Maybe buying a hybrid...maybe.

[anthony]

Here's my situation. I don't carry a 3 iron because I rarely hit it well. The 4 iron I can hit so so, but I don't like it unless I'm using it off the tee (even then, I still don't prefer it, but I'm determined to learn it).

So, that leaves me with a decent yardage gap between my 4iron and 5 wood. I hit my 5 iron around 165-170, 4 iron about 175-180 and my 5 wood around 200 off the turf and probably 15 yards further off of the tee. But, there's that 20 yard gap that I see myself running into with no shot. I was talking to the guy at golf galaxy and he said the 4 hybrid is a 3 iron replacement.

I guess my question is, do you like your hybrid? Does it feel more like an iron when you swing or like a wood. I'd think like a wood just from checking them out. If that's the case, what would the difference be between that and a 7 wood (If I could even get one). The hybrids must be popular for a reason. Just looking for some pro's and con's. Thanks!

[pxc]

My understanding is that you swing a hybrid like an iron, it's just easier to hit than the big irons.

[Rukus43]

I have a cheap hybrid and it performs much better than my 3 iron because I, like you, have not yet been able to produce consistent results with the longer irons do to inaccurate swings. The main problem I had with my 3 iron was getting it in the air, but with my hybrid that never crosses my mind any more. All I think about is trying to swing smooth and it produces a long high shot that for me goes about 200yds off the deck and about 210 off of a tee (my yardages are similar to yours with 4 and 5 irons)

[wrx_junki]

Get a TM Burner Rescue in 22º. Those are super easy to hit and you get plenty of height.

[rangerat]

It took me a long time to try a hybrid. I finally did get a 3 iron replacement to try because I almost never used my 3 iron anyhow. I have since reshafted the club and it is my favorite club in the bag. Great off the tee, off the grass and I even use it at times to punch out from under trees and such. If you can, demo different brands and lofts to get what you are looking for. As far as "pros and cons": Pros: very versatile, easy to hit, etc. Cons: Only one for me, I hit the hybrid so consistently well that it sometimes feels like a yardage gap between this and the 4 iron.

[trumps4]

I like mine. I removed my 3 iron and 5 wood and replaced them with a 19* hybrid and a 60* wedge at the beginning of this year. The hybrid has been great for the most part. When I am striking it well I can use the hybrid for every shot I used to need two clubs for (5W & 3I). The lob wedge is a work in progress. I have found pretty limited uses for it but am getting better (slowly).

My advise is to go ahead and get a hybrid and take your time getting acquainted with it before you put it into the bag. I have found that playing with ball position and swing style (wood vs. iron) has yielded different but serviceable results in most cases. With a little practice, I think you'll find you can hit a wide variety of shots with it.

[Orange]

Get a TM Burner Rescue in 22º. Those are super easy to hit and you get plenty of height.

I hit my friend's older TM Rescue club at the range a while ago and it was so easy to hit. Everything was straight and it just felt great. I plan on getting one when I get money... ... hopefully that's within the next five years lol.

[anthony]

Thanks for the replies. The consensus seems to be pretty positive towards the hybrids. I'm gonna demo a few and pick one up!

[plugged]

I reaplced my 3i last month with an Idea hybrid and like it a lot. It is not an apples-to-apples replacement since I hit my 3i about 195 and the new hybrid about 210, but it is darn close, and more importantly, my hybrid shots are much straighter and higher. This does leave a significant gap between my 4i (185 yds) and the hybrid, so course mmgt in the 200-yd range is more important.

I do hit my 5i very well and my 4i fairly well, so I don't see replacing them with hybrids anytime soon.

[plugged]

BTW, I hit both the Callaway and Idea hybrids and liked the Callaway a little better, but not enough to justify the additional $100.

[kris]

I was in the exact same situation as you. Couldn't hit a 3 iron to save me and could hit a 4 iron OK maybe 20% of the time. Needless to say I stayed away from those two clubs and went with the Callaway 23* 4H and I love it. It is wayyyyyy easier to hit than a 4 iron and I'm even considering a 3H to fill another distance gap I've developed. So yes, I'd definitely get a hybrid or two.

[chspeed]

Run, don't walk, and replace your 3 & 4 irons with hybrids. As everyone said, they're easier to hit, easier to hit high, give you the same (or better) distance, and work better out of the rough. Most pros use them sometimes (on the LPGA, almost all players use them all the time). Even Tiger says he'll be using them when he gets a bit older!

I like the callaway hybrids.

[Ram]

I recently put an Adams a4 Boxer hybrid (19 degrees) in my bag and couldn't be happier with it. It's easy to hit and it doesn't have the tendency to hook like hybrids did when they first came out. I mostly use it off the tee or for my second shot into long par fives. I've never had a problem holding the green with it, either.

[Thaddy]

Get a TM Burner Rescue in 22º. Those are super easy to hit and you get plenty of height.

I have the 19º, it's one of my favorite clubs in the bag. These are great hybrids and they are very easy to hit. The stock shaft decent as well, it launches high and lands soft.

[Dub]

Here's my situation. I don't carry a 3 iron because I rarely hit it well. The 4 iron I can hit so so, but I don't like it unless I'm using it off the tee (even then, I still don't prefer it, but I'm determined to learn it).

Love 'em. Tried a 7 wood again last year....preferred the hybrid. It looks like a wood with a shorter shaft and upright hosel. I try to swing mine exactly like I do my irons. The hybrids seem to be much friendlier from tough lies such as hardpan or from fairway bunkers. Again...that's just my opinion and experiences....go ask my father and he'll tell you that you'll have to pry his fairway woods from his hands...he's not into hybrids.

[DriverTees]

The difference between a long iron and a hybrid, is the difference between a blade and a cavity back.

[Zeph]

I disagree. A hybrid is easier to swing than an iron, regardless of design. The difference of a blade and cavity back is overrated, the biggest difference is forgiveness, which occurs during impact. A hybrid is easier to swing because the difference is it's easier to swing, the stuff that happens before impact.

I've got a 23º hybrid which I switch with a 3i, depending on what club I want on the course. For a high handicapper, hitting crappy long irons is a waste. With a hybrid or two you can still play good golf while getting better to the point where you can hit the long irons. I like the feeling and trajectory of my 3i better, but the hybrid is easier to hit out of rough and very useful when I want an easier club to hit with higher trajectory.

[Thaddy]

A hybrid is easier to swing because the difference is it's easier to swing, the stuff that happens before impact.

You want to explain that?