Depending on your swing speed, you may be better off playing a wood, a hybrid or an iron to get the performance you’re after. We’re in the bay demonstrating shots with each club at different speeds, so you can have an idea of which would be most relevant to your game.
Using a 4 iron, 4 hybrid and 9 wood, we’re comparing the difference between clubs at moderate and high speeds, as well as the progression of performance in the same club depending on how fast you can strike. Find out which might be best suited to you and your playing style, and which could get you the best spin, speed and launch angle, and ultimately distance.
00:00 Should you play a woods, hybrid or iron?
00:45 Moderate Speed Shots
07:10 Looking at the Data
09:45 High Speed Shots
17:28 Looking at the Data
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23 Comments
Well done!
I do wish more fitters would have 9 woods to actual hit during a fitting versus gambling on which one would work best.
I think the main issue is how the clubs perform from different lies – and apart from dead flat lies in the middle of a well-manicured fairway the 7/9 wood and equiv hybrids are just infinitely better than 4 irons. 200ish yards from the green and you're in the semi-rough, the 7/9wood in particular can get you there – and you might even stop it on the green. 4 iron, unless you're Rory, pretty much forget it. My 7 wood goes v high off the tee so I have an 18 degree driving iron when things are breezy – ie, pretty much always at my home club. My set up: driver at 9.5, 5 wood adjusted to 16, driving iron 18, 7 wood 20. I sometimes swap out the 7 wood for a 20 degree hybrid as it goes 20 yards further when the fairways are running out. The Ping 430 7 wood I have really does feel like cheating sometimes – the only club in history that allows me to get on / around the green from c200 out, from the rough from a downhill lie. Go get one! (BTW I am not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Ping, but if they want to chuck me a full bag deal I'm here for it.) Love the content Simon. I'll make it down to you one day….
Really enjoy your videos Simon! Would like to see you include peak height in the data. Seems like it could be especially illuminating for a test like this one.
I have a specific question for Simon.
I currently play a G410 4h (lofted up to 23 degrees), which is now a few generations old, but PG did fit it for me! On course I struggle a bit with the ball flight tending to be a bit flat – probably as much due to my (lack of) technique. With the current generation of hybrids is there any hybrid which naturally launches the ball a bit higher than the old G410?
At the higher speeds its also worth considering comfort. Lots of pros won't play hybrids because they tend to close the face too much.
Given the different lengths of shaft (say 1.5 inch progression for iron to hybrid and similar hybrid to wood), wouldn’t 75mph for a 4 iron be equivalent to c.77mph for a 4 hybrid and c.79mph for a 9 wood? I carry a 23 degree 5 iron, 22 degree 4 hybrid and 21 degree 7 wood and have a c10-12 yard carry gain between each (my speeds are 80/82/84).
My 9 wood is awesome, easy 200 yard club for me, replaced my 4 iron.
Not much in it really . 75 mph for a wood is pretty bloody slow , you would probably be hitting a 4 iron about 60 mph if your maxing out a wood of any value at 75 ,
60 with a 4i isnt getting above head high .
Hybrids shouldnt be in the video , they are so very wayward , even when you know one well .
Good content. Would like too see the same sort of analysis for 7w/3h/3i and 5w/2h/driving iron. Glad I found your channel
Great analysis Simon. Very informative and relevant to a wide variety of recreational golfers.
It would be a good addition to also show the graphic(s) for ball flight, much simpler to illustrate the points you are making re different trajectories for similar carry distances
Callaway Apex UW is the sweet spot.
PG is it a bit counterintuitive that in game imp and distance clubs 4 iron they will have lower loft so even less optimal than a 24 degree T100 – so if you are slower but want a 4 iron would it make sense to get fit for it as an individual club?
I did not hear any comments about dynamic loft, but i would expect zero difference if speed and delivery are identical… it is hard to change those laws…
I have a slow swing speed and can’t hit it as far as you…much less. I have a ball contact issue. For some reason I can’t hit a 4 iron or hybrid to save my life, but can hit a 9 wood better.
Which 9 wood are you using?
I’ll usually switch back and forth between 4 iron and 3 hybrid depending on conditions. Winds can hit 25-30+mph here in south texas sometimes so 4 iron all day. Anything less than 20mph I’ll go hybrid
I see Rory plays his 5 wood at 41.5”. Probably 0.75 inches short and then Taylormade standard. Scotties 3 wood is also at 42.5”, 0.5 shorter. Seems a bit mad amateurs playing longer length fairway woods when the pros are going shorter length (assuming shorter length is swingweighted appropriate). Does shorter naturally flatten the lie angle? Also if going shorter length 5 wood could you potentially bump to 80g if playing 70g in 3 wood?
What about 105 mph? This is the exact area I need to fill! (DI, 4hybrid, 7w)
Good morning from France
Which brands and models did you use for the 9 wood and the 4 hybrid?
Look great and straight !
Have a nice day
Cheers
Great explanation, I would be interested in further videos around the driver,mini, and 3/5w comparisons at moderate and stronger speeds..
Excellent analysis and demonstration as always Simon 👏
Interesting test, thank you. I'm in the lower swing speed category and I've opted for hybrids for a bit better dispersion over the fairway wood.