Have hybrids gotten longer over the past few years? Not my experience.

[roberthd]

My first post, though I have used my loud keyboard for comments a few times.

 

I recently pulled out some some seven-year-old Cobra Baffler hybrids. I could not detect any difference in distance between those and some new Cobras I tried. My buddy, who plays Callaway hybrids, said he could tell no difference in his five-year-old Cally hybrids and his new 2018 versions. While we know that incremental improvements in drivers may result in a little more swing speed, forgiveness, etc., over a 5 to 7-year period, but do people think hybrids really get much of a distance gain over time?

[coghillcutter]

I feel like so many factors lead to distance in hybrids. I used to play a 19* Adams Super hybrid XTD w/ a Fuji Fuel hybrid shaft in it. That combo launched fairly low for a hybrid and honestly went too far, didn't hold greens all the time (I still loved that club). I moved to a 915H 2 hybrid...that's 17 degrees, it launches higher, spins more and doesn't go as far overall. So the long and the short of it is I think there are too many factors that go into hybrid performance to simply say 5-7 year old ones go as far as new ones. Plus isn't the goal of a hybrid to go a certain distance every time? I wouldn't want to play like a 23* hybrid that goes significantly further than a 23* iron.

[EaglesGolf99]

I feel, over time, the Center of Gravity in Hybrids has mildly been moved upward causing a bit flatter of a ball flight thus a couple extra yards.

 

So yes, I feel they've gotten the smallest touch longer in terms of distance.

 

In 2008, I hit my Tour Issue Adams Idea Pro 20° Hybrid 220 yards.

 

Now, in 2018, I hit my Tour Issue Callaway Apex 23° Hybrid 220 yards.

 

Shafts are same. Playing lengths are consistent from club to club.

[TexasCarlos]

Hybrids are like irons, they are meant to have a job (set distance) there’s no need for them to go further. If anything I’ve noticed that EOMs are quick to label a 19 degree hybrid a 3H or a 21 degree hybrid a 4H which may make sense in a GI iron spec world, but not for those playing a traditional lofted iron set.

[mrmikeac]

Yes hybrids have definitely become longer and more forgiving in the past 7-8 years, certain ones for sure such as the Mizuno CLK, Exotics CBX and the new EXS, even the Wilson C300 is a bomber. Incremental improvements but definitely longer

[Doc420]

I still play a Titleist 909h, there are clubs on the market that are equally good, but none of them have beaten it. The shaft head combo I have just works and is very versatile. I haven't hit anything that's good enough to make me change. I just feel I would sacrifice either looks or feel if I did.

[gvogel]

Hybrids are more about accuracy than distance, so I am not sure why distance would matter. Unless you don't like fairway woods.

[ForTourUseOnly]

They are clubs designed to go a particular distance so there is no need for them to get too much longer, but I can assure you they have gotten better. I have a 585H titleist hybrid and testing it compared to an 816H2 the ball speed on the 585H was 7MPH slower. (trackman numbers)

 

So yes they have gotten longer which is a little bit of an issue and why taylormade has now been able to come out with a club called GAPR to fill the gap between hybrids and mid irons. which used to be the space of a hybrid.

[Warrick]

Yep, meant to fill yardage gaps for us that don't swing it 130mph. I don't want long, just accurate.

[staysober for golf]

I was thinking the opposite, they where too long before and they had to re-work them for more spin and control.

[ChipNRun]

Hybrids and distance? Depends on which hybrids you are talking about.

 

Circa 2010 we ended up with two different classes of hybrids:

• Traditional, with shaft lengths between numbered irons and FWs.
  
• Iron-replacement, with shorter shafts and lofts means to blend with the OEM's parallel sets of irons - the IR hybrids could replace the numbered irons. The Mizuno FLI-HI hybrids and JPX offerings are an example of this. (Note: some FLI-HI versions have driving-iron rather than hybrid heads.)
  

Traditionals generate greater distance due to longer shafts and sometimes more aggressive head designs.

 

I suspect that distance length in hybrids has a lot to do with learning curve for using that kind of club. People are figuring out how to better tailor hybrids to their games.

 

Hybrids got bad press in the early 2000s as hook machines. This ties into standard hybrid heads heavy with offset, and sometimes a draw bias - after all, the H was supposed to replace long irons which many people found hard to hit. But, for golfers that square up decently (like me), {off+draw} led to the big left on many shots.

 

I found by trial and error I needed a hybrid with a square face - Cobra and Tour Edge filled the bill here - or a pro or tour head with an R-flex shaft.

[73monte]

Would have to go with NO. I've moved on from them, but I will continue to maintain that the Adams Super LS and XTD-Ti, are the longest hybrids of all time. Absolute bombers. Not quite cult status, but there are many that are aware of how good they were. This year I replaced the LS with a 818h2, with no regrets. Fantastic feel, and it looks great. Definitely not as long as either Adams, but it gets it out there.

[pinestreetgolf]

My first post, though I have used my loud keyboard for comments a few times.

 

I recently pulled out some some seven-year-old Cobra Baffler hybrids. I could not detect any difference in distance between those and some new Cobras I tried. My buddy, who plays Callaway hybrids, said he could tell no difference in his five-year-old Cally hybrids and his new 2018 versions. While we know that incremental improvements in drivers may result in a little more swing speed, forgiveness, etc., over a 5 to 7-year period, but do people think hybrids really get much of a distance gain over time?

 

What do you mean by "I could not detect" ? Like, you couldn't see whether it was flying 5-7 yards farther down the range with your naked eye?

