HItting hybrids???

I'm not sure this is the correct place to post, but thought I would ask for everyone's advice/opinions regarding hybrids.

I am fairly new to the game, and have been working hard to improve my swing, and have seen much improvement in my swing, and contact/ballflight with my irons (5 iron is becoming my favorite club) - still need to work on adding some distance throughout the bag.
My problem is my 3 & 4 hybrids - i can't hit them. I have gotten lucky a few times and caught a good shot - but that has only happened a couple times MAX (and I have started working more and more on them to try and gain a good setup, swing, and contact with them).

I guess I have a couple questions:

1) would anyone suggest trying a regular 3/4 iron to see if those fit my swing better
2) what is the best way to hit a hybrid (MANY conflicting stories in magazines, TV & internet on the proper way to hit them)
3) are there any drills or set-up changes that may help to get better contact with these clubs

I really want to try and learn to hit these (due to the many different uses and praise they get from the pros down to high-handicappers), but they are giving me a VERY hard time, and I have thought about trying to find a 3/4 iron and hitting it to see if it fits me better.

Any help or suggestions you guys have is MUCH appreciated

When I first started using hybrids I found it impossible to hit off a driving range mat so if you're doing that then it might be an idea to stop. I restricted myself to using them in situations when my ball was sitting up on light rough, almost like being on a tee, until I got comfortable enough hitting them off of fairways and tight lies. I play the ball a little forward in my stance when hitting them but I'm not sure if this is something others would advise, it works for me however.

Thanks for the reply/suggestion.

I always hit off the grass (unless the range mandates mats only). I have tried experimenting with both ball middle of stance & forward (as well as moving closer & farther away from the ball), and just can't seem to make good/consistant contact. I know I need to work on them more (i do remember when I wasn't able to make good/consistant contact with my irons not too long ago as well). I am hoping it will come along and things will get better (I play on getting another lesson in the next couple weeks and will surely bring this up as trouble spot for assistance).

Do you try to hit down on them (like your regular irons) or more sweeping motion (as a fairway wood)? I have searched all over and have started trying all types of different set-up positions/ball positions, and i just can't seem to hit them well at all (i have tried both swing types as well - no noticeable difference in contact and/or ball-flight/distance when contact is made - low and short ). I even tried hitting my 4h and 5i back to back, just to try and get the same feel and swing into memory (good shots with 5i everytime), but the hybrids are just not working for me.

Guess I will be putting in some long range hours working on these! Hope it pays off.

Thanks again for the reply, and I welcome any other suggestions or tips anyone has.

I would say they would be better hit more forward with a sweep like a wood. But that is just me and my swing talking. I put everything forward (PW is right under my left eye). A lot of time on the range isn't that bad. I don't know if I am gonna pay for a round at all this year because I need a revamp. The range is gonna be your best friend trying to learn clubs by far.

A couple things are that they're not to forward in your stance. They're an iron replacement and meant to be played like one. I swing down on mine, and that gets me a good trajectory of around 200-210, If your swing isn't fast enough to demand a stiff, that could hurt your ability to hit good shots. So to your question about buying a regular shafted one, you probably should, unless your in the stiff SS.

They are supposed to be hit like irons.

Put it where you would put a 3 iron, 4 iron, or 5 iron in your stance (or whatever is applicable) and swing down through it taking a divot.

+1.

Hit them like an iron. They're very easy to thin if you try to sweep them like a wood. Trust the club to do what it's designed to do and you'll fall in love with them. I'm still waiting for the USGA to outlaw the dang things......they're that good!

You're right about the conflicting information on how to hit hybrids. Some say hit them like a wood, with a sweeping motion and others say hit them like a iron, with a downward strike. I recently read an article that said you can hit them either way, as long as you're consistent with that swing. Most hybrids these days do have a more 'wood-like' design which seems to be asking for a wood-like swing, but it just depends on the design of that model and what your own swing is like. Personally I have a 'hybrid' swing for my hybrids that is a bit in between a wood and iron swing. I do swing down like an iron, but the swing is still a little more shallow than normal iron swing, but not as shallow as wood swing.

I setup with hybrid with ball in center of my stance (maybe slightly forward for 2H), with my hands pressed a little forward (not as much as iron, but they are even to adhead of clubhead, unlike with a wood). When I swing with hybrid my body weight shifts forward, but unlike with iron where my weight is mostly already on front foot at contact, my weight is about centered at contact with hybrid (so unlike iron I am not hitting down into the back of the ball as much). This helps get the ball in the air. My swing finish is like an iron as well. One big difference is that my hybrid swing tends to be a little easier swing.

