The majority of the golfers will select the 3 wood, but if you struggle to hit fairway woods off of tighter lies out of the fairway, the 2 hybrid is a quality option. Also, if you are seeking greater versatility out of the rough, the 2 hybrid might be better for your game.
Golfers have many options when selecting the best clubs for their bag.
There are so many options, a golfer might be overwhelmed with how to set up the 14 clubs they are able to carry.
The ultimate bag setup outside of the driver is to fill in the gaps between how far one can hit a 3 wood or 2 hybrid and everywhere in between.
However, the golfer must have a go to club for the following shots:
- Off the tee when a shorter, narrow par 4.
- The 2nd shot on a par 5 to either reach the green or leave a short chip shot.
- The difficult, long par 3.
If a golfer is not setup with the best clubs for their game, they can easily lose 3-5 shots per round without having a solid option. Having confidence in this club to hit these shots is essential.
That is where the options open up for the golfer. For today, we will consider whether the golfer should carry a 3 wood or a 2 hybrid. Below I will highlight the pros and cons of each option and help you select what is best for your game!
Which One Should I Carry a 3 wood or 2 hybrid?
Personal Experience: I recently purchased a strong 3 wood. The reason why? 1) my natural ball flight is pretty high already 2) the reduce loft helps me reach more par 5s in 2 and 3) I enjoy hitting the less than full shot and can do that if I need less distance with the 3 wood. Consider building multiple shots with your driver and 3 wood to maximize these clubs!
Here are the pros of both the 3 wood and the 2 hybrid.
Top 3 Reasons to carry a 3 wood.
- Easier to hit off of the tee.
- May have a bigger yardage advantage.
- Won’t hook as easy as the 2 hybrid.
Top 3 Reasons to carry a 2 hybrid.
- Greater versatility out of the fairway and rough.
- Potentially provides a higher lofted option.
- Will be easier to hit a draw with.
Below we will provide greater detail on each of these reasons listed above. Here we go!
3 Wood: Easier to hit off of the tee
The 3 wood has a larger, fairway style club head on it, often providing greater confidence when hitting the ball off of a tee. Sometimes the hybrids are made with a thinner front to back approach and the golfer may lack confidence if the ball is slightly teed up.
The more advanced golfer will be able to work the ball both ways with the 3 wood off the tee and can set their approach shot up for the right angle by working the ball as a draw or fade off of the tee.
Golfers also have the option to tee it high and let it fly with a 3 wood because of the thicker head when compared with the 2 hybrid. Or tee it low and hit a stinger like shot that penetrates through the wind.
Resource: Need more distance? Check out SuperSpeed Golf Review here!
3 Wood: May have a bigger yardage advantage
Oftentimes the 3 wood will have a slightly longer shaft than the 2 hybrid. This provides an opportunity for extra distance as the golfer is able to increase their swing speed with a longer shaft.
This can be a key on those 2nd shots on par 5s when you are trying to reach in two or on a narrow, longer par 4 where the driver brings too much danger into play, but you still need some quality distance.
Knowing the courses you play and the shots that are required help the golfer understand if this extra distance is needed. Some may prefer more accuracy with this club option in the bag and are willing to give up 10 yards for additional accuracy and consistency.
3 Wood: It won’t hook as easy as the hybrid
Many single digit handicap golfers fight a hook throughout the golf season. The struggle with a hybrid typically is a pull or an overdraw resulting in some poor situations. The 3 wood won’t hook as easy as the hybrid and provides some additional stability through the hitting zone.
If you have ever battled a hook in your life, you know that when you face a shot into the wind on a long par 3, the fear of losing the shot left is a real battle! The 3 wood can be played to hit a lower shot that drives through the wind without the fear of the over draw or hook shot putting you in a bad spot.
Resource: 5 wood vs 3 hybrid: Which one should I carry?
2 Hybrid: Greater versatility out of the fairway and rough
If the shots out of the fairway and rough are difficult with a 3 wood, then a the 2 hybrid is the club for you. Many golfers struggle to visualize the 3 wood hitting the ball off a tight lie.
The increase in versatility and confidence with the 2 hybrid off of the fairway and out of the rough, make it a quality option for many. I know several golfers that I play with frequently that have replaced their fairway woods with all hybrids.
One other option is to take your 2 hybrid and put a 3 wood shaft in it. I have heard this referred to as a “monster hybrid.” The extra length will give you additional swing speed, resulting in distance.
Quick Tip: Make sure you check out our top 5 recommended online golf instructors at the bottom of this post.
