Hybrid vs Iron?

[Savior Par]

Hey guys/gals,

I was wondering if some of you could provide some help/advice on this. I've been playing TM Burner 2.0 irons for the past 8 years, so I thought I'd take a chance with something newer. I just ordered a combo set of TM M6 Hybrid (3H,4H) and irons (5-PW).  I've never gamed a hybrid, but recently decided it might be beneficial after testing out one of my buddy's hybrids at the range.  Looking at the specs for the clubs, the 3H seems like it will be a good fit in my bag since it's a 19 degree.  The 4H is a 22 degree, and the 5 iron is 21.5.  With only a half degree loft difference, what are the other differences between the two clubs?  Obviously one is a hybrid and one is an iron, but are there certain situations/lies where one would be better to use than the other?  Are the ball flights drastically different?  Just curious because I've never used a hybrid on course.  For what it's worth, I hit my current 5 iron (Burner 2.0) consistently at 190-200 yards.  When I hit my 4 iron well, it's usually 210-220, but I rarely make good contact.  I'm hoping the 4H is easier to hit.  Thanks for any advice!

[Carl3]

I play the same type of set up. I have a gap between my 5i and 4h as the hybrids seem to travel farther than an iron with the same designation. Many claim that the hybrid can have the tendency to hook and I have found this to be the case. My G30 hybrids seem to have a slightly closed face which I think helps a higher handicap, which they are probably geared for. My irons are more of a players iron and does not have a big offset. I kind of mentally have to make an adjustment so as not to end up with a closed face when hitting the hybrid.

They are great when you have a questionable lie. I might use a 4h even when I might have a 6i or 7i distance, but a bad lie. I just take a little off of the swing and it often will end up a decent shot out of rough or a wet spot.

[Savior Par]

Thanks for the feedback! I’m really looking forward to getting some rounds in with the new sticks (they’re supposed to be here tomorrow). Also traded in my R11S 3W for an M6 3W yesterday, and man that thing flies. Still have my R11 TP Driver as well as an M4, and toggle between those two. I was thinking of upgrading from the M4 to M6, but the M6 doesn’t actually seem to be that much of an upgrade. Never getting rid of the R11 TP because when I’m on, I’ve never hit a driver with the combination of carry and roll as that baby.

[Cantankerish]

Last year I bought a 22 degree pinemeadow 4 hybrid from amazon.  It’s is literally the cheapest of the cheap club I could find. ($36 new)

It is now certainly my favorite club in the bag.  Considering my handicap, a club that goes a hair over 200 and straight consistently is a powerful tool to have.  In fact I had a 3h also, can’t recall the brand. But I did tend to hook it.  So I ditched it for another bottom of the barrel pinemeadow 3h 19 degree.  And again I hit the new one much better.

The hybrids have a pretty high trajectory compared to their iron counterparts.  They are better in wet grass.  I bet they are harder to work a shot shape with.  But what do I know about that?

 

Good luck with your new toys.

[NJpatbee]

I have a much slower swing speed than the OP and am 68 years old.  When I was 63 - 64 I switched to hybrids from my 2i thru 6i.  It rejuvenated my game to the point that I am hitting distances that I was hitting in my late 50's.  In my opinion the hybrids are much easier to hit but looking at your distance with a 5 iron you may not notice a big difference but will be interested to know how they work out for the OP. 

[Savior Par]

6 hours ago, Cantankerish said:

Last year I bought a 22 degree pinemeadow 4 hybrid from amazon.  It’s is literally the cheapest of the cheap club I could find. ($36 new)

It is now certainly my favorite club in the bag.  Considering my handicap, a club that goes a hair over 200 and straight consistently is a powerful tool to have.  In fact I had a 3h also, can’t recall the brand. But I did tend to hook it.  So I ditched it for another bottom of the barrel pinemeadow 3h 19 degree.  And again I hit the new one much better.

The hybrids have a pretty high trajectory compared to their iron counterparts.  They are better in wet grass.  I bet they are harder to work a shot shape with.  But what do I know about that?

 

Good luck with your new toys.

Yeah, I’m definitely not much of a shot shaper, not on purpose anyway. I have always heard that hybrids are easier to hit from the rough and tight lies. I’m hoping that’s the case as most of the courses I play in the winter will definitely have some tight/bare lies.

