5 Hybrid Vs 5 Wood Vs 5 Iron – Which Club to Use & When

“All three clubs have the number 5 at the beginnings of their names; but the similarities pretty much end there.”

Irons and hybrids have been more closely related because in general, you can replace an iron with a hybrid of a corresponding number

(i.e., you can replace a 5-iron with a 5-hybrid or vice versa and expect the same kind of distance and similar loft). But a 5-wood is a totally different animal.

The general difference between these clubs is that the 5-iron will have the smallest head, the 5-wood will have the biggest and the 5-hybrid will be a mixture of both other clubs.

But in the following article, we will be giving you the performance details of each club to give you a better idea of which club would be best for you.

The Clubs And Why the Right Choice is Important

 5 Iron

 “The 5-iron is a long iron and is the most workable of the three clubs.”

You will find that most 5-irons are somewhere between 21 and 27 degrees of loft.

The 5-iron is definitely for more skilled players with a fast swing speed.

5 Wood

“The 5-wood is a very typical club to have in the bag and typically plays the longest of the three clubs.”

Your average 5-wood produces high spin numbers and minimal rollout. Modern 5-woods are typically 18° but they can be as high as 22°.

5 Hybrid

“The 5-hybrid splits the difference between a 5-iron and 5-wood in terms of distance.”

The average loft of a 5-hybrid is 25° but it can vary widely with some 5-hybrids going as high as 28°. These clubs are typically the most forgiving of the three.

Overview of the Club Choice

“A 5-hybrid is very useful if you often find yourself in the rough or semi-rough.”

Better players will likely prefer a 5-iron as it is by far the easiest club to affect a nice draw or fade with.

While a 5-wood is certainly more forgiving than a 5-iron, it may not always be as forgiving as a 5H.

Loft And Distance Table

You may have heard that irons and hybrids are interchangeable and that is mostly true – you can expect similar distance from corresponding hybrids/irons.

Woods are another matter though. Check out the table below to see what kind of stats you can expect from each club.

Club	Loft (degrees)	Ball Speed (mph)	Distance (yards)
5-wood	18 – 22	152	230
5-hybrid	25 – 28	146	225
5-iron	21 – 27	132	194

5 Wood Advantages Vs 5 Iron and 5 Hybrid

“The 5-wood will easily be the longest club of the three.”

They are great for tackling long par 5’s from the tee or the deck because they offer the distance that the other two clubs can’t.

Who Should Use it And When?

“The 5-wood is an excellent club for when you need to stop dead on a green.”

Long approaches can be made easier thanks to the steep launch/descent angles that any good 5-wood will produce.

For that reason it’s a good club for powerful swingers looking to set themselves up for more eagles.

5 Iron Advantages Vs 5 Hybrid and 5 Wood

“The 5-iron is a better club for overall maneuverability, producing backspin or getting the ball out of a divot.”

While a hybrid may be better for general rough shots, it won’t help as much as an iron for getting the ball out of a divot.

Who Should Use it And When?

“A 5-iron will naturally be a better fit for low to mid handicappers.”

You can shape an iron for a draw, fade, cut, or anything else best with a 5-iron. The smaller head makes them the most workable; but you have to be able to make consistent contact.

5 Hybrid Advantages Vs 5 Iron and 5 Wood

“Your 5-hybrid will produce higher flight than your typical iron and offer more lateral forgiveness than a 5-wood.”

The 5-hybrid may also be easier to manage than a 5-wood for many players because of the shorter shaft.

Who Should Use it And When?

“The 5-hybrid is a great club for beginners and high handicappers who want to replace their difficult long irons.”

It’s also a great club to use when you’re facing down a protected green from about 165 to 180 yards out. A hybrid will help you stay on the green in these situations.

The Perfect Mix of Irons, Hybrids And Woods

“If you want to have irons, woods and hybrids in your bag, I suggest the following mix…”

I like a 5-hybrid, 5-iron and a 3-wood for mid handicappers. This combo gives you shot shaping ability when you need it (5-iron), a good rescue club (5-hybrid) and a long fairway for par 5’s.

What Should High Handicappers Be Carrying?

For high handicappers, a 5-hybrid, 3-wood and maybe even a 4-hybrid would be effective.

What Should Low Handicappers And Pros Be Carrying?

For low handicappers, a 3-wood, 5-iron and maybe a 3-hybrid combo would retain shot shapability and help offer on tough lies.

Can Hybrids Replace Low Irons and Woods?

“I wouldn’t recommend replacing any iron smaller than a 7-iron with a hybrid.”

However, you could get away with replacing a 7-wood with a 5-hybrid if you need more forgiveness off the face.

What’s the Difference in Shaft Length?

5-woods are usually around 42”, 5-irons are typically about 38” and your average 5-hybrid will be around 39”.

Which is the Easiest to Hit?

“For most people, the 5-hybrid is the easiest to hit.”

But I’ve heard players who say they think the 5-wood is easiest to hit. One thing is for certain though, no one is going to say the 5-iron is the easiest to hit between these three clubs.

What Gives the Best Accuracy, Feel and Control?

“A 5-iron will always outshine a hybrid or wood in terms of feel and control.”

The feedback of a 5-iron is just clearer and the smaller head shape makes it the most accurate.

What Shafts Are Best for Each?

A like a nice graphite shaft for both my woods and hybrids.

For a 5-iron, you can go with steel if you want more accuracy or graphite if you need to up your smash factor.

Our Favorite 5 Wood

 Ping G425 Max

“The G425 Max fairway wood features a maraging steel face and adjustable loft sleeve.”

The maraging steel face sends clear feedback and transfers energy from your swing directly into the ball.

Overall Score: 97/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Our favorite 5 Iron

Cobra LTDx Irons

“The LTDx irons feature CNC milled grooves and an L-Cup face design.”

These irons are very forgiving on low-face shots and offer excellent spin control around the green.

Overall Score: 98/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Our Favorite 5 Hybrid

Taylormade SIM Max

“The SIM Max hybrid features a V-Steel sole panel and C300 steel face.”

It’s very easy to produce high-arcing shots with the Taylormade SIM Max. This is a great hybrid for anyone who wants to be able to aggressively attack the pin on protected greens from distance.

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Conclusion

“In the end, you may want to have all three of these clubs in your bag.”

And that would be perfectly fine if you want to be able to retain workability, forgiveness and distance in your bag.

You can keep a 5-wood for max distance on your second shot or from the tee, a 5-iron to deftly navigate doglegs and hazards, and a 5-hybrid for when you find yourself in the rough.