Adding a 5 hybrid to my bag?

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by Audaxi

... An interesting idea, if you hit hybrids well, is to try out an 18* hybrid instead of a 5 wood, as they are essentially the same club with a different design.

18* hybrid has a smaller head and a shorter shaft than a 5W. If you can connect on both of them, the 5W likely will be a club longer in distance.

[glock35ipsc]

I've never been able to get along with any fairway club off the deck, and haven't even had good luck with one off the tee either.  So I have replaced my 16.5° 4 wood with a 2H (16°), and hit it much straighter and almost every bit as long as the 4W.  Even though it's an inch shorter than my 4W, I just make much better contact and can easily square the hybrid face.

I'm also carrying a 4H (21°) and a 5H (24°) to replace my 3 and 4 irons (same lofts respectively, 1" longer overall).  I have been practicing with the 4 iron and have been getting much better with it, so at some point I might put the 4 iron back in the bag to take the place of the 5H.

When I first started playing, I use to get all wrapped up in what clubs I had, didn't want to look like a noob I guess. Thought I should only have one or two fairway woods max, then straight to irons.  But I'm now to the point that I just don't give a rip what anyone thinks of my setup, I'm going to play with whatever works best for me.  I'm just out to have fun and to try and shoot my best score each time I go out!

[WalkTheCourse]

Yeah, I hear ya glock. I'm new to golf, and never really plan to get super serious with it, but I've heard there's some backlash from old fashioned pros on hybrids. I mean, people are naturally resistant to change, and some people can't get through their heads that a hybrid is just a superior design [in comparison to a long iron] from an ease of use standpoint.

New news: I actually took the new 5 hybrid on the COURSE today, and I found myself using it in a number of integral situations...

-Off the tee on a 150 yard par 3 with a front flag location. Usually I use the 4h on this hole, but the closer hole and tight bunker locations demanded more of a "drop and stop" tee shot... It worked.

-Approach shot from about 140 yards on a long par 4... It was my fourth shot, but I stuck it six feet away. It resulted in a good double bogey given the circumstances (the three previous shots were quite bad...)

I think I used it four times total... better than its predecessor the 5 iron, which I used an average of zero times total... :)

[WalkTheCourse]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audaxi

... An interesting idea, if you hit hybrids well, is to try out an 18* hybrid instead of a 5 wood, as they are essentially the same club with a different design.

18* hybrid has a smaller head and a shorter shaft than a 5W. If you can connect on both of them, the 5W likely will be a club longer in distance.

I do agree with you WU tiger, but I may ultimately decide to convert to a 3 hybrid iron nonetheless... Because of the shorter shaft, I feel It may be easier to use.

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by WalkTheCourse

... I mean, people are naturally resistant to change, and some people can't get through their heads that a hybrid is just a superior design [in comparison to a long iron] from an ease of use standpoint. ...

Problem is, not all hybrids are created equal. First one I tried was decent out of the rough, but I couldn't control it at all off the fairway or tee.

A couple of years later, I found I could hit both Callaway Edge and Adams Black hybrids in regular shaft, if it had a tour head (lower offset cut down on hooks).

I used a 19* TM Raylor with OK results for 2 years, and traded it in on an RBZ 4H. The 4H is a good club, except the misses are all major hooks (like OB).

If you find the right H it's great... but the wrong one can be painful.

[WalkTheCourse]

Originally Posted by WUTiger

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkTheCourse

... I mean, people are naturally resistant to change, and some people can't get through their heads that a hybrid is just a superior design [in comparison to a long iron] from an ease of use standpoint. ...

Problem is, not all hybrids are created equal. First one I tried was decent out of the rough, but I couldn't control it at all off the fairway or tee.

A couple of years later, I found I could hit both Callaway Edge and Adams Black hybrids in regular shaft, if it had a tour head (lower offset cut down on hooks).

I used a 19* TM Raylor with OK results for 2 years, and traded it in on an RBZ 4H. The 4H is a good club, except the misses are all major hooks (like OB).

If you find the right H it's great... but the wrong one can be painful.

Yeah, but I don't think your statement does anything to challenge my postulate. I mean, there's poorly designed irons, drivers, fairway woods, and putters too... Any club that's "wrong" for you, or made poorly is not going to perform well no matter what it is.