Same Numbered Hybrid as Iron?

[onthehunt526]

Now this may be in the wrong section so forgive me. I was watching a video Michael Breed did on YouTube which is below. (Just the first part) He is advocating for us golfers to get a hybrid that is the same number as your longest iron. So for example, if your longest iron is a 5-iron, you should carry a 5-hybrid for gapping purposes (That's what I take out of it.)

So at what point does this become impractical? I know that the tour pros that carry hybrids, usually don't go 4-iron to 4-hybrid, because the gapping doesn't make sense at that point. It would seem to me that if you were going to do this, you'd have to drop a club somewhere else. (Or go to 4-wood, instead of 3-wood).

My question is: Should what Michael is saying be heeded by most golfers, or is it more meant for middle to high handicaps?

As promised here is the video:

 

Edited December 2, 2019 by onthehunt526
Grammar

[David in FL]

Given that most hybrids aren’t “numbered”, but rather, are identified by loft, I’d say that this simply reinforces my belief that Michael Breed was born an idiot, and has been losing ground ever since.   

[ncates00]

Just play the clubs that go the carry distances you want, appropriately gapped through the bag, regardless of the loft or the number written on the club.  

[Darkfrog]

 

2 hours ago, ncates00 said:

Just play the clubs that go the carry distances you want, appropriately gapped through the bag, regardless of the loft or the number written on the club.  

I carry a 4-iron and a 4/5-hybrid (set 23.5 degrees). The lofts are just about the same (24 vs 23.5 degrees), but the hybrid goes about 10-15 yards further, so for me the hybrid fills the gap between my 5W and 4-iron. I use it for shots 200-220 yards. If it were a different number hybrid, that covered this same gap, that is what I would use.

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, ncates00 said:

Just play the clubs that go the carry distances you want, appropriately gapped through the bag, regardless of the loft or the number written on the club.  

This. I carry a 3H then 4-PW. The gaps are all around 10 yards.

[dagolfer18]

2 hours ago, ncates00 said:

Just play the clubs that go the carry distances you want, appropriately gapped through the bag, regardless of the loft or the number written on the club.  

This is basically what I have. I’ve got 5W, then 4H/5H, then 6-GW. My 6-iron goes 165-170, then my 5H goes 180, the 4H 190-195, then the 5W anywhere from 200-210. So if I’m 180 out in the fairway, I know that a well-struck 5 will get me there comfortably.

[albatrosser]

Your question of reaching impracticality is actually backwards imo; it's impractical if you have a 30y gap, that's what this aims to fix.  This is a good rule of thumb from a former PGA Teacher of the Year that helps you to actually be able to start somewhere with filling your gaps instead of the utterly useless "just use clubs that carry how far you want."  No kidding.  This is how you can go about trying to achieve that.  Not guaranteed, but works for most, and certainly a practical starting point. 

Many hybrids are labeled with numbers instead of or in addition to lofts; a few that come to mind are Epic Flash, Rogue, Apex, Big Bertha, G410, G400, G, M6, M4...  well you get the point.   

[ncates00]

2 hours ago, albatrosser said:

instead of the utterly useless "just use clubs that carry how far you want."  No kidding.  This is how you can go about trying to achieve that.  Not guaranteed, but works for most, and certainly a practical starting point. 

It is not a practical starting point because hybrids, irons, and woods are all very different. As I’ve already stated, get on a simulator and gap test. It doesn’t matter what the loft is or the number on the club. The point is to play what fits the gaps you need. That’s what happens at a proper fitting session. Read my previous post. You’re missing the point here. When buying clubs, a person doesn’t need a “starting point.” They’re often expensive, so buyers need to make educated purchases that fit their bags. Again, reread what I said previously.

[albatrosser]

You're points ncates are true of course.  We all know hybrids irons and woods are different, that fittings are useful, that gaps must be filled, that performance is more important than printed numbers.  The OP wasn't asking about any of that, and the video in question didn't dispute any of that.  Sometimes advise can go beyond truisms, can be supplemental.  

[Sandy Divot]

On 12/2/2019 at 9:07 AM, David in FL said:

Given that most hybrids aren’t “numbered”, but rather, are identified by loft, I’d say that this simply reinforces my belief that Michael Breed was born an idiot, and has been losing ground ever since.   

Mine are numbered.

[WUTiger]

On 12/2/2019 at 1:49 AM, onthehunt526 said:

My question is: Should what Michael is saying be heeded by most golfers, or is it more meant for middle to high handicaps?

This would be more for mid to high HDCP golfers, and players who struggle with ball height. Some players do better with long irons or driving irons, especially if they have high clubhead speed.

Final test: do hybrid and iron side-by-side and see which works best.

Also, Michael is talking about traditional hybrids, not iron replacement hybrids (matched to an iron set). Revisit our 2016 thread for details:

 

Edited December 6, 2019 by WUTiger
Rephrase Para. 1 for clarity

[DrvFrShow]

I'd say the gapping depends upon your iron set and how far you hit your irons. Let's say you hit your 7 iron 155 yds. Let's say you hit your 6i 170 yds. Let's say you hit a 5i 180 yds. but you hit a 5H 185 yds. You might want to consider swapping that 5i for a 5H. Then you have 4H that you hit say 200 yds. From there you have to think about "do I get a 3H or do I switch to a FW?" Maybe you decide to go with a 5W and a 3W from there.