[ GOLF ]
Club Comparison
NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB ’ S DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A HYBRID CLUB AND A FAIRWAY WOOD AS WELL AS WHY THEY ’ RE IMPORTANT TO YOUR GAME .
BY ASHLEY RYAN and a higher ball flight than their longer irons can allow , they employ fairway woods . With the use of these clubs , a golfer can hit the ball farther and higher , giving them the ability to approach the course with the accuracy of a pro . However , for the same reason , more and more golf professionals are putting hybrids and high-lofted fairway woods in their bags . I recommend that all golfers follow their lead .
Comparing some of the different versions of hybrids and fairway woods .
While it ’ s truly up to the golfer which clubs they select for their set , a safe bet is to include a substantial amount of irons along with a putter , a wedge , a few woods and a hybrid . Of course , some variation may occur , but improving both your hybrid and fairway wood techniques can make all the difference .
According to Carlo Borunda , the director of instruction at Newport Beach Country Club , playing with hybrid and fairway woods can change the outcome of your game . “ Golf is a challenging sport ,” he says . “ Therefore , players are constantly looking for ways to make it less difficult . You have that opportunity with hybrid clubs and fairway woods .” Here , Borunda delves into how to use these clubs to improve your score .
BAY WINDOW : What are the differences between a hybrid club and a fairway wood ? CARLO BORUNDA : At first glance , they appear to share the same characteristics . As you look closer , you will notice that the fairway wood has a larger clubhead and longer shaft . The combination of these two ingredients helps the golfer generate more power when distance is the goal . Some golfers struggle with the look and feel of these longer clubs . Many players prefer the shorter shafts and smaller head design of hybrid clubs . … These days , hybrid golf clubs are often used to replace multiple irons in a set of golf clubs .
BW : Why are hybrid irons and fairway woods important to the golf game ? CB : When a golfer requires more distance
BW : How can you lower your scores with these types of clubs ? CB : When you can hit your golf ball closer to the hole , lowering your score is easier to do . The golfer ’ s objective is to complete this assignment with their wedges or midirons — 9- , 8- or 7-irons . Unfortunately , certain holes ’ lengths or the golfers ’ slow clubhead speed necessitate using long irons ( 6 , 5 , 4 or 3 irons ) or fairway woods for the approach shot . The odds of the golfer succeeding are increased by the higher lofted fairway woods and more forgiving hybrids . When utilizing these golf clubs , players can strike the ball farther and with greater accuracy . As a result , they have shorter and simpler one-putt opportunities .
BW : Is the hybrid technique more like an iron or fairway wood swing ? CB : The name “ hybrid ” refers to the club ’ s dual playing methods . The downward attack angle of the first technique is comparable to that of the iron swing . This technique is ideal to use when the golf ball is sitting in the rough or fairway bunker . I prefer to use the second technique , which mimics the fairway wood swing ’ s shallow attack angle . This swing pattern , in my opinion , is more accommodating and adaptable to the uneven playing conditions encountered on the golf course . When using either of these golf clubs from a tee , the shallower attack angle is preferable .
36 BAY WINDOW