your 3-hybrid.