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

In honor of Fred {Couples}’ sixty fifth birthday, the PGA Tour Champions has been posting images 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 change his 4-, 5- and 6-irons. I don’t know many amateurs with that a lot lumber of their baggage not to mention professionals. {Couples} has mentioned his power again issues have made it troublesome for him to hit lengthy irons, however he additionally clearly values the upper, softer flight and stopping energy of hybrids.  

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

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

Armitage mentioned that Tour gamers choose how properly their tools is engaged on just a few key areas, two of that are distance and trajectory. In {Couples}’ case, Armitage mentioned, he’s possible wanting on the programs he performs in competitors, making an allowance for 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, during which he explains how these golf equipment assist him cease pictures “on a dime.”

So, what can we amateurs study 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 choosing tools, however when 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 will help your recreation

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

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

Another excuse the video above stood out to me was as a result of even with {Couples}’ clean 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 motive 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 essential fundamentals in golf for 2 causes,” Armitage says.

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

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

However what if the best membership choice might carry you somewhat nearer to a professional’s talent degree? Hybrid and woods will help. 

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

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

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FACE WRAP TECHNOLOGY
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SPINSISTENCY
The variable roll radius of Spinsistency improves efficiency throughout the face (particularly on skinny pictures) by decreasing spin to extend ball pace from the maraging metal face.
TUNGSTEN BACK WEIGHT
A tungsten again weight extends the perimeter weighting to make sure most forgiveness.
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Trajectory Tuning 2.0 gives eight hosel positions, adjusting for loft (+/- .5°) and lie (as much as 3° flatter than std).

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