3 Wood Vs. 5 Hybrid Comparison Overview
Hybrids have been welcomed with open arms by amateurs and Tour pros alike. They used to be something of a stigma but players now realize that better performance is better performance no matter how you manage to achieve it.
The only problem now is that there is a glut of options for the everyday golfer but you can still only carry 14 clubs in your bag. So which ones are worth carrying and which ones should be left at home? Let’s compare a 5 hybrid and a 3 wood.
3 Wood Overview
The 3 wood is a viable option off the tee and the deck. It provides distance comparable to a driver and will generally generate better spin control.
A lot of players can’t live without their 3 wood and it is typically used off the tee. In fact, many in our testing party preferred using a 3 wood in place of a driver because with a 3 wood, it’s easier to get a straight shot that stays on the fairway.
The average distance of a 3 wood is anywhere between 245 and 305 yards so it really depends on your swing speed and accuracy. When compared to a 5 hybrid off the deck (you’re likely not going to see anyone use a 5 hybrid off the tee) you lose some control with a 3 wood.
The larger head of the 3 wood will interact much more dynamically with the turf than a 5 hybrid so you really need to be careful about sole design if you’re shopping 3 woods.
5 Hybrid Overview
The 5 hybrid is the better club to use off the deck because of the smoother turf interaction. It will also work better as a rescue club.
A 5 hybrid will always have a shallower, more compact head design than a 3 wood. For many players, this head design is more congenial for getting out of the rough. You would use a 5 hybrid in a much different way than a 3 wood so you might actually want to carry both clubs in your bag.
While you lose about 30 yards of distance with a 5 hybrid compared to a 3 wood, the 5 hybrid isn’t really meant to be used for long distances.
You lose loft with a 3 wood but it’s a great club to have in case your driver isn’t working for you. The hybrid is also a valuable club for regulation play because of it’s forgiveness and viability in rescue situations.
3 Wood Quick Facts
Category – Longer Club
When To Use: From Fairway, Tee Or Light Rough
Average Distance: 220
Longer Hitter: 235
Shorter Hitter: 200
Typical Loft: 15 Degrees
Club Importance: 94/100
5 Hybrid Quick Facts
Category – Long/Mid Hybrid
When To Use: Fairway, Light To Heavy Rough
Average Distance: 170
Longer Hitter: 180
Shorter Hitter: 165
Typical Loft: 25 Degrees
Club Importance: 94/100
3 Wood Overview & First Impressions
A 3 wood is one of the most versatile and useful clubs in a golfers bag. It can be used off the tee, the fairway and from the light rough effectively.
The club is like a smaller and easier to wield version of a driver with a shorter shaft, higher loft and smaller face. For this reason many beginners who can’t hit their driver properly use the 3 wood off the tee for better shots and more consistency.
If your driver is not configured correctly for your game this is an obvious conclusion and a higher loft will also suit slower swingers.
The 3 wood is ideal to hit of the fairway too and can result in long and range strokes. A 3 wood wont be able to hit it as well as a hybrid out of the rough however.
The 3 wood is a must have in nearly every golfers bag.
One Club Up – The Driver
The driver is the next club up from the 3 wood. It is the strongest lofted, biggest headed and longest hitting club in the game. It is also one of the hardest clubs to hit effectively.
One Club Down – The 5 Wood
Typically have 18 degrees of loft, the 5 wood is similar to the 3 wood in many ways, often hit from the fairway and light rough. The 5 has a higher more arching flight path with less roll.
5 Hybrid First Impressions
The 5 Hybrid has a large head, large face and a huge undercut to cut the turf and long grass easily to produce high and long shots.
The 5 hybrid is usually excellent for getting to the green in 2 on par 4’s or 5’s holes. You get great distance control from 5 hybrids which also makes them very handy on particularly long par 4’s.
The best part about the 5 hybrid is the consistency. It’s like training wheels on a bike compared to an iron but it does sacrifice some of the precision of the mid range irons.
Versatile and easy to use club that is also excellent from the rough.
The only problem with these types of clubs is that they launch very high so in windy conditions, they are not the best option.
One Hybrid Up – 6 Hybrid
A hybrid 6 club can essentially be used as a rescue club when you find yourself in the rough. You should treat your 6 hybrid as a cross between an iron and a wood. The 6 is less popular but it is useful for higher launching, shorter strokes.
One Club Down – 4 Hybrid
The 4 hybrid will produce a lower and longer flight than the 5 but because there is about 10 yards between the clubs, the 4 and 5 are a good option to be carried in unison.
3 Wood – Selling Points
- Versatile Club – Tee, Fairway, Light Rough
- Can Be A Replacement For A Driver
- Easy To Hit & Forgiving
- Low And Long Flight Path
- Excellent Club For Beginners
Benefits of Using a 5 Hybrid
- Better for long fairway shots
- They can be used for getting on the green
- Good launch angles
- More forgiving than a 5 iron
- Good ball contact
Who Is The 3 Wood For?
The three wood has a place in every golfers bag for beginner to tour professional.
The high handicapper is likely to get the absolute most out of this club as it can be a replacement for a driver for some and can be a good to club for many who can produce their longest, straightest and most consistent shots.
A 3 wood also covers crucial distances on the course, so having your 3 wood will naturally allow all players to hit any distance within their remit by carrying a 3 wood.
Our Favorite 3 Wood – The Callaway Rogue
Their are so many quality 3 woods out their for to chose from but we really like the Callaway Rogue.
It was first released in 2018 and was upgrade in 2020 to encompass even more of Calaways top features form distance, to the stability of the club at high speeds, forgiveness and accuracy.
The rogue 3 wood has plenty to offer golfers of all levels and is available at a competitive price.
Distance: 94/100
Accuracy: 94/100
Forgiveness: 94/100
Feel And Control: 88/100
Overall Score: 94/100
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Who are 5 Hybrids Good for?
Traditionally, 5 hybrids have been a favorite among junior players, senior players and lady golfers although getting more common with pros these days too.
The 5 hybrid offers a higher degree of forgiveness and is the perfect club for long approaches on par 5’s and long par 4’s.
They are also fairly effective as rescue clubs from the rough. Our only real gripe with this type of hybrid is that it is really unstable in windy conditions.
A Good 5 Hybrid to Check Out – Callaway Epic Super 5 Hybrid
The Callaway Epic Super 5 hybrid features Jailbreak bracing bars for added stability. There is even an adjustable hosel to get the kind of launch you need for every shot.
We really liked the versatility of this 5 hybrid. The perimeter weighting also makes it plenty forgiving.
Distance: 94/100
Accuracy: 92/100
Feel and Control: 91/100
Forgiveness: 95/100
Overall Rating: 94/100
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