Should You Choose Hybrid vs Fairway Wood vs Driving Iron? (Build My Bag) 

As a newer, higher-handicap golfer I find Hybrids to be the easiest and most consistent clubs to hit in this range. But I could see where really good golfers would get more workability out of a Long Iron. I'm going Hybrid(s) until I seriously step up my game.

Midhandicapper here - transformed the whole top end of my bag last season and have never been more comfortable with it. Previous years I was using 3wood, 5wood, 4hybrid, 5iron down. Now using 4wood, 7wood, 4iron down. Similar to Peter, always struggled with hybrids going left or low. Always felt more comfortable with a fairway wood with my shallower swing. More people should give a 4+7 wood combination a try!

Is it bad that I tee off with my 3 wood? I don’t even carry a driver and it it consistently down middle of the fairway.

I play the Srixon ZX 2 iron and I LOVE it! Way more consistent than my driver off the tee, and honestly doesn’t lose much distance from driver with how hot it is. I don’t feel like it’s particularly hard to hit off the tee and I’m not an amazing golfer by any means (typically shoot high 80s or low 90s). I will admit it is tough off the deck though

I had a 7-wood as a junior (20 years ago) and finally put one back in my bag, thanks to you! I carry a Gapr Lo 3 instead of 3 iron and a 7 wood instead of 4 iron.

Re 7 woods. I’ve just bought a PXG 7 wood at £149 and am so impressed. Not just with price but with ease of use and results obtained. Flight is so good and landing angle way better than 4 iron.

Struggled with this for years and I ultimately went with the Taylormade Stealth 3 DHY. It gives options for different flights and it’s forgiving

This year, I've swaped to a Ping G425 Crossover 4 iron at 22.5* & Ping G425 3 Hybrid at 19* to fill the gaps towards my 3W. It'll fit in perfectly with my i230 irons I'll be getting. Feels gapped perfect against my irons, I'm able to hit low stingers with both, and the hybrid offers forgiveness from sticky lies when you're far out. Def happy so far!

I just got the Icrossover and it’s probably my new favorite club in the bag. Very consistent 250 off the tee and super easy off the fairway

This is why I carry 15 clubs in my bag - carry a mini driver, 5 wood and a driving iron between the Driver and 4 iron. Depending how I'm hitting in the range and also the weather/course condition, I would use a honor system in disqualify one of the club for the round. My logic is that if pros can bring 15-20 clubs before a tournament to test, us weekend warriors can put an extra club in the bag and decide the 1 that we won't be using.

Just picked up Cobra Fmax 5H yesterday as a birthday gift for myself.. I hit it 200yds on the 1st hit of the tee yesterday. I was astounded. I am high handicaper, this was unheard of for me. That club was my confidence club between 190-200yds yesterday.

I got rid of my 3 wood and added a 5 wood, best decision I ever made. Now, I have both a 5 wood and 3 hybrid which some might say is a waste of space because the yardages are almost the same but I love it. My 5 wood is great off the tee and fairway. The 3 hybrid is going about the same distance but it launches great out of the rough. Basically I use my 5 wood when I have a clean lie and my 3 hybrid is the rough “get out of jail” card. Also, my 5 wood is great for high launch but if I need to keep the ball down for a punch or out of the wind I grab the 3 hybrid.

Whirlwind golf club. Love that place

I use the Titleist u505 utility iron, it’s a hybrid and driving iron in one club. Goes as high as a hybrid and low as a driving iron when you want it to. Super easy to hit too!

I added 5 wood to my bag. As a relatively new golfer, I'm still trying to harness the driver so for playing my rounds, I use 3 wood off the tee and 5 wood off the fairway with a 3H and 4H filling in before my irons. Once I harness the driver, I'm likely going to remove the 3 wood and keep the 5 wood. Great video!

