Hitting low slices with my hybrids

[mdouet]

I always hear people say hybrids are easier to hit than long irons, but I seem to have more trouble with them. I always tend to hit them really low with a slice. I try to focus on hitting down on the ball like you're supposed to, but the ball never seems to want to get up. I can hit my short-mid irons high and straight (I usually stay away from my long irons). Any ideas what would cause this problem when hitting a hybrid?

[mdl]

I was having the same problem with the Titleist 585H I got a little while back. I fixed it by strengthening my grip a little bit and flattening my swing out a bit. Like you said, I'd been advised to swing it like a 6-7 iron, even though the feel at address is more like a 7-9 wood. I think swinging that way made my swing too steep, leading to the opened face caused for me by leading too much with the hands, which led to low balls for me too.

Now, with the stronger grip, I'm trying to swing more on plane, which leads the swing to feel more like a high numbered fairway wood, but I'm hitting it straight with a draw now, much more consistently. If I overdo either the flatter swing plane or the strong grip, I get hooky with it, but I prefer that problem to the consistent low nasty slice!

But then again, as you can see, I'm just a mid-handicapper, so you might want to listen to someone else!

[dave s]

What finally clicked with me is not setting up and treating my 3 and 5 hybrid clubs like a fairway wood. To completely get 'fairway wood' out of my mind, I went to the range and setup my 5-iron and hit several balls. Swapped in the 5 hybrid and as quickly hitting 'em high and deep!

From there, moved onto my 3 hybrid and it hits nearly the same. No quite as high, but goes 30-40 yards farther than the 5.

One other thing I discovered that the pushing my hands slightly forward, (toward the target) before takeaway gave me a better 'down and through' swing which produced higher ball flight as well.

Good luck ... the hybrids DO work!

dave

[mdouet]

So ball placement wise, you put it 1 ball forward of center like a 5 iron? The hybrid I'm hitting is a 3i replacement, does this mean I should put the ball 2 balls forward of center?

[jambalaya]

I always hear people say hybrids are easier to hit than long irons, but I seem to have more trouble with them. I always tend to hit them really low with a slice. I try to focus on hitting down on the ball like you're supposed to, but the ball never seems to want to get up. I can hit my short-mid irons high and straight (I usually stay away from my long irons). Any ideas what would cause this problem when hitting a hybrid?

What hybrids are using? 2,3,4,5? I have a 3 and 4 hybrid and I hit them like a 3 and 4 iron which means a shallow divot. Still hitting down but not as steep as a 6 or 7 iron. Hitting down too steep could be causing your problem.

[dave s]

So ball placement wise, you put it 1 ball forward of center like a 5 iron? The hybrid I'm hitting is a 3i replacement, does this mean I should put the ball 2 balls forward of center?

Yep. Just ahead of center is working fine for both. The 5 hybrid can go right in the middle of my stance and still work, but it will fade a bit right. 1-2 balls foward of center is about right ... for me anyway! dave

[mdouet]

What hybrids are using? 2,3,4,5? I have a 3 and 4 hybrid and I hit them like a 3 and 4 iron which means a shallow divot. Still hitting down but not as steep as a 6 or 7 iron. Hitting down too steep could be causing your problem.

Yes, I think this may indeed be my problem. I'm definitely trying to make a steep descending blow like I do for my low-mid irons, I'll try more of a sweeping blow to see if that helps any.

[GaijinGolfer]

With my hybrids, I play the ball just slightly foreward of center in my stance and I try to have the swing though of sweeping the ball off the ground.
It sounds to me like your problem is a combination of the ball too far foreward in your stance and a grip that isnt strong enough. That would explain the low slice.

[mdouet]

That makes alot of sense, I've been playing it way forward in my stance (treating it like a 3 Wood), and my instructor put me on a weaker grip. I'll bring the ball back in my stance and strengthen my grip and see if that helps (might also help with my driver slicing).

[mdouet]

I tried the advice given in this thread and I was able to get a little more height from my hybrid, but still have a terrible slice. I've tried strenghening my grip, as well as making sure I have an in to out swing path (not coming over the top). At this point I have no idea how to fix my slice. I'll try to take some video so you guys can see what I'm doing wrong. At this point I am able to hit my 4i better than my 4 hybrid, which seems backwards. I have more of a high fade with my 4i, where as my 4 hybrid has a low slice.

[jasongst]

I tried the advice given in this thread and I was able to get a little more height from my hybrid, but still have a terrible slice. I've tried strenghening my grip, as well as making sure I have an in to out swing path (not coming over the top). At this point I have no idea how to fix my slice. I'll try to take some video so you guys can see what I'm doing wrong. At this point I am able to hit my 4i better than my 4 hybrid, which seems backwards. I have more of a high fade with my 4i, where as my 4 hybrid has a low slice.

Here's one thing you definitely need to pay attention to: Make sure you aren't hitting the ball on the heel of the club. Hybrid clubs are going to have a slight gear effect, so heel hits will encourage a fade and toe hits will encourage a draw, etc. Try lining the ball up with the toe of the club and trying to deliberately hit some toe shots; see if that makes any kind of difference.

[mdouet]

First time I hear of that, I'll give it a try, thanks.