What Hybrid club should I buy?

TrapperChamonix

I'm a mid teen handicapper playing in a links club and thinking about investing in a hybrid / rescue club and need some advice.

Is there a difference between a hybrid and rescue club?
Should I go for a hybrid Iron or a hybrid wood?
What distance do these clubs hit the ball. ie is it the equivalent of a 3 iron or a 4 iron?
Are there different degrees of loft and how much does each effect the distance?
Is the decision based on whether I want the club to get me out of the rough (deep) or to use on the fairway?
Given my Driver, and woods are Taylor Made (5 years old at this stage) should I be looking to match the hybrid to my woods or to my Irons?
Which hybrids do you like?



Finally will buying a hybrid improve my putting?!?:D

Mister Sifter

One of the golf mags has a big feature on them this month. They try out around 50 or so and rate them. Can't remember which one...

gipo2

Todays Golfer

PhilipMarlowe

The Taylor Made burner one(s) look good to my eye. I have their #4 which I think is 22 degrees. For me this club flys higher than my 3 iron and with a slightly longer carry. It's a much easier club to hit than the 3 iron, particularly out of any kind of half decent lie in the rough. When the lie isn't so good, you will still advance the ball much further and much easier than with an iron.

I also have an 18 degree ping but it's left out of the bag. Off the tee it hits it very strong for me but not so easy to hit out of the rough (which basically is my reason for carrying a hybrid - I am a decent long iron player anyway).

I did get this hybrid when I was being fitted earlier in the year at www.foregolf.ie and they put in a custom shaft which helps me get the ball airborne as I don't tend to hit my shots too high. So I'd say try a few out if you can... once you like the head you can get the right shaft into it if you can't get what you want off the shelf.

mccutchie

I use the ping g10 and can recommend. I also used in the past a taylormade mid rescue. It was a great club and great for getting the ball airborne. Most hybrids \ rescuses are easy hit. I would recommend picking one up 2nd hand as quite alot are available on the web

death1234567

I use the Nike CPR hybrid and I would recommend it.

TrapperChamonix

I had a look in McGuirks today and certainly liked the look of the Tailor Made Burner and also the Wilson Fybrid. Kinda irritared by the shop as there is no facility ot hit the club. The most they could do was to take the club out of the plastic and remove the security tag.

McCutchie, the G10 was nice, but was told that it really gets the ball high in the air. Now for most golf courses thats a positive advantage. On my course playing into the wind (its always blowing a gale against) just means the ball balloning into the air. So I was a bit put off.

Anyone know of anywhere good in North Dublin to try the clubs before buying.

slingerz

i got a jboss 4 hybrid in a comp recently anyone know if ots any good?

stockdam

Swords golf club has a room where you can try out clubs (well maybe it's a simulator)

igniteman

I bought ny Nike slingshot 2h 18deg Tour and I got it at a bargain on a golf shop ebay He has one left I could send you the link. And I also have the nike ignite 3h that comes as apart of the ignite set that is a great club aswell

Obni

Cleveland Golf XL Hybrid. Stunning club, easy to hit from any lie or off the tee when you need to keep it in the fairway.

ImDave

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

McCutchie, the G10 was nice, but was told that it really gets the ball high in the air. Now for most golf courses thats a positive advantage. On my course playing into the wind (its always blowing a gale against) just means the ball balloning into the air. So I was a bit put off.

The G10 with the V2 High Launch shaft will hit it high, and the TFC standard shaft fairly high as well. If you are playing links conditions, go for the Graffalloy ProLaunch Red. That is a low trajectory shaft. Remember the height is all in the shaft. I couldn't recommend the G10 rescue any higher. In my experience, about 3 out of 5 people I custom fit for a rescue club go for Ping.

TrapperChamonix

EI-Dav,
Is that 3 out of 5 based on attitudes coming in the door or based on trial with the different clubs during fitting?

ImDave

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

EI-Dav,
Is that 3 out of 5 based on attitudes coming in the door or based on trial with the different clubs during fitting?

Being honest about it, a lot of people do come in with the G10 in mind already. However I am speaking about when custom fitting, and we would always compare two or more similar brands to get an idea of ball flight, launch conditions, distances etc., and Ping seems to come out top with the majority of people. As I said earlier, the fact that there are three top quality shafts available mean that it is almost like having three different clubs to choose from. I think that is why they sell so well.

frink

Nickent are hugely underrated for rescue clubs.

slingerz

What about the Taylor made rescue mid theres a good offer on them on ebay

ImDave

slingerz wrote: »

What about the Taylor made rescue mid theres a good offer on them on ebay

I like those Rescue Mid's. Have one in the garage and throw it into the bag every once in a while. They were the original of the 'new' type rescue by TaylorMade. Easy to hit and a nice feel off them.

stockdam

What loft of hybrid would replace a 3 and 4 iron?