I went 5-wood to fill the gap between 3-wood and 4-iron. I wanted something I could hit out of rough, give some height on ball flight, and simply give me confidence behind the ball. I've always strayed away from hybrids. Never liked the look behind the ball. But this year I plan to give them a shot. Mostly to give myself the option to swap out the 5-wood depending on the course. Great video Pete!

What about in the rough. That’s the selling point for me

I play off a 9.7 handicap and have not had any woods in my bag for a few years now I love my forgiving Callaway Big Bertha irons all the way down too a 2 iron which I use on the tee on all par 4s and par 5s, I have been laughed at many times even in comps at the start when they notice no driver sticking out of my bag, but when I scrapped all woods I was a 15.9 handicap now as I said I am single figure golfer :)

I play a 3 wood and 2h but looking at switching to a 5 wood 3h/diving iron combo instead. Super useful! I've been eyeing the Srixon, but now going to check out the Stealth too.

When I first started playing, my hybrid quickly became my go to club off the deck. I could hit it with a lot more consistency than a long iron or 3 wood. It is also extremely versatile to use for punch shots, deep rough, and even putts from the fringe. No better club imo for a high handicapper.

Interesting. I always wondered how folks arranged their bags. I put my woods on the bottom, then irons/hybrids next and wedges and putter on top. Makes more sense to me to have the longer clubs in the bottom of the bag. I almost always hit hybrids to the left. for my new setup this year I'll be ditching the 5H for a 5i, keeping the 4H (hit it better for some reason).

Thoroughly enjoyed this. I struggle with that section of the bag too, and it’s such a massive gap. Also, I just enjoyed the fact that I’m not the only one that (over)thinks these decisions. Thx Pete!😅

Im abt. a 5-10 handicap, I hit a Cobra baffler t-trail Hybrid for the first time about 3-4 years ago. From 215-230 that club is deadly. Changed my life on PAR 5's. Driver, 4 wood, 3 hybrid, 3 iron are in the top end of the bag...

Nice video Pete, I ended up with a 16.5 3 wood lofted up to 18 with @ 5 wood length length 215- 220 yard carry and replaced my 4 iron with a 23 degree hybrid. 195 - 205 carry. When this way as my swing characteristics are low spin, so loft is my friend. But ultimately got fitted to close the gaps in the bag. Top end of the bag sorted 😉

Had the same issue with hybrids for years. Always missed left. Titleist tsi3 changed the game for me. Ability to flatten the lie plus the ability to move the sole weight into the toe has made it a 230-40 baby fade machine! My go to club off of short par 4 tees and into most par 5's.

That Ping Crossover looks interesting. I play with a 5, 7 & 9 wood in the bag. My 9 wood has a lovely flight and it drops so nicely on the green, climbs over trees if an off drive has put me on an adjacent fairway.

Thanks Pete. I struggle as well. Driver directly into a 3i for me. The issue for me is Driver\Fairway W\Hybrid are clubs that are designed with onset. Additionally the hosel's designed to marry to the club at a bizzare angle. Unlike irons, where there is offset and the shaft is parallel to the grooves. The difference in the D\W\H design messes with my address position and strike timing. Why can't manufactures make the upper end of the bag closer to zero offset? Or shaft aligned to neutral club face orientation. Make club design more consistent, swingpath more similar and therefore golf less difficult.

I’ve had the Srixon U65 3 iron in my bag for a few years now. 20 degrees of loft and is very very nice to hit.

Great content Pete tricky part of the bag for sure and went through exactly this last year. Took out 4 iron and have 2 spots between 4w and 5 iron - rotate a 7wood, 4 hybrid and Adams 18 Dhy. Links drop the 7 wood. Winter golf drop the Dhy. Firm & fast summer conditions drop the 4hy.

Lilterally just put the 7 wood in the bag. The thing youve not mentioned, which is a huge bonus for the 7wood is using it for chipping/around the greens. Its an absolute cheat code

I’ve gone 5 wood, 4 hybrid and 3 iCrossover. Had the shaft shortened to the length of my 4 iron. It’s more forgiving and it flys so much lower! Perfect for windy days in Cornwall!

