HYBRID recommendation (save me from pulling whats left of my hair out ...)

[inthehole]

I've had a half dozen or so hybrids (3 different Adams, Nike, TM, etc), but I can't find one that really agrees with me (I just seem to prefer my CB 4 iron, but am brainwashed at how many times we read how hybrids are EASIER to hit - kind of frustrating, as I hit my 4 iron arrow straight (but would like more length, but has to be controllable length).         My current Adams hybrid trails right unless I hit it dead nuts perfect, usually way right of the green ... it's almost like the slightest contact with the ground, a hybrid will pivot or rotate, causing the rightward ball flight).   If I hit an iron a tad fat, it will still go straight, but just shorter; if I hit a hybrid only a tad fat, it wings off right & I'm lucky if it stays in play.

Anyways, I'm going to golf galaxy soon & am going to hit EVERYTHING ... and would like to have some ammunition going in on what hybrids you guys really like and have had great luck with.    I would like to have more distance than I get from my 4 iron at times, which is where a good #3  hybrid would fit in.     I'm looking for one that works well off the tee as well as off the turf (forgiveness is a big consideration - at my stage, I don't work the ball, so don't need a players hybrid).     I just want to zero in on ONE good hybrid & really work on it to get it down, as I think it's a club I would use alot once I get confidence in it ...

Thx guys...

[mymizunosrock]

I have found the key to hitting a hybrid is treating it like a 6i and hit down on it instead of sweeping it like a fairway wood. My mate has a new Raxr Hawk and he his it great. Im getting on well with my CLK. Just find one that sets up well and that has a shaft that suits you.

[newtogolf]

I had similar problems and found the Titleist 910h and Adama Pro A12 work best for me.  I tried the Razr Hawks, Diablo Edges and the heads just looked too big for me.  I hit the Titleist 910h like an iron and it's pretty accurate.  You can adjust the head to be neutral, open or closed as well as vary the loft so you can tailor them to your swing.

[inthehole]

thanks guys - appreciate the info.   anybody else ??

[boogielicious]

Inthehole,

I look forward to hearing what you find out.  I too like my CB2 4 iron better than a hybrid.  I've got the Adams A2 3H and tend to hook it.  The swing weight makes the hybrid feel much lighter than the iron and I have trouble controlling it.  I replaced the A2 4H with the CB2 4 iron for that reason.

[GJBenn85]

I've tried quite a few hybrids from Cobra, Taylormade, Nike, Titleist, and Adams.  By far my favorites are the Titleist 910H and the Adams V3, and one reason is they have a nice feel due to the swing weight.  I also really like the fact that the 910H is adjustable.  The V3 is a bit more forgiving but both work equally well off the grass and a tee.  I also find both work very well off hardpack and even in the rough (the Adams is better in the rough).

[Precis1on]

I'm enjoying the the R11 Rescue hybrid, whether off the tee or off the turf. My previous hybrid woes came from having too heavy of a shaft, I dropped about 20g of shaft weight and am able to swing the club much better now.

Still, I don't think the hybrid is any easier to hit than any other club in a person's bag. It still requires focus and attention since it's not 100% iron or 100% fairway wood. I spend plenty of time with my hybrid since it's my go-to club if I'm having driver woes and need accurate shots onto the fairway.

[Gresh24]

For me I liked the larger head of my Adams A7OS.  I tried a lot of the one's mentioned here.  Two things helped me with hybrids:

1. Swing like an iron

2. Accept that they aren't "easy" to hit.  This took me a while.  Like you, I kept hearing how easy hybrids are to hit.  For mid to high cappers, no club is easy to hit, especially long clubs.

[WUTiger]

Have you tried a 5W and a 7W? Some people tend to hit woods better than hybrids, despite the recent "law" which claims otherwise.

Also, it appears you have 16 clubs. Which two do you drop out? You talk successful 4i... is 3i usually left out?

NOTE: If you have trouble with the Raylor, which has the boathull sole, make sure you don't rock the club toward the toe on your set-up. This would cause a miss right.

[snowman0157]

Take a look at the I15 from Ping.... Head is sorta like a small Fairway wood, which I prefer for a Hybrid.   On sale now also.

[inthehole]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

Have you tried a 5W and a 7W? Some people tend to hit woods better than hybrids, despite the recent "law" which claims otherwise.

