Hybrids are meant to be easier aren't they?

[MadAdey]

But, as Duncn implies, would you even consider hitting it out of the 2nd cut of rough!

I can remember deciding mid/late one August that the blades I'd played rather successfully for the 'summer' weren't appropriate for playing from juicy rough! Thast TP Mid Rescue was/is a great club for that sort of lie!

I never really found myself that far from the hole in the rough that a hybrid was needed as I can get a 5i out pretty well from most rough. I have my 3w lofted up like a 4w and can grip down on that and punch it out of the rough if distance is needed, as it is smaller headed 3w.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against hybrids/rescue clubs and I wish I could use one with confidence. On the range I can hit it as straight as any club in my bag, but on the course it never feels like it is set up square, just an optical illusion for me. I even got my friend to stand behind me when I thought I was square, he put down my alignment sticks and I was set up perfectly if I was planning on hitting a big draw. I have even tried other players hybrids on the course to see how different ones feel and they all have the same outcome.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I never really found myself that far from the hole in the rough that a hybrid was needed as I can get a 5i out pretty well from most rough. I have my 3w lofted up like a 4w and can grip down on that and punch it out of the rough if distance is needed, as it is smaller headed 3w.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against hybrids/rescue clubs and I wish I could use one with confidence. On the range I can hit it as straight as any club in my bag, but on the course it never feels like it is set up square, just an optical illusion for me. I even got my friend to stand behind me when I thought I was square, he put down my alignment sticks and I was set up perfectly if I was planning on hitting a big draw. I have even tried other players hybrids on the course to see how different ones feel and they all have the same outcome.

Even though I have pretty well stopped playing now and I am at a different level handicap wise I found the above comments a complete mirror of my own experience.

Driver, 4 wood and 4 iron (21 deg) seemed to cover the distance requirements and the latter two are playable from the first cut.

And they do this without me feeling that the ball is going to disappear over my left shoulder.

 

[Roops]

That's very similar to how I feel with mine. Always looks closed at address and while I can shape an iron or wood both ways on a good day, no chance with a hybrid.

 

[Orikoru]

It's interesting that a lot of you seem to have a love/hate relationship with hybrids. The way some people talk about them, you'd think they were magic cheat sticks.

In the short term, I've got club champs this weekend, so I'll have to go to the driving range this week with the hybrid and decide where I'm at with it. If I can't get it to work I'll have to stick with the 5 iron at the weekend.

 

[clubchamp98]

A hybrid golf club is an object, it dosnt change from day to day it stays the same.
The problem is the person holding the grip they are the inconsistent one.
like any club there is a way to get the best from them.
Personaly I havnt mastered them.

in the OP you say you hit it well for a spell that tells me it’s you not the club.
Drivers, putters ,wedges some people hit them well some don’t , the lower the capper the better they hit most clubs , even the pros hit bad shots.

Blaming ones tools is typical golfer for I havnt got the technique to hit this.

 

[Orikoru]

A hybrid golf club is an object, it dosnt change from day to day it stays the same.
The problem is the person holding the grip they are the inconsistent one.
like any club there is a way to get the best from them.
Personaly I havnt mastered them.

in the OP you say you hit it well for a spell that tells me it’s you not the club.
Drivers, putters ,wedges some people hit them well some don’t , the lower the capper the better they hit most clubs , even the pros hit bad shots.

Blaming ones tools is typical golfer for I havnt got the technique to hit this.

Don't be daft. Obviously I know that I'm crap at golf, but there is still merit in making sure a certain club actually suits you or not. I just wanted to get a measure on people's thought on hybrids generally - I have seen that more people struggle with them than I previously thought.

It's not 'blaming the club', it's just considering whether I'd have more success with a different type of club. When I mishit a shot I don't stand there and say "this club is useless" it's more "why can't I hit this??" so I'm certainly blaming myself.

 

[MadAdey]

A hybrid golf club is an object, it dosnt change from day to day it stays the same.
The problem is the person holding the grip they are the inconsistent one.
like any club there is a way to get the best from them.
Personaly I havnt mastered them.

in the OP you say you hit it well for a spell that tells me it’s you not the club.
Drivers, putters ,wedges some people hit them well some don’t , the lower the capper the better they hit most clubs , even the pros hit bad shots.

