4 Hybrid for Plus hdc with Decent speed

[Jnardelean19]

Okay working on the bag for 2021 and have been debating the switch from 4 iron to hybrid. I swing the 7 iron at 98ish and driver 115ish. I struggle with 4 iron so bad but LOVE my G410 hybrid and my SLDR hybrid before that. I am curious what I am losing out on by going 4H and starting t100s 5-pw This would mean 3 wood, 18*Hybrid and then 22* hybrid and then 5 iron strong.

 

What are peoples thoughts on this for a +2 HDC.

 

Thank you!

[cardoustie]

Well I'm not as low as you or quite as fast (92 w 7i and say 108 driver) but a 4h is a no brainer

 

I've been 4h and 5h guy for a few years now  (See sig for 5w and 7w specs)

 

It's funny, lately I have seen a lot of my low cap buddies with a 3w, 5w and 3h ,, and they are good with those, but then generally suck at 215 with their 4 irons.  So much so they they are choking down and trying to mfr shots with their 3 hybrids

 

I think I have told 5 guys in the last 30 days to consider a second hybrid.  It's not critical off a tee but I find out of the rough it's an easy choice

 

Pretty much every tour player carries 1 hybrid, +7 caps.  I think anyone not playing for a living should consider 2 of them

 

And hey this is coming from a guy that loved 1 and 2 irons and 3 irons back in the 90's

 

I hit so many 5h shots onto greens from 205 out in the rough this year and every time I say ... I had zero chance with the equivalent iron

[Jnardelean19]

That is exactly my assessment the only thing I see as a negative is punch out shots and working punch shots but I could just use 5 iron for those. That is me 100% on the 215-220 shots trying to manufacture shots with my 3 hybrid. Just want to see how many plus caps like myself have done it and their results! Thank you for your feedback!

[Chadwickog]

I tried this early this year, play a 19* 3h and wanted to try a 4h because the 4 iron wasn't working for me.  Well the 4 hybrid wasn't either so I went back and rebuilt the 4 iron with a little lighter graphite shaft and voila.. I'm pounding the 4 iron.

[Jnardelean19]

What didn't work with the hybrid?

 

[Chadwickog]

4 minutes ago, Jnardelean19 said:

What didn't work with the hybrid?

 

 

Wasn't getting the shots I wanted out of it, and the gapping wasn't right for me.

[benclab]

Just hood the 5 iron for your punch out shots.

 

I've been thinking of going this route too. I hit my 4 iron like Tiger Woods off the tee on par 3s and short par 4s. Off the turf, I hit it like Wiger Toods. I haven't found what I wanted yet. Most 4 hybrids hit spinning moon balls. I'm still hopeful on finding a legit one soon. 

[golfwb]

Tried it for about a month and its all about dispersion for me. 

The 4 iron well hit or not tends to stay more online than the hybrid, then there is the gapping issue, the moonball/ spin issue and the left ball problem.

[jomatty]

I’m not nearly as good as you (6 hcp) but I never got that comforatable with the 4 hybrid.  It may just be my swing, but it just didn’t go much shorter than the 3 hybrid, which made for a big gap to my 5 iron.  More testing may have sorted it out and maybe I just needed more loft...a 20 degree utility iron ended up filling the 4 iron space fairly well.  It’s a big old chunky thing that is not that different from a hybrid but it gets the job done.  Another option might be to get a t200 or t300 (or easier to hit iron from another company) to make the 4 iron slot more playable.  I’ve also thougt about going to something like the apex hybrid or another “players” style for the 4 iron slot and keeping my 19 degree ts2 (fairly large head).  Good luck!

[goaliedad30]

I went to a 5h this year (TM SIM) and love it. Last year, I replaced the 4i with a M6 7w, and it's been phenomenal. Go-to club at the 205-210 range for me, and can choke it down if needed for 195 (my 5h is about 185).

[animalgolfs]

For the love of game....

 

Try a G410 9 wood

 

Then get back with me

[ZA206]

I had the same issue. The 4i was killing me and I was automatic with my 3H from anywhere. I built a copy of my 3H with the 4H head and shortened the shaft by 1/2”.

 

Bingo! Now I’m automatic with both the 3H and 4H from anywhere. FYI... 3H goes about 225-230 off the deck and the 4H goes 215 on the number!