5 hours ago, NJpatbee said:

I have a much slower swing speed than the OP and am 68 years old.  When I was 63 - 64 I switched to hybrids from my 2i thru 6i.  It rejuvenated my game to the point that I am hitting distances that I was hitting in my late 50's.  In my opinion the hybrids are much easier to hit but looking at your distance with a 5 iron you may not notice a big difference but will be interested to know how they work out for the OP. 

That’s kind of what I was really getting at. If the loft is basically the same, I’m not sure if there would be any great benefit to having both clubs in the bag. The 3H is a good gap between 3W and 5 iron. Maybe the 4H is basically a 5 iron that’s easier to hit from the rough and/or tight lies. I’ll know soon enough once I get on the range with them. I didn’t realize just how strong the lifts on irons has gotten over the past few years.

[Greg 504]

Great info here as I've been considering adding one or two hybrids to my bag lately. Just started the research process and look forward to hearing your results from the 3H to 4H. I've often wondered if you can tell a great deal of distance between the two in the hands of a HH. 

 

My iron set goes to 3i, but I have no confidence beyond a 5i. Thought at least try a 3H to fill that void. 

[jmanbooyaa]

I use a 20 degree and 23 degree hybrids. I prefer the Ping older g models that look like irons on steroids. I also stop at a 6 iron. Don’t have the swing speed to elevate any lower in an iron and most likely don’t need a 5 or 4 iron. Hybrid does the job just fine. 

[DennisMiller]

One of my buddies uses a set of Cleveland irons that are pretty much a hybrid design all the way through the set. A cousin of mine has something similar, but I don't known what brand. they are both happy with them.

Putting together a set of irons and trying to fit a hybrid into the set is another matter. I don't know anyone who simply bought a 4 hybrid to replace the missing 4 iron in a set like mine that starts with the 5 iron. Like most people, I'll hit that 4 hybrid a lot farther than a 4 iron made to match the set.

The point is, your concern about such a small difference in the loft might be what you need to keep the gaps between your clubs.

The good news is, hitting balls to figure it out is fun!

[pganapathy]

On 1/18/2020 at 3:08 AM, Savior Par said:

That’s kind of what I was really getting at. If the loft is basically the same, I’m not sure if there would be any great benefit to having both clubs in the bag. The 3H is a good gap between 3W and 5 iron. Maybe the 4H is basically a 5 iron that’s easier to hit from the rough and/or tight lies. I’ll know soon enough once I get on the range with them. I didn’t realize just how strong the lifts on irons has gotten over the past few years.

Not entirely.  The length of your shaft affects club head speed, and the head type itself can help with the launch angle.  There is a reason that as your swing speed slows down, your longer irons don't go anywhere, and that is the launch angle.  You will probably find with a bit of practice that you can get the 4H to have better distance and consistency than your 5i.

[Savior Par]

5 hours ago, DennisMiller said:

One of my buddies uses a set of Cleveland irons that are pretty much a hybrid design all the way through the set. A cousin of mine has something similar, but I don't known what brand. they are both happy with them.

Putting together a set of irons and trying to fit a hybrid into the set is another matter. I don't know anyone who simply bought a 4 hybrid to replace the missing 4 iron in a set like mine that starts with the 5 iron. Like most people, I'll hit that 4 hybrid a lot farther than a 4 iron made to match the set.

The point is, your concern about such a small difference in the loft might be what you need to keep the gaps between your clubs.

The good news is, hitting balls to figure it out is fun!

Took them out to the range today, although it wasn’t the best day since it was very windy with gusts of 30 mph. I tend to draw with the hybrids, so that’s actually a bit nice. Ball flight is a bit higher than the 5 iron as well.

5 hours ago, pganapathy said:

Not entirely.  The length of your shaft affects club head speed, and the head type itself can help with the launch angle.  There is a reason that as your swing speed slows down, your longer irons don't go anywhere, and that is the launch angle.  You will probably find with a bit of practice that you can get the 4H to have better distance and consistency than your 5i.

Very good points that I never even considered.

