The Hybrid golf club is in essence a combination of a fairway wood and iron, which are much easier to use than long irons. It is known to be the most forgiving club and it is always useful to have one ready for the awkward shots.
The best hybrid golf club is the Callaway Rogue Hybrid, which is the latest one out that uses the Jailbreak technology and hyper speed face cup for increased ball speed.
Using a hybrid over a long iron is the preferred option used by many high handicappers and beginners. Long irons are notoriously hard to hit well but using a hybrid golf club, you are able to do this consistently without fail.
Best Hybrid Club For High Handicappers
| Hybrid Golf Club | Loft Degree | Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Callaway Rogue | 17, 19, 21, 24, 27 | Regular, Stiff, Senior |
| TaylorMade M4 | 19, 22, 25, 28 | Ladies, Regular, Stiff, Senior |
| Adams Tight Lies | 22, 25 | Regular, Senior |
| Cobra KING F7 | Adjustable | Regular, Stiff, Senior |
| Pine Meadow Excel EGI | 19, 22, 25, 28, 32, 36, 40, 45 | Regular |
Sometimes golfers refer to the hybrid as a rescue club or utility club but they are all the same thing, which is a long and hollow head design that is easier to hit. As you progress into your golfing career, the long iron may be an option but the ease of hitting hybrid clubs is highly recommended for high handicappers or beginners.
Various configurations of the hybrid include different shafts, loft which is usually between 17 and 28 degrees, adjustability and of course the design.
Unless your first set of beginner golf clubs included a hybrid, it is more than likely going to be your first additional club you add to your collection. Below is a list of the best hybrid golf clubs that are easy to hit and will help build consistency.
Callaway Rogue Hybrid Golf Club
Callaway is a brand that all golfers would have heard of and their Vogue hybrid golf club is highly rated. It is available in left or right hand orientation with a regular, stiff or senior flex but only one shaft material, which is synergy.
In terms of the configuration, there are 4 different lofts available, which include 17, 19, 21, 24 and 27 degrees. The loft options mean there is a hybrid replacement for each of the long irons for those golfers wanting a complete set.
Thanks to the Jailbreak Technology that uses two steel bars to stiffen the body and Hyper Speed face cup, this hybrid has increased ball speed. The Callaway Hybrid is a club that is easy to launch further and straighter than other alternatives.
Overall, it is the best hybrid golf club that will help any golfer out of sticky situations. Callaway also claim that the Rogue is their most powerful hybrid ever, which is further testament to the over engineering of this club.
Check it OutTaylorMade M4 Hybrid Rescue Club
TaylorMade is the main competitor to the Callaway alternative with a range of configurations and a 19, 22, 25 and 28 degree loft options for those wanting to add multiple hybrids to their collection.
It is part of the M4 collection, which is the latest and the upgraded version the highly reputable M2 and M3 models by TaylorMade. It is designed to be used for all types of shots and is very easy to launch from any situation.
Overall, the TaylorMade M4 Hybrid is a top rated hybrid golf club with a range of configurations for every golfer. Compared with the Callaway, they are very similar but the amount of technology and research that has gone into the Callaway is staggering.
Check it OutAdams Tight Lies Hybrid
Both the Callaway and TaylorMade are premium hybrid golf clubs but there are other cheaper alternatives such as this Adams Hybrid. It is available with a 22 or 25 degree loft and a regular or senior flex with a graphite shaft.
The patented Ghost Slot Technology creates a flexible face that results in the golf ball jumping from the face faster and more forgiveness. It is also a low profile upside down design that results in a larger sweet spot on the face.
Overall, it is the best cheap hybrid golf club that provides consistent long distance shots, which is a great replacement for long irons.
Check it OutCobra KING F7 Adjustable Hybrid
Cobra is another big name in golf and their hybrid comes with an adjustable loft mechanism to tailor to your requirements. The face of the club is also forged stainless steel that maximizes face flexing for an increase in ball speed and distance.
The Cobra hybrid also uses a Baffler Dual Rail System, which provides improved turf interaction and consistency from every lie. There is even a single fixed weight positioned low for a deep center of gravity that results in extra distance.
Overall, it is the best adjustable hybrid golf club with many golfers preferring to manually manage the trajectory. This has its perks and drawbacks but if it is a feature you want, the Corba hybrid is ideal for adjusting lofts.
Check it OutPine Meadow Excel EGI Hybrid
For those on a budget that want to test out a hybrid before purchasing the top of the range such as Callaway and TaylorMade then Pine Meadow is ideal. There are various choices of lofts including 19, 22, 35, 28, 32, 36, 40 and 45 degrees that all have a regular flex and graphite shaft.
It is a cheap hybrid club, so there will be no extravagant features but for replacing troublesome irons, it is exactly what is required.