Blaming ones tools is typical golfer for I havnt got the technique to hit this.

I think it’s a combination of the 2. Can’t exactly blame the club as I can hit them, but then I can’t all the blame as my problem is with the design of a hybrid. Hence why I’m using a utility now, get some of benefits of a hybrid with look of an iron.

 

[Orikoru]

Driving range last night, not very much progress. I was hitting the ball fine (only a couple of tops/thins) but there's about a 30% chance of a hook and 30% chance of a slice. No consistency at all, and I think it's going to be left in the bag this weekend.

I'm thinking seriously of trying to get hold of a 4 iron and trying that out for a while. Not sure how it easy it is to find a 4 iron that matches my current set though.

 

[r0wly86]

I think it’s a combination of the 2. Can’t exactly blame the club as I can hit them, but then I can’t all the blame as my problem is with the design of a hybrid. Hence why I’m using a utility now, get some of benefits of a hybrid with look of an iron.

A 28 handicapper using a set of 1970s blades may be able to hit 1/10 out the middle and well. So we could say "well you can hit it well so it's you fault 90% are crap" but really we know that those clubs are just not suited to someone with an inconsistent swing.

Likewise with any club just because you can hit it well, doesn't mean it suits your swing or style of golf. Of course you could alter your swing or you could try and find a club more suited to you

 

[patricks148]

Driving range last night, not very much progress. I was hitting the ball fine (only a couple of tops/thins) but there's about a 30% chance of a hook and 30% chance of a slice. No consistency at all, and I think it's going to be left in the bag this weekend.

I'm thinking seriously of trying to get hold of a 4 iron and trying that out for a while. Not sure how it easy it is to find a 4 iron that matches my current set though.

if you do look for an alternative replacement 4 iron make sure you check what loft is on your 5, so you don't end up with the same.

 

[Orikoru]

if you do look for an alternative replacement 4 iron make sure you check what loft is on your 5, so you don't end up with the same.

Oh yeah, definitely. The lofts on my Callaways are pretty strong, but most game improver irons are similar in that respect I think. I'd be needing something around 20°.

 

[Dasit]

I can never get consistency from hybrids

Hit some of best shots with them, but hit enough snap hooks to be put off using them when the landing zone is at all tight.

Would say they have cost me more shots than gained me, if I had taken an average 6 iron then hit a 30 or 40 yard pitch.

 

[need_my_wedge]

I can never get consistency from hybrids

Hit some of best shots with them, but hit enough snap hooks to be put off using them when the landing zone is at all tight.

Would say they have cost me more shots than gained me, if I had taken an average 6 iron then hit a 30 or 40 yard pitch.

This is where I'm at with my M4 - was so good at first, now duck hooking it everywhere

 

[Orikoru]

I can never get consistency from hybrids

Hit some of best shots with them, but hit enough snap hooks to be put off using them when the landing zone is at all tight.

Would say they have cost me more shots than gained me, if I had taken an average 6 iron then hit a 30 or 40 yard pitch.

Yeah, this sounds about right. Can hit a blinding 200 yard shot with the hybrid but it's like a 1 in 6 shot, the other 5 could be a slice, a hook, even a top, god knows. At the moment I feel better off going 180 odd with the 5 iron and chipping the rest of the way. More reliable.

 

[Mark1751]

Why don’t you oh have a look at the Ping crossover or a driving iron, both can be had a for reasonable price on eBay, or check out AG outlet and Northwick Park and have a hit of them there.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Why not try another fairway wood, a 4 iron distance would be like a 7 wood(so for me about 180-190ish carry). An old adams tight lies 7 wood, can be bought for cheap as chips off ebay, always found the 7 wood a great club to hit, lovely high flight and lands softly and much more forgiving than an iron.

Also find I hit woods far better when taking what feels like a '3/4' swing and play it almost like an iron. When I take a full swing with woods I tend to top/thin the ball loads, as think I am hitting up with a driver, doh.

 

[ScienceBoy]

Quite happily played a 6400 yard course mostly taking irons off tees.

I need to learn to hit longer clubs off the tee. Doubt I will ever hit long clubs off the fairway, no more that a 5 or 6, as that doesn’t fit with my game plan.