Sound off for (or against) hybrids...

[Pebble2010Champ]

Okay, here's the disclaimer. I play 2-4 long irons and every time I've tried out hybrids, I'm so happy to be hitting my irons. I'm tired of reading instruction article after instruction article that talk about how everyone should switch to hybrids. Every time I've demoed/borrowed different hybrids to take on the course with me, I bemoan having left my long irons in the car.

I find that I hit the ball much more cleanly and have greater control over the ball flight with my irons than with the hybrids. Yes it's true, I've found the hybrids to be a little bit more forgiving on slightly off-center hits (with my irons that equates to shorter carry), but if I hit any further off-center or come over the top with my irons I can expect to be 10-15 yards to the right (not too horrible for a bad shot). Every time I do the same with a hybrid I end up 20-30 yards off line. I don't know if I'm hitting them wrong (everything I've read says to play them like an iron) or if I'm just one of those weird ones that hybrids will not work for. If you think I'm just crazy and have no hope then say so and let me know how hybrids have helped your game. If you agree with my rant then make it known (in ALL CAPS)!

[VanillaEps]

Hybrids don't work for everyone. I personally, have a hard time with my long irons. Specifically my 4 and 5 iron. I haven't tried a hybrid just yet, but my guess is that my problem with the 4 and 5 iron might be rectified by substituting those with hybrids.

If you don't have a problem hitting with your long irons, then hybrids aren't necessary. Most professionals don't carry a hybrid in their bag....

[play4him]

I just picked up a 19* Titleist 585. I really like it. It works well off the tee, as well as the fairway & rough. I'm also going to try a 17* Titleist that I'll probably swap back and forth with the 19*, depending on the course I'm playing.

I don't try to hit down on it, but prefer to sweep it with my hybrids & long irons.

[wolverine318]

Like someone said earlier, I find it harder to control the height of shots, however I find them easier to control working right to left or left to right. I find it more forgiving than my 3 iron also.

[lamebums]

- snip -

YOU AND ME BOTH! [/allcaps].

Can't hit a hybrid to save my life. I tried replacing the 3 iron earlier this year, only to put the club back in my bag after about two weeks of disaster and struggling. I returned it (bought it used to begin with, anyway) and got a putter instead. Shaved about half a dozen strokes that way, but was only adding them (lost balls) with a hybrid. I've tried every possible tip and hint - hit it like an iron, hit down on it, sweep it, hit it like an 8 iron, everything. Nothing's ever worked for me. I'd hit low screamers, weak poppers that go short and right, low and right sometimes, and I swear I shanked a hybrid once. I could certainly use the forgiveness of a hybrid (nothing is more painful than hitting a long iron off the toe except perhaps blading a chip shot across the green)...well, if I could actually hit the thing. I've demo'd the Rescue clubs, the Adams hybrids, the Titleist 585, among others. No dice, same slew of problems each time. I end up going back to the 3 iron every time.

[Golf4life]

I still have mixed emotions about hybrids.. we'll see in 08.. workability i still depend highly on my 3i. However with my hybrid, I can close my eyes and hit it 230+ completely effortless.

[Terrier]

I tried a few demos and playability hybrids. Hated them. I'm an old-school guy, and was a bit of a 1-2-3 iron snob. Still like 1-irons.

I don't try that many clubs as I'm left-handed, but one thing I will do is compare a righty friend's clubs against mine just for the "look factor".

I didn't see too many of their hybrids that looked that much different than a 5-wood. Ever compare them?

Bought a used 503H for a song and it is working for me awesomely. I still feel kinda funny about not carrying a 3-iron, and I've gotten a few comments from playing partners after hitting it such as "new irons?".

Maybe I like it because it doesn't exactly look like a "hybrid".

[Leek]

I don't know. I can hit long irons well- I used to carry a 1 iron! I can't play my 1 or 2 from rough, and a hybrid is pretty easy to hit from iffy lies. A hybrid is so easy play, why would I put the 1 or 2 in my bag?

One important note. Some hybrids just want to hook. Unless you are a slicer, avoid those.

[aquacooled]

I use a recue to replace my 3 iron, not that I had too many problems with the iron. It was just after playing more then 18 holes I couldnt get the distance I could at the start..

[TourSpoon]

I replaced my 2 iron with a hybrid and have really enjoyed it. While there is nothing like hitting a well struck 2 iron, the same can be true about hitting a poorly struck shot as well. I hit the hybrid everytime especially from a marginal lie that I would never hit a long iron from. Now I still carry my three iron in case I need a stinger or lower trajectory.

