Fairway woods have been a staple of the golf game since the earliest days of the sport, whereas golf hybrids are a much more recent innovation.
While similar at first glance, hybrids and fairways are significantly different clubs, both in their usage and aesthetics, with different uses on the course.
But the question is: If they’re so similar, which should you use in certain scenarios? If you often find yourself torn between the two, we’re here to offer some guidance.
Clarkes Golf is home to a huge selection of golf hybrid clubs and fairway woods from trusted brands. So if you require a new addition to your golf bag, you'll find the perfect hybrid or fairway to match your playing style here.
Take a look at our selection at the links above, or keep reading for more information on distinguishing between the two when your scores are on the line!
What is the difference between fairway woods and hybrids?
Let’s get the obvious out of the way…
Fairway woods are designed to hit long shots from the turf or the tee, adopting the appearance of a miniature driver.
Hybrid clubs (also known as ‘rescue clubs’) are designed to bridge the gap between your long irons and fairways, taking elements from both clubs. Specifically, greater shaft flex, swing speed and a higher launch angle.
Fairway woods can achieve excellent distances off the deck as well as the tee, though they’re not always the most accurate clubs in the world.
Hybrids, on the other hand, don’t hit as long as fairways, though they’re often far more accurate, like a golf iron, while still reaching very respectable distances.
When should you use a hybrid club or fairway wood?
At the tee
Hybrids are far from the traditional choice at the tee. Having said that, many golfers reach for a hybrid on Par 3’s or uniquely shaped holes where a shorter yardage is required.
Hybrids can also be the ideal choice here given they’re considered to be more accurate than fairways, and if you’re shooting for the green on your first shot you’re going to need all the accuracy you can get along with a solid strike.
However, if you’re looking at distances of over 170 yards, you’ll probably fall short without a fairway wood in your hands.
On the fairway
Naturally, given the name, you’d assume reaching for a fairway wood on the fairway would be the wisest choice. Most of the time, you’d be right.
If you’re on your second shot and there’s still a long way to go to the pin, a fairway wood is an easy pick.
However, if you need a high trajectory without sacrificing accuracy, a hybrid club would serve you well.
Hybrids generally have a higher loft than fairways, making them ideal if you’re on a slightly raised fairway and need to get the ball into the air easily.
Out of the rough
The rough is arguably where hybrids take the spotlight above fairways.
In fact, that’s the whole reason hybrids are also known as rescue clubs – because they’re so useful at getting golf balls out of the rough with power and accuracy.
For example, if you slice your tee shot and wind up in the rough with a long way to go to the pin, you could be tempted to use your fairway to fire the ball as far as possible.
If it’s sat up nicely on a patch of thick grass, this might not be a bad idea. But if the ball is submerged even slightly, your fairway wood may not interact with the grass as well as you’d like.
The result? Shots that get the ball out of the rough, but that are lacking in accuracy, costing you strokes.
Golf hybrids, however, are shaped in a way that helps them cut through the grass more effectively than fairways, helping lift the ball out of the rough without sacrificing power or accuracy.
Around the green
Yes, believe it or not, hybrids can come in handy close to the green, too.
You’ll often see professionals use hybrids to gently lift the ball onto the green, where a putt is out of the question, and a chip may be a little too heavy.
The loft offers the ball enough height to escape the longer grass around the green, while offering plenty of forgiveness, helping push the ball towards the hole.
It’s a tricky technique, though, and is best left in the hands of more experienced players.
Explore fairway woods and golf hybrids for sale at Clarkes Golf
If you need a new golf hybrid or fairway wood, you’ll be spoilt for choice at Clarkes Golf.
We have a massive range of golf hybrids and fairways, from all the leading manufacturers in the sport, so you’ll always be able to find the right hybrid golf club or fairway for you. We also have a selection of utility irons, if this is an element of your game you'd like to explore.
Take a look at our selection of fairways and hybrids at the links above, or check out our ‘Sale’ page for some unmissable golf bargains!