Hybrid help needed....

These clubs are a new development for me since laying off golf for too long.


I could use some advice as to which type/number/style/shaft/etc to begin my search with.


You can see my set make up in my sig line. I'm all but sold on the G10 for my driver replacement. I'm still looking around at 3-W options...I want to test out the Callaway Hyper-X and the ft-i Squareway clubs.

I've been thinking about not going with a 5-W but instead choosing a hybrid. I'm not real sure which club best fills the gaps.

I really love my 3-5 irons and don't want to give them up. They are my bread and butter, so to speak. I can count on my 3-I off the tee for a straight 200+ and fairly solid from other lies as well. These long irons really sold me on these irons.

I tend to prefer the descending blow an iron allows. My current 3-W and I aren't on speaking terms right now for this reason. I'm hoping that a hybrid will allow me to use my "iron" swing more.

Do most people that prefer steel shafted irons also prefer steel shafted hybrids?

I prefer a club that sets up square behind the ball with no offset....with that in mind I'm open for suggestions.

Hey Dub - if you "really love" your 3-5 iron, that would seem to trump everything, no?

Still, if you want change regardless, here's my take.

I recall a Golf Mag article from last year that said the best players (pros and top am's) tend to replace their fairway woods with hybrids, while us mere mortals generally favor dumping long irons for hybrids. It's not a hard and fast rule, but that is the trend. (Here's a recent Golf Digest quickie on pro's who use them. )

There are two general classes of hybrid: iron style, and wood style. They vary aesthetically, allowing players to choose the style they find more visually comforting, but don't seem to have much performance difference from what I can tell. I've been carrying a Wishon #4 hybrid since last year, which is an iron style. But last month I saw some retailer was unloading all their old MacGregor clubs, and I picked up a #3 and #5 of their wood style hybrids just out of curiosity (they were asking 20 dollars apiece, which I couldn't pass up). One had a steel shaft, the other graphite.

I've since found that the iron and the wood style hybrids play pretty much exactly alike. Both have a shaft longer than a conventional iron and shorter than a conventional fairway wood. Both have weight low and back, and get the ball up quickly. They're both great from rough and crummy lies. The only difference, other than visual, is that I find it tougher to chip with the larger headed wood-style hybrids. But anyone used to imitating Tiger and chipping with their 3-wood probably wouldn't. So they're ALL good, IMO. Oh - and the shaft material seems to make no difference in performance.

BTW, you do hit down with these, like an iron. You can sweep them, like a wood, if you want. But all the ones I've tried work incredibly well when you use your descending iron swing.

You're asking a forum full of golf fanatics which they'd recommend? Lol...get ready for the deluge, buddy. If I were you, I'd go to someplace like Golfsmith or any other retailer that has a bunch of different ones on display. Better yet if they have a hitting booth. Just...try a bunch and see which feels good to you. (This is, of course, assuming you're not going to an independant fitter who will suggest specific models based on your swing.)

You could also perhaps start by checking Golf Magazine's 2008 Club Test results online, or Golf Digest's Hot List. Go back a couple of years and check out the general trends. You might find a model from a year or two ago that looks good - and are probably being sold now at a discount, to boot.

Good luck with the hunt!

While we may share a handicap somewhere in the same neighborhood, I am not as skillfull with my long irons as you are. I began using hybrids in order to replace long irons and, then, I began replacing my 7, 5 and 3 woods with them, as well. I've found I like having the same type of club in a variety of different lofts, ergo, I have only hybrids and irons, no fairway woods.

I have steel shafts in my irons, albeit a light shaft, and graphite shafts in my hybrids. I find this arrangement common among golfers with whom I play.

I have tried a variety of hybrids over the past two or three years, always looking for the next best thing. I remain pleased with my Cobra Baffler DWS hybrids. I can work them a bit, hit them low when I wish and I can chip with them.

I hope this helps. Best of luck.

the ping g10 hybrid is fairly iron like and almost as workable as an iron but also fairly forgiving

Thanks for the advice.

These things are pretty neat....great utility clubs.

I've got to find a local course that offers the Pingfit program so I can go demo some different drivers. I'll certainly hit some of their 3 woods and hybrids then, too.

Which hybrid would most close duplicate the distance from say a 2iron-5wood?

I can also recommend the G10's. I use a 15* as my 3 wood. The 18* would be the 2-iron replacement. Also, I like my Mizuno MP fli-hi, which would be good for players who like long irons. It comes in an 18* loft, too.

Try as many as you can.

There was a demo day at my home course yesterday and I almost bought the G10 21* 3H, but then I hit the Adams A3OS 19* 3H. It was smoother and more consistent. I also hit an Adams 16* 2H and hit it better than any other 2 irons and 3 woods I have had and tried.

I also tried a Cobra Baffler 3H but I could not hit it at all. not that it's not a good club it's just not good for me.

Before giving up on a 3 wood, try out the G10 3 wood, these are stupid easy to hit. I never did like using a 3 wood till i got this baby. get the 15.5*.

Back to the hybrid, for descending blows try the cleveland hibore (the older one, not the new xls version) as they have a more iron like feel, try the 1i (16*) which could replace your 3wood.

If you really want the iron look and feel, then go for an MP Fli-Hi as it is an iron hybrid.

Yeah, they're great aren't they. I'm starting to wish I got the 3 wood and the 18* hybrid instead of compromising with the 15* hybrid, especially since I've got an open space in my bag now.

Yup they sure are, glad i gave in to trying it. Its actually my 2nd option off the tee, much more consistent and accurate with my drives using them- i may sacrifice a little distance- but what's distance if you're somewhere in the trees instead of the center of the fairway?

Yup a 15* 3W and an 18* hybrid would've been the way to go.

Try the Cobra Baffler DWS hybrids. The 2007 discontinued models are on sale at TGW and others for $99. I have the 3 and 4 hybrids in my bag with the stock graphite shafts and they are long and straight. Very easy to hit with confidence.

Which graphite shaft is this? I ask because of I have the Speeder and it stinks. Just looking for a new option other than steel.

In the 2007 model it was an Aldila NV HL65 65 gram mid-kick built for Cobra. Now I have the 2008 model with an Cobra Aldila VS Proto-HL 65. I have no idea if there is any difference other than a different color paint. I hit both of them great!

Great info....thanks.

I think I'll soon be adding a new driver, 3-wood and 2-hybrid.

I've got to get to a demo-day or some courses / shops that have mutliple brands and shafts to get a feel for what I like / dislike.

Well, if you just want to evaluate hybrids as an option, you can't beat the original Nickent (Genex) 3DX hybrid. I just started playing last year and went through a round of trying newer more expensive options: TM Burner Rescue, Cally X, Mizuno Clk before dumping them all for 1 17* and 23* original 3DX that were selling new at Golfsmith for $59. I used them yesterday to nail 3 par 5s in 2 (something that I've never done in a single round.) They are easy to hit with a smooth swing and don't balloon -- nice mid, boring trajectory. Good place to start your search without spending big bucks.

In my opinion the best hybrids I have used are the King Cobra Baffler DWS. They have the best feel in my hands, and I play graphite shafted hybrids. Not sure why I choose graphite, but I got a graphite 3,4 hybrid and I love them. I would, however, like to try steel shafted hybrids and see how they work out.

I need your help. I have a 4 hybrid callaway x with reg graphite shaft and can hit pretty well with it, probably in the 200-210 range. I currently have no woods other than my driver. Do you think that I should opt for a 3 wood next or a 2 or 3 hybrid next? I was contemplating the 2 hybrid since I would get more distance out of it but would it be too difficult to use. Thanks for your thoughts.