This story first appeared in the Spring 2025 edition of Northern Ohio Golfer Magazine, the official print publication of the Northern Ohio Golf Association. NOGA members who provide a mailing address in their GHIN account receive a copy mailed to their home twice per year. Not yet a NOGA member? JOIN NOW >
–by Trent Maxwell, WGC
What do the modern game improvement 5-iron, a 4-hybrid, and a 7-wood all have in common? They are all roughly 21-23 degrees. While golfers can use these clubs to hit a golf ball a mid-range distance, the trajectories of those clubs can differ significantly.
How does the player know which club they need? Do they need a higher lofted fairway metal, a hybrid, and a 5-iron?
The simple answer is that it depends.
It depends on the golf course or courses you play. It depends on your confidence level with said clubs. It might depend on the peak trajectory you can hit them. And it depends on whether you have a steep (digger) angle of attack or a shallow (sweeper) angle of attack.
Let’s start by discussing the upper end of the bag gap fitting. Some of the most difficult club-fitting conversations I have are with baby boomers or younger people who see their speed slowing down as they age. Sometimes, it can even be younger players who take too much loft off the club at impact. Either way, they still believe they can hit 3-, 4-, 5- and sometimes 6-irons.
It’s not that they cannot hit these irons in most cases. A more accurate way to say it is that they cannot hit them on a playable trajectory.
I would define a playable trajectory as a shot that flies high enough and lands steep enough to stop at a front pin location on a standard green. With the invention of radar devices like Trackman, Flightscope, or Foresight, having those conversations has become easier.
When I do these top-of-the-bag gap fittings now, I have a “prove it” session. I set up this session when my customer wants to order a 3-, 4-, or 5-iron, and I don’t believe they can create a playable trajectory with those clubs, based on the data.
In most cases, the golfer needs not only one hybrid for their set, but they usually need multiple hybrids. In some cases, they may need a higher lofted fairway wood plus some additional hybrids.
By using these radar devices, the golfer can peer behind the curtain and see into the mind of the fitter. These radar devices are the key to the process, allowing the consumer to see the data proving the fitters’ point.
By showing the player how much easier the hybrids can launch the ball into the air, pick up more carry yardage, and land on more of a playable trajectory, I hope to accomplish an important goal: to show the golfer that he or she can play better and have more fun.
I enjoy doing these “gap” fittings. While the golf consumer might want the new shiny driver or the latest-and-greatest set of irons, these in-between clubs may make or break the golfer’s chance of having the best opportunity to score.
When doing these gap fittings, be sure to try even higher lofted fairway metals. For certain players, fairway metals can be easier to hit than hybrids.
There is no one perfect set for all players. There is only one perfect set for you that matches your speed and your launch conditions. My personal recommendation is to look into hybrids and higher lofted fairway woods when shopping for that next set of clubs. Often, that’s how you will see lower scores.
It is critical to find a club-fitter you can trust. Hopefully, the club-fitter you choose will have access to a radar device so you can see the data required to make an informed decision about what to carry in your golf bag.
In conclusion, when looking to score better, don’t neglect how important it is to set up your golf bag to help give you the best possible chance to hit the best shots. Lessons are also important, but little tweaks to your set makeup can also make a huge difference.
Thanks for reading! If you have further questions about club fitting or what’s best for your personal set, please reach out to me, Trent Maxwell, Director of Custom Fitting at Windmill Golf Center in Macedonia. I’m at trentmaxwell@windmillgolfcenter.com or 330-467-6425 to schedule a fitting with any of our talented fitting staff.
