Do you have trouble hitting your low to mid
irons consistently, whether from the fairway or out of the
rough? Take in to consideration the information below
before making your next purchase.
How do hybrids differ
from the irons they
replace?
The hybrid golf club is a cross between a
iron and a fairway wood. The weighting has been
lowered and moved to the back with a larger sweet
spot. This allows you to more easily to get the
ball airborne while making solid contact. The sole
of the hybrid club also makes it much more effective in
going through rough and bad lies to rescue you from
trouble. Low profile with l arger sweet spot equals
easy to hit.
How do I choose which
# hybrid to choose?
There's good news and not so good
news. The manufacturers have made it easy by numbering
the hybrid golf clubs with the iron number that they are
replacing. But, as with most clubs there are
variations between manufacturers in terms of degree of loft and
length of club. This is not a major problem but
something you need to keep in mind when comparing between
brands.
Do I need to be custom
fitted for my club?
Preferably. The good news is you have 3 options to choose
from.
1. Get fitted from your local
pro. They may or may not charge you. This may be
determined by whether you purchase the hybrid golf
club from them.
2. Get a free fitting from a custom
golf club maker online. Your custom fitting can be
determined by a few questions about your swing and some simple
measurements. Custom club makers such as
Pinemeadow Golf and
Thomas
Golf offer this service in
addition to some outstanding values.
3. The last option is to buy the hybrid
golf club "off the shelf". The golf club manufacturers
have determined a standard fitting for the "average"
golfer. Are you average? This is the option that
most people will take. This is the option I used to take,
until I took option 2 above. My free online fitting
revealed a lie angle that deviated from standard. The
change in lie angle has resulted in more solid shot
making.
Steel or graphite
shaft?
Steel shafts weigh more than graphite
shafts. Low handicappers may tend to favor the
steel shaft because they feel they have more control of
their swing with the heavier shaft. Mid to high
handicappers will tend to favor the graphite shaft
because they can produce greater club head speed with the
lighter shaft. If you decide on graphite, read
more on
how to determine your proper shaft flex.
What are hybrid club
sets? Golf manufacturers have caught on
and are now offering both partial and entire sets of
hybrids. If you prefer a hybrid club then it makes
sense to purchase a set with the hybrids instead of your hard
to hit irons. Three companies offering varying
options are Adams Golf, Hippo Golf,
and Thomas Golf.
How do I hit a hybrid
golf club?
Since you are replacing an iron you need
to hit it like an iron. You need to hit down on the
ball like you would with an iron. There may be an
adjustment period but it will be worth it.
Do I buy the regular
or the TP version?
TP stands for Tour Preferred. The
manufacturer will typically make enhancements to the club head
and the shaft. You will notice a sizeable difference in
the price, sometimes double. The enhancements will
typically favor the low handicapper.
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