Also, it appears you have 16 clubs. Which two do you drop out? You talk successful 4i... is 3i usually left out?

NOTE: If you have trouble with the Raylor, which has the boathull sole, make sure you don't rock the club toward the toe on your set-up. This would cause a miss right.

I had an Adams 5W & was ok with it off the tee, but just couldn't get the hang of it off the turf at my stage - the hybrids I've had were easier to hit from the fairway, but no more controllable.     Very observant on the club count - have such a hard time figuring which 14 clubs to carry - usually drop the lob wedge and the 3w.    I have better luck with the 3 iron off the tee than the 3w, but often need more length ... which brings me back to the quest for a hybrid that suits me better.     It's such a balancing act - almost seems we need to adjust our club selection based on the course we're playing.    Thx for the tip on the Raylor - LOVE that club from the rough !!

[MiniBlueDragon]

I became somewhat of a Mizuno JPX 800 fanboy after hitting the driver and subsequently ended up buying the driver, the 3w and then the hybrid after trying them all out.

Really love the feel, the weight and sound off the face with the Mizzy. Prior to that U was using a TM Burner Superfast hybrid which was also great.

[sportsnut]

I also have spent the last couple of months agitated with my hybrids, everyone told me they were easy to hit but I had nothing but trouble. I did have nickent 3dx rc 3 and 5 clubs with regualer shafts, I was going to reshaft them to stiff for a try but found an adams 7 stiff 3 for what it would cost me for a shaft. and bought that to try it. well I hit the ball further and better but not consistently. so I moved the ball up in my stance just forward of center kept the grip pointed back towards my zipper as opposed to forward like an iron, focused on striking the ball in the same spot as a driver, rear inward just off center and swung it like an iron with a downward swing. well after a lot of practice my consistency on and off the course has improved my ball stiking with hybrids to the point that instead of a short grounder with a fair amount of divot I now produce a low/mid trajectory out about 180 yards. only thing that would make me happier is if I did that all the time. try working on your setup and ball position and see if your results change, but it takes lots of trys and practice. good luck.

[wormkiller]

Originally Posted by Gresh24

For me I liked the larger head of my Adams A7OS.  I tried a lot of the one's mentioned here.  Two things helped me with hybrids:

1. Swing like an iron

2. Accept that they aren't "easy" to hit.  This took me a while.  Like you, I kept hearing how easy hybrids are to hit.  For mid to high cappers, no club is easy to hit, especially long clubs.

Totally agree with point #2.  If golf were easy, they would put windmills on every course, and add go-karts and an arcade.

[Topper]

I can't hit anything that looks like a fairway wood including hybrids that more closely resemble fairway woods.  I don't know what it is.  Maybe the longer shaft length is enough to increase my inconsistency. If you have similar issues I suggest trying the Ping G15 hybrids.  I can't promote these enough.

I swing the G15s exactly like my irons because they are more like irons than most other hybrids.  I currently carry a 20*, 23*, and 27*.  In fact, I recently replaced my 5i with a 27* G15.  I could hit my 5i OK but I hit the 27* way better.  I also use a 17* G15 but I find this one to be a lot harder to hit than the others probably because it really exposes my tendency to hang back and flip.  When I connect it has a really nice penetrating ball flight.

Compared with fairway woods, I probably sacrifice a some distance with G15s but it's a good trade for me.  However, I am practicing with a Cobra Baffler Rail F 5W, but I can't make contact consistently enough bring it on the course yet.

[misterjohn]

I've had great luck with Sumo2 hybrids. Much more consistent with these than with others I've tried including TM, Adams, and Ping Raptures. Somehow the square head just works for me. I tended to hook the others.

I swing it like an iron and get a nice high straight shot. I can even draw the ball a little if I want to. Thin misses produce lower, more penetrating shots with equal distance. Fat shots are also straight but with significant distance loss.

[Jmdmbike]

If your miss is a fade or slice, you might want to try something with plenty of offset, like the G15 Topper uses. I tried those and I don't think I ever hit one off to the right. I've had the other problem with pretty much very hybrid I owned - hooking them like crazy. I went to a neutral club and have had much better results. Just keep plugging away until you find one that suits your game. And there's no rule that says you need to have a hybrid - if you hit your long irons well, that'll work too.