Hybrids

[jorruss]

It's funny how people change their tunes. Why would you want to carry a versatile club that you can hit off the tee, the fairway, out of the rough and even chip with? All it took was seeing some of the tour guys playing them. Then it's OK. If Tiger puts one in his bag for a major then it will be the biggest thing in the game.

Tiger has tryed hybrids but he claims he cannot hit his "stinger" shot with them like he does with his 2 iron. Plus, he sais he hits the ball high anyway so the hybrids actually balloon on him.

[David D]

Since my original post I have purchased an Adams Idea Pro 20 (3) and 23 (4). They have been reshafted with DG XL X-100 since the graphite they come with (Aldila VS Proto 80x) is one of the most inconsistent shafts out there. I put the 3 iron shaft on a deflection board and it was a soft stiff, not an X, and the 4 iron deflected at a firm stiff, not X.

I thought one of the selling points of the Idea Pro is the stock Aldila VS Proto 80x shaft? That's what they advertise and that's what one sales guy told me when I went in to hit one, not that that means anything, but still.

Anyone know how the Idea Pro compares to the Idea a2? I like the look of the a2 better than the Pro (something about that yellow...) and for a hundred bucks less, seems like a great deal. This is kind of scary from the a2 OS review on this site, " The only problem I have with the appearance is that the color on the back of the club is already nicked. I really haven't overused it and I see markings wearing off the champagne portion. This disturbs me because, for a brand new club, it's starting to look old quickly. " Have you had and issues with this, Jorruss?

[BigHitta]

I use a Taylormade Rescue Dual and I love it.

There is a hole at my home course that the club sets up perfect for.

If I had a nickel for everytime that club got me out of a sticky situation I would have a load of nickels.

[jorruss]

I thought one of the selling points of the Idea Pro is the stock Aldila VS Proto 80x shaft? That's what they advertise and that's what one sales guy told me when I went in to hit one, not that that means anything, but still.

I have noticed that the polished black area in the back is seseptable to scratches, but I try to keep the headcover on it all the time. Don't see how it could get scratched if you do that.

[jorruss]

I thought one of the selling points of the Idea Pro is the stock Aldila VS Proto 80x shaft? That's what they advertise and that's what one sales guy told me when I went in to hit one, not that that means anything, but still.

As far as the Aldila Vs Proto 80 shaft, my clubmaker (who has a very good rep and has made clubs for several tour pros) sais Aldila makes a very inconsistent shaft. He has a huge tub full of Nv and NVS shafts that he has replaced. he says the best mass produced shaft out there right now is the UST Pro Force V2. That's his opinion of course. I play an NVS in my driver and 3 wood but they also have deflected way soft and I'll be switching to the V2 High Launch.

[David D]

I just purchased an Adams Idea A2 last night. I hit the A2, the Idea Pro, and a Cleveland HiBore on a launch monitor.

The Idea Pro is a very nice club, but I just couldn't pull the trigger. Although it felt awesome just taking practice swings with it, when I started hitting balls everything was really low and it felt kind of dead to me as well. I must not have the swing speed for it.

The HiBore is awesome. Impact was the best of all three, but I hate the look of it and mostly I was worried that at 22* for the 3i, it would leave too much of a distance gap between my 3 wood and 4 iron.

I hit the Idea A2 great, low, but not too low. I like the look of it the best of all three, I think I can maybe even shape a shot or two and it was discounted at only a hundred bones. Sold.

I figure if I end up not liking it all that much I can upgrade without taking a huge hit to the wallet.

[Hoff]

Cleveland Halo 2i - fills a gap in distance and easier to hit than a fairway wood.

[Shindig]

Cleveland Halo 2i - fills a gap in distance and easier to hit than a fairway wood.

Funny you should say that. I've been thinking of replacing my 3W with 1HI, and perhaps my 5W with a 2HI or 3HI. I love my 4HI.

[Nate]

I have two rescue mids 16 and 19

[jb1982]

I'm in that minority of people who can't hit a hybrid! I think it's mostly mental but I hit them way to high and short. My home course is very windy so a long iron is a better play for me. But I did just put a 5 wood in my bag. I use it a lot like a hybrid. I hit about 250 straight as an arrow and can play it out of the rough.

[golfchief]

I'm in that minority of people who can't hit a hybrid! I think it's mostly mental but I hit them way to high and short. My home course is very windy so a long iron is a better play for me. But I did just put a 5 wood in my bag. I use it a lot like a hybrid. I hit about 250 straight as an arrow and can play it out of the rough.

Hitting a five wood 250 yds, guess your ready for the tour.

[lamebums]

I'm in that minority of people who can't hit a hybrid! I think it's mostly mental but I hit them way to high and short. My home course is very windy so a long iron is a better play for me. But I did just put a 5 wood in my bag. I use it a lot like a hybrid. I hit about 250 straight as an arrow and can play it out of the rough.

Join my club, I think.

Personally, I can't hit a hybrid more than about 160 yards no matter how hard I try, and that's a good hit--a mishit for me is either a top or a push-slice. I likewise can hit my 3-wood a mile (I just today had a bit over 200 to get to the green, so I busted my 3 wood off the deck...and watched my ball sail onto the next tee box), and I also like to play it out of the rough. But yeah, I wasted 70 bucks on a hybrid...

