The trouble with Hybrids / Distance love affair.

[beau d.]

On reading an article in last months GM re. the TM Jet Speed and comments of hybrid distance joy with playing partners I find very strange peoples reaction towards added distance gained by putting them in the bag.
My point is the distance gap which is often created by adding a hybrid, to replace let's say as in my case a conventional 3 Iron can be counter productive.
For me a major consideration has been trying to maintain as near as I can a set distance between my 4 iron and my 5 wood with a hybrid 3 Iron. I hear comments, it's so long I'm hitting it 20 yards further than my old 3 iron, but surely if that is the case, if you hit your 4 Iron around 175-180 like I do, the new hybrid will go 195-200 which is encroaching my 5 wood, creating a massive distance gap of 20 yards between two clubs which should be around 12. I would also effectively have two clubs which are pretty much the same, i.e hybrid and 5 wood. The problem get's worse if you add a hybrid 4 Iron, 5 iron 165-170 Hybrid 4 Iron 185-190.
On my journey to attempt to successfully replace a conventional 3 Iron I have excluded some hybrids because they are too long and no easier to hit than a conventional 3 Iron. I just think long Irons unless you are really low are difficult enough to hit without adding an extra variable of attempting to knock distance off the club to ensure if we pull off that tricky shot we hit the middle of the green not run through the back.

 

[BTatHome]

If a hybrid is easier to hit then that is usually a bonus for many. Personally I agree with your gapping comments but many people changing are not hitting their long irons with any consistency anyway, so swapping for something a bit longer is not a big deal in the long end of their bag.

In a perfect bag your gapping would be steady and your shot distances would be predictable with each club ... for me when I get to the longer clubs I can't get the predictable distances, so my gapping is just a mythical list in my head

 

[Rooter]

like BT, would rather have bigger gaps at the long end of the bag than the short end...

 

[Birchy]

like BT, would rather have bigger gaps at the long end of the bag than the short end...

Surely shots are easier to manipulate with shorter clubs?

What you think is easier 3/4 swing with a 4 hybrid or a 3/4 swing with a gap wedge etc??

I would take the wedge every time imo.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

When I bought my hybrid I also tried an RBZ, with more loft. However it went too far and didn't fit it my bag properly.
Rather than buying one club that goes further I'd have thought it better to have equal gaps throughout the bag and then learn to hit every club further/better.

 

[duncan mackie]

For me a major consideration has been trying to maintain as near as I can a set distance between my 4 iron and my 5 wood with a hybrid 3 Iron. I hear comments, it's so long I'm hitting it 20 yards further than my old 3 iron, but surely if that is the case, if you hit your 4 Iron around 175-180 like I do, the new hybrid will go 195-200 which is encroaching my 5 wood,

1 for most a hybrid 4 will equate to a 3 iron in the equation above - although the comparison is rather mute as they can't hit a 3 iron (or a 4)

2. not many carry a 5w and hybrids; they aren't the same in their weighting, shaft lengths etc but it still makes more sense to carry a matching pair of 3/4h rather than 4h/5w IMO

3. there are significant differences between models in terms of flight and length v designation amongst hybrid clubs ie there's one that's as right for you as your 5w if you look hard enough.

 

[BTatHome]

Or if your a stats fan, then I'd feel 90% confident with a wedge in hand to hit a consistent distance/dispersion, whilst from 200 yards I'd probably feel less than 50% confident to hit consistent distance/dispersion .... assuming your confidence is to hit a green

 

[NorfolkShaun]

2. not many carry a 5w and hybrids; they aren't the same in their weighting, shaft lengths etc but it still makes more sense to carry a matching pair of 3/4h rather than 4h/5w IMO

I carry a 3 and 7 wood and no hybrids.

I then go to a 4 iron, the 7 wood and 4 iron are a good distance gap for me, the 7 wood is my rescue club as I prefer the lighter feel of a wood over a hybrid and a long iron can be tricky out of heavy rough.

 

[Rooter]

Surely shots are easier to manipulate with shorter clubs?

What you think is easier 3/4 swing with a 4 hybrid or a 3/4 swing with a gap wedge etc??

I would take the wedge every time imo.

Of course a 3/4 wedge is easier, however I would rather have consistent gaps at the bottom still. I wouldnt ever hit a 3/4 hybrid, its either go for the green if i have the right club, or lay up.

2. not many carry a 5w and hybrids; they aren't the same in their weighting, shaft lengths etc but it still makes more sense to carry a matching pair of 3/4h rather than 4h/5w IMO

I carry a 5 wood and a 4 hybrid. about 20 yards difference and huge difference in flight, landing and where i play them from. But hey, look at my handicap, what do i know?!

 

[patricks148]

i now carry a 20 deg hybrid as my JPX pro didn't come with a 3 iron. I find the Mizuno CLK goes about the same distance as my old 3 iron but is far easier to hit, though it goes higher than i would like.

 

[Foxholer]

As Duncan posts - and you have already found - not all 3H are the same and a 'balanced bag' can take a bit of time to find.

Finding the right loft and shape can be a bit of a journey.

It may even involve replacing the 5W.

I don't believe gapping is quite as important at the top end of the bag, though having 2 identical distance clubs is likely to be a waste. There's also the option of the 'Not full'/3/4 for the longer clubs that's not normally something to consider with irons (but is with wedges).

 

[beau d.]