Sold my driver and hybrids to put in a 15 degree utility iron plus 2, and 3 irons,Hever looked back,distance, direction and all I want. Practice plus patience are musts for long irons.

I have 118 club speed with driver so never had an issue with a driving iron speed wise. Could never get on with hybrids and got on fine with driving irons. Decided id try a 7 wood. Oh my god. Favourite club in the bag by a mile. 100% something everyone needs to try. Easy to shape, easy to stop, easy to hit from fairway and rough. Solid option off the tee.

Awesome video! I've always preferred long irons/utility irons, but need to seriously think about a 7-wood for forgiveness and height.

Give me a lofted Fairway wood any day. Just a better strike for me And with the adjustable sleeve on my Pings I have the luxury of adjusting loft up or down to get better gapping

Please try the G430 hybrid, it looks so good, and feels really good too. I’ve just been fitted for one and absolutely love it.

"It's a strange thing, but it is a thing" Couldn't agree more Peter! LOL

I carry a hybrid, a driving iron and fairway wood. I just don't tell anyone I have too many clubs in my bag 😅😅

I carry a 10.5 driver, a 16.5 4 wood (because I need help getting the ball in the air), a G425 7 wood (like Pete tried) 4-P irons, G-S-L wedges, and putter. 14 clubs. I could drop the 4 iron since it and the 7 wood are basically the same loft, but I keep it for getting out of the trees. I can keep it very low and hook/fade if I need to. This setup has worked very well for me so far.

Appreciate the video Pete, thank you. I struggled with this question as a high handicap golfer whos love for the game and gear doesn't match the scores (wife and kids, not enough playing time, blah blah, moving on). Anyway at first my bag went D, 3W, 5I(etc) and I found a huge gap in there. First choice was 3Hybrid and for a while it was great. I found I could use the Hybrid (versus say a 5/7W) out of rough and I just loved the feel and weight of the club. I won't claim to be a good worker of the ball, but even I could shape shots with the hybrid easier than with my 3 wood. Eventually I found I still had too much of a gap so now the bag is at D, 3W, 5W, 3Hy, 5I(etc) and I adjusted the loft on the Hybrid to be weaker and bingo, gapping complete. I sometimes second-guess myself about using a 7W instead of the Hybrid but I don't find a fairway wood nearly as versatile.

Interesting to see a pro mix and match different manufacturers in their bag.

Iam rigtig there, not knowing what to put in My bag in that area. Thanks for sharing Rick

My Cleveland Mashie+ 15.5 degree hybrid is one of my favorite clubs. Great off the tee, fairway, and gnarly rough.

I was having a problem with finding something for this part of my bag also. I have a traditional set up clubs but added the cobra utility 3 iron One length. Love that it’s the length of a 7 iron and I’m crushing off the tee and off the middle of the fairway.

Mr. Finch, I struggle with the same problem. I have a very traditional set, but I interchange a 5 wood, hybrid, driving iron and 3 iron. It can be a crazy mess. Glad I am not the only indecisive one!

What golf bag is this at 0:19 ?

After a ton of tinkering a short, stiff and heavy “5-ish wood” became my go-to in this department. Think homemade UW. It took a head that allows for enough aftermarket weight screws, and a shaft that can handle it, but it turned out quite diverse and delicious 🤗👌

That first driving iron was insane, I would put that in my bag, and I am not even that good really, I usually shoot 80 or more, just broke under 80 with a 74 yesterday but any of those are good choices. Myself have driver, 2, 3, 4, 5 wood, 4-pw, 56, putter

I am having the same conversation.. 3 wood - 4 iron.. have to test the 7 wood and hybrid. Great video as always!!

I went with the Cleveland halo... hywood.. a cross between a hybird and a wood.. at 19 degrees.. its the best of both worlds, love it.

Looks like the Whirlwind Golf Club. Great tracks!

