i can't hit a hybrid or a wood

**clearwaterms** · March 11, 2009

I have a terrible time hitting hybrids and even worse with drivers. It seems like whenever i have a driver, fairway wood, or hybrid I can't seem to get anywhere near the effectiveness that I have with an iron in my hand. With an iron I probably get an acceptable ball flight 70% of the time. With a driver I have a TERRIBLE slice. With a hybrid i consistently top the ball. What am I doing wrong?

today for example I went with a friend to Golf Galaxy with a friend that is looking to get a new set of irons. Being left handed I grabbed a few demo sticks. A callaway x20 6 iron with a steel shaft and an Adams a4 hybrid with a graphite shaft. After a few swings the monitor showed that I was hitting the 6 iron about 200 with a good ball flight (it's a monitor, probably not very accurate, but good for this comparison) after two or three swings, I was dialed in and hit 5/6 in a very tight grouping and would have been very happy with the result. Then I grabbed the 3h. After 5 to 6, I topped 2, hit 3 that were worm burners. sliced 3 BAD. I had one shot that I would consider nice, and the monitor showed it went 210, only 10 yards further then the x20.

help me, why can't I hit anything with a larger head?

**opie** · April 30, 2009

Just to bring this back up to the top.. but I'm in the same boat my friend. I can blister a 2 iron but if you put a hybrid in my hand I look like a 50+ handicapper. I do ok off the tee box with driver and 3 wood but unless the lie is absolutely perfect in the fairway I won't touch a wood

**David in FL** · April 30, 2009

If you can hit an iron, you should be able to hit a hybrid. Don't try to hit the hybrid like a fairway wood, hit it with the exact same positioning and swing that you would use for the equivalent iron.

Give it a try......

**right handed phil mickelson** · April 30, 2009

if the fairway woods, driver, and hyrids aren't working for you then try and get a flatter swing plane with these clubs. The irons are typically shorter clubs than whatever else you have in the bag, which gives a steeper swing plane. Try flattening out your swing a little bit, and you should be ok.

if this doesn't work, try standing a bit closer to the ball with your woods or hybrids. with your driver and the big slice, I recommend trying to not coming over the top of the ball like most slicers do. Try and keep your head still as possible during the whole swing.

**HSip** · April 30, 2009

If you can hit an iron, you should be able to hit a hybrid. Don't try to hit the hybrid like a fairway wood, hit it with the exact same positioning and swing that you would use for the equivalent iron.

Exactly right. Cheers

**muggs** · April 30, 2009

if the fairway woods, driver, and hyrids aren't working for you then try and get a flatter swing plane with these clubs. The irons are typically shorter clubs than whatever else you have in the bag, which gives a steeper swing plane. Try flattening out your swing a little bit, and you should be ok.

This is a great tip here. My main swing flaw with the longer shafted clubs is coming in to steep so I really flatten out the swing plane. That allows for you to bring the longer shafts through square. Also, going along with this idea, take a look at how far up in your stance the ball is. I know it's a simple idea, but sometimes if I'm not conscious of it...I'll allow the ball to get way too much towards the middle of my stance with my driver, and especially with a fairway wood. Make sure it's up in your stance, even with your front heel.

Both of these flaws cause me to either push the ball right, or really get a wicked slice.

Busjedwa · April 30, 2009

try the hybrid more towards the middle of your stance rather than the ball at your level heal ... should help with the topping and your results will be better than your irons!!! Good luck!

**muggs** · April 30, 2009

try the hybrid more towards the middle of your stance rather than the ball at your level heal ... should help with the topping and your results will be better than your irons!!! Good luck!

Agreed. I was refering to fairways and drivers.

**clearwaterms** · April 30, 2009

As an update to this. I have discovered that my problem is that I am starting my downswing with my hands and not my hips. Also, i have incorporated into my practice swing a very narrow stance and a very exhagerated inside outswing. This helps me stay better balenced and ensure that I don't get to over the top with my swing. I still struggle with fairway woods off the deck. I recently put my first hybrid together but as of yet have not been to the range to try them out.

