Is it time for me to get another hybrid (or two)?

[onthehunt526]

I have a question for you all at the end of my blurb.

But first, here's some background.

Back when I got fit in February, it was in large part still cold out, so I was hitting off of mats indoors with a Launch Monitor. My numbers were good and still are.

Out on the course I've noticed I've been hitting my 5-iron longer than my 4-iron... (I broke down and picked up GG while it was on sale)... I do make good contact with my 4-iron, but not as good as the 5 or 6. 

I'm thinking I need another hybrid... My GG account only has 5 rounds on it, and I'm starting to notice, I should've went with my reasonable self and picked up a 4-hybrid...

What do you guys think? I'm struggling a bit with the 3-hybrid, but I'm used to my old XRail where you had to open the face a couple degrees to hit it straight.

I just need to swing with 75% effort and I tattoo my 3h... 

Now for the (or two) part? I was talking with a better player today who has the Mizzy Fli-Hi combo set where his longest iron is a 6. Would a 5h be ok too, like I said before I'm hitting my 5i pretty well.

[It_is_Albatross]

It depends on your skill level (handicap). I had the same problem with my old set. Good distance progression up to the 5 iron, then they seem to all go about the same distance after that. Now I carry PW-6 iron, with a 4 (23 degree) and 2 (17 degree) hybrids. The hybrids made a world of difference for me. I could never feel so confident with a 4 or 2 iron. 

For your second question you would have to try them out and see. I have a 20-30 yard gap between my 6 iron and 4 hybrid. I was thinking about a 5 hybrid myself. 

I got Nickent 3DX RC hybrids (2008)

[Mr. Desmond]

It depends on which clubs are easier on the course. I don't mind playing a 7 wd, 5H (25 degrees) and 6H (30 degrees) because at the moment they go higher, straighter, and are more consistent on the course than the comparable irons I own.

[dave s]

Another guy whose longest iron says 6 on it.  Next up, 5 hybrid.  For me, 6-iron is the longest where solid contact can be made on a regular basis.  The 5 hybrid is just easier to hit than a 5-iron for me.  Used to have #4 and 3 hybrids but success rate with both was < 50%.  I've since added 7- and 5-woods for eating up yardage on par-5s and long par-4 holes.

If you're happy with your 5-iron results, maybe a trip back to your club fitter to fill in the yardage gaps between driver and fairway wood and your 5-iron with clubs that are easier to hit than your 4-iron and #3 hybrid.  Both of those clubs would fill into the 'useless' category in my bag anymore.

At my fitting, it was simply trial and error looking at results on the launch monitor.  The launch monitor really helped with my decision on everything longer than the 6-iron in my bag.

dave  

[70sSanO]

I have never been able to hit a hybrid very well.  Tried a bunch but none stuck.  I have stopped trying to hit a 4i and needed to fill the gap between my 19* 5w and my 25* 5i.

What I have did was replace my 4i with a 7w and I couldn't be happier.  For some reason it is one of those clubs that just feels right to me and I can take a little off or add some with generally good results every time.  Never thought I'd be carrying one, but I'm sold on it.

John

[WUTiger]

10 hours ago, onthehunt526 said:

...I'm thinking I need another hybrid... My GG account only has 5 rounds on it, and I'm starting to notice, I should've went with my reasonable self and picked up a 4-hybrid...

You are doing what clubfitters call gap analysis. You've figured out your 5i and 4i go about the same distance. Thus, you may want to swap out your 4i for a 4H.

If you stay within Tour Edge, note this:

EX9 4H...22°...39.75" shaft
EXi 4i.....22°....38.75" shaft

...as the 4H has a shaft an inch longer than the 4i, you could have more than a 10-yard gap between the 5i and 4H. (Nothing you can't live with) 

Then, you would have to consider the distance gap between 4H and 3H.

Note: What's the problem with your 3H? Your struggle with the current 3H may have to do with the shaft. It's a Black Tie X-Flex: 105 grams, 2.8° torque (lowT). That's one stout shaft. You have the BTX in driver and 4W, does it work OK in them?

Borrowing from @dave s, I would suggest you get the 3H situation resolved before you buy a 4H. 

[sirhacksalot]

What ever suits you better.  My scores have went down doing the opposite. I went to carring low irons and the miss is better for me. The hybrids i could lose high and right and on the course I play alot that means OB.

[chilepepper]

I play irons up to 5 then have a 23 and 20 Ping G20. They are a tad more upright and shorter length than my Nike hybrids, very easy to hit. 

[Gator Hazard]

I love my 5h. Recently I don't do well with my 6 iron in the fairway (smack it off the tee just fine most times) and choke down on my 5h. For me it is my go too club. Under low tree canopy: 5h low. Thread the needle: 5h. Punch shot with roll out 5h. You get the idea. I just find it very easy to hit and ironically when I don't try and clobber it I seem to really smack the ball long. So odd. Keep in mind I shoot well over a 100 per round still so....might want to listen to the other guys more but from the mouth of a hacker: I hit my 5h easier than my 6i. 