I struggled with this part of my bag too. I really need to be able to hit the stinger shot off the tee when I need control. I ended up going with a graphite shafted driving iron. It helped me keep approach shots in the air and also allowed me to drive it in low on tight pair 4s.

Looks like Pete's been doing the Brooks Koepka workout!

I bought a Cobra Radspeed 4 Hybrid and it’s amazing what those things can do. I can draw or cut it. I can hit it high or keep it below the trees. I would recommend hybrids no matter what brand.

Good call Peter, TM has been building the best Hybrids for years now - ever since the SIM range launched for sure. I'm still thinking you should ditch the TM driver in favor of the PING.

On a side note… I love how the compartments are separated in your Ogio bag

I very much like my U500 3iron, especially off the tee. Come mid-Summer when my swing is sharp it might be my favourite club in the bag. Sometimes in the Spring with less distance due to weather and wet fairways, I do swap it out for a F9 seven wood which I also really like (but in the wind it is trouble). Interested by this hybrid you review because I find that issue you describe when I had a hybrid. I could never get it working. I would hit it for safety or to get out of trouble and it would always be un-safe or get me into more trouble, ha! Great video, Pete!

I’m a 14 handicap and I don’t use any woods, I have a LW GW SW PW 9-3 irons and a u500 2 iron. I’m a good ball striker but couldn’t get consistent results from woods. I like the versatility of the 2 iron, I can gear up and hit a long bomb or hit something low and get good rollout from it. It’s all personal preference. I’d say if you’re a good ball striker with good speed grab a 2 iron

Appreciate the help, scooping up a hybrid today🤝

Looks like Whirlwind, Glad you're enjoying AZ.

Great video! I've been struggling with figuring this out also. I've ditched a 3 wood for a Stealth 5 wood but I switch between my SRIXON ZX 7 wood and my Titleist 818 3 hybrid. I use a Ping G425 driver and love it but I can't hit the Ping fairway woods for some reason.

Great choice Pete! I'm definitely a hybrid guy, have a D7 3-19 and an old trusty G-series 4-22 degree in my bag. I tried long irons but always struggle to launch long irons with my club-head speed. The Ping hybrid is the only club I can still hit easy and straight after a long round in the hot sun when already struggling with my irons 😁 My Ping never lets me down.

love this video! this is the only club I change out every course I play. switch out driving iron , hybrid and 5 wood. depending on what course I play.

so glad you said that about Hybrids tending to go left for the better player, this happens to me a lot unless I take a very weak grip. The only hybrid I've hit that did what it is supposed to is the original Callaway Heavenward, fantastic club but you can't even find them used anymore. i wore out the shaft on my 4 hybrid, I still have the 2 and 1 hybrid if I need a bullet striaght 250 club I'll pull it out on narrow fairways. Just ordered the new Paradym 18 degree hybrid it seems not to be draw biased from fitting session, I am hoping it turns out that way.

I had a great relationship with my 4-iron. Had is the keyword. I'm just now beginning with the idea of replacing it. The 7-wood is a top contender as well as the driving iron. Great video!

Try the Callaway Apex UW! You’d love it!🔥

I have a 17 degree 4 wood. I have that in at 0.5" shortened steel shaft, so it feel a lot like hitting an iron!

Peter Finch chooses the Stealth. Shocker. Can't wait for the Stealth putter, Stealth 68 degree wedge, Stealth 1-iron, and Stealth gimmick chipper to round out the rest of his bag. I'm kidding. Or am I? Love ya, Pete!

I'm in the same boat with regard to this section of the bag. But I often switch between a 21* Mizuno T-Zoid Fli Hi iron and a 20* Adams Idea Pro A12 hybrid. Yesterday I played in the wind (and hail) and played the Mizuno. Nicer weather I'll play the Adams. Totally normal to have a few different clubs that hit the same yardage (but in different ways) to choose from.

