Hybrid vs Long irons

[owens251109]

So I have been debating on if i should buy in and finally get a hybrid for this year. right now i'm still rocking a 2002 mizuno two iron( blade) and was wanting  to modernize for my 230-240 club.  1: any suggestions on hybrid to get? 2: are they worth all the hype?

thanks for help.

[imsys0042]

I think the first thing to ask is whether there is a shot missing that requires the change in equipment.   I actually swap out a 3-iron (also mizuno blade) with my 19 hybrid depending on a couple of factors (how I feel I'm swinging and how dry the course is).  It happens that my home course has a number of holes where 3-iron / hybrid is a good choice off the tee.

the second thing is whether you want to hit a different kind of shot.   Hybrids tend to go higher and I feel that it will hit and stick better than a long iron.  At least for me.   A friend of mine felt the opposite so it depends on your game.   Another point to consider is whether you are comfortable hitting that kind of club   It's a mix of fairway wood and iron, but if you don't like hitting a fairway wood, you might not like it  

Anyway, aside from that nickel's worth of advice, yes, I think they live up to the hype.   I'd rather hit a hybrid 215 over water than a 3/4 iron.  For a lot of people it helps to have a bigger, deeper club head behind the ball than hitting a 2/3 iron.   They are pretty sweet , IMO. 

As for the type to get, I'd recommend an adjustable one so you can move it up or down to your liking.  I have a Titleist 913H and can bump it upright or change the loft if I want to.  Everyone is different in what they like.  Something that matches your fairway woods if you like them.  

[Dave325]

I changed my clubs this past summer. I had a set of Pings with 3-9 irons.... I picked a set of Taylor Made RocketBladez graphite that came with a 4 and 5 hybrid along with 6-9 irons. They are a really nice set and I liked the hybrids, though I picked up a steel shaft 5 iron for a couple of the par 3s I play. 

[dkolo]

  On 12/30/2015 at 8:59 PM, owens251109 said:

So I have been debating on if i should buy in and finally get a hybrid for this year. right now i'm still rocking a 2002 mizuno two iron( blade) and was wanting  to modernize for my 230-240 club.  1: any suggestions on hybrid to get? 2: are they worth all the hype?

thanks for help.

Expand  

I just bought a Callaway XR 3H and, sweet Jesus, it's amazing. I had used a borrowed Nike Covert Tour 2.0 3H, an otherwise terrific hybrid, but the XR is out of this world. On the range, it was effortless. When I gamed it for the first time this week, I hit a few out of the heel, and still got close to 200 on shots that had no business going more than half that distance. I'm in love. 

[mvmac]

  On 12/30/2015 at 8:59 PM, owens251109 said:

So I have been debating on if i should buy in and finally get a hybrid for this year. right now i'm still rocking a 2002 mizuno two iron( blade) and was wanting  to modernize for my 230-240 club.  1: any suggestions on hybrid to get? 2: are they worth all the hype?

Expand  

I'd recommend you visit a store/demo day and find out for yourself.

I tend to prefer Callaway and Titleist hybrids.

[Pendragon]

  On 12/30/2015 at 8:59 PM, owens251109 said:

So I have been debating on if i should buy in and finally get a hybrid for this year. right now i'm still rocking a 2002 mizuno two iron( blade) and was wanting  to modernize for my 230-240 club.  1: any suggestions on hybrid to get? 2: are they worth all the hype?

thanks for help.

Expand  

Your question makes it sound like hybrids are a recent innovation to the game. As far back as 2007, the Darrell Survey reported that 65% of the players on the PGA Tour had at least one hybrid in their bag. They're definitely worth the hype. 

[Bucki1968]

I have made the switch to hybrids for my 2,3,and 4 irons. Sometimes I use a regular four iron depending on the course I'm playing. But I find that I keep the hybrids more often than not. Much easier to hit. My wife, on the other hand, thinks they are harder to hit. She has a hard time getting them up in the air. We'll keep working on it. I actually hit mine too far sometimes.

[saevel25]

  On 12/30/2015 at 8:59 PM, owens251109 said:

  1: any suggestions on hybrid to get? 2: are they worth all the hype?

thanks for help.

Expand  

I prefer Titleist and Callaway Hybrids. They tend to come out with a few less chunky looking hybrids. 

I think unless you have a higher club head speed you should be looking into hybrids. People with slower swing speeds just can't produce the ball speed and loft to get proper gap distances between their long irons. Taylormade found out that higher handicappers would average around the same distance for the 3-4-5 irons. So they started added a big of hybrid tech into the long irons and create progressive sets. 

 

[SavvySwede]

@owens251109 Looking at your sig you already have a SGI long iron in the bag (Taylormade Burner 2.0 4 iron). How does it differ out on the course from the Mizuno 2 iron? (ball flight, tee vs fairway vs rough, ability to hold greens, etc)

[NJpatbee]

I started making the switch to hybrids a couple of years ago and started with the 2,3, and 4 hybrid.  My SS is not what it used to be and the hybrids got me right back in the game.  I have since added a 5 and 6 hybrid and only carry the 7i through SW and a 4 iron for low running shots under trees.  I am 64 and have the same or better distance than I had with the equivalent irons 10 years ago.

If you are still hitting a great 2 iron you likely do not need the hybrids like someone like myself.  However, I suggest trying a 2 hybrid and you will probably find that you are significantly longer then the 2i.

 

Edited December 31, 2015 by NJpatbee