It took me a few rounds to completely trust the hybrid, but I have complete confidence in it. Last week on a par 5 I hit my drive and pushed it slightly into a hazard. I dropped on a fuzzy sidehill lie (ball below my feet) at 215 and hit the hybrid right on the green with a smooth swing giving me a chance to save par. Given the lie, I would never had attempted that shot with a long iron.

[Pebble2010Champ]

Has anyone seen that infomercial on the Golf Channel about the Bobby Jones hybrids by Jesse Ortiz? I remember that the GD 2006 Hot List rated them pretty high, but I've never been able to give them a whirl. No one stocks them in my area and I don't want to try them bad enough to go through the hassle of buying them and then trying to sell them if I don't like them either. Who has tried them that can compare them? Are they really that much better, or just infomercial hype?

[iacas]

Has anyone seen that infomercial on the Golf Channel about the Bobby Jones hybrids by Jesse Ortiz? I remember that the GD 2006 Hot List rated them pretty high, but I've never been able to give them a whirl. No one stocks them in my area and I don't want to try them bad enough to go through the hassle of buying them and then trying to sell them if I don't like them either. Who has tried them that can compare them? Are they really that much better, or just infomercial hype?

Dave Koster is working on a review of these hybrids.

[Jaybone]

I just started playing again this season after a 4 year layoff. I didn't even know about hybrids. I always struggled and didn't even carry a 3 and 4 iron, and I always stuggled hitting greens from 180 out. I bought all new stuff this year, and that included r7 hybrids. Its made a big difference in my game. I have hit more greens or have come close more then I could in years past. So for my they work and are a definite improvement.

[Fourputt]

I carry 3 hybrids and I wouldn't give them up for anything. But they aren't necessarily for everyone. My long irons were always very inconsistent, so the switch was quite logical.

I do recommend that most players find one that works, and carry it at least part of the time, especially when playing a course where you can anticipate having to hit longer shots from moderately heavy rough and questionable lies. This is one area where the hybrid has total dominance over a long iron. I can hit my 4 or 5 hybrid decently from rough that I couldn't even get the club on the ball through with an equivalent iron.

[Big Lex]

I definitely hit hybrids better than 2-4 irons, and better from fairway lies than lofted woods like 5/7 woods. But I'm a mediocre golfer and generate lots of mis-hits.

I hit a 5 and 6 iron well enough consistently enough that I wouldn't use hybrids to replace these clubs, because of the reasons others have mentioned--more control over distance, lower, more controlled trajectory, more consistency.

I would think that expert players would like hybrids not as iron replacements per se, but as replacements for woods. If you are a long hitter and distance is not an issue, having a 2 hybrid instead of a 5 wood or 4 wood might be beneficial, because I'm assuming you'd get a little more consistency of trajectory, better control, with the shorter 2 hybrid over the FW.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

I don't know... I'm sort of somewhere in between. The idea of the hybrid makes sense. I took out my 3 iron and my 5 wood with the thinking I could add a do all hybrid and then give me an extra wedge. I just haven't had a ton of luck with the hybrid (I had a Cleveland Halo 2i 19 degree). I tend to shy away from it. I'm totally hear you re: instruction books. I'm sick of people saying you need to replace your 3, 4, 5 and so on irons with a hybrid. I understand the 3 iron but some will say you should switch anything lower than a 6 or 7 iron. Anyways, I just swapped out the Halo for a Cobra Baffler DWS 20 degree. I hit it on the range and hit it great so I'm not about to give up on the hybrids just yet.

[DDBowdoin]

I definately have mixed emotions on hybrids for a few reasons. My Sonartec hybrid is more forgiving then a 3 iron but I can't really control the club that well. I love the hybrid off the tee on a short par 4 or on a second shot on a long par 5 but I just don't have the control I do from an iron.

If I were to pick a weak point in my game I wouldn't even look at ball striking or my short game I just really struggle on Par 3's. My home course has a long 230 par 3 that is a bit uphill and is a pretty challenging hole with severe slopes to the right and left. I can hit my hybrid 230 but I struggle controlling the trajectory. So I tend to take my 3 iron off the tee, hit it dead straight but only 210 or so and try to get up and down for par.

[WhiteSoxFan]

I don't have anything to add b/c I've never tried hitting a hybrid. BUT, I've been more and more interested in them lately. If I have a tough lie in the rough, I won't hit anything less than my 5 iron, because I know I can't get a 3 or 4 up in the air out of the rough. From what I understand, I would be able to hit the hybrid from tough lies. I hit my 3 and 4 well from the fairway and the tee, so I've shied away from hybrids, but I'm finding more and more that it would be nice to have clubs that I can hit from the rough from 185-210ish out. I hit my 5 iron about 175-180. Anyway, I'm interested in reading more responses to this thread.