4 Wood Vs. 5 Hybrid Comparison Overview
Many beginner golfers ask whether they can replace a 4 wood with a 5 hybrid and vice versa. In general, a 4 wood would replace a 1 hybrid and vice versa because of the matching loft and average distance.
So right off the bat, don’t make the mistake of replacing your 4 wood with a 5 hybrid. It doesn’t work the same as it does with hybrids/irons where the number correlates with the club it’s meant to replace. Still, you may have some questions about how a 5 hybrid stacks up to a 4 wood and we want to help answer them.
4 Wood Overview
A 4 wood is a good club to have in your bag if you don’t necessarily want to mess with the really long irons.
A 4 wood will be easier to hit than a corresponding 1 or 2 iron. It will also be easier for you to get the ball high up in the air than it would be with a corresponding iron. On average, you can expect a distance of about 200 to 220 yards with a 4 wood which makes it a viable option off the tee for some players.
4 woods aren’t that common in general though because they lack versatility. While they give many players good launch and distance, if you’re not going to be using your 4 wood off the tee then there aren’t very many other situations where one would be useful.
Not to say that they can’t be used off the deck; we just mean that there are better clubs to use to cover 200-220 yards on the fairway.
5 Hybrid Overview
The 5 hybrid will be more useful for high handicap and beginner players because it is a bit more forgiving than a 4 wood. Just be aware that you will be giving up significant distance.
In fact, you will be sacrificing up to 50 yards on average with a 5 hybrid. Still, the 5 hybrid is a good option for many players because it’s better from the rough. Some might miss the large head size of a 4 wood when switching to a 5 hybrid but the usage is different.
You wouldn’t need a 5 hybrid from the tee or for covering a distance greater than about 170 yards.
The 5 hybrid is a more useful club. Really, you would only need a 4 wood if you’ve not found an acceptable driver or 3 wood.
4 Wood Quick Facts
Category – Longer Club
When To Use: From Fairway, Tee Or Light Rough
Average Distance: 205
Longer Hitter: 225
Shorter Hitter: 185
Typical Loft: 16.5 Degrees
Club Importance: 89/100
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
4 Wood Overview & First Impressions
If the 3 wood is a bit big a daunting for yo, the 4 wood is very similar but it is more compact and possibly less daunting for some.
The 4 wood is often overlooked and the 3 wood is preferred instead in combination with the 5 wood but there is no one size fits all and many golfers will prefer to carry a 4 wood as their solo fairway wood or in combination with a 7 wood.
Those with slower swing speeds might have 12 degrees of loft in their driver and the next logical progression for them will be the 4 wood.
It is easier to carry and wield for those with slower swing speeds and it might be used as a solo wood for a fast swinger looking to carry an extra hybrid or a chipper for around the greens.
Whatever your circumstance is, you should carry clubs that suit your game optimally.
The 4 wood has a higher, shorter flight path with less roll out than the next club down in the 3 wood, which it will almost always replace.
The club is used effectively off the tee on par 3’s or dog legs and also off the fairway and in the light rough.
Golf is a game of tradition but you shouldn’t hesitate to break that if a 4 wood will be beneficial to your game.
One Club Up – 3 Wood
The 3 wood is longer, heavier and produces a longer, lower flight path with more roll out. It is far more popular and the 3 + 5 Wood combo is the one we see most often, especially in average and above swing speeds.
One Club Down – 5 Wood
You would almost never carry a 3 and 4 wood together, they are too similar. When carrying a 4 wood, you may be better off carrying an extra hybrid or a 7 wood over a 4 wood. A 5 wood produces a higher, shorter ball flight with less rollout than a 4 wood.
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.
4 Wood Selling Points
- Excellent For Slower Swing Speeds
- Can Be Used As A Replace For 3 And 5 Wood
- Easy To Hit From Good Lies
- Versatile Club From Tee Or Off The Deck
- More Precise Than A 3 Wood
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 Are 4 Woods For?
A 4 wood is not as popular a club as we feel it should be.
It’s excellent for slower swing speeds who find a 3 wood more difficult to wield.
It’s also perfect for those looking to carry a 4 wood + 7 Wood combo and those who want to carry 1 solitary wood in favor of an extra hybrid or iron.
A very similar club to the 3 and 5 wood and there is no reason it shouldn’t used more if it fills the distance gaps effectively.
Our Favorite 4 Wood – Cobra Men’s Fly Z
Cobra have made big progress as a golf brand in recent years and our preferred 4 wood right now is their Fly Xl model from 2021.
The club is light and easy to strike and it also has an adjustable loft which means you can switch it from a 3 Wood to a 4 wood easier with the use of an allen key.
The club itself is well priced and has a ton of distance and forgiveness features included.
Distance: 94/100
Accuracy: 93/100
Forgiveness: 92/100
Feel and Control: 91/100
Overall Score: 93/100
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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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