 

I'm not sure if they're longer (i play hybrids from 2007) but I am sure you can't tell without some sort of decent measuring equipment.

 

Hybrids are more about accuracy than distance, so I am not sure why distance would matter. Unless you don't like fairway woods.

Yep, meant to fill yardage gaps for us that don't swing it 130mph. I don't want long, just accurate.

 

If distance doesn't matter and all y'all want is accurate, why would you ever hit a hybrid? Just always hit a pitching wedge.

[roberthd]

My first post, though I have used my loud keyboard for comments a few times.

 

I recently pulled out some some seven-year-old Cobra Baffler hybrids. I could not detect any difference in distance between those and some new Cobras I tried. My buddy, who plays Callaway hybrids, said he could tell no difference in his five-year-old Cally hybrids and his new 2018 versions. While we know that incremental improvements in drivers may result in a little more swing speed, forgiveness, etc., over a 5 to 7-year period, but do people think hybrids really get much of a distance gain over time?

 

What do you mean by "I could not detect" ? Like, you couldn't see whether it was flying 5-7 yards farther down the range with your naked eye?

 

I'm not sure if they're longer (i play hybrids from 2007) but I am sure you can't tell without some sort of decent measuring equipment.

 

Hybrids are more about accuracy than distance, so I am not sure why distance would matter. Unless you don't like fairway woods.

Yep, meant to fill yardage gaps for us that don't swing it 130mph. I don't want long, just accurate.

 

If distance doesn't matter and all y'all want is accurate, why would you ever hit a hybrid? Just always hit a pitching wedge.

 

Naked eye, practice range flags, and recently, twice on a launch monitor--in a store and my lucky friend who got one for Christmas. I hit my older hybrids longer, have tried several new ones in December. Staying with the old Bafflers.

[pinestreetgolf]

My first post, though I have used my loud keyboard for comments a few times.

 

I recently pulled out some some seven-year-old Cobra Baffler hybrids. I could not detect any difference in distance between those and some new Cobras I tried. My buddy, who plays Callaway hybrids, said he could tell no difference in his five-year-old Cally hybrids and his new 2018 versions. While we know that incremental improvements in drivers may result in a little more swing speed, forgiveness, etc., over a 5 to 7-year period, but do people think hybrids really get much of a distance gain over time?

 

What do you mean by "I could not detect" ? Like, you couldn't see whether it was flying 5-7 yards farther down the range with your naked eye?

 

I'm not sure if they're longer (i play hybrids from 2007) but I am sure you can't tell without some sort of decent measuring equipment.

 

Hybrids are more about accuracy than distance, so I am not sure why distance would matter. Unless you don't like fairway woods.

Yep, meant to fill yardage gaps for us that don't swing it 130mph. I don't want long, just accurate.

 

If distance doesn't matter and all y'all want is accurate, why would you ever hit a hybrid? Just always hit a pitching wedge.

 

Naked eye, practice range flags, and recently, twice on a launch monitor--in a store and my lucky friend who got one for Christmas. I hit my older hybrids longer, have tried several new ones in December. Staying with the old Bafflers.

 

Yeah, the eye can be deceiving, but if you've tested them out then it is what it is. Are they the Rail-H bafflers? Those are solid clubs.

 

I play old hybrids as well mainly because I love the triangle shape of the old burners. Someone in my group plays a 19* Rail-H, the black and gold one from just before 2010. Its just as good as anything now. The only two hybrids I've ever hit that are noticeably longer than others are the Apex and the old Adams Super LS (the white ones are ridiculously hot off the face), but that could be sample size.

 

I think a lot of it comes down to what you want your hybrid to do: replace an iron or go super long. Those are pretty different jobs, and usually it comes down to comfort with a wood off the deck or if a hybrid needs to fill that "longest club off the turf" slot.

[AThompson_3]

Yeah my hybrid is literally just in my bag to fill a gap and be get out of jail free card. Use it for every non traditional swing shot. Need a punch shot that slices 20 yards around a tree? Hybrid. Big wind in your face on a 220 yard par 3? Put that ball back in your stance and hit the hybrid. Awkward lie with ball way above or below your feet? 1/2 swing hybrid. The only thing I don’t care about with my hybrid is distance. I need it to reach every distance between a 75% 3 wood and a 95% 4 iron and that’s it. Anymore distance and it’s brushing up against my 3 wood.

[Cwebb]

If you found that new hybrids did go longer, would you buy for that reason?

[roberthd]

If you found that new hybrids did go longer, would you buy for that reason?

 

I think it would depend. For 2-3 yards on average, probably not unless my old ones were just too beat up. My 2011-12 Cobra Bafflers are easy to hit straight and with high flight for this senior, and I play 3H-7H (way better than regular irons for yours truly). But, my swing speed has slowed and every few years I try to find out if incremental improvements give me a boost, but apparently not in this case.

[hdgolf44]

Definitely not longer since the early days.

 

Still have, and occasionally game, a circa-2000 19* TNT Survivor (vintage Canadian brand) that still keeps up, and beats many, distance-wise with any of the new modern-day offerings. No funny business with longer shafts and jacked lofts (comparing apples to apples)

 

IMO, the only difference between now and then is the ability for customization ("dialing in") , what with the adjustability technology and wider variety of shafts now available for these clubs. It's now much more of a game of "filling/dialling in the gap in your bag" with multiple models vs. the previously being a sole alternative to a 5-Wood or a long iron.