#1 DO I CHOOSE A HIGH-LOFTED FAIRWAY WOOD, HYBRID OR UTILITY IRON?
1 UTILITY OR DRIVING IRON
Typically suited to: Above-average swing speeds
Utility irons are massively popular on tour because they give hard-hitting pros control over spin and launch, which is down to the narrower soles (the centre of gravity is closer to the face) and heavier shafts being much more closely matched to a set of irons. Think of the best as offering the ball speed of a hybrid, but lower spin like an iron. A recent TG test found comparing utility irons with wide body hybrids of the same loft, that the irons flighted shots 10 yards lower with 600rpm less backspin. That says they can be perfect for lowering ball flight and increasing control.
Choose one because: You like the look of irons over hybrids or fairways and have no difficulty launching long irons from the tee and turf. You’re probably also on the lookout for extra ball speed (which is down to their hollow heads).
2 NARROWBODY HYBRID
Typically suited to: Mid to fast swing speeds
Club designers talk time and again about how their narrow-body hybrids have a more neutral bias, which is less likely to go left – a very different set-up to wider body models. These narrower heads usually spin less, so shots tend to be more penetrating, offering skilled golfers the ability to control shots, particularly in the wind when high “floaty” hybrids can be a menace. Longer hosels (like irons), heavier shafts and more compact heads tend to be more closely matched to a set of irons.
Choose one because: You like hitting hybrids for long approaches (think about par-3 performance, too) but want a lower spinning, lower-flighted, more controllable ball flight than wide-body models offer. Logic says you’ll probably tend to hit down on hybrids and engage the turf like hitting irons, too.
3 MID/WIDEBODY HYBRID
Typically suited to: Slow to mid swing speeds
Exactly the same principles as highlofted fairway woods. The wider head makes it easy to flight shots from the turf and is particularly good in the hands of golfers who don’t create enough spin to keep shots in the air to maximise carry distance. Shaft weights are often lighter like fairway woods, and shorter hosels (more like a fairway wood) mean more weight to distribute to improve forgiveness. When we compared wide and narrow hybrids for the first time last year, our test pro said the vast majority of club golfers would be best off with a wide-headed hybrid.
Choose one because: You prefer the look of a hybrid over a fairway for anything other than the longest approaches. Your average swing speed probably means you need a bit of help (more spin) flighting shots to get max carry.
4 HIGH-LOFT FAIRWAY
Typically suited to: Slow to mid swing speeds
Their wider (from face to back), generally larger heads mean the centre of gravity is further from the face. The wider body and a lighter shaft weight (generally) generates more spin, so typically shots launch higher with a more looping flight. Forgiveness (or MOI performance) and ball speed protection is improved because the centre of gravity is positioned further back so the head twists less when hit off-centre. Leading brands offer 9 and 11-wood lofts which can legitimately replace a 5-iron.
Choose one because: You find bigger heads increase confidence and you like hitting fairway woods more than hybrids or long irons from the turf. You’ve also probably got a shallower attack angle that can sweep woods off the turf, rather than engaging the turf and taking a divot (like a iron).