Better player hybrids

[Canary Kid]

I’m intrigued ... can anyone please provide an explanation?

I use hybrids rather than long irons and, although I am fairly happy with mine, I have been thinking about trying some different ones. I saw a nice second hand Titleist 910H hybrid on eBay but, when I looked at the online reviews, they all said that it was designed for a low handicapper. I can see why some irons are designated as better player irons ... the heads are clearly a different style and thickness ... but what is it about a hybrid that looks just like any other that gets it designated as being for a low handicapper? What is different about it?

 

[duncan mackie]

Exactly the same design aspects as with an iron - its just that they aren't clearly visible!

 

[patricks148]

I’m intrigued ... can anyone please provide an explanation?

I use hybrids rather than long irons and, although I am fairly happy with mine, I have been thinking about trying some different ones. I saw a nice second hand Titleist 910H hybrid on eBay but, when I looked at the online reviews, they all said that it was designed for a low handicapper. I can see why some irons are designated as better player irons ... the heads are clearly a different style and thickness ... but what is it about a hybrid that looks just like any other that gets it designated as being for a low handicapper? What is different about it?

TBH i don't think Titliest are a great example on the hybrid front, i was looking at the Gi version and better player and i couldn't really tell any difference other than colour and shaft. IMO Titliest do appeal to better players, but i'm not a fan as find the head is too big to my eye.

I have a callaway xhot 2 pro 18 deg hybrid and there is quite a pronounced difference between Xhot and the pro

anyway i digress, better player would be lower launching and maybe have a smaller head to shape shots easier and spin less as better players should have enough CHS to get the ball up easier. so GI would be designed to go high and straight and better player less so IMO of course.

 

[Grant85]

I see the main point of a hybrid is to launch the ball in the air.

In my mind, a hybrid generates more backspin and so the ball goes higher in the air, lands softer and players with a lower swing speed will likely hit the ball higher and further than they would with a 3 iron that will probably not get enough height to go further than a 4 iron.

Probably 'better players' have more swing speed and a hybrid is likely to launch the ball for them far too high. Hence why a lot of tour pros won't even carry a hybrid and those that do will probably have one with less than 20 degrees loft.

It may be that a better players hybrid is designed not to generate as much back spin.

 

[fundy]

Can be smaller heads, less spin, often a face that is slightly open, extra weighting in the toe, plenty of good players found hybrids hook machines when first came out, a lot of the differences are to mitigate that to some degree

 

[Crow]

I thought better player hybrids were called irons.

 

[Foxholer]

Check out the old ranges of Adams hybrids - a recognised specialist in that area. You'll likely observe the difference between those designed for high handicappers and those designed for better/best players.

This link might help https://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/equipment/golf-clubs/rescue-clubs/adams-golf/

Like irons (as mentioned above) better players can handle smaller, less forgiving, heads designed for 'piercing' flight, while those for less skilled players have larger, more forgiving, heads which generate more spin - to optimise flight/distance for the lower speed generated. As a relatively good striker of the ball, if not with the swing speed to match, I far prefer the slimmer 'better player' style though the super-slim style is not for me. If you are looking for a single 'general' one though, it's hard to beat the original TM Rescue - great off the deck or even tee and meaty enough for shots out of even fairly dense rough. I've still got the one that got me hooked on hybrids!

 

[Canary Kid]

Thanks guys ... differences in launch height and spin would seem to account for it.

 

[Orikoru]

'Better players' use 2 irons don't they??

 

[patricks148]

'Better players' use 2 irons don't they??

Do they?