2 Hybrid Vs 3 Wood – Which Club Is Better To Carry

2 Hybrid Vs 3 Wood – Which Club Is Better To Carry

Since 1998, hybrid golf clubs have grown in popularity. Their ability to help the average golfer navigate through tight lies has made it a clear competitor to the classic 3-wood. Naturally, the question that stems from such competition is, which club is better to carry?

While I could give you my thoughts, that won’t assist you, as my style of play differs from yours. Instead, I have laid out the features and benefits of both clubs to let you decide what would work best for you.

 

The 2 Hybrid Vs 3 Wood – Intro

Hybrids first hit the scene in 1998, when Cobra launched their Baffler Utility Club as an alternative to the 3-wood and long irons. The hybrid is designed with a long-hollow head, enabling it to glide through unpleasant lies more efficiently than a 3-wood, or long-iron.

The 3-wood is the more experienced club, having helped golfers reach par 5’s in 2. It has also offered golfers a second option off the tee. While the 3-wood will give most superior golfers more distance, its shape can make it challenging for higher handicappers to get the ball airborne off the deck.

 

Differences Between 2 Hybrid And 3 Wood

The main differences between the 2 Hybrid and 3 wood, are the shapes of the clubface and the degree of loft.

A 3-wood offers less spin and launch, resulting in a longer carry, and further total distance than the 2 Hybrid.

The 2 hybrid promotes a higher launch, to help golfers get the ball airborne and land it softly.

 

Which Club Is Better Off The Deck?

In terms of distance overall, the 3-wood is superior off the deck, averaging 168.48 yards, in comparison to the 2 Hybrids 165.08 yards.

The 2 Hybrid outshines the 3-wood when it comes to greens in regulation, which could be a result of the club’s ability to generate sufficient spin, to land the ball softly on the green from far out.

In the test conducted by MyGolfSpy, they found that golfers from a 0 handicap to a 20+ hit more fairways in regulation with a 3-wood, but less GIR’s than the 2 Hybrid. Overall, the 3-wood performs better off the deck.

 

Which Club Is Better Off The Tee

From the results of MyGolfSpy’s wood tests, it is clear that the 3-wood provides golfers with amplified distance off the tee.

On average, the 3-wood went 16 yards further than the 2 Hybrid.

The 3-wood also outperformed the hybrid when it came to fairways in regulation, achieving an average of 37,64% over the hybrids 32,06%.

 

Which Club Is Better Off The Rough

The hybrid is undoubtedly the better of the two out of the rough.

The design of the clubhead enables better interaction with the turf, allowing the club to glide through the rough and get under the ball.

The 18 – 20 degree loft on the rescue makes it easy to get the ball airborne from any position.

 

Loft & Distance Comparison Table

	3 Wood	2 Hybrid
Average Loft	15 degrees	18 – 20 Degrees
Average Distance Off The Tee For All Handicaps	185.38 yards	168.82 yards
Average Distance Off The Deck For All Handicaps	168.48 yards	165.08 yards
Fairway Accuracy %	37.64%	32.06%
GIR %	6.54%	10,08%

 

Pros And Cons Of 3 Wood’s And 2 Hybrid’s

2-Hybrid

Pros

• Helps golfers get their long shots airborne
• Lands softly on the green
• Glides through the turf to ensure maximum contact with the ball
• It has a higher percentage of GIR

 Cons

• Offers less carry than the 3 wood
• Provides less total distance than the 3 wood
• It has a lower fairway in regulation percentage than the 3 wood average

 

3-Wood

Pros

• Longer distance off the deck and tee
• Higher fairway in regulation percentage than the 2 Hybrid
• Versatile club, offering distance and direction
• Excellent alternative to the driver

 Cons

• Harder to get airborne off the deck
• Low GIR percentage due to additional roll
• Difficult to hit in the rough

 

 


 

What’s The Perfect Mix Of Hybrids, Irons & Woods

If we had to break down the bag, I would suggest a combination of clubs that offer power, forgiveness, distance and spin. Personally, I have always gone with a driver, 3-wood and 5-wood. As well as 3-iron through to a pitching wedge.

The forgiveness, loft, and ability of a hybrid to navigate tight lies, certainly warrants a spot in your bag. Here is my suggestion for the perfect mix of hybrids:

Woods	Hybrids	Irons
Driver	2-Hybrid	4-iron – PW – SW
3-Wood
5-wood

Superior golfers may prefer to have longer irons in their bag, instead of additional woods or hybrids. However, the average golfer should take advantage of the loft assistance from hybrids.

