Fred {Couples} has 6 (!) woods and hybrids in his bag. Must you?

In honor of Fred {Couples}’ sixty fifth birthday, the PGA Tour Champions has been posting pictures and movies of the famously syrupy swinger, each previous and current. However one video particularly caught my eye, a clip of {Couples} reeling off his inventory yardages by the bag. 

The video stood out for just a few causes. The primary being that {Couples} carries six woods/hybrids: driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, plus three hybrids that exchange his 4-, 5- and 6-irons. I don’t know many amateurs with that a lot lumber of their luggage not to mention professionals. {Couples} has stated his power again issues have made it tough for him to hit lengthy irons, however he additionally clearly values the upper, softer flight and stopping energy of hybrids.  

To raised perceive why {Couples} would favor hybrids over lengthy irons, I reached out to David Armitage, a GOLF Prime 100 Instructor to Watch.

“I believe what he [Couples] is doing is attempting to optimize and hold his recreation shifting ahead in the precise path so he can shoot the bottom scores potential,” Armitage says. 

Armitage stated that Tour gamers decide how nicely their gear is engaged on just a few key areas, two of that are distance and trajectory. In {Couples}’ case, Armitage stated, he’s probably wanting on the programs he performs in competitors, taking into consideration the carry distances he’ll want and the ball flight that most accurately fits his recreation to piece collectively a bag that goes to assist him be efficient. 

{Couples} unpacks this technique in one other video the Champions Tour posted of him dialing in his woods, through which he explains how these golf equipment assist him cease photographs “on a dime.”

So, what can we amateurs be taught from {Couples}? For starters, we shouldn’t shrink back from using extra forgiving golf equipment like a 7-wood or 6-hybrid. Ego can play a task when deciding on gear, however in case you can put that nagging voice apart, Armitage says fewer irons in your arsenal can profit your recreation in additional methods than one. 

How extra woods and hybrids may help your recreation

Fairway woods and hybrids not solely solely assist golfers get the ball up shortly, however in addition they may help you make a greater technical transfer in your swing, Armitage says.

That’s as a result of common golfers generally tend to try to assist the ball into the air by leaning again. Having a extra forgiving membership in your hand will enable you to launch the ball with out hanging again in your swing, thereby enhancing your influence place and possibilities of making strong, center-face contact. 

One more reason the video above stood out to me was as a result of even with {Couples}’ easy tempo, he nonetheless bombs it. To offer you some perspective, the inventory yardage for his driver is 285, simply 14 yards wanting the PGA Tour common. One purpose he’s capable of hit it to date is as a result of he finds the middle of the face each time. 

“Middle-face contact is without doubt one of the most necessary fundamentals in golf for 2 causes,” Armitage says.

“When you will have off-center hits, just like the toe and heel, it’s going to alter the face a bit of bit at influence,” Armitage says. 

In the end, the flexibility to make strong, center-face strikes is the most important distinction between a professional and an newbie. 

However what if the precise membership choice may convey you a bit of nearer to a professional’s talent degree? Hybrid and woods may help. 

Fairway woods and hybrids are so forgiving as a result of they’ve bigger clubheads, which means extra stability and a larger “candy spot,” Armitage says. Meaning extra photographs that begin and keep on line, higher trajectory and even an improved efficiency from the tough. 

As golf season involves an in depth, now is a good time to experiment with switching out your lengthy irons for a hybrid or fairway wooden. Give it a strive. Hey, if it’s adequate for Freddie…

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SPINSISTENCY
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TUNGSTEN BACK WEIGHT
A tungsten again weight extends the perimeter weighting to make sure most forgiveness.
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Trajectory Tuning 2.0 offers eight hosel positions, adjusting for loft (+/- .5°) and lie (as much as 3° flatter than std).

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