[Cantankerish]

On 1/18/2020 at 9:25 AM, Greg 504 said:

Great info here as I've been considering adding one or two hybrids to my bag lately. Just started the research process and look forward to hearing your results from the 3H to 4H. I've often wondered if you can tell a great deal of distance between the two in the hands of a HH.

I hit the 19 degree 3H 215 or so, and lower flight than the 22 degree 4H, which goes about 200.  Same manufacturer.  Same length, same flex.

[Greg 504]

5 hours ago, Cantankerish said:

I hit the 19 degree 3H 215 or so, and lower flight than the 22 degree 4H, which goes about 200.  Same manufacturer.  Same length, same flex.

Thanks for that comparison. Exactly the information I'm looking for.

[ncates00]

On 1/18/2020 at 9:25 AM, Greg 504 said:

Great info here as I've been considering adding one or two hybrids to my bag lately. Just started the research process and look forward to hearing your results from the 3H to 4H. I've often wondered if you can tell a great deal of distance between the two in the hands of a HH. 

 

My iron set goes to 3i, but I have no confidence beyond a 5i. Thought at least try a 3H to fill that void. 

I really like my hybrids.  I've got em in 3-5 and then to bladed irons.  It wasn't til about 5i did I feel that I needed more launch and ball speed.  The hybrids do a great job of giving you more ball speed, higher launch, and even a bit more spin (depending on the model).  All that makes for nice high ball flight that will hold the greens for me, e.g., I get 50* descent with most all of my irons and pretty close to about 50* descent angle with the 4 and 5; the 3 comes in a bit lower but still manages at least 45* with a good strike (meaning, not thin).  The 3w comes in about 40-42* and the driver about the same (would like to hit it a bit lower descent angle-wise).  Blends in nicely.

[DrvFrShow]

I play a 4H (21) - 200 carry and a 5H (24) - 185 carry.

My 6i is 25.5 degrees - 170 carry. I have a 5i but I'm better with the 5H than I am with it.

I tried a 3H (19) - 210 carry, but I can't hit it consistently enough to have it be worth the trouble so I didn't buy one.

[Greg 504]

6 hours ago, DrvFrShow said:

I play a 4H (21) - 200 carry and a 5H (24) - 185 carry.

My 6i is 25.5 degrees - 170 carry. I have a 5i but I'm better with the 5H than I am with it.

I tried a 3H (19) - 210 carry, but I can't hit it consistently enough to have it be worth the trouble so I didn't buy one.

This is my concern of buying one and not being able to hit it consistently like you with the 3H. I did see during research some hybrids that are adjustable loft just like many new drivers on the market, albeit a bit more expensive it seems. Might be a great alternative. 

[cooke119]

On 1/19/2020 at 11:20 AM, DennisMiller said:

One of my buddies uses a set of Cleveland irons that are pretty much a hybrid design all the way through the set. A cousin of mine has something similar, but I don't known what brand. they are both happy with them.

Putting together a set of irons and trying to fit a hybrid into the set is another matter. I don't know anyone who simply bought a 4 hybrid to replace the missing 4 iron in a set like mine that starts with the 5 iron. Like most people, I'll hit that 4 hybrid a lot farther than a 4 iron made to match the set.

The point is, your concern about such a small difference in the loft might be what you need to keep the gaps between your clubs.

The good news is, hitting balls to figure it out is fun!

I have a set of the Cleveland HB Launcher which as you say are all based on hybrid design. I got them because I have always been a big fan of hybrids and the set is consistent in terms of distance gaps, etc. throughout. I'm also 68 years old and have a much slower swing speed then in the past. I don't however use the GW that came with the set, for wedges I'v gone to Cleveland wedges for my GW and SW. They work much better.

I think you will see a distance increase and higher launch with the hybrids vs irons, but I guess that depends on your particular swing.

Good luck with the new set and enjoy getting use to them.

[DrvFrShow]

On 1/23/2020 at 4:23 AM, Greg 504 said:

This is my concern of buying one and not being able to hit it consistently like you with the 3H. I did see during research some hybrids that are adjustable loft just like many new drivers on the market, albeit a bit more expensive it seems. Might be a great alternative. 

It's where they have the weight. Some have the weight more toward the back and are easier to get the ball in the air. The ones with the weight more centered or toward the front are for the better player. Check Cobra, Ping, and Mizuno hybrids.