I have a major struggle here as well, I love my 2 iron off the tee, but love the ability of my 7 wood to hit and hold greens with its ball flight and easy ability to hit off the deck. I pretty much play both and decide before the round which one to play based on weather conditions and course layout

Ive been using a Mizuno MP-20 HMB 3iron as my driving iron and love it. Used to be a hybrid man, but as i got better, i found shot shaping, particularly height/trajectory, harder to do. And a tendency now and then of a punishing pull left. Whereas the driving iron i find easier to keep low/control height, and also funnily enough more consistent/less punishing on misses. No issues hitting off the fairway either... the GI/driving irons nowadays are so much chunkier, confidence inspiring and friendly behind the ball!

My udi driving is my favorite club in the bag - 18 handicap but nothing gives me more confidence then having the driving iron in the bag for when Im not playing well with my driver

Love the look of the Ping crossover and would like to try that out. To be honest I would do the same and try them all. Me thinks you’re in love with the idea of a driving iron!

Callaway Apex UW fits this space perfectly….would love to see you review this club

Thats why I just carry a 13 deg 3 wood a 17 deg 5 wood and a 20 deg driving 3 iron because I like the 5 wood off the fairway and the 3 iron off the tee…. I do carry 15 clubs but I’m not on tour so I don’t think I’m going to get into trouble lol 😂 cheers mate 🙂👍🏼🍻⛳️

I love my lofted woods and I have never found a hybrid that I can control. My irons stop at 6 iron then 11 wood,9 wood, seven wood, five wood, three wood. I have four irons including pw. I also have a Cobra King 5 utility iron. It switches off with one of my woods as weather or course conditions dictate. I love the utility iron on the really hard fairways of summer, lots of roll off tee.

Is Peter Finch going to become a TaylorMade fan boy after all these new clubs going in the bag this year haha. To be fair they have made some quality products it seems.

I’ve finally settled on 3 wood, 20 degree hybrid and 22 degree utility iron. If I can miss left I use the hybrid. If I need the ball to go straight or can miss right I use the utility iron. Hybrids tend to turn over to the left.

At the moment I'm considering ditching a 3 wood and 5 wood and going 2 hybrid and 4 hybrid to bridge between 5 iron and driver, I don't know if it's the best idea but I don't hit woods that well, I hit irons much better so a hybrid seems to suit my swing

I’m rocking a 9 degree driver at 8.25, 15 3 wood, 19 5 wood, strong 4 iron at 23, 5-pw, 51,55,60. Perfect setup for me.

I am a little confused by this video as a whole. Peter, you say it’s all about loft and filling the gap between the 3 wood and longest iron. In this case, you put up the lofts of the G430 irons. The 4 iron has a loft of 19 degrees. That’s the same (or very close to it) as these four clubs you’re trying out. Why do you need both if they have the same loft? And certainly if you just want something that goes further off the tee, why worry about the shots from the fairway? Why not just use the 4 iron? With the 9 iron being so strong-lofted, aren’t you better served carrying an extra wedge?

18 degree hybrid for me, I like the versatility in between the 3 wood and 4 iron for lots of different lies and weird scenarios

Have tried them all. Currently carry a ping 425 hybrid. This is the best hybrid I have ever hit. Very easy to hit. Although I havent tried the stealth hybrid, I have tried the prior version. Needless to say I just dont get along with Taylormade woods or hybrids. And the durability of the woods I have in the bag are definitely subpar.

Great video pete! i’ve also had this question and have been toying around for the past year with different clubs. I’d recommend trying out the Callaway Apex UW on the course. It’s a super versatile club that flies a little higher than a hybrid but lower than a fairway wood (5 or 7 wood for example). It looks like a very small fairway wood with a very neutral to slightly open face angle. If you don’t try it out, then to help with your fear of going left, grab a higher lofted stealth 2 rescue and loft it down. i’m sure you know but lofting down on clubs opens up the face angle. To wrap everything up i’d say it was a great choice to have the srixon in the reserves. obviously not one club can fit every single course and every type of weather so i think that keeping the rescue/hybrid for non windy days and having the utility iron for windy days is a great pick. Cheers and good luck on making it to the open this year

I have a SIM2 hybrid. Was my favourite club when I first bought my set, even used it off the tee as my driver was hopeless. Took some driver lessons and all of a sudden I can no longer hit my hybrid… just wish I had a 7 wood now as everyone seems to rave about them being easy to hit

I pulled my hybrid out and I put a PXG 0211 7 wood in the bag. I freaking love it! My miss is left and that toe in on hybrids annoys the hell out of me. Granted, I'm in the minority I know that I have a hook, not a slice.

