Are hybrids all they're cracked up to be?

[mgolfer167]

Currently, I carry 3-pw AP2s in my bag with a blade 2-iron that I use occasionally. As for my woods I have a driver and 3 wood. Including my two Taylormade wedges, I have 13 in my bag. I hit my 3-iron about 195, and my 2-iron about 200-205. As my 3 wood goes about 240-245, I have a fairly large gap between my longest iron and my fairway wood. Should I consider buying a hybrid like a 2-hybrid, or do I ought to go with a 7-wood? I like the feel of hybrids, but am not sure if I will gain much more distance. On average, will a 3-hybrid fly much farther than a 3-iron? Thanks

[TheGeekGolfer]

I have an Adams 3-hybrid, I can hit it anywhere from 210-225 yds and lands pretty soft.  My 4-iron goes about 195-200 and rolls out a bit more.  I use my hybrid alot and would not go back to a 5-wood/7-wood or anything else.  It's great for long par-3s, off the tee on short par-4s, and for chipping around the green, too.  I carry Driver, 3W, 3H, 4-GW, SW, and LW.

[bluecollar01]

I have an Adams 3H and a 4H.  I'm new to the game and am not a long hitter but on average I hit the 3H about 180 and the 4H about 165.  That being said a few times at the range I've hit the 4H just right for 192 yards according to my buddy's laser range finder.

Not sure it helps you but it's food for thought.

[mgolfer167]

Thanks, sounds like a hybrid would be my best bet.

[Grndslmhttr3]

I'm very glad I bought my 3i hybrid. It's quite easy to hit and is great for hitting punch shots if I get into trouble after hitting an errant shot.

[slabm7]

If you can hit your 3 wood well why not get a 5 wood? I hit my 3 wood about 240-250, My 5 wood goes about 230-240. Then my 3 hybrid is around 210. I think a 3 hybrid would be similar distance to your 2 iron (obviously more height though) I don't think you would put a big distance differential there. I would look at a 5-7 wood.

[The Gill]

I only like hybrids with heavy shafts. I have a DGS300 in my Adams Idea Black and it plays very much like an iron. Before it had a lighter graphite shaft and I would loose it. Bottom line is you need to identify what you're looking for because hybrids range from iron replacements to smallish fairway woods... Don't obsess with the distance as much and focus on what versatility you want out of it.

[JoshKeller]

i may be in the minority here, but for the life of me, i cannot keep from hooking a hybrid. I hit every other club in my bag with a very slight draw, but the 5 or 6 brands of hybrids ive used have have been hook magnets for me. I'll gladly use my 3 iron anyday!

[The Gill]

I have the same issue with hybrids until I stick a steel shaft or a 120g + shaft in them... Buy a beat up hybrid on eBay and throw a $12 Dynamic Gold shaft in it. It will change the way you think about hybrids.

Originally Posted by JoshKeller

i may be in the minority here, but for the life of me, i cannot keep from hooking a hybrid. I hit every other club in my bag with a very slight draw, but the 5 or 6 brands of hybrids ive used have have been hook magnets for me. I'll gladly use my 3 iron anyday!

[XMScott]

Ping, 21 degree. I love that damn club. Off the deck, rough, fairway.

[carpediem4300]

have the cheapest, crappest 3i hybrid on the market,.............but its by far my most favourite club

i hit a drive on a par 5 last night and drawed it into the rough, amongst some trees, some 240 yards out from the green

hit the 3i, up and through the trees, bounces 30 yards short of the green and rolled on

would never of managed that with an iron

[Stretch]

I would say you need either a fairway wood or hybrid in the 18 degree range. Rough rule of thumb is that bombers tend to do better with a 5 wood and more average swing speed players often prefer a 2 hybrid.

[Teamanglerx]

I have the adams 3H, 4H, and 5H (they came with my set).  I think they are the best clubs I have.  I use them often off the tee when a driver or 3W is overkill on the tee and I know I can get 190-220 from the 3H.  I also like them for long shots out of the rough.

[ghalfaire]

I carry two hybrids, a 22* and a 26*.  For me the advantage of the hybrid over the fairway woods is for difficult lies.  If your ball is in the rough you can't beat the hybrids.  Recently I have begun to use them to chip from tight lie with little green to work with.  It works a lot better than the 7 or 6I I used to use.  I used to carry a 7 wood but gave it up for the hybrids and think it was a good choice for me.

[blackxpress]

If you're carrying 2 wedges in addition to your 2-pw, your 3W, driver and putter, I count 14 clubs, not 13. Am I missing something in the translation? Anyway, how often do you need to hit a ball more than 205 but less than 240? On those rare occasions when you do need that exact distance could you not just choke down on your 3w? As for your question, I've had a real love-hate relationship with hybrids. Sometimes I hit them real well and sometimes not worth a crap. I finally gave up trying as I hit my 3 and 4 irons better and more consistently than any hybrid I've ever tried. I don't carry a 2i (or a hybrid) because I hit my 4w better and with more consistency. I only hit it 210-220 but that's O.K. There are only two situations I can think of where I need more distance than that. One is off the tee on really long par 3 holes, in which case I can just choke down on my driver. The other is trying to reach in 2 on a short par 5. If I ever need that kind of distance on a par 4 it's because I hit a really bad shot with my driver. Better to just take my medicine, lay up and try to hit it to one putt distance with a wedge. The only way I could make room in my bag for a hybrid would be to either drop the 4W or drop one of my wedges, neither of which option I would ever consider. I'd rather have more options inside 100 yds. (hence, my 52, 56 and 60 degree wedge setup) than to carry a club that I would almost never need.

[mgolfer167]

Generally, I am stuck between 205-240 about 4-5 times per round. But there are probably 3 more holes where a 220 yard drive sets me up better than either driver or long iron. The thing is, I play a Cleveland "Hi"-bore 3-wood. The shots are very low and penetrating. Ideally I would like a club that will hold the green a little better if I have to choke down.

[GaijinGolfer]

Ive personally never been a big fan of hybrids (looking to replace my Mizuno MX-100s for that very reason) but a lot of people really like them.

[shortys408]

I have that same hybrid club.  It is the reason I didn't have a 3 wood in my bag for such a long time.

Originally Posted by carpediem4300

have the cheapest, crappest 3i hybrid on the market,.............but its by far my most favourite club

i hit a drive on a par 5 last night and drawed it into the rough, amongst some trees, some 240 yards out from the green

hit the 3i, up and through the trees, bounces 30 yards short of the green and rolled on

would never of managed that with an iron