3 Wood Vs 3 Hybrid: What’s The Difference?
There’s more choice than ever before when it comes to the top end of the golf bag, the power packed spots between your driver and your longest iron. You could opt for a fairway wood, one of many different hybrid models, a driving iron (opens in new tab), utility iron or a classic long iron if you are a confident ball striker.
Here, we take two of the most popular choices – the 3 wood and the 3 hybrid – and put them head-to-head to help you decide which is best for your game. Also be sure to have a read of our guides on the best fairway woods (opens in new tab) and best hybrid golf clubs (opens in new tab) as well.
Length
Firstly, we start with the length of the clubs, with a 3 wood usually the second longest club in a golfer’s bag behind driver. Usually fitted with a 42 and 43 inch shaft as standard by the majority of manufacturers, the club is built for distance. It helps golfers hit longer shots from the fairway, out of shorter rough or as back-up to driver on tight holes.
A 3 hybrid is shorter in length, with a shaft measuring around 40 inches, and is meant as a playable replacement for a 3-iron. The differences in shaft length between a three wood and a 3 hybrid affect how far you’ll hit both clubs.
In terms of distance, a 3 wood will go further than a 3 hybrid and fly with a lower ball flight. An average distance gap between these two clubs would normally be 15 to 20 yards when testing with the best golf launch monitors. (opens in new tab)
Loft
A 3 hybrid is a direct replacement for a 3 iron, available in lofts between 20 and 22° while a 3 wood is generally lofted between 14 and 16°. The difference in loft means the 3 wood will fly lower and further than a 3 hybrid.
What’s more, a 3 wood will also roll out more in drier conditions, making it an obvious back-up club to driver when golfers begin to struggle off the tee or find themselves playing tight tree lined golf courses.
The higher lofted hybrid is going to launch higher, reach a greater peak height and land softer when it hits the fairway or green.
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)
Design
Put these clubs side by side and you’ll notice obvious differences. A 3 wood has a larger clubhead, shallower in profile with a more rounded shape and bigger sole, while a 3 hybrid is more compact and iron-like, with a higher toe, slimmer sole and a deeper face.
These subtle differences mean that a 3 hybrid can be swung in the same way as a long iron, with a…
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