Switch from iron to hybrid - rationale?

[Twists]

The Ping G425 hybrids are causing somewhat of a problem for me - I can't choose what to play. I hit my Mizuno irons down to 5 around the same carry distance as the equivalent G425 hybrids, and I enjoy hitting both... Distance gapping is fine, so I would am looking at secondary numbers. What would be the most important? Landing angle (to hold the green)? Or decide based on height - and wind?

 

Actually, I even have the same problem with choosing between the G425 hybrids and woods, which play fantastic as well.

 

How does everyone choose what kind of club to play? By numbers? - Or by pride (of playing irons instead of hybrids, and hybrids instead of "senior" woods)?

 

 

Edited February 5, 2021 by Twists

[Ger21]

The ones that go straightest most often.

[tatertot]

4 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

The ones that go straightest most often.

Going to be a short topic ... straightest, the right distance, the most consistently.

 

Depending on skill level, might be few other factors like flight path, ability to hit out of rough, off tee, hit to par 3 length, but it's a pretty short list.

 

Edited February 5, 2021 by tatertot

[ChrisLC40]

4 minutes ago, Ger21 said:

The ones that go straightest most often.

 

This and numbers for me. My irons start at a 4, and my Cobra 3 utility is a nice 10-12 yards above that. I will be adding a Ping G425 3H because I don't really get on with fairway metals. I only care about using the best/right clubs for me. 

[jholz]

There's obviously always going to be trade offs and it's ultimately a personal decision. I play 3 and 4 hybrids and they are some of my favorite clubs in the bag. 

 

For me, it's all psychological - a matter of confidence over the ball. With the hybrids I'm confident. With irons slightly less so. That's enough to made a significant difference in terms of how often I hit a quality shot with one vs the other.  

[Maroon_19]

Flight path... wind... Irons on a windy day.  Hybrids on a pure perfect day.  At least for me.

[bear87]

Once I addressed the distance gapping, I focused on dispersion.  Which, for my amateur swing, could also be called forgiveness.  Final but also important factor would be launch angle/ability to hold a green.  Hope this helps.

[SchneakyShort]

If distance and consistency are about the same, I`d say the next thing would be to figure out what you`re mainly using the clubs for. Layup tee shots? I`d go for irons. Approaches? Maybe hybrids/woods.

 

For me the clubs in this window are pretty much for 2nd shots on par 5s, maybe on some really long fours. So for me its two things really. Landing angle and playability from rough or other poor lies. I think the latter is something people can easily forget while testing clubs in perfect lies/conditions... I know I can hit some shots out of thick rough with my 4 hybrid that I would have zero chance with an iron

 

Also, feels GOOD on the tee to know that you have the tools for the second shot even if you miss the fairway. So maybe bomb that drive with a bit more confidence too?

[ChipNRun]

The higher the clubhead speed, the more options a golfer has in bridge clubs. By bridge clubs, I mean those between driver and 5i.

 

I am odd in that my bridge area is anchored in Fours: 4W, 4H, 4i (and 7W for cleanup work).

 

I swapped out the steel shaft in my set 4i for a lighter hybrid shaft: it's now a decent driving iron.

 

Some competition amateurs carry 3W, 5W, 3i. Others skip fairways altogether and load up with hybrids. It all depends on what works.

 

On 2/5/2021 at 9:28 AM, Twists said:

How does everyone choose what kind of club to play? By numbers? - Or by pride (of playing irons instead of hybrids, and hybrids instead of "senior" woods)?

Also, don't automatically be be dismissive of higher-lofted woods. For example, PGA players who use a 7W include Jason Dufner, Keith Mitchell and Dustin Johnson.

 

Scott Stallings in Sept 2019 Golf Digest article (p. 36):

"My 7 wood is a more versatile than a utility iron. I can hit it high or low, and the height on full shots into par 5s is so helpful, especially when you're coming in from 240 to 260 yards. I've found a utility 2- or 3-iron doesn't stop very well from that distance."

 

And, you might not want a 7W for all rounds. But on some courses you might find it a lifesaver.

[lefthack]

I had never played a hybrid until I saw the ones that came on the set I bought my son. So I bought a 3 and 4 to try. I hit them both really well, but then I got new irons and decided I needed to try the 3i and 4i. Found a 3, still looking for a 4, but I know the 3h will be on eBay in a week. I might keep the 4h even if I find a 4i. I really like it. Works well both off the tee and the deck.