ImDave

stockdam wrote: »

What loft of hybrid would replace a 3 and 4 iron?

Typically, but varies slightly from one manufacturer to the next:

3 Iron - 20*/21*
4 Iron - 23*/24*

slingerz

EI-DAV wrote: »

I like those Rescue Mid's. Have one in the garage and throw it into the bag every once in a while. They were the original of the 'new' type rescue by TaylorMade. Easy to hit and a nice feel off them.

would you recommend them for a high handicapper?

PhilipMarlowe

My taylormade burner 22* is (for me) slightly longer than my 3 iron, carrying the ball 210 yards or so... so I'd say a 25* burner would be more like a 3/4 iron replacement club, though I haven't hit one with that much loft to say for sure. You'd really have to try them out for yourself to see how they fare.

ImDave

slingerz wrote: »

would you recommend them for a high handicapper?

As Licksy said, try a few shots with one if you get a chance. As long as you get the correct shaft (Regular as long as you don't swing fast or generate a lot of club head speed) and a good loft, they would be suited to a golfer of any level.

slingerz

if you do swing fast what shaft should you use? stiff?

ImDave

slingerz wrote: »

if you do swing fast what shaft should you use? stiff?

Yep. A soft shaft in the hands of a fast swinger will result in hooked/pulled shots and/or general inconsistency.

slingerz

EI-DAV wrote: »

Yep. A soft shaft in the hands of a fast swinger will result in hooked/pulled shots and/or general inconsistency.

How d you find out if you swing fast or not? Like I think I swing slow and then some say I swing fast so I really dont know

The Rooster

slingerz wrote: »

How d you find out if you swing fast or not? Like I think I swing slow and then some say I swing fast so I really dont know

I think you should definitely go for a regular shaft.

Also if you're a high handicapper, I'd go for a 22, 23 or 24 degree rescue club rather than a 19 degree one. You'll hit it better more often.

Any of the top brands have good quality rescue clubs (TaylorMade Burner, Wilson Fybrid, Cleveland HiBore, Ping etc). Go into a shop and see which one feels best. As for the lesser names, I have a Benross Escape and its a super club.

slingerz

The Rooster wrote: »

I think you should definitely go for a regular shaft.

Also if you're a high handicapper, I'd go for a 22, 23 or 24 degree rescue club rather than a 19 degree one. You'll hit it better more often.

Any of the top brands have good quality rescue clubs (TaylorMade Burner, Wilson Fybrid, Cleveland HiBore, Ping etc). Go into a shop and see which one feels best. As for the lesser names, I have a Benross Escape and its a super club.

well i got checked out for which shaft. turns out a stiff shaft is what i need to match my swing speed.

i got a JBoss 4 hybrid in a comp anyone know if there any good?

TrapperChamonix

Still haven't decided. I like the Taylor Made Burner (the older one). I also had a look at the G10 and the Wilson Fybrid and like to the look of both of these.
In Halpenny in Swords the TM burner is €169 and the G10 & Fybrid are both €135.

The I can accross this on the web
http://www.affordablegolf.co.uk/product.php?productid=1858
£89 (€112) for the Wilson Fybrid plus if you buy a 2nd one then it only costs and extra £36 (€45). I wouldn't normally be interested in waiting for delivery but €170 (including devlivery) for 2 clubs is a hell of a price.
My only problem is do I really want a 24 and a 27 degree loft or can I talk my brother going halves on the deal.

has anyone used affordablegolf.co.uk before?

mccutchie

Well i bought the 24 degree Wilson Fybrid lately, and its a cracking club. Very easy hit and goes further than my 4 iron, alot more carry. I also have an 18 degree ping g10, which is a great club for the short par 4's or long par 3. I dont bother with the 3 wood anymore.

ShriekingSheet

Trapper,

Just read through the thread, specifically the comments on the G10 which I use myself. I have the G10 driver, 3 wood and hybrid which is 18 degree - I use it to fill the yardage between my 3 iron and 3 wood. I have the Grafalloy ProLaunch Red in them all and although this is the lowest flying shaft in the G10 range, and the flight is nice and boring on the driver and 3 wood, the hybrid still goes very high in my experience.

I've also tried the old Taylor Made and the new Titleist and found they both had stronger flights which, I gather, would suit you on your links course.