[shortgame85]

Join my club, I think.

When I first purchased a hybrid club a couple of years ago, I couldn't hit it well, either. I would almost always squirt it out to the right. I discovered this fact was a result of a bit of an outside to inside swing, which I struggled with at the time, as well as either inconsistent or incorrect placement of the ball at address. Once I worked out these problems, and I admit it took a little time, I could hit the hybrid more consistently more often than any other club in my bag. Most good players now acknowledge that hybrids are brilliantly easy to use, you just have to make a few adjustments in order to hit them consistently. Even Phil Mickelson used two hybrids in his win at the Players this past weekend. I think if you stay with it, you will be well rewarded. And, for what it's worth, even though better players are now using them, hybrids are really heaven sent to the higher handicap player. Good luck.

[lamebums]

When I first purchased a hybrid club a couple of years ago, I couldn't hit it well, either. I would almost always squirt it out to the right. I discovered this fact was a result of a bit of an outside to inside swing, which I struggled with at the time, as well as either inconsistent or incorrect placement of the ball at address. Once I worked out these problems, and I admit it took a little time, I could hit the hybrid more consistently more often than any other club in my bag. Most good players now acknowledge that hybrids are brilliantly easy to use, you just have to make a few adjustments in order to hit them consistently. Even Phil Mickelson used two hybrids in his win at the Players this past weekend. I think if you stay with it, you will be well rewarded. And, for what it's worth, even though better players are now using them, hybrids are really heaven sent to the higher handicap player. Good luck.

This was a while ago...but here goes, anyway. I returned the hybrid and used the store credit towards a new putter. I can crank the 3 iron off the deck about 230 yards, maybe more if I tee it low (longest to date is 260...probably with a lot of roll). I'm pretty consistent with it, my misses are usually either a pull or I catch it off the toe. Hybrids seem to get two reactions out of golfers: it either saves your golf life, or it leaves you wondering out loud what the hell these things are for. I'm clearly in the latter... yeah.

I just don't really see the need for it--there's no distance gap in my clubs, I hit long irons very well (I swear, although I'm probably a 25, my iron play is more like a 5), and I'm not prone to hitting toppers. Basically, I got the worst out of both worlds when I got a hybrid. The inconsistency of a fairway wood (toppers, push-slices, etc...) with a loss of range. I might give another hybrid a spin, but you can be sure it'll be an el cheapo one this time around.

[RoyalBull]

Hybrids revitalized my game...but you have to learn to hit them. Don't hit them like fairway woods. Stand a bit closer than with a wood (AKA, like an iron), keep the club low back, low through, with less swing than you think. Stay behind the ball...if you get ahead, or dip back, you're screwed.

My first hybrid (rescue mid 4) had a graphite shaft that I hooked like mad. I switched to steel and I hit them straight as an arrow. I have 2, 4, 5 and took the 3 and 4 irons out of my bag.

I hit my driver about 280. I hit my 2 hybrid 260.

BTW, I have no fairway woods in my bag anymore.

Now I can fit in a lob and maybe gap wedge, to improve my short game!

[Jeepthrills]

BTW, I have no fairway woods in my bag anymore.

I am close to doing that myself. I rarely hit my 3 Wood anymore. I will hit my 3 Hybrid on tight driving holes or when I need to draw the ball. I only have my 3 wood for when I absolutely need those few extra yards.

If I find a 2 hybrid that I can hit, the 3 Wood may be a goner. My current 2 hybrid is very tough to hit and not significantly longer on good shots than the 3 hybrid.

[beung]

Well right now I have a huge gap because I have a 3wood and a 3iron but nothing in between them.

I hit my 3w 250+ and I can hit my 3i about 225. I am trying to fill the gap but having a hard time filling that gap with a club for that distance. Is a 4 (22deg) going to be about the same as a 5w in terms of distance....say 240 or so?

Also, do the 3i runout a lot more then hybrids? If I hit a 3i into a green chances are I am going to get alot of roll out of the shot. It may only carry like 200 or so but its going to roll for another 15-20. Were as with a hybrid it may carry 200 but it may only run out another 5-10?

Either way I am looking for a 5woodish replacement. I am not set on a wood or hybrid...whichever gets the job done. I am leaning towards hybrid, simply because it might be a bit more veristile then a 5w.

[shortgame85]

I am close to doing that myself. I rarely hit my 3 Wood anymore. I will hit my 3 Hybrid on tight driving holes or when I need to draw the ball. I only have my 3 wood for when I absolutely need those few extra yards.

Have you tried the Cobra Baffler? It must be one of the easiest clubs with which to get the ball up. I replaced my 3 wood, with which I was having increasing difficulty using from the fairway, with a #1 16 degree Cobra Baffler DWS. It is advertised as being available only with a stiff shaft, but I ordered it with a regular flex and Cobra sent it straight away. I can hit this club well from almost any lie and, sometimes, during a round, if I start spraying shots off the tee, I'll hit this club instead of the driver. The result is almost always the same: while shorter than my driver, the ball is found in the short grass and I have an opportunity to go for the green. I recommend the Cobra only because it is so easy to use. I tried a friend's Callaway Heavenwood hybrid, and I liked it, too. Good luck.