Can't Hit My Hybrids! - Help!

[Derrick]

I started playing golf back in June after being away from the game for over 10 years. I bought a cheap, complete set of clubs that included the bag, irons, driver, putter, etc. It is the Walter Hagen T3 from Dick’s Sporting Goods. I am very satisfied with the set except for the fact that the 3, 4, and 5 are hybrid clubs. I have tried and tried to hit these clubs, but I just can’t seem to do it. Here is a little more info, so you guys can try to help me:

The carry distance for my driver is about 210 to 230 yards. In my last 4 rounds, I have hit 63.15% of my fairways. I almost never lose a ball on my drive, so even if I miss the fairways, I have a decent second shot.

My 3 Wood carry distance is about 190 off the fairway, and maybe a bit longer off the tee. I feel confident hitting my 3 wood because the vast majority of the time the ball goes straight.

I hit my 6 iron about 150 yards, and consider it and my pitching wedge to be my favorite clubs. Actually I hit all my irons 6 – SW pretty straight. When I go to the range, I would say that at least 75% of my shots would land within 25 feet of the flag stick I am aiming at.

My problem is with those hybrid clubs. At my favorite course, the 18th is a 162 yard par 3. I can tee up the 4 hybrid and I get it on the green more than half the time. However, the other times I try to hit it the shot is a complete flop. I either top the ball or hit it straight up in the air. With the 3 and 5 hybrid, it is the same thing. With those, the problem is that I never feel like I hit the ball cleanly. At the range, I can hit my 7 iron further than my 3-5 hybrids.

Is the problem the clubs, or is there something different I should do in my swing to help this problem. I have probably hit over 200 balls at the range with these clubs, and maybe hit less than 10 cleanly.

I hate having to “lay up” on a par 4. If my drive goes 220, and I still have 180 to the green, I don’t have a club to hit. I either try to go easy with a 3 wood and still hit it over the green, or try to blast a 6 iron and shank it right into a greenside bunker. Should I go out and buy a 3-5 iron, or is there something I can do to hit these clubs correctly?

Thanks

[Bullitt5339]

I play with 4 and 5 hybrids, and it took me a couple times at the range to get used to hitting them, but now they are pretty reliable for me, I hit my 4 hybrid 200 yards, and the 5 hybrid around 185 consistantly. I use my 4 hybrid when most people are teeing off with their 3 woods.

I would say take a day at the range, and just hit one hybrid for about 100 balls. That's what I did, and I figured out that I needed to move them back in my stance like an iron, I was trying to hit them like a fairway wood before that, and was having the same problem you describe.

[Dub]

You seem to be hitting your 6 iron a very solid 150 in relation to your driver and 3 wood.

I don't know if this will help or not but the key for me to hit my hybrids well is to treat them exactly like irons in every sense.

When I first added them to the bag I was addressing them too far away....arms more extended.....it was subtle...but it was happening. I don't know if it was the wood-like head that was throwing me off or what.

I simply pulled them in an inch or so and began hitting down on them just like my irons from the center of my stance. I know I'm gonna pure 'em when I can sense my left shoulder getting on top of the ball in my backswing. Everythng fires nicely from there.

Try to treat them just like your irons.

I hope this helps.

[MrW00t10]

It would seem all you need is a few good practice sessions on a driving range to really get a feel for your hybrids. You have to be able to pull a club from your bag at random and be able to hit it in any situation; this is where good players differ from better players.

And if you're hitting your 6 iron only 150yards its quite possible your swing is just too slow.

[mrprovisional]

i also bought a complete set. Top XL that came with the same number of clubs as you. I learned that using my hybrid definitely has its advantages. Im struggling with my driver but i learned that using my hybrid is as affective if not better than my 3 wood and driver. The only difference is that I noticed when i use my hybrids is during impact, instead of trying to lift the ball in the air with my hybrid. I swing down with the hybrid so my chances of topping my ball. Also, I treat it like an iron and try to take a small divot with my hybrids.

[squaddie]

Derrick, my handicap is higher and yours, but my three hybrids are the clubs I hit the best most consistently , so I doubt the clubs are the issue.

Since from 200 balls you haven't figured out the issue you should probably go see a pro and have him observe your 3 wood and iron swing compared to your hybrid swing and determine what the difference is.

Whenever I top the ball or hit thin with my hybrids it's because I have the ball too far forward. I don't think I've hit a sky-ball with them.

Perhaps you have the ball too high on the tee when you tee-off with the hybrid? I generally place the ball on the tee as if I was hitting with an iron.

[Derrick]

Thanks Guys for the feedback. I live on the west side of Atlanta and we had some major flooding recently so I have not made it out to the range. I am hoping to go tomorrow.

I think I have been treating these clubs more like fairway woods than irons. I think I am placing the ball to far away from my feet and also too far forward in my stance. I will try to post again tomorrow night with a progress report.

Thanks again.

[Chas]

hmmm, this may explain why I still don't feel so comfortable with my 3-hybrid, yet it's a club I often need to use. I'll take you guys' advice and play the ball like an iron instead of a fairway wood, i.e. slightly back in my stance.

So you guys are saying, the clubhead should be still slightly on a downward path on contact? My thought has always been to sweep the ball off the deck, like I do with my trusy 5W - a club that I "own" as much as I do any club in the bag (which isn't as much as all that of course ...... ). Maybe I've got this hybrid thing completely wrong.

[jdjanda]

Yup you have to hit down, I grabbed my 3H after hitting my Driver at the range yesterday and my first swing was like a drive,the ball went low and short. I stepped back repositioned, hit the next short like an iron and put the ball out 200 yards.

[Derrick]

We have had some major flooding here, so today was the first chance I got to get to the range. I just hit a small bucket, so I only got about 15 swings in on the hybrid clubs I had mentioned. Thanks for the advice. I hit the balls much better today. I was trying to concentrate on contacting the ball on the downswing and leaving a small divot just in front of the ball. Being away from the clubs for a while, I need to dial in some more accuracy, but as far as hitting the ball, I did much better today.

Thanks