June 2008
Did you say hybrid?
Here are some facts about new clubs on the market and what their advantages are
For years a golfer was able to class all clubs into one of the four main categories: an iron, a wood, putter, or wedge. Time and technology have changed the game and a completely new section of golf clubs have hit the market. Like it or not, they appear to be here to stay, so what exactly are they, and what do they offer you?
If you have been anywhere near a golf shop in the past six years, you have likely seen them. They are generally obscure looking clubs that are neither a wood nor an iron. The name of these clubs has evolved over time—with names like ironwood, driving iron, rescue club and utility club, developing into a tidy segment now affectionately known as hybrids.
A hybrid is simply a blend of the best and most forgiving aspects of a wood and an iron, essentially becoming a hybrid of the two. They provide golfers with a completely new option for their dreaded long irons and/or fairway woods. If you have struggled with either of these two golf club segments, a hybrid may be just what you need.
When you get out and demo a hybrid at any one of our local courses you will immediately notice that they launch the ball at a significantly higher trajectory than a traditional two or three iron. This makes it easier to hit and provides you with a shot that lands much softer on the green from long range.
For golfers that swing the club with a slower club head speed, it is often difficult to get the ball in the air with a long iron. The clubs tend to lack weight down low on the club head and this means that a player will require greater swing speed to get the ball in the air correctly. The hybrid head design allots more weight down low on the club, allowing players with low swing speeds to launch the ball in the air at a more appropriate trajectory.
The oversized head provides an enlarged sweet spot by moving large quantities of previously underutilized weight—when comparing to a long iron—to the perimeter of the club head. This will mean longer and straighter shots in the event you happen to strike the ball off-centre, and lets face it, we all hit them off-centre occasionally.
From a visual perspective the larger club head provides a mid to high handicap player with some added confidence. It immediately gives the impression of power, mass and strength. Added confidence will allow the player to make a comfortable and relaxed swing.
When compared with a fairway wood you will notice that the shaft is significantly shorter. The shorter shaft provides the player with better control and improved hand-eye-coordination, equaling more consistent contact. As with the slightly larger head size, the shorter shaft will also provide the golfer with some added confidence.
If you consider that a hybrid can be readily used off the tee box, on the fairway, in the rough and even when chipping from the fringe, they are without doubt the most versatile segment of golf clubs available on the market today. Do your golf game a favour and make a point of test-driving a hybrid this season; you will be thankful you did!