[rxk9fan]

I will agree with club head speed, at least for myself.  I am 62 now and my driver SS on Trackman a few weeks ago is down to an average between 99mph and 100mph.  So though I can hit my 4i pretty consistently, it does not gap past my 5i far enough to be as useful as a 22 degree hybrid.  

Then when I get past that, I actually do duplicate a bit at the 3 hybrid and 5 wood position.  But, while the 5w goes really high and lands really soft, the 3 hybrid can be flighted way down to stay out of the wind and go under limbs on my heavily wooded fairways.

So just reviewing the Trackman report: 

5i-182 and 171 carry

4i-190 and 178 carry

22 hybrid-199 and 183 carry

19 hybrid-216 and 198 carry

5 wood-226 and 202 carry

 

I think throwing out the 4i makes my set more playable with my SS?

 

 

[grochol17]

For me it comes down to what I'm using the club for.  For example, I used to play with a Mizuno MP H5 1 iron.  It was an incredible club off of the tee, especially into the wind.  But, off the deck it was tough for me to be consistent.  Although I'm not going for par 5s in two that often, since I play in a skins game regularly, I decided I'd like a better option for the times I can go for it.  So I started carrying a Titleist 818 17* hybrid in its place.  I lose a little bit off the tee into the wind, but makeup for it in the landing angle into greens.

 

As someone mentioned above, think about all the shots you might hit with the club.  For me the hybrid is much easier out of the rough.  But, with the 1 iron, I could hit low screaming hooks and cuts out from under trees if necessary and I can't do that with a hybrid.

 

If it were me, I'd sit back and think about each club and how I'm most likely using it then go from there.

[phizzy30]

Dispersion number one, distance control number two.  I have had my 2 hybrid in the bag for 10 years now.  That's how much I like it and it's dialed in when I got on trackman back then.  On really long par 5's or par 3's that are longer than 230(rare), it's my go to.  Launches nice and high and I can expect it to carry 240ish and roll out very little provided I make a good swing.    It's also very versatile out of different lies. 

[Short Bucket]

10 hours ago, rxk9fan said:

I will agree with club head speed, at least for myself.  I am 62 now and my driver SS on Trackman a few weeks ago is down to an average between 99mph and 100mph.  So though I can hit my 4i pretty consistently, it does not gap past my 5i far enough to be as useful as a 22 degree hybrid.  

Then when I get past that, I actually do duplicate a bit at the 3 hybrid and 5 wood position.  But, while the 5w goes really high and lands really soft, the 3 hybrid can be flighted way down to stay out of the wind and go under limbs on my heavily wooded fairways.

So just reviewing the Trackman report: 

5i-182 and 171 carry

4i-190 and 178 carry

22 hybrid-199 and 183 carry

19 hybrid-216 and 198 carry

5 wood-226 and 202 carry

 

I think throwing out the 4i makes my set more playable with my SS?

 

 

Your 5-4 gapping is starting to bunch, but If you can reliably elevate your 4 iron to stop on greens and you can flight it down in windy conditions vs what you can do with the hybrid, the added distance you get from the 22 degree hybrid might not add much.  The distance numbers you gave are similar to what I had several years ago.  I kept the 4 iron because i was more accurate into greens with it and it worked better playing in very windy conditions here in Texas.  Played off 4 then.

[MtlJeff]

I can launch hybrids higher and hit them further out of the rough. I usually favor them all things being equal. 

 

I sometimes use a Ping Crossover but for important rounds usually the hybrid is in the bag

[ChipNRun]

14 hours ago, lefthack said:

I might keep the 4h even if I find a 4i. I really like it. Works well both off the tee and the deck.

My current set-up. I carry both.

Hybrid:  Calla Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  Tour Edge CB Pro Tungsten 4i-9i

 

Had my set 4i refitted with lighter graphite shaft... now serves as lower-trajectory driving iron.

[Mr_Wolfe]

17 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

The higher the clubhead speed, the more options a golfer has in bridge clubs. By bridge clubs, I mean those between driver and 5i.

 

I am odd in that my bridge area is anchored in Fours: 4W, 4H, 4i (and 7W for cleanup work).

