Hybrids...are they out of control?

Hi.  I'm new to the forum but have been golfing for around 35 years.   As my name suggests I am somewhat of a tradionalist when it comes to golf, courses, equipment, etc.  However, recently (about 2  years ago) i was sucked into the "Hybrid" hype.  I bought several and played them, then just recently I went back to a standard 3-pw, uw, lw, driver, 3w, 5w configuration and have been playing much better.   I play perimeter weighted irons from Ping (G15's) and cannot figure for the life of me how someone would not be able to hit the modern 3 or 4 iron with its perimiter weighting, moi, etc.

I'm starting to get the feeling that hybrids are more beneficial to low handicap or players who still use traditonal "Blade" irons, hence the problems with the 3 and 4 irons.  I do not see the benefit when you have the newer (ie, game improvement irons)

Anyone feel the same?  I'm just curious. Or maybe I'm just nuts.

Not sure how you could be playing PING G15s and call yourself a traditionalist. Hybrids are what they are, but your username is fraudulent.

I dunno about the g15's. My G10's were great clubs to hit with, but they looked absolutely horrible at address. So far from 'traditional' that it was painful. The ugliest irons i've ever looked at. When I bought them, at the start of my golf career, I never knew looks of a club was important. I discovered it quick.

I bought myself Wilson Staff Ci11's two weeks ago, and im hitting the ball better and further than ever. On top of that, when I look down at them, I love what I see. They need to be regripped, but are perfect otherwise. I also noticed I have a better ability to shape shots, where-as with the pings, it was a slight fade off the good hits, and anywhere on the bad ones. The Ci11's seem just as forgiving, but they also allow me to change ballfight by opening and closing my clubface slightly, something I couldn't do with the pings, no matter how hard I tried. Im going to do a review on the ci11's soon.  Maybe tomorrow, I think 5 rounds is about the minimum to play them before writing a true review.

i'm not sure if hybrids are out of control at the professional level, but they have closed the competitive gap between great ball strikers vs average ball strikers.  one huge advantage TW had in his prime (aside from his clutch putting) was his ability to hit a 3 iron a mile in the air, and land in on the green like a PW, while other pros would blow the green entirely (see 2002 us open final rd vs sergio).  once pros started carrying hybrids more, this advantage was pretty much neutralized.

i think hybrids are great for amateur golfers though; it makes the game easier and far more enjoyable imho.

I'm with you, but you're not going to find much consensus here. I love my long irons and hit them well, but I was told on another thread that my affection for them is misguided. I have owned 2 hybrids in the past, and the main thing I recall about them is that they produced such high ball flight they were hard to control in any type of wind. So, like you I went back to a traditional bag lineup. I much prefer to hone my swing to where I can hit the long irons consistently. I do have a gap between my 3 iron and normal 5 wood, but I have long ago learned to choke up on the 5 and hit a 'stinger' when needed.

Stand by for the admonishments and concurrence about your beign nuts...

Your the kind of person that makes me stay off these kinds of theads....God...i i wanted was some friendly conversation.

thanks for ruining that, and get a life.   I'm taking canceling my subscription.

Not sure anyone was trashing you, so much as defending their choice to put a hybrid in the bag. I'm sure you can hit your long irons just fine. I can too, and it's a skill I don't want to ever lose, but once I tried a proper fitting hybrid with a steel 2-iron iron shaft in it, I couls see what people were raving about.

Huh???

10char

Busted.

I hear you. One thing I will concede is that the hybrids are definitely more effective out of rough. I guess that with the right shaft I could get one that produces more penetrating flight?

This threads off to a rocky start. Anyway I carry two hybrids in addition to my long irons. I never considered them a replacement for my irons and use them like a fairway wood. Though I don't pull them very often because I hit my 4i so well.

Calling yourself a "traditionalist" and then saying you play with a set of game improvement shovels opened that up.  I'm sorry, but the two don't go together.  If you want to be a traditionalist, go play with persimmons and blades.

As far as hybrids, who cares?  Play whatever you like the most.  If you can hit a long iron high straight and accurately, congratulations to you.  If you can't and play with hybrids, that's cool too.  It doesn't effect me in the least.  What clubs are in your bag doesn't mean anything to me, it's all about enjoying the game. If a hybrid gives you a 180 yard shot that you wouldn't have with an iron, then it's obviously worth playing.

There's quite a few pros who play multiple hybrids, and I don't see anyone complaining about it.

WTH? Nobody said anything, aside from Sean saying you aren't really a traditionalist if you are using G15's, and he is right. Like I said about my G10's, they are hard to mishit. try a Nike VR (or any good blade) blade 3 iron, and see if you still prefer it to a Hybrid. Game improvement Irons are far from traditional. No need to be pissy.

Bye bye! That was quick. I was going to say he needs thicker skin, but I don't think he has skin, just exposed nerves. I wonder if he's getting a refund for his 'subscription'?

Patrick57?

I picked up a 19 degree Wilson Staff Fybrid and loved it. The shaft was too whippy when I really go after it (like from the rough for example) but the ball flight was really good. My wife got me a Callaway FTiz 2-hybrid with stock Callaway S shaft last year and I hit some great shots but it never felt quite right. The heavier steel and resulting lower more consistent ball flight were just what the doctor ordered. Considering getting the matching FTiz 3-hybrid (purchased off ebay) reshafted to match because now it goes a mile in the air relative to the 2-h.

One thing I will say about the OP's first post. I also think the average player should be able to get around just fine with SGI irons and that they're being brainwashed that hybrids will cure their ballstriking woes. The ones who can really take advantage of hybrids are low index players, and especially longer hitters.

So, you have the Callaway 2H reshafted with steel for a more penetrating flight? I have a S steel shaft on my R7 5 wood and I can really crunch balls with that thing, although I could use something that is a little easier to hit off the deck and from dodgey lies..

I honestly cannot hit a hybrid to save my life. I hate the things.

My best shots dont go anywhere and often my fade or draw is magnified with a hybrid. "does anyone else have this problem"?

Give me a 4i cavity for 200m-220m then i can use my 3 wood after that.