5 Wood vs 2 Hybrid – Which Club Is Better To Carry

5 Wood vs 2 Hybrid – Which Club Is Better To Carry

Woods or hybrids? This is a question that I am frequently asked by mid to high handicapped golfers.

Personally, I play with fairway woods over hybrids because I am more comfortable with them. I also find that I achieve more distance and a consistent launch. With that being said, Hybrids continue to enjoy an ever growing popularity with beginners and tour pros alike.

On the topic of fairway woods and hybrids, what about a 5-wood vs 2-hybrid? Which club is better to carry? In this post, we will assess the pros and cons of both clubs to help you identify which will benefit your game?

5-Wood vs 2-Hybrid Overview And Why The Right Choices Are Important?

As a fairway wood, the 5-wood has a longer shaft than a hybrid and is fantastic for achieving a higher launch. It is easy to get the ball airborne and serves as a great alternative to a driver off the tee.

A 2-hybrid, on the other hand, has a smaller head and is often constructed with technology that enhances the bounce rate of the clubface to navigate difficult lies. Out of the rough, a hybrid is an excellent instrument to call upon.

When you look at woods vs hybrids, you need to determine where you intend to employ the club the most. Are you looking for an extra option off the tee? Or are you looking for a rescue option to get you out of tricky lies?

Overview Of 5 Wood vs 2 Hybrid

Key Differences Between 5 Wood vs 2 Hybrid

The most obvious differences of a 5-wood, when compared to a 2-hybrid, are the length of the shaft and the size of the head. A 5-wood has a chunkier head with the CG placed towards the back resulting in a high launch and soft landing into greens.

In a test conducted by golf coach James Robinson, he found that the 5-wood achieved an apex of 20 feet higher than the 2-hybrid and traveled 14 yards further.

The hybrid has a more compact head that enables improved turf interaction for a better connection from the rough. It is an excellent option as a rescue club.

What’s Better Off The Deck?

As Robinson can attest, a 5-wood works wonders off the deck, giving you a consistently high launch, resulting in more distance and soft landings into the green.

For many golfers. A 5-wood is used as an alternative to a driver or 3-wood off the tee.

That being said, the 2 hybrid is not going to be any slouch off the deck either.

What’s Better From The Rough?

The one area where I have found a 2-hybrid to offer more distance is from the rough. The compact head delivers superior turf interaction to get your ball airborne and traveling from any lie.

The chunkier design of a 5-wood clubhead makes it more challenging to make a clean connection with the ball from the rough.

Which Club Is More Accurate?

A 5-wood gives you the ability to shape your shots and generates a higher level of spin.

When you combine this factor with a higher launch, you can pull or push your shots, ultimately landing you in some trouble.

The 2-hybrid has a lower spin rate and is designed to promote a straighter ball flight keeping you on target even when you mishit and as such will offer more in the way of consistency.

Which Club Is More Versatile?

While a 5-wood is better for distance off the tee and the fairway. I have to agree with PXG’s stance on the matter.

They correctly point out that a hybrid offers distance and forgiveness and can be played out of the bunker, rough, fairway, and off the tee.

Therefore, it is clear that the 2-hybrid is far more versatile than the 5-wood.

Which Club Is Better For High Handicappers?

A 2-hybrid may benefit higher handicappers more than a 5-wood, based on its distance and ability to navigate through any lie.

While higher handicappers will have no problem getting a 5-wood shot airborne, they may struggle to keep it on target if it is not struck in the sweet spot.

What Iron Does A 5 Wood Replace?

The average loft of a 5-wood is around 18 degrees, equivalent to a 3-iron or a strengthened 4-iron.

What Iron Does A 2 Hybrid Replace?

The loft on a 2-hybrid sits between 18 to 20 degrees, which means it replaces a 3 or 4-iron depending on the loft.

Loft & Distance Comparison Table

It is imperative to note that the higher handicap players dragged down the average distances and accuracy with a 5-wood in hand.

Overall, in Mygolfspy’s test, lower handicappers performed better with a 5-wood than a hybrid. The opposite applied to high handicappers.

 

	5-Wood	2-Hybrid
Average Loft	18 degrees	18 – 20 Degrees
Average Distance Off The Tee For All Handicaps	165.38yards	168.82 yards
Average Distance Off The Deck For All Handicaps	157.04 yards	165.08 yards
Fairway Accuracy %	30.44%	32.06%
GIR %	11.06%	10,08%

Our Favorite 5-Woods

Callaway Epic Flash Fairway Wood

Key Features

• Jailbreak technology
• Flash face technology
• Ultra-lightweight
• Exceptional ball speed across the clubface

Pros

• Promotes increased swing speed
• Accelerated ball speed
• Longer distance
• Forgiveness
• Easy to hit

Cons

• Moderately expensive
• Chunky face
• Challenging to make clean contact with the ball from the rough

Overall Score: 95/10o

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Ping G425 Max Fairway Wood

Key Features

• Thin steel face wrap
• Consistent spin off the face
• Sole weighting
• Alignment dots
• Adjustable lofts

Pros

• Increased face flex
• Accelerate ball speed
• Forgiving
• The alignment feature boosts your aim
• Customizable loft adjustment

Cons

• Moderately expensive
• Not as long as its competitor 5-woods

Overall Score: 96/10o

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Favorite 2 Hybrids – Mini Review With Pros And Cons

TaylorMade Sim2 Rescue

Key Features

• C300 steel clubface
• Twist corrective face
• Compact head design
• V-steel design
• Thru-slot speed pockets
• Customizable loft

Pros

• Easy to hit from any lie
• Moderately forgiving
• Rapid ball speed
• Consistent distance
• Adjust your hybrid to its preferred loft

Cons

• I lost power in the launch on strikes off the lower face, resulting in a loss of apex and distance
• Limited workability, given the club’s tendency to promote straighter flight.

Overall Score: 96/10o

Check Out More Reviews Here:

King Cobra Speedzone Hybrid

Key Features

• Oversize head design
• Hollow split rails
• Stainless steel face insert
• Enhanced turf interaction
• Low CG

Pros

• High launch
• Faster ball speed
• Enhanced sweet spot
• Forgiving
• Soft landing into greens

Cons

• Lofts are not customizable
• The oversized head may feel uncomfortable at setup

Overall Score: 96/10o

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Conclusion Of A 5-Wood vs 2-Hybrid

After diving into the differences of a 5-wood vs 2-hybrid. It is easy to see why many mid to high handicappers opt for the latter.

The versatility, forgiveness, and consistency of the 2-hybrid make it a far better option for the average golfer. When compared to the fairway wood.

With that said. If you are looking for a club that serves as an alternative off the tee, I would suggest considering a 5-wood. If you want a consistent club that helps get you out of any lie, then the 2-hybrid it is.

If you are hunting for a new hybrid, I would recommend testing out the TaylorMade Sim2 Rescue.