If only I could stay in the fairway on a par 5….
My base setup is only 12 clubs, so I can take both if I don’t know the course.

I can see the fluctuation back and forth over time on which becomes most popular based on how trends go on tour but I don't think having the options between fairway woods, hybrids, and long irons will ever completely go away. Personally, I do not really care which is more prevalent on tour, or even at my local course, just what works best in my bag. Like you, I like having a few extra clubs, including different wedges that I can apply different bag set ups depending on the course I play or the weather conditions. Love having options.

I recently went to get git for the new TSR hybrid and ended up buying a TSR 21° 7 wood. I was getting the same distance but much higher ball flight. So far I have played a few rounds with it and have found it as easy to hit as my TS2 hybrid. It just feels wierd not having a hybrid in my bag after having them for so many years.

I would like to see a 26 degree fairway wood (Not a hybrid) to replace my 5-Iron. Never found a hybrid that I liked.

Try the TSR, I honestly could never hit a hybrid either until I got my hands on this one. Used to slice every hybrid I tried out but I hit the TSR straight and even a draw from time to time.

I agree. I found the TSR hybrid very easy to hit.

I thought the same thing until I tried the TSr2 26 hybrid, its is such a confidence booster to my game. I highly recommend looking into it.

I think it has to do with the personal preference of the player. In looking at our Brand Ambassadors it seems to be a mixed bag. Take Justin Thomas and Tom Kim they do carry a Fairway and a Hybrid. Others will have a Fairway 15* and a 18* Fairway, or maybe a Fairway 15* and all irons. I think that both have a place and hybrids for most amateurs are very beneficial. I carry the 816h1 and 818h1 hybrids, which according to a recent article I read are the #1 and #4 rated Titleist hybrids. I do not see a need to replace the hybrid due to the popularity by the average player. Pros are hitting their irons so far these days that they do not need three or four irons. A 220 yard five iron is something to behold to drop and stop.

Much like you said, whatever handicap someone is it comes down to preference and what you need this tool to do. From my experience, I have played a U500 2 iron the last couple years and have loved it. It does exactly what I needed it to do. Go higher then a standard CB 2 iron, but be very penetrating, plus filling that 235ish number. However, I started to play in more tournaments where I needed a club with a steeper decent angle for long par 3’s. Went into a fitting thinking it would be between a 505 or TSR hybrid. We ended up going with a 7wood because where the hybrid and utility irons offered me that height, the spin was too low. 21° TSR2 gave me the stopping power I needed with a more forgiving package. I have also found that the 7 wood is more versatile for me because I’m not having to force it up into the air. It has allowed me to hit more shots I need to be competitive and ultimately play better golf.

I personally grew up and have played fairway woods all my life. I tried hybrids but they just look and feel off when I hit one. Good post.

Regarding my comment about 220 yard five irons by pros. As much as we would like pump our distances with our drivers here are some facts regarding distances and thought it would be interesting to support why we amateurs need any help we can get from the hybrids or 18* or 23* fairways. Some may need all fairways, all hybrids, or a mixture, one of each, whichever get them the best results.

According to Top Rank Golf - What is the average driving distance for amateur golfers?
The average driving distance for amateur golfers is 216 yards across all handicaps and age groups, as reported by the USGA in their distance insights report. 56% of amateur golfers drive the ball between 200-250 yards, and only 31% drive the ball over 250 yards.

My tsi2 5 wood might be my favorite club in the bag. I enjoyed it so much a bought a tsi2 hybrid thinking I would get similar results but ended up getting rid of it after a few months as the consistency was never there.

The higher ball flight of a 7 wood is one advantage over hybrids. Ever since I put the TSR2 21 in the bag, I have been able to reach greens 200 to 220 yards out and have the ball remain on the green.

I never had a 7 wood, my TSR 7 wood was an easy decision to buy, I have a ton of confidence with it and the head shape is so easy to line up.

