Which loft of hybrid?

[postmanclark]

After playing in the recent wet weather, I have decided to get a hybrid - as out of the rough and not having any kind of roll on the course is hurting my long game, with no hybrid .  I have used a hybrid before, however I had to get rid of it, when I got better at golf - because the shaft was regular flex and not the stiff that I now require.

Anyway, I have a bit of a dilemma.  With regards to my bag at the moment I carry a driver, 3W, 5W and then 4i etc.  I hit the woods fine, but the long irons I hit a little bit low (due to my swing and overly hitting down on the ball).

I was tempted to get 2 hybrids and then dump the 5W 18 degrees and the 4i and get a 20 and 23 degree hybrid.  However, I have now decided to only get one hybrid (to save money), so that would mean getting rid of the 4i.

Question is now: do I get a 20 degree or 23 degree.  With the 20 degree the drawback would be the compensation of not having a 4i, by choking down on the grip.  Or do I get a 23 degree and have a bigger gap between my 5W and hybrid.

I would like to hear some opinions, because I am entirely in the middle of what club to get.

[Meeks]

I would recommend looking into a nike covert pro. The 3 adjusts from 18 to 21 and the 4/5 from 21 to 24.

[WUTiger]

I would compare the distance of the 4H and 4i on a launch monitor. My 4i has 1* higher loft and is  1.25" shorter than my 4H. The 4H goes about 15 yards farther.

This is especially true if irons and hybrid are from different companies and models.

Next, my 7W goes about 12 yards farther than my 4H.

Traditional hybrids (meant to bridge FWs and irons) tend to go farther than irons of the same number. But, iron-replacement hybrids tend to go the same distance as a well-struck iron of the same number (but IR-hybrids are easier to hit for many than the irons).

Again, I would try the 4H on a launch monitor. It might split the gap between 5W and 5i better than you think.

[Lihu]

After playing in the recent wet weather, I have decided to get a hybrid - as out of the rough and not having any kind of roll on the course is hurting my long game, with no hybrid .  I have used a hybrid before, however I had to get rid of it, when I got better at golf - because the shaft was regular flex and not the stiff that I now require.

Anyway, I have a bit of a dilemma.  With regards to my bag at the moment I carry a driver, 3W, 5W and then 4i etc.  I hit the woods fine, but the long irons I hit a little bit low (due to my swing and overly hitting down on the ball).

I was tempted to get 2 hybrids and then dump the 5W 18 degrees and the 4i and get a 20 and 23 degree hybrid.  However, I have now decided to only get one hybrid (to save money), so that would mean getting rid of the 4i.

Question is now: do I get a 20 degree or 23 degree.  With the 20 degree the drawback would be the compensation of not having a 4i, by choking down on the grip.  Or do I get a 23 degree and have a bigger gap between my 5W and hybrid.

I would like to hear some opinions, because I am entirely in the middle of what club to get.

I replaced the 5W with an 18 degree hybrid and the 3i with a 21 degree hybrid.

The hybrid cuts through rough better than the 5W, and the 3i sits in my "I like a challenge" bag.

[GaijinGolfer]

Id go with a 23* (or something within a degree of that) hybrid to replace a 4-iron.  If you go down to 21*, you are getting more in the neiborhood of a 3-iron.

[Abu3baid]

I'm carrying 2 Hybrids - 17* 3H & 21* 4H (I think it's 21* I have to confirm) / I also have a 2H that's 18* but I couldn't justify carrying it when my 3H is 1* less and I hit it further than the 2H.

Personally I have a steep swing, so my 3W really is just sitting in my bag!  I think if you know that your swing is flatter and you do ok with the woods then just carrying one Hybrid to get out of the rough, like  6H while keeping your woods might be a good idea.

[Mr. Desmond]

I think a 21-22 degree will work well for a 4i replacement. Keep your 5 wd; I mean Tiger does, so why not?

I've found hybrids below 21-22 less consistent. I've found a 7 wood easier to hit - higher and longer - than 20 degree and less hybrids. Even a 21-22 Hy needs a decent swing with the longer shaft. Of course, even with the 21-22, you could cut some shaft - hybrids shaft lengths for the most part are too long.

[David in FL]

I would compare the distance of the 4H and 4i on a launch monitor. My 4i has 1* higher loft and is  1.25" shorter than my 4H. The 4H goes about 15 yards farther.

This is especially true if irons and hybrid are from different companies and models.

Next, my 7W goes about 12 yards farther than my 4H.

Traditional hybrids (meant to bridge FWs and irons) tend to go farther than irons of the same number. But, iron-replacement hybrids tend to go the same distance as a well-struck iron of the same number (but IR-hybrids are easier to hit for many than the irons).

Again, I would try the 4H on a launch monitor. It might split the gap between 5W and 5i better than you think.

Good answer here.......if at all possible, don't guess.

FWIW, my "4 hybrid" is 21* and my "3 hybrid" is 19*.  They're both about 5 yards longer than the equivalent iron, but fly higher and land softer.  They bridge the gap between my 5-iron and 3-wood perfectly.  Mr D is right though, that 5-wood may fit right in there for you......

[postmanclark]

Thank you for all of your responses - you have helped make my mind up. I have decided that my plan of action will be to try a 4H on a launch monitor and see how I get on there. Hopefully it will work out well, as being a shorter club, then I was planning on getting, it should be an even safer club than my 5W. I have my eye on either the ping i20 or G25 23 degree.