 

What Should High Handicappers Be Carrying

Based on the data gathered by MyGolfSpy for their wood and hybrid test, I recommend that high handicappers should carry the following:

Woods	Hybrids	Irons
Driver	2-Hybrid	4-iron – PW
3-Wood	3-Hybrid

Higher handicappers typically struggle with ball striking and loft, which impacts their carry and total distance.

That is why I would recommend keeping a driver and 3-wood in the bag, as well as a 2 and 3-hybrid.

If you seriously struggle to get the ball airborne, it is worth swapping out the 4-iron for a 4-hybrid.

 

What Should Low Handicappers And Pros Carry

Since low handicappers and pros do not struggle with ball striking, you will likely see more long irons in their bag.

Here is a breakdown of what the elite golfers should carry.

Woods	Hybrids	Irons
Driver	2-Hybrid	3-iron – PW
3-Wood

 

Can Hybrids Replace All Woods?

I have heard many golfers say that they hit hybrids better than woods, and thus only have hybrids in their bag, apart from their driver of course.

However, if we go on the MyGolfSpy test, it is evident that the 3-wood goes longer than any hybrid off the tee, and in most cases, off the deck.

 

What’s The Difference In Shaft Length Between The 2 Hybrid vs 3 Wood

3-Wood	2-Hybrid
42 – 43 inches	41 inches

 

Which Is Easiest To Hit?

The 2-hybrid is by far, easier to hit, given its weakened loft, and the assistance it provides in getting your ball airborne.

 

What Gives Most Accuracy, Feel And Control

In the test that MyGolfSpy conducted, it was evident that the 3-wood was more accurate off the tee, with a FIR percentage of 37.64%, 5% higher than the 2-hybrid.

The accuracy in terms of GIR was superior with the 2-Hybrid, however, only 10% of greens were hit.

For most golfers, hybrids are far easier to hit and feel better than a fairway wood. The launch feels good, the club is forgiving, and the ball carries consistently.

 

What Shafts Are Best For The 2-Hybrid and 3-Wood

In longer clubs like Hybrids and Woods

2-Hybrid

Brand	Shaft
KBS	Tour Prototype
Oban	Kiyoshi White
Project X	Rifle Steel

 

 3-Wood

Brand	Shaft
Fujikura	Ventus Blue
Mitsubishi	Tensei CK Pro Blue Hybrid
Project X	Even Flow RipTide 60

 

Favorite Fairway Woods

Callaway Mavrik Max Fairway Woods

The Mavrik Max was designed using AI, to provide a high launch, medium spin and draw bias.

Callaway combined a variety of technology to create a fairway wood that enhances ball speed for added carry and offers forgiveness.

The Mavrik Max is suited to players with a medium swing speed, that need additional ball speed to achieve optimal carry.

Overall Score: 98/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

 King F9 Speedback Fairway Wood

The face of the F9 Speedback is speed tuned to give you harmonious ball speed and launch.

Furthermore, the curvature of the club’s face reduces spin on strikes above the center line.

Cobra employed the use of their Baffler rails technology, to ensure seamless interaction with the turf while maintaining a low CG for higher launch.

The F9 Speedback is recommended for moderate swing speeds that need additional assistance with sending the ball skyward.

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Our Favourite Hybrids 

Taylormade Sim Max Rescue

The Sim Max Rescue navigates through tight lies with ease. It is a forgiving club with a low CG and eruptive ball speeds. Low face strikes are countered by Thru-slot speed pockets that create a flexible face to promote consistent ball speed.

Finally, the design of the club prompts a towering flight and allows for excellent workability for lower through to high handicappers.

Overall Score: 98/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Mizuno CLK Hybrid

The CLK is another hybrid that helps you with launch and carry.

The club promotes a high ball flight, resulting in a vertiginous descent angle for a soft landing on the green.

It further helps higher handicappers to improve their GIR percentage from further out.

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Overall Conclusion

There is no doubt that the 2-hybrid is beneficial to all golfers, in terms of loft and carry. However, based on the data we have analysed, it is clear that you should keep the 3-wood in your bag.

It is more accurate in terms of fairways in regulation, goes further than the hybrid, and is only slightly behind on GIR accuracy.

If you are in the market for a new fairway wood that is not impossible to hit, check out the Callaway Mavrik Max Fairway Woods, and the  King F9 Speedback Fairway Wood.