Iron vs Hybrid Distance

[DufnerDip]

I have a 20* hybrid and it replaces my 5 wood. I have the old specs on my irons so my 3 iron starts at 24* to a 51* PW. I don't hit fairway woods that well off the turf so I went ahead and got a hybrid and it fits perfectly into my set between my 15* 3 wood and 3 iron.

[HackerUpNorth]

I tend to hit my 5-3 hybrids 240-260 while 5-3 irons I struggled to hit 220-240, with more mis hits.  I have a fast sweeping swing, and hybrids I just hit way more consistently.

[HoosierHacker89]

I personally hit hybrids farther than long irons. I hit my 4 iron about 200 on average, and i am lucky to get 205 out of my 3 iron. i have an i20 hybrid 3 in the place of my i3+ 3 iron which hits right about that 210-215 range off the deck and about 220 off the tee. I love this set up because my 4 wood (g15) is good for about 225-230 off the deck. It fits really well in the bag, and i love my hybrid into long par 3s

[DocParty]

I'm certain more people on these blogs are in line with weekend golfers than amateurs or pros. No matter what they think or say.

So, I'm going to say or try to say what I heard Lee Trevino say to a group of weekend golfers at the Las Colinas Country Club back in the 80's.

First, weekend golfers should never assume they are going to go out and shoot par. Why, because even pro's don't do it every week and they do it for a living and indeed are much better at golf than weekend golfers simply due to the fact that they hit more balls in one week than a weekender hits in a year.

Second, if a weekend golfer plays by the rules, which he said is very rare, then they should try to hit the ball in the air 150 yards plus bounce and roll straight down the middle of the fairway, EVERY TIME. That's the trick here it seems. The net distance will begin at @ 175 yards and with time will end up netting 200, maybe more yards EVERY TIME.

Third, if you take any club score card and (after perfecting this EVERY TIME shot to the point that you can hit the ball from the tee or the fairway, 200 yards STRAIGHT EVERY TIME) and subtract 200 yards from the total hole distance and then do it again for your second shot, you'll be at or on most par 4's in regulation or just a pitch away, and on every par 3 in regulation. Par fives, takeing three 200 yard shots will get you to any of them. Now the money part of golf begins, the pitching and putting.

It's really simple and I can't count how many times I play with people that do not play by the rules (not that you have to since it is a game, but handicaps are determined by the assumption that all are playing the game by the rules), hit a 280 yard drive and then fight to get it in the hole for a bogie or worse.

Use the club that you trust, and then trust the club to do it's work. It works.

I'm old, broken, disabled, but when I hit the ball correctly and put a few of them together I end up with a par from time to time and many bogies.

Shooting bogie golf for a weekender is as much an accomplishment as a pro shooting par, assuming we all play by the rules.

I hit some hybrids and they work for me although I'm going through a 'chicken wing' swing problem at this time and have no idea where it came from. I'll fix it by slowing down my swing and smoothly striking the ball instead of hitting at it in my frustration.

I don't hit the ball like my son does, he just started 5 months ago and hits the ball like he's been playing for years. Just last week he birdied a par 5, and a par 3 and then par'd the next hole, a par 4. I almost clocked him in the head with my putter for doing so well, but am very proud of his accomplishments. He hits a 7 iron when I'm hitting a 5h. That will give you an idea that which club you use only matters in the final outcome for your shot. What everyone else is hitting is a moot point, just hit the club you trust and then trust the club. It's a game!

Doc

[Lihu]

Good points, doc. Thanks for sharing. I also read that if someone can hit their 3 and 4 irons with any kind of reliability, they don't need the hybrids. I can hit these irons, but not nearly as far as the OP. It seems he hits them about 50 yards farther than me. I also can't hit them the same every time, some shots are short by 20 yards if I mishit. Hence, I need to use hybrids. The other thing is I am always confident I can hit the hybrid. Every shot will go within 10 yards from either one even from rough (standard, not 4" tall thick grass). They are called rescue clubs by taylormade for a good reason. :-)