Old hybrids just as good?

[crucible]

6 hours ago, Jeff58 said:

The standard against which all hybrids are measured, and almost always fail.

 

 

The Callaway Tour/Pro series has been very consistent over the years. My experience was that the X Hot was actually longer at the expense of consistency than most.

2, 3, 4 Callaway Tour

Pros are still in my bag.  I have not found a better-looking hybrid and they simply perform.

[naj959]

3 hours ago, Jifmoli said:

Any self respecting youtube golf guru does a ‘20 year ol driver vs the latest, greatests’ video with the inevitable result that you gain one yard distance per year but do get better dispersion/foregiveness. 
 

Hybrids were designed to be more easy to hit so forgiveness was always there. Maybe modern ones go a bit farther but as long as yours gives you the distance you need, any old hybrid will be good. 
 

I had the original TM rescue from 2002:

 

Awesome 2 hybrid. My Srixon zx 2h I bought last year is equally awesome but I wouldn’t say it’s better. I still play a Nickent 3dx from 2007 (?) and it is still great:

 

Not much paint left on the top of the club but that’s ok (didn’t clean it either by the looks of it…😳).

 

Any old hybrid will do!

 

 

 

I currently play a 2019 mizuno clk because it is very anti left but was thinking of picking up a rescue mid or nickent for giggles. I like the narrow profile of the nickent. Hit my friends rescue mid last year for the first time and it has that classic hybrid feel i like and is stupid easy to hit.  I had an og cleavland halo and remember it being a fantastic club until it was stolen. Might pick up one of those too!

[lefty74pgh]

I have an Adams Pro 20* that’s been in the bag since 2006 and it’s my best club.

[cardoustie]

I’ll go one further .. the older ones are better 

[BronxGolf]

I have tried a few others here and there - but they aren’t any better than my X2 hot pro 2 hybrid (18 degrees). 

[Tinkerer]

5 hours ago, BronxGolf said:

I have tried a few others here and there - but they aren’t any better than my X2 hot pro 2 hybrid (18 degrees). 

That was my point, this year alone I tried the XXIO 4H to match my irons, a couple of Srixon ZX hybrids, a Ping G425, a Stealth as well as a few utility irons including the u505. This X2, for me, is better than all of those in strike consistently, ball flight and distance control. 

[cardoustie]

For me anyways… the new ones are becoming too wide soled like fairway woods

[Triple Lindy]

It’s interesting how often Adams comes up, especially in hybrid/FW discussions. I also still play Idea hybrids and recently put an old Ovation 5W back in my back. I like it so much I found a matching 3W on eBay that should arrive tomorrow!
 

I think TaylorMade just re-re-launched the brand. I’d love to see another innovation like the original Tight Lies. Man, that was a game changer for me.

[grochol17]

On 11/7/2023 at 5:18 AM, Tinkerer said:

I was rummaging through the "bin" at our Pro Shop when I found a new, I think 2014, Callaway X2 Hot Pro 3 hybrid.

 

Ive tried a few hybrids and utility irons in this slot between my 23 degree 5 iron and my 3 wood. A few rounds in, this is the best option by far. It's consistently my 190 to 200 yard club, I can hit it from anywhere. Its not draw bias and its ten years old.

 

Anyone else had a similar experience and does this show, for hybrids at least, that tech advancement is limited?

 

The X2 Hot Pro is a great hybrid.  I had one for a bit, but spun it more than I would like and I didn't feel like getting it reshafted, so I went searching for something else.  With a different shaft I probably would have kept it in the bag for a long time.

 

As for hybrid tech improving or changing, I don't pay a ton of attention... for me, I treat my 17* hybrid like an iron.  I'm looking for a particular ball flight and distance, so once I found something that gave me that, I stopped looking at hybrids. 

[muniman]

I have tried repeatedly to replace my 816H1 hybrids, but they always end up back in the bag. For me, they are point and shoot, and the turf interaction is perfect for my swing. I have even tried the newer Titleist hybrids, and just don't hit them as well as the 816H1.

[sanjaygolf]

Recently got a TSR3 4H to test out against my older Titleist 818H1. No real performance difference between the two and I probably even prefer the feel and look of the 818H1. I'm keeping the TSR3 though since I have a full bag of new woods and irons and it'll just be consistent. The one advantage with the TSR3 is the adjustability with the moveable weight.

 

Having a hybrid with adjustability has been the key for me. I would always hook hybrids being more of a sweeper, but being able to adjust with a heavier shaft (105g x-stiff), flatter setting, open face, and weight on the toe has made it an anti-hook club for me and one I have supreme confidence with. 