Overall, if you are on a budget or just want to see what all the fuss is about regarding the hybrid golf club hype, then Pine Meadow has a configuration for every iron in your bag and will certainly help out when needed.
Check it OutHybrid Golf Club Buying Guide
For those that might not know what a hybrid golf club is, just imagine the best of the fairway wood and the long iron merged together to create one great club. Hitting a ball with a hybrid probably feels close to hitting a perfect middle or long iron minus the overwhelming difficulty.
With today’s iron sets being desired with lofts that are more compressed together and stronger than their traditional designs, they also make it harder to launch a ball properly.
With the creation of the hybrid golf clubs, 3, 4, 5, and 6-irons have basically become useless. They are the solution to give you the height and distance that you want in your game. These undersized, fairway wood type clubs will add in a higher forgiveness through a higher perimeter weighting so even your mis-hits will get the same powered hit.
The most recent hybrid club releases have flexible faces that can almost compete with the faces of drivers thanks to their stainless steel, heat-treated inserts, accordion type sole channels, and cup face wraparound construction.
The reduction of excess, nonessential weight also helps you launch the ball higher, which means that the ball can keep a steeper angle for longer. These clubs are also more compact than others in your set. With everything that they offer, you’re sure to finally be able to get that perfect iron shot that you weren’t able to get before without the hybrid.
Hybrid v Long Irons
Most golfers will carry one or the other, but generally, they won’t carry both of them. Hybrids are mostly easier to hit than long irons, but that does not mean that hybrids are for everyone. Women, high handicappers, seniors, and amateur golfers are the ideal candidates for hybrid clubs.
But there are various differences between a hybrid and a long iron, including their look, feel, adjustability, hitting the rough, and creativity. Below we’ll go into further detail regarding each aspect.
Design
Just by looking at a hybrid club, you can tell that it will be the more user-friendly option of the two. The design of a hybrid club allows it to be more forgiving. Though these are great for all golfers, the hybrid golf clubs for high handicappers allow them to even get the mishit shots.
Even though smashing a long iron creates a wonderful feeling, but generally, amateurs tend to miss those shots. Mishits on a long iron don’t tend to travel very far in comparison to good hits. Hybrids, on the other hand, have the technology and design that allows for mishit shots to travel similar distances as good shots.
Adjustability
The bendability of irons allows them to change their loft and lie. But hybrids offer many different adjustability options. The adjustability options allow golfers to find a club that suits their swing style instead of needing to alter their swing. Most of the hybrids today come with adjustable club heads, club head angles, and trajectory.
Hybrids are exceptionally great additions to the women’s professional game. Female golfers generally have a lower swing speed, which means that they hit with a high trajectory. So, long irons are quite a tough club for female golfers.
Female golfers were one of the first to jump on the hybrid train wagon, as they could now use those to hit high so that their balls would land softly onto the green. In fact, the majority of LPGA Tour players carry at least two to three hybrids in their set.
Hitting On The Rough
If you ever find yourself in the tall, sticky grass of the rough, long irons can be quite tough to maneuver. If you find yourself 220 yards out of the rough, and try using a 4-iron, it’s often not going to go well. Hybrids are designed to be much easier when trying to hit the ball out of the rough.
Their design, which has a higher launch angle, additional ‘sweet spot’ weight, and sharper leading edges, allow you to more easily hit the ball out of the rough. This means that you’ll have a better chance using a hybrid rather than a long iron.
Creativity
Hybrids are great for longer shots and around the greens. PGA Tour players have refined their hybrid chip shots that allow them to get the ball rolling quickly. The hybrid chip shot is great while playing firmer golf courses as its easier to roll it up closer to a hole with a hybrid rather than a high lofted wedge.
Performance of a Hybrid
As hybrids slowly become a must-have in your club set, there are still some that question their performance even with many Tour professionals utilizing them. Their rising popularity ensures that many, if not all of the major club manufacturers are making them. Hybrids come with varying adjustable factors that can be customized to suit your swing best, rather than you having to change your swing to suit your club, including the loft, shaft, and offset.
Loft
Your needs determine the loft of your hybrid that is ideal for your games. If you’re looking to swap your 3-iron to a hybrid, you should look for those that have a loft of 19 degrees to 21 degrees. Similarly, if you want a hybrid that offers better control over your fairway, then a loft below 15 degrees will be the ideal choice. Generally speaking, hybrids that have a 15 degree loft are the ideal replacements for a 1-iron, while 17-degree lofts are ideal for the 2-irons.
| Hybrid Loft (Degrees) | Iron Equivalent |
| 14 – 16 | 1 |
| 17 – 19 | 2 |
| 19 – 21 | 3 |
| 22 – 23 | 4 |
| 24 – 27 | 5 |
| 29 – 32 | 6 |
| 32+ | 7+ |
| Hybrid Loft (Degrees) | Wood Equivalent (Male) |
| 14 – 16 | 3 |
| 17 – 19 | 5 |
| 20 – 22 | 7 |
| 23 – 25 | 9 |
| Hybrid Loft (Degrees) | Wood Equivalent (Female) |
| 18 – 20 | 5 |
| 21 – 23 | 7 |
| 24 – 26 | 9 |
Shaft
Shafts usually come in two materials, those being steel and graphite. So, when you’re purchasing a hybrid, you have to decide which one you prefer more. If you are unsure, it might be helpful for you to try your swing on both and see which one suits you best.
