Deciding On Hybrids

[EMC2144]

Hi guys, first post, so sorry if I'm breaking any rules or making a fool of myself.

So I took up golf 2 years ago now, but have been improving at what I'd say is a healthy rate.  I started off with some 30 year old irons with regular flex shafts, before finally deciding that I should switch to stiff flex, so I went and got some new ones.  However, since I had learned to play with long irons and not hybrids, I went with that (a decision I think I'm regretting).  In the last few months, my ability to hit my 3 and 4 irons went down so quickly, I was thinking of getting some.  So when our range had a demo day, I tried out the offerings from Callaway, Taylormade, Cobra, and Nike.  I hit my 5 iron 180-185 normally, but I tried a King F6 4 hybrid and launched it 215.  Now, I know this might sound stupid, but I think that's too long, especially with the 30-ish yard gap.

I guess my question is how do I fill that gap.  I don't really think I can get more distance from the irons I have (and certainly can't afford new ones already as a soon-to-be-graduate), but I need to figure out something to do with my long irons, and it seems like hybrids are the future.  So I guess my question is, what do I do?  Should I get a 5 hybrid instead and then a 4, and treat them kind of like the distances I would expect when I hit my 3 or 4 iron well?  Or should I just get the best distance I can, and eventually get new irons that I can maybe go farther with?  Also, do people recommend getting hybrids from the same line (both as the irons and each other), so the shaft lengths and lofts will line up well, as well as playing similarly?  Finally, does anybody have any good recommendations for hybrids that are pretty playable for someone who is still improving, but won't feel like they're holding me back when I get better?

Thanks in advance.

[newtogolf]

Welcome to the site.  The Cobra hybrids are adjustable, did you try the 3-4 F6 or the 4-5 F6?  It could be the 3-4 was set to a 3 hybrid loft.  If you want to fill that gap and want to buy the Cobra F6 then to be safe go with the 4-5 hybrid and adjust the loft to fill the gap.  For other vendors without adjustable lofts, you'd likely have to go with a 5 hybrid.  

Most of us hit a hybrid longer than the corresponding iron because hybrids are easier to get in the air compared to long irons, especially for mid - high handicappers.  

[EMC2144]

I tried the 4/5 set to a 4.  They didn't have 2/3's there, otherwise I probably would have asked to see a 2, and then asked what the point of a fairway wood anymore.  Which is the other issue.  I hit some F6 fairways, and the 3 went very far.  So I tried a driver.  And gained some yards.  Then the man asked if I wanted to put an order in, and I realized I had just tried like $1100 in clubs, and then remembered I'm a college student still, and won't be making money for a few more weeks.

[9wood]

I bought the Cobra Bio Cell adjustable 3 - 4 hybrid, stiff shaft which FOR ME, (since I'm not a big hitter) gives me a shot range between 170 - 190. Then I bought a Adams Idea Super DHY 27 degree loft Regular shaft which works well for the 140 - 160 yd ranges. Love both of these clubs which are very forgiving and have great feel. 

[CoachCad8]

I just bought a used Adams Golf Idea 23* and love it. $50 off 2ndswinggolf.com. I could not hit my long irons well at all, and this thing fixed that problem. I have an Adams Tightlies 5 hybrid and I prefer this new Idea hybrid over it 10x. It seems much easier to find the sweet spot and just feels like a great club. I will probably buy the 19* and the 27* as well here soon. I can hit the 23* around 200. 

[EMC2144]

Okay.  I liked the way the King F6 hit, and I was looking at the Fly-Z (which I believe is the predecessor from what I read), and apparently the hybrids barely changed, so I looked around and some discount places have the Fly-Z for as little as $100 new, which is a decent price.  Might have to wait till I've been working for a few weeks to afford it.  Anybody have any idea about the Fly-Z?

[WUTiger]

FlyZ is a square-face hybrid with a shaft that weighs about 75 grams, be it S, R or L flex.

I was having hybrid trouble last summer (poor control) with an Adams draw-face 4H - 60-gram R-flex shaft.

At a local golf shop, a clubfitter watched me spray some baseline shots with the Adams, and handed me the FlyZ.  After about four shots, the FlyZ started dropping into the groove. And, it had a Light-flex shaft. (Never would have guessed heavier, more flexible as a shaft solution).

I can hit the 4H FlyZ about 190 yards.

As @newtogolf says, the FlyZ is adjustable. The 2-3H ranges from 16* to 19*; the 3-4H ranges from 19* to 22*; and the 4-5H ranges from 22* to 25*. So, if want a little longer shaft, you could get the 2-3H and set it to 19*; if you wanted shorter, you could set the 3-4H to 19*. And you can do it without trimming the shaft - just adjust the loft with the wrench.

If you like the FlyZ, its cost is down to about $120 since the Cobra F6 family hit the market.

[uitar9]

I was having trouble below 6 iron so trolled the golf town used bins over a couple of months and picked up a 16 degree wood, and 21, 24 and 27 degree hybrids.

I've stopped looking for clubs.

So far this year, I haven't had a 9 hole round over 50. The higher lofts and softer flex lighter shafts work with my geezer swing