Maybe the shorter, 22 degree G10 has a better trajectory or it's just my technique hitting it high but thought I'd let you know anyway.

shakaman

Hi OP,

I wouldn't worry too much about the make or brand, there's so many hybrids on the market at the moment the club make-up is more important.

If you slice the ball, be sure to go for something with a stiff shaft, regular if you tend to draw or pull the ball. I think you're a member in a links club so you'll probably want something with a lower ball-flight, I'd recommend something around 18 degree loft.

I wouldn't go spending more than €130 on it......it's not a club that's used that often unless you intend using it off the tee. As a guideline I bought a 21deg Mizuno hi fli last year for €109 (same as the one Padraig Harrington used during the British Open last year) and it's done the job.

Hope it all goes well for ya....

slingerz

slingerz wrote: »

well i got checked out for which shaft. turns out a stiff shaft is what i need to match my swing speed.

i got a JBoss 4 hybrid in a comp anyone know if there any good?

anyone know anything bout these?

ImDave

slingerz wrote: »

anyone know anything bout these?

They're not great TBH, but thats only my opinion. They have an alloy head as far as I know, so there is not much of a hit in it. They sold for ~€45 if I remember correctly.

The Rooster

shakaman wrote: »

Hi OP,
If you slice the ball, be sure to go for something with a stiff shaft, regular if you tend to draw or pull the ball.

Disagree with that!

Should preface this by saying there are many many reasons why you might slice or hook, but if it just came down to shaft, the slicers should go for regular flex and hookers should go for stiff (the latter is easy to remember )

If your shaft is too stiff for you, then you are more likely to slice it as the clubface is harder to square and thus more likely to be open at impact.

If the flex in your shaft is not stiff enough then you are more likely to hook it as with too flexible a shaft the clubhead may tend to come into the ball closed.

In my opinion, high handicappers with inconsistent swings should go for regular shafts, as I believe they offer more forgiveness (which of course in no way implies that many low handicappers are not best suited to regular shafts)

slingerz

The Rooster wrote: »

Disagree with that!

Should preface this by saying there are many many reasons why you might slice or hook, but if it just came down to shaft, the slicers should go for regular flex and hookers should go for stiff (the latter is easy to remember )

If your shaft is too stiff for you, then you are more likely to slice it as the clubface is harder to square and thus more likely to be open at impact.

If the flex in your shaft is not stiff enough then you are more likely to hook it as with too flexible a shaft the clubhead may tend to come into the ball closed.

In my opinion, high handicappers with inconsistent swings should go for regular shafts, as I believe they offer more forgiveness (which of course in no way implies that many low handicappers are not best suited to regular shafts)[/quote]

Its more to do with the players swing speed than with handicap level really. I'm a high handicap but I'm just starting out in golf. I've a very fast swing and I was playing with a regular shaft and things were going all over the place. I got things checked out and with buying new clubs it was found that a stiff flex that was suited to me. As the rep said young fellas generally swing to take the paint off the ball and the stiff flex often suits them better. I think the reasoning behind a high handicapper having a regular flex is that as a generalisation high handicappers are perhaps an older person that doesnt swing quite as fast or as consistent as younger or better golfers

kenco

I invested in the Cobra baffler which is a fine club but I made sure to get the swing analysed first so that I had the right shaft on it as per other comments if the shaft is wrong you can forget the club being of any benefit to you.

Worth going to somewhere that can analyse your swing hitting various hybrids with different shafts. I did this in Green18 (Sandyford). I think there are also a couple of places on the northside that can offer this service

ImDave

The Rooster wrote: »

Its more to do with the players swing speed than with handicap level really.

+1. Very correct. There is really no connection with handicap and shaft flex. It all boils down to club head & ball speed, and achieving a good smash factor.

As slingerz said, stiff will only make a slice even worse. Low loft generally has the same effect.

slingerz

You got me and rooster mixed up for that post!

Playing with the wrong shaft for your game makes a slice/hook worse in my opinion. If you should have a stiff shaft but are playing with a regular shaft then any slice/hook in your game will be enhanced and vice versa

TrapperChamonix

Update on what I decided to go with. In the end I choose the 24 degree Wilson Fybrid and have played with it a number of times. Very nice club to hit and very good to shift the ball out medium rough. In otherwords instead of hitting a 6/7 iron I'm able to use the Frybrid. Early days yet, and I'm certainly not throwing away my 3/4 irons. Ive found it not a replacement for those long clubs but more a differnt choice. At the moment if I have a straight forward 180 / 195 yds to go from the fairway, I'll hit the 3/ 4 iron. But if I need to get loft or the lie isn't perfect, I'll use the wilson.


p.s. thanks for all the advice and taking the time to respond