Personally I tested the 5 and 7 wood and it wasn't what i needed so i ended up with an 18 degree Hybrid (TSi2) which for now fills my gap between my Driver (TSr3 9 degree) and my 4 iron.
I hit about 240-250 with it and about 330ish with my driver. Definitely missing something in-between like a 5 but on the courses i play, i'm ok for length.

I don't think anyone will make the hybrid obsolete since it still fits so many players out there

I could never hit my hybrid consistent enough to feel I could trust it. Last year at my fitting I went with a 5 wood and utility iron for my gapping and love it. I feel more comfortable hitting my utility iron or 5 wood then I ever could with my old hybrid. I know it was probably user error but it works for my now.

In that we can carry fourteen clubs in our bag, it is about finding the right choice that fits our game. Finding the one that helps us score or at least puts us in position to score. Good course management and club selection is helps. Not all of us play the same game. I play in a senior men's league and one of the fellows who is in his eighties hits his four hybrid 90% of the time. Have even seen him putt with it. Drives me nuts, but his choice, his game and he scores with it and seems to be in the money a lot when he plays. One of the other guys asked him one day why he did not use his other clubs and his response was WHY? Good response. You know the old saying, it is not the arrow, it's the Indian. =)

Very interesting to hear how others use different clubs to lower their score!

I actually went to a 9 wood in addition to my 7 and 5. I just can’t get the ball flight with a 4 or even 5 iron in some cases. The 9 wood flies high, great out of the rough, and stops quick on the greens. Super easy to hit. Age does a lot of funny things to you! I never would have thought about having a 9 wood for Pete’s sake!

Most of us would be better off NOT following the direction of pros when selecting clubs. Ditto to Dale, better to have my own selection of clubs for different courses or just for how I'm hitting it on different days. Many times I show up at the range with 16 clubs in my bag and an extra driver shaft, and after warming up will put a few back in the truck before teeing off. I know a lot of people tell me that is wrong and I should stick with one set for consistency, but those same people will buy new clubs every 2 years.

At 72 years old both 5 and 7 fairway woods and hybrids work great. 7 iron is now my highest iron. Still a 9 handicap from the correct tees.

Its preference and how a course sets up. I have a 5 wood, few hybrids and a driving iron. I will switch them in and out depending on conditions and the course. If it’s dry I like the driving iron off the tee on mid-length par 4s. If it’s wet I will likely carry a 5 wood or hybrid for more carry.

It is all down to personal choice but also remember it is the players striking ability that will dictate what and how they hit it

I am like Dale, I like having options for different courses.

Type of Course and conditions time of year all are factors. Loft is your friend so those fairway woods are pretty versatile.

My good buddy has changed over to Cally Paradym metals and is using a 5 and 7. He is a much better player than I and ten years younger. I am still playing the 816h 17* and 818h* 21* hybrids. Last time we played which was on the 14th I was at least ten yards ahead of him on each of the clubs in comparison. In accuracy, may have been off about five yard off to the right. Have been considering changing to woods but am still playing my hybrids. Their performance is still to good for me. Looking forward to the new T350 irons 5-W.

I play all three based on the setup of the course. It's really all about personal preference though.

In one of my early fittings at TPI, my fitter mentioned the following to me. There's hybrid players and irons players. The options for high lofted metals, hybrids and driving irons are not going to go away. For me before I moved to Titleist, I had a hybrid and struggled. After my fitting, I went to the U510, now U505, and will not go back to a hybrid.

Hybrids don't work for me so I would rather play a 15- and 18-degree metal, then an iron. If I had some extra cash floating around, I would have a 16.5 and a 21-degree metal wood option for really tight courses.

It's personal preference and everyone should match the tools best suited to them. Hitting a 220-yard 5 iron is not in the cards for a lot of us for it to be a useful shot, meaning we are likely hitting lower bullets that wont stop than the rain maker.

My preference is metals and irons than hybrids. Your will be different.