Fairway wood or hybrid?

[David B]

I'm currently torn between buying a 7-wood, or a 22* hybrid (a TM Rescue Dual). They're one degree different in loft, so that's not really a big deal, but I was just wondering if I should go with the hybrid instead of the wood.

I like the hybrid idea to play when in the rough, since it seems like it would be a more playable club... also it would be the transition club between my woods and irons (equivalent to a 3-iron).

Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[ezra76]

I play a 23* SonartecMD hybrid. I use it for a variety of shots and lies I don't think I could pull off with a fairway wood or long iron.

 

[Slingblade61]

Yes.....the 7 wood is considered a "girlie" stick.

Get the hybrid.

 

[David B]

Thanks for the feedback guys... I don't want to look like a 'girlie-man', so it looks like the hybrid it is.

Would I be better off with a 22* or a 25* Rescue Dual? I have (or soon 'had') a 24* Firesole Rescue, and it was a lot easier to hit than my other Firesole Rescue that was an 18*.

I figure it's pretty much the difference between a 3-iron and 4-iron in loft, but I want to make the right choice.

Thanks again.

 

[Davebud]

I carry both

And could give a flip if that makes me a girlie man. They both hit the ball very differently, the hybrid flight is much lower than the 7 wood.

 

[ezra76]

Just got rid of my 25*. Not much gap between that and the 23*. I can choke down on the 23* to hit it 10-15 yards shorter but couldn't get more out of the 25*. I actually preferred to hit the 23*. A 22* will give you a good gap from a 5w. I go 5w, 23*, right to 5i.

 

[Youngun5]

7 wood baby!! today at practice on a par 5 i was in the rough after the tee shot (really need to get that launcher....) about 200 out, definitely not the best of lies, kinda down in the rough, but i figured its practice, what the hell, confident hard swing and the head just rips through the turf and finds the ball, needless to say, 15 footer for eagle....

its all a matter of preference, i can't stand hybrids so i go with either a 7 or 5 wood depending on course conditions. hit all you can and see what you like best, everyone can laugh at you having a 7 wood etc, but lets see who's laughing when you've stuffed yet another shot next to the pin...

 

[David B]

I didn't mean the 'girlie-man' thing seriously, which is why I put it in ''.

I like the idea of a hybrid, simply because it seems to be pretty versatile, doubling either as a wood or iron depending on what you need at the moment.

My 5-wood is my 180-200yd. club, since my swing speed isn't really that fast on anything but my driver, so I'd pretty much be looking at 160-180 on a 7-wood, whereas I can hit about 200 with my 3-iron (which is comparable to the 22* hybrid).

I'm still on the fence, so it's nice to get feedback from both sides.

Thanks.

 

[ezra76]

7 wood baby!! today at practice on a par 5 i was in the rough after the tee shot (really need to get that launcher....) about 200 out, definitely not the best of lies, kinda down in the rough, but i figured its practice, what the hell, confident hard swing and the head just rips through the turf and finds the ball, needless to say, 15 footer for eagle....

its all a matter of preference, i can't stand hybrids so i go with either a 7 or 5 wood depending on course conditions. hit all you can and see what you like best, everyone can laugh at you having a 7 wood etc, but lets see who's laughing when you've stuffed yet another shot next to the pin...

So did you make the birdie??

 

[Youngun5]

tough putt for eagle that i didn't read well at all, left myself a straight uphill 5 footer for birdie that i drained. so yes, but that was basically my only bright point of the day, it was raining and i felt sick the whole time. just kinda saving myself for regionals on wednesday, i really think i have a good shot at qualifying for state. details to follow....

 

[David B]

Well, I went over to the range tonight, and tried out a Rescue Dual with neutral bias, 19 degree, with an R-flex shaft, and it was really nice...
I took a couple of warmup swings, and hit the next ten balls with no shanks at all, and hit 7 out of 10 straight, and 3 at a slight draw.

So, it looks like we have a winner... if I can hit the 19* that easily, the 22* should be even easier.

It's a really nice club, and compared to the Firesole rescue clubs I had, it hits like a dream.

Thanks again for all your input, and nice hit there Youngun... I can't wait til I can get to the point where I can make shots like that.

 

[David B]

Oh, and if anybody is interested, there's Rescue Dual's going on ebay for $99 + $20 shipping for 22* in R-flex, and 25* in R and S-flex. Only thing is that they have steel shafts and not graphite. They come with headcovers.

Here's the links:

22* R-flex:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TaylorMade-Rescue-Dual-4-22-R-Steel-RH-NEW_W0QQitemZ7241200144QQcategoryZ115280QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

25* R-flex:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TaylorMade-Rescue-Dual-5-25-R-Steel-RH-NEW_W0QQitemZ7241200742QQcategoryZ115280QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

25* S-flex:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TaylorMade-Rescue-Dual-5-25-S-Steel-RH-NEW_W0QQitemZ7241201340QQcategoryZ115280QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I picked up the 22* R-flex, now I'm gonna have to brave the wrath of my wife, but that comes with the territory.