**clearwaterms** · April 30, 2009

I have some range time planned for tomorrow to try out a few new clubs. Included in that is a fairway 7 wood and a 3 Hybrid. I will be sure to post back my results.

**clearwaterms** · May 1, 2009

*update*

I put together two new clubs to try out.

The first is a powerplay System Q 3 hybrid. I am using a True Temper TTlite shaft in between regular and firm.
THe second is an Oxygen Offset 7 wood. With an apollo shadow steel shaft inbetween regular and firm.

I LOVE both them both. At the range with badly beat up range balls I hit the 3 Hybrid I am hitting it about 190. THe 7 wood goes about 175. For the sake of comparison, a well struck 5 iron at this range goes about 150 and a well struck 9 iron around 100~110. In real life I hit a 5 iron around 165 to 175, the 9 iron around 125.

I am excited about both of these clubs.

Unfortinatly I am less excited about both of my new drivers :(

**Dub** · May 1, 2009

If you can hit an iron, you should be able to hit a hybrid. Don't try to hit the hybrid like a fairway wood, hit it with the exact same positioning and swing that you would use for the equivalent iron.

YES....!!!!!!!!!!! Address it just like an iron....address the ball and then pull it in closer....adjust your stance closer to it and swing on a descending arc....exactly like and iron..............don't let the looks of them fool you....they are iron replacements.....once I accepted this and adjusted accordingly.....then wonderful things started to happen.

**CalBoomer** · May 2, 2009

Various good advice in here.

First, the driver (or teed fairway wood) is the only club to contact the ball with a rising club face. This shot is a case study unto itself.

Second, the fact you slice your driver badly, have trouble with long irons, but hit other irons adequately strongly suggests that your swing plane is too vertical.

Have to agree with the fellow who advised you to change to a more horizontal swing plane. Use a mirror to help develop this.

It is simply impossible to drive well and hit long irons well with a highly vertical swing plane. I know. I've been there.

**JetFan1983** · May 2, 2009

I don't own a hybrid, but I do use my 5-wood often, and without out, I'd be screwed on long courses. Basically the first thing is going to the range. Practice skipping the head of the 5-wood or whatever you're using off the turf, like a stone skipping over water. The key is to simply have the ball get in the way of this full swing. Experiment with ball position and find the correct spot for you. For some this spot is somewhere left of center; for others, it could be right in the middle of your stance.

As always, initiate the downswing with your hips. Hope this helps!

**Kcas77** · May 2, 2009

I find it ironic how hybrids are supposed to replace long irons but people have a harder time hitting them.
Have you ever tried a mizuno mp fli hi it looks like a iron with much more forgiveness.
Why force yourself to hit a hybrid when there are other options?

**Zeph** · May 2, 2009

From my personal experience and what I've read, hitting hybrids are a lot easier. The fault most players make is trying to hit them like a driver. I strike down on the ball with all my clubs except the driver. Anything from PW to 5 wood I strike down on the ball. If you do this, hit the hybrids like any iron, it is easier to hit. The woods you can hit at the bottom or a bit on the way up if the ball is tee'd up, but from the turf you have absolutely no chance of swinging up on the ball. So, hit it like an iron and you're good to go. I hit my hybrids and wood a lot easier than my irons, but the swing is the same. I might move the ball a bit for different clubs and what kind of shot I want.

**bogeyhitter25** · May 2, 2009

I find it ironic how hybrids are supposed to replace long irons but people have a harder time hitting them.

Yeah. Try the MP Fli Hi's, the Titleist 503.H, and Bridgestone's Air Muscle.

Cole_Schmitt · May 3, 2009

DON'T try to kill it. The smoother you swing, the farther the ball goes (with woods).

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i can't hit a hybrid or a wood

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