9 Wood Vs. 5 Hybrid – Which Club is Better to Carry?

9 Wood Vs. 5 Hybrid – Which Club is Better to Carry?

 

Do you carry a 9 wood in your bag? What about a hybrid? You might be surprised to find that both of these clubs can carry a lot of utility when you’re on the course.

If you’ve been considering swapping out clubs or adding one of these to your regulars, there is much to know!

Is it better to carry a 9 wood or a 5 hybrid in your bag? The truth is that it really depends on the player and the preferences.

However, I’ve put together a simple comparison guide that shares some information to help you decide.

 

What Is A 9 Wood And 5 Hybrid Anyway?

Let’s start with the basics. I felt like it might help since we are comparing which of these clubs you might want to carry. In the end, you might decide to carry both of them.

One of the most important elements of a good golf game, is the ability to choose your clubs wisely. Remember that according to the rules, golfers are restricted to 14 clubs in their bag during a round of golf.

If a player breaches this rule, they forfeit two strokes for every hole in which the rule was broken. That can certainly add up and it makes choosing your clubs that much more vital!

Of course, if you played half the course before you realized it, the maximum penalty is 4 strokes.

Now, let’s talk about these clubs.

 

Overview Of A 9 Wood

The 9 wood club is not the most popular clubs in any golfer’s bag these days, but that should not deter you. The majority of golfers prefer to use a 5 iron or even a 5 hybrid over a 9 wood.

That being said, if you love the feeling of hitting woods and play them well, the 9 wood could certainly be a great club to pull out of the locker when you land on the fairway, but unfortunately, that might be the only reason to do so.

A 9 wood has a large head, which makes hitting the ball a breeze. This club is great for professionals and beginners alike. It’s known most for the 26-degree angle of loft which results in a towering ball flight. This club is used primarily for mid range distances but also comes in handy on Layups.

 

5 Hybrid Overview

While the hybrid has been around for a bit now, it’s still fairly new compared to woods and irons. There has been some what of a revolutionary gravitation towards hybrids over the years as they continue to improve over time.

Check out this short video about the ways that you can use a hybrid. You just might find it helpful if you’re trying to figure out what a hybrid club is capable of. The 5 hybrid is comparable to the 5 iron or potentially even the 4 iron. It can make a suitable replacement for either.

 

 

The hybrid takes the best of the loft and control that you get from a wood and combines that with distance, compression, and loft that you get from an iron. It’s a hybrid between the wood and iron, like the name suggests.

It promises more accuracy than a wood with its shorter shaft and more distance than an iron while being more consistent to hit and great from the rough.

A 5 hybrid has a loft of approximately 27 degrees, just slightly higher than the loft of a 9 wood, which falls between 23 and 26 degrees, according to SportsRec.

 

9 Wood Vs. 5 Hybrid – What’s the Difference?

When it comes down to it, there are some noticeable differences between the 9 wood and the 5 hybrid.

While some might think of them as interchangeable, they are unique clubs that stand apart. In this case, the 5 hybrid is more interchangeable for a 4 or 4 iron than the 9 wood.

The biggest difference between the two is the loft. A 5 hybrid loft is 27 degrees and while a 9 wood loft might be up to 26 degrees, it can be as low as 23 degrees.

The 9 wood is designed for height and shorter distances while the 5 hybrid can pack some height but is also great for long distances like an iron might be.

You don’t find a 9 wood in many bags but Dustin Johnson is known to carry a 7 wood, quite regularly.

Both of these clubs play the rough really well.

 

What’s Better off the Deck?

 

Shooting off the deck, a 5 hybrid is generally a better option.

According to the Golf experts, a 9 wood is better when used for distances that are between 100 and 150 yards.

A 5 hybrid can be suitable for up to 200 yards.

 

What’s Better From The Rough?

Both of these clubs are great for the rough. Which one you use might just depend on where you are and your preferences as well.

The 9 might fight off things like muddy areas a little bit better, particularly if you have a short shot.

However, your 5 hybrid will work well in most rough settings, apart from muddy or sticky type areas.

 

Which Is Easiest To Hit?

There is no right or wrong answer here. Both of these clubs are super forgiving and really easy to hit.

You will find that most seasoned players actually do not carry a 9 wood with them.

However, you might find a 5 hybrid in their bag and they do come as part of most complete sets on the market too.

So overall the 5 Hybrid is going to be the most popular and probably the easiest to hit, as it has a shorter shaft and a more forgiving face.

The 9 wood and 5 hybrid can both work well for all golfer and while 5 hybrids can be incredibly versatile for all players, if you are player that hits their woods quite well, there is no reason not to carry the trusty 9 wood.

 

So, What Club Do I Replace?

If your bag already has 14 clubs, you might be wondering just what you should replace.

You need a good mix of drivers, woods, irons, wedges, hybrids, and a putter to shoot the lowest scoring rounds possible.

According to Golf Drives, your focus in choosing clubs should be more about shaft, loft, grip, the head, and your own comfort.

The 5 hybrid makes a great replacement for 4 and 5 irons. Most commonly, this is replacement location.

It can also replace a 9 wood if you’re feeling the need to remove that from your bag.

The 9 Wood is likely to replace a 6 iron in your bag so its not going to be for everyone but could be great on a course where you will get more roll once the ball lands.

If you are a connoisseur of hitting golf woods, this is the perfect club to carry in your bag.

 

What Is The Perfect Mix of Hybrids, Irons, and Woods?

Packing your golf bag with the right clubs is a lot like a puzzle. But here’s the thing. While there are certainly recommendations for what might be best in a golf bag, there is nothing that says you have to have 5 irons, 1 driver, 3 woods, and so on.

In Most Complete sets you can buy online today, the clubs you find will tend to be the: Driver, 3 Wood, 5 Wood, 4 Hybrid, 5 Hybrid, 6 – 9 Irons, PW, SW, Putter, but that is not to say you shouldn’t tweak this to your own personal preferences.

The key to creating the perfect mix is understanding how each club woks for you as a player. If you’re at a new course or perhaps even a new player, it might take you some time to really know which clubs are best for you.

According to My Golf Spy, you can use data of your play time to figure out how you can pack your bag going forward. Consider how often you use certain clubs, compare how different clubs perform, and do research on different clubs to know what is expected.

You definitely want a good mix of club options but there is not a perfect formula here. Choose based on your needs and preferences.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing the clubs in your golf bag, choose wisely. Consider all of the details before you replace a certain club or rule out a club like the 9 wood that is considered a beginner’s club.

If you’re just getting started, why not try out the 9 wood and the 5 hybrid and see what you like or don’t like? You might just decide to keep them both in your bag for the long haul.