1 for most a hybrid 4 will equate to a 3 iron in the equation above - although the comparison is rather mute as they can't hit a 3 iron (or a 4)

2. not many carry a 5w and hybrids; they aren't the same in their weighting, shaft lengths etc but it still makes more sense to carry a matching pair of 3/4h rather than 4h/5w IMO

3. there are significant differences between models in terms of flight and length v designation amongst hybrid clubs ie there's one that's as right for you as your 5w if you look hard enough.

Not necessarily in my experience, as I say i struggle with a 3 Iron off the floor, hence going for the Hybrid and I have found many that "fit in" the 3 Iron distance in my search. However of the three that I have recently used, I look at the loft ensuring it is around 21 degrees, then I hit, attempting to ensure that when I do flush it, and being honest that doesn't happen regularly with a 3 Iron at my level it goes around 185 to 190. I do find the hybrid more confidence inspiring than a conventional 3 Iron myself but that's down to preference and ability.
Many clubs in our bags have different swing weights and of course shaft lengths are different in every club, I feel far too much emphasis can be put on such things at our level. My rule of thumb is, if I like the look of a club, feel confident to hit it, I give it a go, hopefully I can match it up with the science of a launch monitor to ensure I will benefit from my investment.
I have to agree with you I do feel there is a hybrid which will help most handicap golfers to better consistency, I had one for years (Cleveland Halo) which I loved and stupidly sold when I brought my 910's as I went for Driver, 5 Wood (which I like personally over a 3 wood as I am a lot more consistent off the floor) and added the 910 hybrid.
For me the only club I want to use for part distances is my Gap wedge, I concentrate on practicing with that for distances between 95ish yards and the short chip/pitch which I use mainly 9 Iron to lob wedge dependent on what the situation dictates, but of course once again just down to personnel preference ......

 

[ManinBlack]

My problem with hybrids is that, hitting the ball quite high, I might hit it the same distance as a 3 iron in calm conditions but against the wind it goes nowhere. I usually grip down on a 3 wood into the wind, even for shots of 160 yards in a strong wind, just to keep the ball down.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

I think this topic will see a split between the higher handicappers and the lower handicappers.

Lower handicappers it's all about gapping, higher handicappers, it's all about finding a longer club that can be used to hit the ball 175 - 200 yards with a significantly greater consistency that a 3 iron or 4 iron, but again, probably not consistently enough that gapping is the major deciding factor in the purchase.

To summarise, my view is that for lower handicappers it's all about gapping; for higher handicappers it's about finding something that is easier to use and works for them.

 

[Spear-Chucker]

I think this topic will see a split between the higher handicappers and the lower handicappers.

Lower handicappers it's all about gapping, higher handicappers, it's all about finding a longer club that can be used to hit the ball 175 - 200 yards with a significantly greater consistency that a 3 iron or 4 iron, but again, probably not consistently enough that gapping is the major deciding factor in the purchase.

To summarise, my view is that for lower handicappers it's all about gapping; for higher handicappers it's about finding something that is easier to use and works for them.

Spot on.

Will add from personal experience that I use hybrids to increase carry. My swing produces naturally low shots so hybrids both fill in specific gaps and give me options around flighting the ball differently which I just couldn't achieve with long irons.

 

[One Planer]

My bag runs from 3 iron to 19° hybrid, to 4 wood in what I consider acceptable gaps.

At the other end of my bag, my wedges run 46° , 52° and 58°.

I personally find it easier to hit 3/4, 1/2 and knockdown shots with wedges and short irons to an accurate yardage than trying the same at the tope end of the bag.

I had that exact shot the weekend just gone. Ideal GW (52°) distance but into the wind. played a knockdown, 3/4 pitching wedge to about 10ft.

Personal preference I suppose.

 

[garyinderry]

this talk of gapping at the long end of the bag tickles me! we all have a rough idea how far the longer clubs go. being able to hit them repeatedly to a certain distance just doesn't happen.

the course and weather change from one week to the next. we don't have the ability to hit the ball straight enough at long distances. the pros spray it about like us when they get the long sticks out albeit from further out.

its also much easier to control the trajectory and spin with a lofted iron. pros have a go sometimes at hitting a low spinning 3 wood into the wind. most times we are at the mercy of the quality of strike with the longer clubs.

think about how many times a longer club has ballooned into the air then another time kept a lovely piercing flight.


I wouldn't worry too much about the gapping at the long end. just have a few clubs that you can toss over 200 yards. try not to have something silly like a 40 yard gap and you will be fine!

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Will add from personal experience that I use hybrids to increase carry. My swing produces naturally low shots so hybrids both fill in specific gaps and give me options around flighting the ball differently which I just couldn't achieve with long irons.

Exactly the same for me. I can hit my 3 iron probably 10 -15 yards past my hybrid from the tee as it runs for miles.

However, if I've got a 200+ carry, I'd rather hit a hybrid high and be confident that it will have the required carry (and stop) than trying to hit some sort of cut with a 3 iron.

In truth, it's probably my least used club but hugely useful to have for those 1-2 shots a round where I'd be goosed without it.

 

[BoadieBroadus]

i carry a 4h specifically for 2 tee shots on my home course to ensure that i can't make the treeline / brook on a couple of holes.

to replace it with one that went longer would be totally counterproductive

 

[RGDave]

To summarise, my view is that for lower handicappers it's all about gapping; for higher handicappers it's about finding something that is easier to use and works for them.

I don't know where I fit it, but I tend to carry just the one hybrid club. Mostly, the whole distance consideration (gapping) is not my main aim. I use if for "carry" (sometimes getting over trees, even) and munching up distance when a 5 wood would put me through the green.