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A Hybrid Should Be In Every Amateur Golfers Bag
Hybrid clubs have been a growing trend in the golfing world because they are highly touted for being a very easy to hit club. In my experience with hybrids this is true, they do seem to be easy to hit and many other people will tell you the same thing. In the case of the high handicapper or the golfer who can’t hit their long irons well, a hybrid is a great solution no doubt. But why should low handicappers or players who regularly use long irons consider a hybrid?
Here’s what a lot of people don’t understand, a hybrid doesn’t have to be a replacement for your long irons (unless you play in tournaments). If you can hit them well, long irons can be a devastating weapon in your arsenal. Personally I still use my 3 and 4 irons on long second shots in the fairway because I like how they give me a chance to roll a long way and hopefully make it to the green. But if I have that exact second shot only in the rough or need to fly over a bunker in front of the green, I’m pulling out my hybrid. The reason why hybrids produce better shots out of high grass is because the mass of the clubhead is able to power through the thick grass and make solid contact with the ball. Regular long irons have a better chance of getting caught in the rough and twisting often causing poor contact resulting in a bad shot.
The rough isn’t the only area of a golf course where the hybrid comes in handy. A lot of people don’t know that hybrids hit the ball pretty well out of fairway bunkers. A Mid-fairway bunker shot might be one of the most frustrating shots in golf because you want the ball to get height to carry out of the bunker but you need distance to set up your next shot at the same time. A hybrid gives you a combination of both height and distance making a normally tough shot a little easier.
Hybrids are also good off the tee on a short par 4 or long par 3 that requires you to fly over bunkers or water. A traditional iron like a 3 or 4 can definitely reach a green on a 200+ yard hole, but the ball may tend to roll off of the back because of the lack of spin that low irons create. Long irons also might not be able to clear bunkers placed in front of the green because of their low penetrating ball flight. A hybrid gives you a better chance of clearing hazards and sticking the green because of its ability to hit the ball higher with more spin.
Another shot that a hybrid can be good for is a punch shot. How many times have you seen someone be in thick rough behind some trees, try to punch the ball onto the fairway and hit it about 5 feet still behind the trees. I have seen it happen plenty of times. A much easier alternative to the low iron recovery punch is to use a hybrid. The heavier clubhead of a hybrid gets through the rough much easier than a traditional iron and will elevate the ball enough to help it get out of the thick stuff and back onto the fairway.
The hybrid is a very versatile club that can be used in many different situations. Even if you have the ability to hit your long irons, a hybrid is a nice option to have on a tricky shot. All of you out there who think that hybrids are only for high handicappers and beginners might want to give one a try. It may just turn out to be one of the most important clubs in your bag.
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