When should you use these important clubs?

The spot(s) between the longest fairway wood and the mid-iron remain a black hole for some golfers – and generally lead to many critical bag-building questions: Is it better to use a game-improvement long iron or a utility iron? How about a hybrid or a high-loft fairway wood of the same loft? Answering these dilemmas will certainly help you improve your handicap by several strokes.

Unless you’re a bomber with a lot of speed in the tank, there’s a good chance you’ll need to hit a fair number of shots from 240-180 during a round. Long irons, utility irons, hybrids, and high-loft fairway woods can all do the job, but it’s important to understand the benefits they offer to certain types of players.

In the latest episode of GOLF On the Fully Equipped podcast, the crew discussed the results of a robotic test with Golf Laboratories that revealed the clubs’ wide range of launch and spin characteristics at 92 mph. Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, it’s very likely that one of the following clubs can help you fill a gap (or two) in the bag.

7-Wood: 19 degrees (launch angle) | 5,200 rpm (spin) | 200 yards (carrying range)

Who it is intended for: Someone who does not consistently hit the ball off-center and needs maximum forgiveness. This golfer may also need help hitting the ball high and stopping on the green.

Insights (Kris McCormack, co-host of Fully Equipped and Vice President of Tours and Education at True Spec Golf): “When it comes to a player’s target audience, the 7-wood is more forgiving and designed for players who need more launch and spin. It’s a replacement for a long iron that you hit onto the green and expect to hold up. The lower, deeper center of gravity of the 7-wood allows you to hit higher, and that was the case (during testing).”

3-Hybrids: 14 degrees | 2,940 rpm | 200 meters

Who it is intended for: A golfer who needs a second option off the tee and has no deficiencies in launch and spin. The compact profile makes it a good option for the better player who still needs some protection from mishits.

Insights: “The 3-Hybrid has a more compact design with a forward center of gravity. It is also a long iron replacement, but it will play and behave more like a traditional long iron.”

TaylorMade Qi10 Custom fairway wood

$349.99

Introducing the Qi10 Fairways. Experience TaylorMade speed with Qi10 forgiveness… off the tee and off the deck. TOUR-PROVEN PERFORMANCE The most popular model among Tour players and amateurs, the Qi10 fairway is the ideal blend of distance and forgiveness, while the precise CG location delivers a combination of high launch and low spin. NEW INFINITY CARBON CROWN An Infinity Crown provides a clean, unobstructed view at address while optimizing performance. Engineers relied on this new design to reshape the club, moving more weight down into the clubhead to maintain high inertia, with an enlarged face profile that inspires confidence and generates ball speed.

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3 iron: 15 degrees | 3,640 rpm | 189 meters

Who it is intended for: Strong ball club that wants a uniform look for its iron set and places great value on workability and variability when teeing off.

Insights: “I would expect the player using the 3-iron to handle the ball a little bit better. He’s looking for a certain launch window and a certain number. He’s also trying to shape and control his shots.

Looking to update your bag for 2024? Find a True Spec Golf location near you.

Jonathan Wall

Golf.com Publisher

Jonathan Wall is the Editor-in-Chief of Equipment for GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com. Before joining the team in late 2018, he was the PGA Tour Equipment Manager for 6 years. He can be reached at [email protected].