 

I’m not a +2, but I am a -3.... make sure you copy your 3H if you already love it!

[MtlJeff]

I've always loved the Callaway Apex hybrids. They are sleek , not super high launching and really easy to hit while still looking fairly traditional. I still have the original one and use it quite a bit. 

[ChipNRun]

 If the 4H can get it done for you, go with it.

 

As for the 4i, one thing to consider. Consider soft-stepping the shaft, and/or going with a slightly lighter shaft.

 

My irons have a parallel-tip hosel. So, I was able to refit the 4i

 with a hybrid shaft. Really helps on launch for using it as a driving iron.

[MPAndreassi]

I play an HMB as a utility iron, 4 hybrid, then 5 iron and down. This is a recent switch for me but it’s been great so far. The hybrid is so much more versatile for me than the 4 iron was. Just need to make sure you get the specs and build right to fit your gaps. I can choke down and hit it the same distance as my 4 iron or swing it at full length to play it like a 3 iron. 
 

My speeds are relatively similar to yours, and I play between a 2 and a 3. I don’t struggle with long irons at all, but I do find them rather one dimensional compared to the hybrid. 

[cardoustie]

I second vote the gen 1 Apex from ‘16

[bladehunter]

Mine is g410 at 22.  That’s in place of 3 iron with traditionally lofted irons.  So a 4 hybrid but it gaps like 3 iron.  It’s really point and shoot.  And couldn’t  be easier to hit high and low.  

[EaglesGolf99]

On 11/9/2020 at 2:04 PM, cardoustie said:

Well I'm not as low as you or quite as fast (92 w 7i and say 108 driver) but a 4h is a no brainer

 

I've been 4h and 5h guy for a few years now  (See sig for 5w and 7w specs)

 

It's funny, lately I have seen a lot of my low cap buddies with a 3w, 5w and 3h ,, and they are good with those, but then generally suck at 215 with their 4 irons.  So much so they they are choking down and trying to mfr shots with their 3 hybrids

 

I think I have told 5 guys in the last 30 days to consider a second hybrid.  It's not critical off a tee but I find out of the rough it's an easy choice

 

Pretty much every tour player carries 1 hybrid, +7 caps.  I think anyone not playing for a living should consider 2 of them

 

And hey this is coming from a guy that loved 1 and 2 irons and 3 irons back in the 90's

 

I hit so many 5h shots onto greens from 205 out in the rough this year and every time I say ... I had zero chance with the equivalent iron

This!

[dre72]

+4 handicap here, little slower swing speed than you though.  105-108 w/driver

 

I recently picked up a 2016 Apex 4 hybrid and I am starting to figure it out.  I struggled with it at first, I was hitting moon balls with it and it was no longer than my 5 iron.   Figured out that if I play it back in my stance a bit I can get the desired trajectory I want.  Like you I hated giving up my "punch out" club but I can accomplish the same result with a 5 iron.  Being able to attach flags from 210-220 out is a nice change.  With my 790 4 iron I had the tendency to hit the ball too low to realistically get to any flag on the front half of a green.  

 

I am going to give it some additional time to see if I end up leaving it in the bag but so far I have been pretty happy with it.

[EaglesGolf99]

Playing off a 0.0 here. Not quite as fast as you, about 110-112 with Driver and 93-95 with 7 Iron. 

 

I went down the same battle as you: 4 Hybrid or 4 Iron? Multiple times.

 

Always come back to the 2 Hybrid, 4 Hybrid setup with a Game Improvement 5 Iron. Get 215, 230, 245 out of it. Don't have anything between Driver and 2 Hybrid. I carry 4 Wedges: 46, 52, 58, and 64. 13 clubs in total. 

 

Best of luck!

 

EDIT: ... Oh yea, I am a 2016 Apex Hybrid guy too!

