Hybrid loft question for the board

[Danfix99]

Hello everyone,

I currently play with Callaway Big Bertha 2006 irons, which have a 20 deg 3-iron and a 23 degree 4-iron. I also play with a 18 deg 5-wood that I really like from the tee and fairway. I am looking at replacing the 3-iron with a hybrid for shots out of the rough. I am leaning towards the Taylormade hybrids with a steel shaft, since I am using it like an iron. It looks like the Taylormade hybrids have lofts of 19 and 22 degrees, and I am wondering which I should get to replace my 3-iron. Is it better to go with a slightly higher loft based on the general performance of hybrids and the fact that it is primarily a club from the rough for me.

Also, I heard somewhere that you should buy a hybrid that matches your current iron set, which for me, would be the Callaway Heavenwood. Is this true?

[Cody]

Hybrids typically have a slightly higher loft than the irons they replace. My 3h is a 20* and the 3 iron is an 18*.

And you don't have to get hybrids that match your iron sets, you can get whatever hybrids you want.

[ganjagolfer]

depends on the conditions, i've gone with a 26* with home course that has tall maple tree to shoot over on second shot for par five instead of going around. comes in handy lots of times to shoot over high objects. works great out of thick rough

[allin]

Hybrids have different playing characteristics, and often different shaft lengths, so loft alone doesn't help much. You pretty much need to hit one to see how far you hit it. It also may depend on how far you hit your 4 & 5 irons. If your gap 4-5 is only 10 yards + or - then some people would drop the 3 & 4 iron go with 22 and add a wedge etc, especially since you carry a 5wd.

[fairwayfader]

i use a cobra 20 degree...works fine for me

[Spectrums]

I recommend the Sonartec HB-001. They are on clearance at Golf Galaxy (online only) and you can pick them up for $40. Fantastic club.. never should have played without one...

[CosmosMpower]

I got a 19 degree to replace my 3wood and a 23 degree to replace my 3 and 4 irons.

[shortgame85]

I suggest you might try the Cobra Baffler DWS 20 degree with the Aldila VS Proto HL shaft. Easy to hit from the rough, fairway and off the tee. I know of few, if any people, who use a steel shaft in their hybrid clubs, including those of us who play with steel shafts in our irons. I have tried and I like the Callaway Heavenwood. The Cobra sells for $149 and the Heavenwood can be had for $129.

[andre112]

hybrids generally come with shafts longer than the irons you are replacing.
say comparing 20 deg hybrid to a 20 deg iron, you will hit the hybrid a bit longer.
best way is to demo one and see which one fills the gap evenly.
if you want a hybrid that goes about your 3 iron distance, i'd go with 22 deg.

[GaijinGolfer]

Id go with a 22* hybrid to replace your 3-iron.
You dont have to get a hybrid that matches the rest of your set. Id suggest trying out a bunch of different hybrids and going from there.

[tjy355]

Hybrids have different playing characteristics, and often different shaft lengths, so loft alone doesn't help much. You pretty much need to hit one to see how far you hit it...

What he said...

[Stacey_E]

Unless you have a high clubhead speed and hit the ball dead solid perfect 4 out of 5 times, you don't need a 3 and 4 iron. A 4 hybrid replaces both quite well, perfectly for myself. This club will usually give you about 15 maybe 20 yards less than 5 wood and about 15 yards more than a 5 iron. Any less yardage gap than this, especially at the top of the set is just wasting clubs. I'd go with the 22* You'll hit it as high or higher than your 23* 4 iron because of the lower center of gravity.