2 Hybrid: Potentially provides a higher loft option
Some golfers will be able to hit the hybrid higher and have it land softer on those longer par 3s when compared to their 3 wood. If you are a lower flighted golfer that keeps the ball lower, the additional height you may get from a 2 hybrid can be a game changer.
There is nothing more frustrating than hitting a quality looking shot that lands on the greens and rolls into the back bunker, leaving you with a difficult shot. YOu want your best struck shots to be rewarded and end up in the right place.
Watching the number of hybrids a LPGA Tour players carries is a great argument for more hybrids and less long irons and fairway woods. Many of us should model our games more after the women professional golfers as their games and swing speed provide a better model versus the exceptional athletes that play on the PGA tour where they are swinging over 115 miles per hour with the driver.
2 Hybrid: Easier to hit a draw with it
The golfer that battles the slice with the driver and 3 wood, wil be able to reduce the side spin and potentially even hit a draw with a 2 hybrid. The design of the club is often geared towards a more offset club head, increasing the chances of hitting a draw and reducing the amount of slice spin.
Just like many low digit handicap golfers battle the over draw or hook, many high handicap golfers battle the slice. The hybrids are easier clubs to hit straight and should be highly considered. Many could set the ego aside and carry anywhere from 3-5 hybrids, especially if you have lost swing speed or never had a high swing speed.
The ease at which a 2 hybrid provides to the launch the ball higher could be helpful for many golfers playing the game today!
Resource: Looking to hit a draw as your stock shot?
Final Verdict: 3 Wood vs 2 Hybrid
Two different scenarios:
- Lower handicap golfer who battles the the over draw: Go with the 3 wood.
- Higher handicap golfer who battles the slice and ball height: Go with the 3 hybrid
One more option:
- I mentioned it above, but if you struggle with the 3 wood, but don’t want to lose the potential distance with a hybrid, consider putting a 3 wood shaft in a 2 hybrid and keeping the loft down on a 2 hybrid.
What To Do Next?
Go Out and Test It Out
The best way to know what is right for your game is to find a way to test it out. We all have clubs in our bag that we struggle with. If your 3 wood or 2 hybrid is not performing at your level of expectations, test out the alternative option at your local golf store.
If you are serious about the game of golf, I would highly recommend purchasing your own launch monitor to measure the following data points:
- Carry Distance and Total Distance
- Ball Speed
- Spin Rate
- Spin Axis
- Launch Angle
Having this key data to measure what is best for your game will give you an advantage in selecting your clubs. There are also additional items you can utilize your portable launch monitor for including the following:
- Creating a chart on the carry distance for every club in your bag
- Game improvement by understand what swings produce what numbers
- Checking out your spin rate with your driver to see if you are losing distance
- Club selection on a weekly basis
Top 3 Recommended Affordable Launch Monitors:
Maybe Get Both Clubs
The best option might be to get both clubs and then determine take the following factors into consideration before every round:
- How are your currently swinging each club
- What shots will be needed for the course you are playing
- What clubs gives you the most confidence at that time
- What is your data from a launch monitor telling you about each club
The best golfers will have own more than 14 clubs and make decisions based on the course and how they are currently swinging the club. Knowing the course you are playing and what the par 5s and the length of the par 3s could have a major impact on what you select to do!
This is true for your wedges as well. Should you carry 3 wedges or 4 wedges. Do you carry both the 2 hybrid and the 3 wood and remove a wedge. Having these options can help you reach your full potential for that round and over the course of a golf season.
Be Honest
Oftentimes, we can let our ego get int he way of club selection. Some people try to convince themselves that they can still hit a 3 iron because of hte one good shot they have hit with it in the past 3 months. Instead, use the data, be realistic and ultimately honest with yourself about how you can improve your game.
As a golfer gets older, they often lose swing speed. Transitions to hybrids to maximize distance and ball flight, especially when compared with irons is a major step in the right direction for many senior golfers. Stop battling the 2 and 3 irons and instead go with the hybrid. Your score will reflect the decision!
Are You A Single Digit Handicap Player?
One other option in addition to carrying a 3 wood is the utility iron. These 2, 3 and 4 irons with thicker soles on the bottom and a solid graphite shaft are incredible clubs that can help replace the hybrid if you are battling the over draw with your current hybrid. The club face stability and weight of the club is impressive!
Resource: Utility Iron vs Hybrid
Looking to get better? We have the right formula for you. It is a combination of steps you can take. Here is the process we believe in below:
Additional Resources: Similar Posts
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.