Edited November 11, 2020 by EaglesGolf99

[MattGolfs]

I’m currently in the same boat as you. Current set up is Driver, G410 5 Wood, Srixon z545 3 iron, Z585 4-5 iron and z785 6-PW. I’m debating replacing the 4 iron with a G410 4 or 5 hybrid (depending on gapping) and leaving the 3 iron for strictly off the tee. Driver SS is 106 and I play off a -9. From demoing the g410 hybrid it seems a lot more consistent and think it’ll add some real versatility to my bag. I think if gapped properly, I shouldn’t have any issue going 5 wood to 4/5 hybrid

[scooterhd2]

recently put the 4 iron away for an Apex 4H at 23*

 

major improvement. you dont realize how often  you need full shots from 200+. rarely have I had to punch or hit some specialty low fade or something where a 5 iron was way too much loft. 

[GolfTurkey]

Webb Simpson is pretty good and plays a 4 hybrid.

[Drivingrangehero]

Best hybrid I’ve ever owned and just bought 2 more! 
 

I have owned the Callaway apex (2016) and the TEE CBX 119, and the Adams Super 9031 is the best IMHO when it comes to a hybrid that plays like an iron, with a higher ball flight than the corresponding iron, much lower than the Apex and CBX 119, the 9031 is top shelf. Others may fly higher or be hotter off the face, but if your goal is gapping, then the 9031 is where it’s at. The loft to loft from 9031 to iron may be equal, but the 9031 will be 1/2 club longer. ..... ... they are $50 brand new old stock in the proto black color, not the white at hurricane golf right now 

 

what do you have to lose! 
I re-shaft mine with a hard stepped x2 Modus 105s 5 iron shaft at 3 iron length. 
 

https://www.hurricanegolf.com/adams-super-9031-hybrids.html

 

https://hodsongolf.com/files/2013/05/SUPER-9031-Sales-Sheet.pdf

 

 

Edited November 11, 2020 by Drivingrangehero
Added info x2

[cardoustie]

9 hours ago, dre72 said:

+4 handicap here, little slower swing speed than you though.  105-108 w/driver

 

I recently picked up a 2016 Apex 4 hybrid and I am starting to figure it out.  I struggled with it at first, I was hitting moon balls with it and it was no longer than my 5 iron.   Figured out that if I play it back in my stance a bit I can get the desired trajectory I want.  Like you I hated giving up my "punch out" club but I can accomplish the same result with a 5 iron.  Being able to attach flags from 210-220 out is a nice change.  With my 790 4 iron I had the tendency to hit the ball too low to realistically get to any flag on the front half of a green.  

 

I am going to give it some additional time to see if I end up leaving it in the bag but so far I have been pretty happy with it.

A diff shaft will help lower the height, i find the right shaft weight critical with hybrids and most guys are too low

[Bye]

The only thing I would be slightly concerned over is the gapping. I swapped out my 3 iron for a 4 hybrid lofted down to 20 degrees, it fits that gap well. If the loft was changed to 22, the distance gap would probably be close to 25 yards to the 5 iron (27degree).

[Jnardelean19]

Thank you everyone! I am leaning towards TSI2 13.5* 3 wood, 17* G410 hybrid up and then 22*G410Hybrid. then to my5iron T100s.

 

[Drivingrangehero]

5 hours ago, Jnardelean19 said:

Thank you everyone! I am leaning towards TSI2 13.5* 3 wood, 17* G410 hybrid up and then 22*G410Hybrid. then to my5iron T100s.

 

Nice choices. 👍 if you like the G410 or Callaway Apex, and Titleist , I would give the Tour Edge EXS PRO a look. It’s the best I’ve hit in the hybrids that don’t favor Iron or Wood, but middle ground like the ones you have mentioned 

 

The 9031 I suggested leans heavy towards iron rather than wood and is the only hybrid I have hit that I can flight down like an iron, the rest fly high. Some like the Titleist, Callaway apex are high, but not obnoxious high. I just couldn’t flight them down without having to play a punch shot swing. I like the 9031 because it’s such a low flight for a hybrid....... high boring for an iron, but it’s able to flight low easily like a high flying Utility iron on steroids, and very consistent distance wise! 

[Jnardelean19]

I like the adjustability of the G410 for different courses, Tour edge had that I may be willing to try it but not worth the price without knowing. I played the G410 prior so I know I love the feeling and performance of those.

[jedc]

Big fan of the old Adams hybrids. Find one that looks good to your eye and insert favorite shaft. I play the old Idea Pro models with VS Proto shafts cut down closer to actual iron shaft lengths.