 

I swapped out the steel shaft in my set 4i for a lighter hybrid shaft: it's now a decent driving iron.

 

Some competition amateurs carry 3W, 5W, 3i. Others skip fairways altogether and load up with hybrids. It all depends on what works.

 

Also, don't automatically be be dismissive of higher-lofted woods. For example, PGA players who use a 7W include Jason Dufner, Keith Mitchell and Dustin Johnson.

 

Scott Stallings in Sept 2019 Golf Digest article (p. 36):

"My 7 wood is a more versatile than a utility iron. I can hit it high or low, and the height on full shots into par 5s is so helpful, especially when you're coming in from 240 to 260 yards. I've found a utility 2- or 3-iron doesn't stop very well from that distance."

 

And, you might not want a 7W for all rounds. But on some courses you might find it a lifesaver.

 

Agree with the 7w. My home course has 2 tee shots that I need 200-210 yards and I love my 7w for that shot. One is a par 3 and the ball lands so soft.

 

Mr. Wolfe

[RacineBoxer]

For me it comes down to consistency/accuracy (which includes stopping power to a degree) and distance. Gotta hit all the yardage gaps. It took me about an entire season to get use to hitting a hybrid but ultimately it did win out as being more accurate/consistent for me than a 4 iron. I just have far to many poor strikes with a 4 iron. 

 

With my meager swing speed (95-100 with driver) the 3 wood to me becomes less about hitting a yardage gap and hitting it as far as possible while maintaining reasonable accuracy. 

[iNeedMoreGolf]

The way i see it... if you have a set of 6 irons and a few wedges... then you have enough irons... i play a hybrid at 3iron because it gives me that forgivness and power to get to the number i want and for me that's 190-200 yards which it does.  If i need more then that i hit my 3wood. Its that simple to me... if you need two hybrids play 2... dont just set in another iron just because... play what you can hit well and know it will work.

[lefthack]

1 hour ago, ChipNRun said:

Had my set 4i refitted with lighter graphite shaft... now serves as lower-trajectory driving iron.

 

I am thinking about doing this with my Ping 2i. It currently has a +1 shaft and was thinking of doing a standard or even -.5 graphite for fun.

 

There was I time I could hit that club, about 20 years ago. 🤣

[Thrummyfox]

4 hours ago, MtlJeff said:

I can launch hybrids higher and hit them further out of the rough. I usually favor them all things being equal. 

 

I sometimes use a Ping Crossover but for important rounds usually the hybrid is in the bag

Me too, though also find crossovers more accurate off the tee.  What do you base your decision on?

[larryd3]

For me it's which one will I hit more consistently and therefore have more confidence in.  Hybrids instead of long irons for me.  

[Pepperturbo]

Some of us simply decide how we want to play the game, then make equipment adjustments accordingly.  I don't carry any hybrids and use spin to stop the ball on the green.  Dropping the ball from a satellite is NOT IMO good because that way I am giving control and outcome to the effects of conditions.  I assess conditions and needed style of shot then choose club that makes that happen. 

 

But between your two suggested options, because I hit mid-trajectory iron shots and use spin to stop the ball - I suppose its height and wind.

[Davidv]

The ones I am more consistent with and offer a bit more forgiveness, that in my case would be the hybrid.

[odshot68]

Interesting topic.  I agree with above advice regarding figuring out what shots your want to hit each with then choose.  I have played an 2H with low launch very stiff shaft in the past (even tried a heavy >100 gram stiff) in it and its been great off the tee and low shots into the wind that will run in both cases.  I then always played a 20/21 degree driving iron with steel shaft then 5 iron.  I would just adjust setup for both.  I have decided to switch to higher launching/spinning clubs this year to help increase ball apex and landing angle.  So recently changes to 2H and 4H tour style hybrids that launch it much higher (without ballooning) and are anti left.  Really think this will save a stroke or two a round.  Also removed my 13.5 fairway wood to a #4 pro fairway wood (anti left) to again increase launch off the deck but still won't balloon.  So excited for season to begin.

[animalgolfs]

A green with water short will settle your questions. 

 

I miss hit 4i will cost you 2, yet a miss hit hybrid should carry. 

 

I'm down to carrying a 6hyb now, I hit more shots pin high consistently. My miss is no longer short -