Woods and hybrids
3-wood vs 5-wood vs hybrid: how to gap them
A 3-wood (15°) carries about 40 yards less than your driver, a 5-wood (18°) about 55 and a 7-wood (21°) about 65; hybrids run from a 17° 2-hybrid (40) through a 20° 3-hybrid (52) and 23° 4-hybrid (62) to a 26° 5-hybrid (72). ELDRICK suggests hybrids for the 4-iron and longer when your driver speed is under 90 mph.
| Club | Loft | Carry gap below driver | Est. carry at 90 mph | Est. carry at 100 mph | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-wood | 15° | 40 yd | 185 yd | 210 yd | 43" |
| 5-wood | 18° | 55 yd | 170 yd | 195 yd | 42.25" |
| 7-wood | 21° | 65 yd | 160 yd | 185 yd | 41.5" |
| 2-hybrid | 17° | 40 yd | 185 yd | 210 yd | 41" |
| 3-hybrid | 20° | 52 yd | 173 yd | 198 yd | 40.5" |
| 4-hybrid | 23° | 62 yd | 163 yd | 188 yd | 40" |
| 5-hybrid | 26° | 72 yd | 153 yd | 178 yd | 39.5" |
Estimated carries use ELDRICK's rough driver carry of 2.5 yards per mph (median in ELDRICK driver fittings: 2.39). The gaps are mid-handicap averages; measured carries always win.
Gaps that work
ELDRICK's gapping guidance, at a 90 mph driver speed: 15 to 45 yards from the driver to the next club, and 8 to 30 yards between woods and hybrids. Faster golfers get wider windows and slower golfers narrower ones (driver speed ÷ 90, between 0.7 and 1.3). Lofts within 2° of each other count as duplicates.
A 3-wood and a 2-hybrid carry about the same in this table, so carrying both rarely makes sense. Pick the one you hit better off the turf.
Each club has its own speed
ELDRICK estimates your 3-wood speed as driver speed × 0.955, each further fairway wood 3% slower, and your 3-hybrid as driver × 0.90. Flex, head type and shaft weight are read at that speed. A 100 mph driver swing means about 95.5 mph with the 3-wood and 90 mph with the 3-hybrid.
Head choice follows the driver rules at each club's speed. A 3-wood gets a Light head under 76.4 mph and a 3-hybrid under 72 mph, the same as a driver under 80 mph. Shafts step up in weight from the driver: see shaft weight by swing speed.
Frequently asked questions
Should I carry a 5-wood or a hybrid?
Whichever fills your gap and you hit better. A 5-wood (18°) carries about 55 yards less than your driver in ELDRICK's table; a 3-hybrid (20°) about 52.
When should I replace my long irons with hybrids?
ELDRICK suggests hybrids for the 4-iron and longer when your driver speed is under 90 mph, or when a long iron overlaps the next club.
How far should a 3-wood go compared to a driver?
About 40 yards less carry in ELDRICK's gapping table, scaled with speed.
Is a 7-wood a good idea?
For many golfers, yes. At 21° it carries about 65 yards less than the driver, which often replaces a 4- or 5-iron.