Edited April 30, 2016 by Gator Hazard

[onthehunt526]

11 hours ago, WUTiger said:

You are doing what clubfitters call gap analysis. You've figured out your 5i and 4i go about the same distance. Thus, you may want to swap out your 4i for a 4H.

If you stay within Tour Edge, note this:

EX9 4H...22°...39.75" shaft
EXi 4i.....22°....38.75" shaft

...as the 4H has a shaft an inch longer than the 4i, you could have more than a 10-yard gap between the 5i and 4H. (Nothing you can't live with) 

Then, you would have to consider the distance gap between 4H and 3H.

Note: What's the problem with your 3H? Your struggle with the current 3H may have to do with the shaft. It's a Black Tie X-Flex: 105 grams, 2.8° torque (lowT). That's one stout shaft. You have the BTX in driver and 4W, does it work OK in them?

Borrowing from @dave s, I would suggest you get the 3H situation resolved before you buy a 4H. 

With the Driver and 4w, yes it works well. I think its like 77 or so grams in the woods. 

FWIW, Struggle might be a little bit of an exaggeration, I can hit the 3H good a majority of the time, then I get quick coming down and block it right. If I swing "easy" meaning not "grip it and rip it". I get about 210 ish... (GG would confirm)... 

I've tossed around the idea of going 7w 4h, instead of D, 4W, 3H, 4H... I may even get a 5H, but right now my 5i is doing alright... I dont need a 4i that goes 185-190 when my 5 goes that far...

[onthehunt526]

Also John remember on my lengths I play +1/2" because I'm tall 6'5" to be exact, so my 4i is 39.25". I'm ok with more than a 10 yard gap, hell I'd be ok with 20. 

With the 3H I just have to remember I don't have to open the face as I did with my XRail hybrids. When I square it, and swing at 70-80% at most... I hit it pretty well, I already have one par-5 in two this year because of the EX9 3H, not dumping it yet.

[Dave2512]

Your GG data is going to look weird until you have enough shots recorded to establish an average that doesn't include aberrations. Give it more time.

[saevel25]

1 hour ago, Dave2512 said:

Your GG data is going to look weird until you have enough shots recorded to establish an average that doesn't include aberrations. Give it more time.

Even then you might have to weed out some data. Even over 15 rounds Game Golf can still include an outlier shot into the yardage numbers. In the end you might just want to take a few yards off the yardage it's giving you. 

I find the yardages for Game Golf are solid for short to mid irons because you get more data points. 

Over a season it's nice because it helped me find out my 5 iron was going as far as my 6 iron. I found they were only 1 degree apart. I had all my irons adjusted for lie and loft. 

[Dave2512]

11 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Even then you might have to weed out some data. Even over 15 rounds Game Golf can still include an outlier shot into the yardage numbers. In the end you might just want to take a few yards off the yardage it's giving you. 

I find the yardages for Game Golf are solid for short to mid irons because you get more data points. 

Over a season it's nice because it helped me find out my 5 iron was going as far as my 6 iron. I found they were only 1 degree apart. I had all my irons adjusted for lie and loft. 

No doubt but he's got like 3 shots logged for each club. One looks like a chunk.

[saevel25]

Just now, Dave2512 said:

No doubt but he's got like 3 shots logged for each club.

Well there's his problem. 

[onthehunt526]

I chip with my longer irons quite a bit, When I'm on the fairway or very short rough, I use putting stroke chip and run, I just change the club depending on distance from the hole. It's a hell of a lot safer than a lofted shot most of the time... I don't make a bunch of others, and that's why...

So I'm going to feel like I'm cheating, but I had my fitter order me a 4, 5, and 6 hybrid in the EX9 model... so when I get them, I'm going to have to updated my longest iron to 7-iron, 

[onthehunt526]

On 5/3/2016 at 11:19 AM, onthehunt526 said:

I chip with my longer irons quite a bit, When I'm on the fairway or very short rough, I use putting stroke chip and run, I just change the club depending on distance from the hole. It's a hell of a lot safer than a lofted shot most of the time... I don't make a bunch of others, and that's why...

So I'm going to feel like I'm cheating, but I had my fitter order me a 4, 5, and 6 hybrid in the EX9 model... so when I get them, I'm going to have to updated my longest iron to 7-iron, 

After playing yesterday with the new hybrids, I'm definitely better with the 4h but the 5h and 6h balloon up in the wind a little bit... So for now my make up will be D, 4w, 3h, 4h, 5-PW, AW, 54°, 58°, putter.