Should I ditch my irons for hybrids?

[cnl390]

I have had a Ping G 4H for quite some time, but didn't keep it in my bag because I couldn't hit it.  About a month ago I had my pro do our whole lesson on hitting a hybrid.  Since then I have been hitting a majority of my shots with it long and straight. (And with much more confidence)  So well that I bought a Ping G400 3H, with which I have had similar results.  My question is, should I purchase a 5H and take the 4i & 5i out of my bag?

 

[MarvChamp]

I did this same thing. I recently added a Mizuno JPX 5 Fli Hi to go with my 3 and 4. They really are my go-to clubs. I am playing with a couple of injuries that mean I do not have the strength or the speed with those long irons to hit them as well as I do these hybrid irons. I think it's a personal preference though. Best wishes,-Marv 

 

 

 

[Carl3]

2 hours ago, cnl390 said:

should I purchase a 5H and take the 4i & 5i out of my bag?

I put my 3i and 4i away and got a 4h to complement my 3h. This gave me room in my bag to get another wedge. I had always hit my long irons fairly decently, but upgraded from Ping G5's to E1's, which don't have as much offset and forgiveness. Late last year I was having trouble with the 3i. I find I can hit the hybrids better than the longer irons. However my hybrids are G30's which are in a series that have more offset than my irons, so I can tend to draw the hybrids if I am not careful.

[MrGolfguy67]

2 hours ago, cnl390 said:

 About a month ago I had my pro do our whole lesson on hitting a hybrid.  Since then I have been hitting a majority of my shots with it long and straight. (And with much more confidence)  

 

You are golden now - long & straight with confidence. That's rare my friend, very rare. You have won the lottery and don't even know it, milk it for everything you can.

[inthecup]

I am going to say yes.  I bag 2-5 in hybrids now.  My bag looks like I am going to put on a puppet show.  Some people give me crap.  I don't care, whatever gets the job done.

[Vinny Cap]

I am not a hybrid fan, I like my long irons but if you can hit 'em, play 'em.

Questions would be:

Do you hit your 4i & 5i good?

Do you have any gaps by pulling the 4i & 5i out and replacing it with a 5H?

[cnl390]

45 minutes ago, Vinny Cap said:

I am not a hybrid fan, I like my long irons but if you can hit 'em, play 'em.

Questions would be:

Do you hit your 4i & 5i good?

Do you have any gaps by pulling the 4i & 5i out and replacing it with a 5H?

I hit my 4i & 5i 50% good 50% bad.  Hybrids probably between 60/40 - 75/25.

[dennyjones]

Hybrids are easier to hit.   The question that @Vinny Cap was asking was about distance gap.    When you pull out your 4 and 5 iron and replace it with a 5h is there a big difference in distance between the club above and below it?

 

I sport hybrids from 3h-6h.    They aren't for everyone but seem to work for me.   Next year when I get fitted for new clubs, I'll let the fitter help make that call.

[Vinny Cap]

22 minutes ago, cnl390 said:

I hit my 4i & 5i 50% good 50% bad.  Hybrids probably between 60/40 - 75/25.

With those numbers it looks like you might do better with the hybrids.

I would say go for it then and if it doesn't work put the irons back in the bag.

@dennyjones  Thanks!  I I forgot to add Distance to gaps!

Edited June 6, 2018 by Vinny Cap

[cooke119]

The short answer is yes, for us higher handicappers hybrids work well, (at least for me). So much so that I recently replaced all my irons with the Cleveland HB irons which are all of a hybrid design. I have the 4 through the gap and they work great. I had always had trouble with longer irons and used hybrids, now my entire set are hybrids. Granted they are not for everyone, most don't like the look, but they work for me. I'm 66 and have had three back operations so I need all the help I can get and the Clevelands do that for me. 

[Groundhog34]

I am a reasonably good player. I am 70 and occasionally shoot my age. I have a D,4W,7W,9W 5hybrid,7-UW irons. Get yourself some hybrids or high lofted fairway woods. 

[MrGolfguy67]

On 6/5/2018 at 3:40 PM, cnl390 said:

My question is, should I purchase a 5H and take the 4i & 5i out of my bag?

It's been 2 weeks, curious minds want to know. Have you bought a 5H and ditched the long irons?

[Grizvok]

I have a 20 degree hybrid and it is easily my best club. I don’t hit it off of the tee really ever and when I’m 210-220 yards out on the fairway it is great. However its main use for me is as a rescue club. This thing saves me again and again and is usually good for around 180-185 yards max from the rough. Personally I think everyone should probably bag one hybrid and for high handicappers it is almost a must.

[Jack Watson]

When I was young and stupid I would have never thought of ditching long irons.

I think whatever you can use to hit a higher shot for a given distance is better in most cases.  Now that I am over a certain age I find I debate about a five iron for my modern sets.  I don’t use a hybrid for that club but in all honesty I should.

[MarvChamp]

8 hours ago, Jack Watson said:

 I don’t use a hybrid for that club but in all honesty I should.

My reading on this subject said the same thing for most golfers. I recently took the plunge to add the 5 but my (elderly) ego required that I practice with and compare my proficiency with the iron vs. the DIR hybrid to prove it to myself. Good post, -Marv

[cnl390]

13 hours ago, MrGolfguy67 said:

It's been 2 weeks, curious minds want to know. Have you bought a 5H and ditched the long irons?

Still looking for a good pre-owned G400 Stiff flex.

[MrGolfguy67]

2 hours ago, cnl390 said:

Still looking for a good pre-owned G400 Stiff flex.

Thanks, sounds good

[DrMJG]

When I returned to golfing after close to two decades away, and some serious physical handicaps plus age, I needed to move to graphite senior shaft.  Started with a 7 iron and 9 iron and my first hybrids a 3H and a 5h (G30 Pings).  It took a few weeks at the range to get totally comfortable, and that is putting it nicely.  Perhaps it was because of my time off, I have now become quite proficient with them.  I am getting very close to what I used to get with my long irons.  As I rebuild my set, I am so far happy with the move.  I have played a Par 3 course often as I rebuild my game and my confidence. Compared to the lofts I recall from my 3i, 4i and 5i days, I am doing much better with fewer severe left and/or right turns.  So, as an person re-learning his swing, so far so good.  The time away may have made the switch easier.  Working now to be more consistent off tee, as I never hit a driver well.