With hybrids, they are not all created equal. You need to find ones that fit your swing and your style. If you get the correct ones and work on your swing with them, you'll fall in love with them. I don't think going to 3/4 irons is a good option, especially for someone new to the game. I would definately suggest regular flex shaft as a hybrid simply doesn't require as hard a swing to begin.

I currently have a 19 deg hybrid that I use as a 5 wood basically. Still carry 3i, 4i and don't think I will be giving those up any time soon.

I personally have struggled a bit with the hybrid. It's not as easy for me as it seems to be for everyone else. Although I've had some good days with it, I can't seem to groove a consistent swing with that particular club.

They are definitely an iron replacement, and should be swung like an iron.

Are your hybrids part of your set? or were they purchased separately?

Compare the length of your 5 iron with your 3 and 4 hybrids... the 4 should be a little longer (about 1/2 an inch) than your 5 iron, and the 3 should be a little longer than your 4 (about 1/2 an inch).

Also, do all the shaft material, weight, and flex match? Hybrids that are too light or too heavy will throw you off.

I know from my experience, I topped the heck out of my hybrid the first few times I played with it. It looks like a wood, and your brain makes you do a "wood" swing... which is wrong, because the hybrid is shorted than your woods.

Play the ball a "little" forward.... (Like Harvey Penick use to say... "this is a ONE aspirin fix... don't take the whole bottle") and hit down on the ball like you would with an iron.

I think getting a 3/4 iron just to experiment is a waste of money and time, 3 and 4 irons are way harder to hit than your hybrids.

Just keep at it, DON'T TRY TO HELP THE BALL INTO THE AIR.... hit DOWN on it!

This post is right on. Hybrids are meant to be hit like irons. They, therefore, need to fit your iron set , not your wood set. Your hybrid should be 1/2 inch longer than the iron it replaces at most and the shaft should weight the same as your irons, (yes they make 115 gram graphite shafts). Adams hybrids are great because you can cut them to the proper length then add a swingweight screw to get the SW to match your irons. The grip on your hybrid should match your irons.

Hybrids bought separately, without forethought to your iron set, can be a disaster. For the most part they are far too long in length which is why people struggle to hit them.

The part I bolded in the quote is a big thing to remember when hitting any club off the fairway. The tendency to try and lift the ball into the air as you make contact is strong with hybrids and fairway woods. I'm in the "hit them like an iron" camp. You should be taking a shallow divot with a smooth uniterrupted swing.

Thanks alot for all the responses and suggestions!

The hybrids I have are part of the starter set of clubs I have (3h-18* 4h-21* / Slazenger Wrath set). I stopped by Dicks Sporting Goods the other day, and picked up a few other hybrids to see if they felt any different (TaylorMade rescues, Nike, Adams). The one thing I did notice was that they all felt heavier that the ones included with my set - does anyone think this may have an impact?

I will keep praticing with these clubs, and hopefully hit on something that makes it all click - just frustrating to hear everyone rave about how hybrids are easier to hit, and how great they are - but not be able to use these are all (no benefit on the course) right now. Like I stated previously, I have started practicing more with just these clubs, and have experimented with all different set-ups, ball positions, hitting down/sweeping, and nothing has worked yet (and I use the word yet trying to remain positive ). Hopefully in my next lesson my instructor can really shed some light on the situation.

Again, thanks for all the comments and suggestions - I will try these out at the range to see if it helps!!!

Hi all,

I'm currently using a cobra hybrid baffler DWS 1/R (16 deg) and having problem to have good hit on this club.

I've spoken to my local fitter and was advised by him that this cobra club need to use sweeping method and not iron hit.

I'll be trying his advice next week when i'm at the range.

Anyone has the same problem as me and has been fixed by using sweeping swing for this COBRA baffler 1/R hybrid.

Thanks....

To keep things as simple as possible, hitting a ball off the deck should be the same swing for every single club. Note that "same swing" does not mean the same ball position and distance away from the ball at address.

Have to agree with most of the posters, middle of the stance, hit down on it just like an iron, follow through as if you were hitting a 5 iron, 8 iron, etc....and dont overswing, smooth tempo, let the club do the work.