I have made the full move to hybrids as I have the newest Adams 19 degree and 23 degree to fill the gap between my 3 wood and 5 iron!

It’s weird, I don’t consider myself a great ball striker by any means, but I hit my 2 iron a MILE. It’s legitimately the most consistent club in my bag. Off the tee, in the rough, in the fairway it doesn’t matter.

My Srixon driving iron arrives tomorrow & I can't wait to hit it! I went with the 20° 3 iron version so I have a little more control & can launch it a bit higher if needed. I'm honestly surprised you didn't try the G425 hybrid, it's easy to hit, workable, & gives you incredible confidence behind the ball. Can't wait to see how you like the Stealth 2 hybrid, though, cheers!

Beautiful H.I.T. Studio! Congratulations, you deserve it!

I do need a new 2 iron. I've got an old Wilson Sam snead I use for not so much tee shots, but it works great for my get out of trouble club or pitch and run. But I do love my taylormade rbz black 4 hybrid though...

Pete! I’m with you mate. I recently got a fitting done for my woods and came out with the stealth 2 plus Driver 3 Wood Hybrid. Was really surprised as thought I’d end up with the Ping as I’m a relatively beginner of the game. These were my first ‘new’ clubs, tested the new Cobra Callaway Ping and TaylorMade. But I found these very long and quite easy (for my level which isn’t as consistent as the likes of yourself). I think TaylorMade have done well!

I currently have a 9.0 stealth, 15 sim max 3 wood, and a Taylormade m2 5 wood but its 21 degree high launch, realized recently that my 4 iron (p790) is also 21 degrees, the gapping is alright, the 5 wood goes about 25-30 yards further than the 4 iron, but it really does have a high ball flight. Not sure if I should get a more traditional 5 wood at 18 degrees, never likes the look of those hybrids, but worth considering

Always a relevant question - thanks Pete … now admittedly I do all three - 4 iron (21’) setup with driving iron shaft, 3 hybrid (19’ but 2 inch longer shaft) 4 wood (16.5’ and again a longer shaft) and then Driver - nice to have the options of all three lofts, lengths and soles

I struggle with this decision as well , I have all 3 , ping 7w , titliest driving iron and until this year tsi2 hybrid. I was always going back and forth and never could decide until this year i tried the king tec hybrid from cobra . The king tec just offers so much adjustability with the loft sleeve and different weights you can purchase . the Cobra king tec is one club that can do everything.

I have to say, thanks fo hiving me the smile this morning.😂enjoyed the video. I do prefer the driving iron, more classyyyy

2:05 s Patrick Reed taking this shot.. ;-)

I went with the srixon. Just fell in love with the feel of that club. Almost feels like a forged iron.

Awesome vid, very much enjoyed this one. Funny part is just 2 days ago I made pretty much the same decision to purchase clubs for that area of the bag . I don't hit 3 woods very well so am getting the Stealth 2 Plus Rescue 2hyb (2hyb version and loft it down) as my so called 3 wood and then going with the Stealth 2 Plus Rescue 4hyb to bridge the gap (I hope). All I hope should fill in nice around my Sim2 5 wood. Thought about the Srixon driving iron but I feel as a 17 handicap I need a few clubs that are a little more versatile, though may get one just for those windy days, but we'll see

Been playing a random 1 iron for that slot, and it's great for getting out of the trees in the forested areas I play! Insanely hard to hit well however, but it works for the purpose of staying low haha.