In terms of the more popular option, graphite wins with both high and low handicap golfers. Another aspect that should be considered with your shaft is the flex. In most cases, it’s recommended that you keep the same flex in your hybrid that you have in your irons and fairway woods. For most amateurs and beginners, stiff shafts seem to be the best option.
Offset
The offset of your hybrids should match those of your irons and fairway woods. This will help you avoid any clubs that have a different design in your set as well as ensuring consistency. The offset of your hybrid is completely up to your personal preferences and skill sets.
Golfers that have a lower handicap will most likely want hybrids with the least amount of offset, unlike those that have high handicaps.
How To Tell If You Need Hybrid Clubs
Have you ever had those moments during a game when you’re 200 yards from the green and have to now pull out your 3-iron? Are you dreading it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone in this. Most of us don’t enjoy pulling out the 3-iron because we can’t generate enough speed to get decent height from using the traditional long iron.
So what do we do instead? We try to hit it as hard as we possibly can to try and compensate. But instead of everything going as we plan, it usually ends with us scuffing, duffing and hooking it.
This is exactly where hybrids exceed. Their design gives them a deeper face than a traditional iron, which allows the center of gravity to be further back as well. The further back the center of gravity is, the easier it is to give height to your shot.
They are also great for using if you find yourself in the rough where traditional irons could snag in the grass with their angular edges. Instead, hybrids have smoother, wood-like edges which reduce the amount of drag even in the thickest grasses.
Though hybrids are great for high handicappers and amateur golfers, they are also great for those that are good at the same. Even the best players in the world use hybrids, such as Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Justin Rose, and Phil Mickelson.
If you say yes to any of the below, you should think about getting a hybrid golf club:
- Already have a 5 wood, but do not wish to get a 7 and/or 9 wood.
- Can’t hit a 3-, 4-, or 5- iron, but can hit a fairway wood
- Need a dependable tee shot to get on the fairway even through tight holes
- Poorly hit most irons from the rough
- Using your lowest-numbered iron, you can’t reach par 3’s.
Benefits for High Handicappers
High handicappers generally don’t have the ball or club head speed to effectively use long irons. Their shots while using long irons don’t have the speed necessary so their shots run off the backs of the greens, don’t have a lot of spins, and come out too low.
The design of a hybrid allows you to launch the ball high, with more spin and softer land. The average player can benefit quite greatly from hybrid clubs, especially using hybrid golf clubs for high handicappers.
The higher your handicap is the more hybrids and fairway woods you should use. For golfers with a handicap 25 or higher, they should start their irons at 7. For golfers with a handicap between 12 to 25, they should start their irons at 6. For golfers with a handicap of 10 or less, they should start irons at 5-. For golfers with a handicap of 5 or less, they should start their irons at 4.
Benefits of Hybrids For Seniors
If you are a senior and struggle with distance from your fairway woods and drivers, then hybrids might be the way to go. Hybrid golf clubs for seniors can be especially great for those seniors that are over 60. Even if you are fine using your 3-wood and driver, you might want to consider replacing your 1-4 long irons with 3-5 hybrids.
Since hybrids allow you to have the characteristics of irons and woods, but with the added control and distance, they make a great option for seniors. In addition to that, they also offer a great amount of forgiveness in comparison to long irons. They are great to hit soaring approach shots and chip-and-run shots.
How Many Hybrids Golf Clubs Should You Have?
The traditional golf set included a putter, three woods (3-wood, 5-wood, and driver), and 10 irons (sand wedge, pitching wedge, 2 through 9 irons) to make a 14 club set, which is the maximum amount allowed. Though the putter and driver have remained constant, this makeup has changed in the recent years. Hybrids have generally taken the spot of 2-iron, 3-iron, 4-iron, and 5-wood. Some golfers choose to replace their irons with a hybrid.
Though there are sets available that have only hybrid clubs in them, the choice lies completely with the golfer. Some players still prefer the feel or their long irons and fairway woods, while others wish to replace all their clubs with hybrid ones. You can build your set to offer you with the greatest flexibility to get you on your best game yet. However, like many PGA Tour players, you could just choose to start with one and build your collection up depending on your handicap and playing skills.
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