Hybrid vs Utility Iron. Need help

[Pworld]

I just put a UI in my bag for the first time a few weeks ago.

went With the king cobra 3/4 utility. I have probably hit 100 balls with it so far. Maybe 10 of those off a tee. I don’t have a fast swing speed. Around mid 60’s with irons. I can easily hit it as high as my other irons and my 18deg hybrid. And it feels butter in the middle and forgiving on mishits.

in the store the others that I liked hitting were the tmb (almost bought), 790 udi, srixon u85 (longest numbers but didn’t have the feel for me), and mizuno. Also long but no feel for me.

I still want to try a u510

 

[Stinger83]

For me it's a club that's for specific conditions. Hard, dry, fast, windy conditions. Anything else I'll take a hybrid. A hybrid for me is going to be more versatile from the fairway and definitely the rough. Modern hybrids don't spin as much as they used to and hitting a "stinger" shot with them is not hard. Also a lot of these DI's are not as forgiving as they look. The only one's I have found that I like are Titleist TMB tour edge ironwood and the old Callaway apex ut.

[tnewsted17]

I think that it all comes down to what you feel comfortable looking down at. Which club gives you the confidence you need to make that critical shot. For me it is the 3 Hybrid I have for others it may be a UI but whatever the case is its something you want to get fit for. None of that off the shelf one size fits all garbage.

[tsecor]

love my hybrid. its very versatile. sometimes i even use it to putt from the fringe when up against the next level of rough....BUT...i seem to have maxed out the distance and i see reports of these new UDI's flying 230/240 with swing speeds very close to mine.

[Power fade]

I game the mizuno fli-hi's. I have 3i-5i and a 3 and 4 hybrid. Switch them out depending on the course design. Only play the 3i off the tee or if I'm in the fairway. I dont mind the chunky look as it does give me that extra confidence if I dont catch it absolutely pure. Been keeping the hybrids in the bag more recently and only carrying the five iron as of late. Only need that 200-230 yard shot a few times a round and it's usually into a green so I'd rather have the higher trajectory.

[DShepley]

I have always had a mostly hate relationship with hybrids, (never had one that didn't want to hook off the planet), and last year I bought a Srixon ZU85 2 iron to replace my hybrid. It's a bit harder to hit out of the fairway than off the tee, but off the tee the thing is a game changer. It goes forever!

[Tree Levino]

When hit well. I’d bet a good amount of money that the AVERAGE distance with hybrids vs UI for amateurs would be drastically higher. I prefer the U85 but there is no denying my 818 H1 is drastically more forgiving - particularly out of the rough

[QuigleyDU]

I love my UTility iron. It is my go to club when I need to hit a fairway.

[CDLgolf]

I find hybrids easier to hit and I can play shots that I couldn't imagine playing with a long iron or utility irons.

For whatever reason I also find the hybrids easier than fairway woods.

I carry 3 hybrids and use them from 180 to 220.

[1plaingolfer]

I'm a 15 hc with a driver swing speed of around 98-100. I purchased the Cleveland UHX 4 iron (it's 20* loft so really a 3 iron). I went with the Recoil shaft (stiff). I love this club, mid flight and a fairly straight. No trouble hitting it off the fairway either. I hit it anywhere from 205-215 off the tee and 190-205 off the fairway. I've only had it since last fall and haven't played too many rounds with it (less than 12) but it's becoming one of my favorite clubs. I also carry a 22* hybrid for heavy rough, long shots out of fairway bunkers, and chipping around the green. That club goes around 190-200 but I don't use it off the tee. Feel like I have the best of both worlds, one of each type. Hope this helps.

[Myherobobhope]

I have 2 clubs to add to the bag this season... I am pondering this very question. My set goes from 6 iron to 18 hybrid... It's about a 30-40 gap (I haven't figured out how far I hit my 6 iron yet). I'm borrowing a buddy's TM 790 4 iron this Sunday to see if it plugs the hole... I'm thinking I want a driving iron for lower trajectory shots and a hybrid for shots into greens and general utility... My bag and game are a little odd and my setup is specifically designed around the course I play.

One of the clubs will probably be whatever works for me from the tips into a par 3, as that's my only 200+ yard shot if I'm playing decently.

[golfkrzy10]

lots of good stuff up there. I play a 2 (19) Titleist 818 h2 hybrid with a 4 (23) srixon u65 utility in the evens bag, and a 1 (17) Titleist 818 h2 hybrid and 3 (20) srixon u65utility in the odds bag, both for forgiveness and the playability of each, high low left right etc, but the biggest is they are just flat out easy to hit. plus the gapping was perfect between the 2.

[Ben Berube]

You said it right there. If you draw/hook the ball the DI is your friend. If you fade/slice get a Hybrid. There is a few hybrids that are some what “anti-left”. Apex, CBX and Gapr mid. But if you are uncomfortable pulling a 3i than you should play a hybrid. So much easier to hit comsistant. Who cares about flight or other nonesense. The better player gets a DI for shot making and fairway finding.

BTW- anyone can learn to hit a DI with the right shaft. But the question is “Should you bother with a DI”?

Its about scoring, no?

[Mikeflj]

I think the modern lofts actually allow you to play both. I play 6-pw in Srixon 785 and a Srixon 545 5 iron. The Srixon 5 iron is 24 degrees and the 4 iron is 22 which ends up carrying the same distance as the 5 iron but with more roll. I go straight from a 5 iron to a U65 3 iron which is 20 degree which gives a better carry gap. This also allows me to use it off the tee on tight par 4 as I play on a windy site. This then allows me to have a 3 Hybrid which is longer than the 3 utility and easier in the rough or tough lies. I use this more for 2nd shots into par 5’s.

[boggyman]

I like your take on hybrids, “some being anti left. I can hook an Apex off the planet,and folks all the time saying they’re anti left, to “me” that’s total BS! As you say, it’s what ones most comfortable with to get themselves into position to score.

[tsecor]

maybe i should try and upgrade my hybrid to the new T3. i currently hit the 910H and its been great. I gotta find some more distance coming back from a bad shoulder injury

[kstrong84]

I've always been a good long iron player and generally enjoyed driving/utility irons but hybrids are unquestionably better for shi**y lies.  

 

That being said, I've hated every hybrid I've ever tried except one that had a steel shaft.... currently interested in trying the tsi2 with that nippon GOST shaft.  Seems promising.

[justcallmemoses]

I was always in same boat hybrid v utility buying and selling etc. This section is the most ever changing in my bag so I bought all 3 and change based on how I’m swinging or conditions. Best decision ever. Look at prior release models for deals if you know what shaft etc you need or have already and plug in 

 

TS2 7 Wood 

TS2 19 Hybrid

Callaway X-Forged 18 degree UT

All are equal-ish on distances but dramatic changes in ball flight