[Dan Drake]

***cough*** Nickent Genex 3DX***cough***

 

Look, if you find a club that you can hit a long way (longest non-driver 4 or 5 clubs in your bag) for you and hit it solidly off the turf, new tech just isn't going to help that much over "old faithful."  New driver (head, not shaft) tech can make a big difference.  New (vs. old & worn out) wedge grooves can make a huge difference.  Irons might or might not make a difference.  

 

Long turf clubs, driver shafts, & putters should be NOT be messed with if they are trusted, no matter their age!!!!

[Mark_Tha_Tinkerer]

I still play the Adams Idea A2, 23 degree, 4 hybrid with the original green Aldila NV hybrid shaft (85*S).  Released and purchased new in 2005.  I have tried to replace it maybe 8-10 times since then believing new technology might give me something more.  The A2 still proves to be the most versatile, consistent and controllable hybrid I have ever played and I just can't see trying to replace it again.

 

As an aside, I also play a Cleveland CG 11 58 degree wedge released in 2006 I think.  I have a bunch of newer wedges gathering dust in the garage that just don't measure up.  Everything else is pretty new.  

 

 

[optimator]

I'm still playing a 17, 20 & 23 Cobra Amp Cell's. I know I could probably do better but I trust them. 

[anser85029]

No need to fix what works and still works.  Adams got it right from the get go.

 

Original Adams Idea pro hybrids still in the bag after almost 20 years.

 

Solid hybrid long irons...what hybrids were meant to be.

Edited November 18, 2023 by anser85029

[absoludicrous]

I’m sad that a bunch of you are saying the 818’s are old since I’m still playing that today and love it 😀

 

I was thinking we would be talking about my old Adams hybrids and have not been disappointed. I want to go back and put some newer shafts in those old hybrids as I loved the feel of those hybrids, but wasn’t very happy with the shafts back then. I just put a AD DI in my 818 and am loving it. 
 

I would love to try out the newer hybrids if I could pick one up for cheap, but I’m pretty happy with the “older” model performance with the newer shafts. 

[jholz]

On 11/7/2023 at 11:03 AM, Jeff58 said:

The standard against which all hybrids are measured, and almost always fail.

 

 

The Callaway Tour/Pro series has been very consistent over the years. My experience was that the X Hot was actually longer at the expense of consistency than most.

 

I've still got the 23* in the bag. Goofy headshape but it hits a great ball.

 

The original X-Hot Tour Hybrids offered a very similar look but I never hit one. 

[BlkNGld]

On 11/7/2023 at 2:18 AM, Tinkerer said:

I was rummaging through the "bin" at our Pro Shop when I found a new, I think 2014, Callaway X2 Hot Pro 3 hybrid.

 

Ive tried a few hybrids and utility irons in this slot between my 23 degree 5 iron and my 3 wood. A few rounds in, this is the best option by far. It's consistently my 190 to 200 yard club, I can hit it from anywhere. Its not draw bias and its ten years old.

 

Anyone else had a similar experience and does this show, for hybrids at least, that tech advancement is limited?

 

I'm still bagging original XHP hybrids in 20 and 23.   Never cared much for hybrids till these, and every time I try the latest one, these hold their own.   I wish Callaway would have made them in 5h loft.

[Mitchell]

Still have a 19* rescue mid tp that picked up just to have around because hit one I had very well “back in the day”. Tried lots of modern options, yet this and Adams Idea Pro are only models truly had confidence and consistency with. Another great thing about older models is they tend not to have ridiculous pvd finish that wears horribly on sandy soil. Now to decide if going to put in a Fuji 904hb or Nippon G.O.S.T. shaft. 

Edited November 9, 2023 by Mitchell

[ballzo]

I'm still rockin the old school sonartecs md's from 20 years ago 🙂

They just seem to work for me so I haven't changed. I've tried a few newer ones over the years but typically lower faced or just odd shapes keep me from switching. These are big and forgiving, deep faced and versatile. Over the years I've managed to pick up every loft they offered, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25. Over the years I've used every combination and even played 3 at one time. Right now I'm playing 19, and 23.

[cardoustie]

Thinking about this, the key is to stumble into the right head design that offers perfect turf interaction for your individual action

[dekez]

Hybrids are like a good 3 wood. When you stumble on one that works, keep it.

[HoosierHacker89]

I've had the same g25 hybrid for several years now, and I cant imagine updating it. Something newer wouldn't offer anything of value. 

[JoeHatesSnow]

One of the best old lines as already mentioned here are the Nickent 3dx and or the 3dx DC, which I still own in 17, 18.5, 20 and 23 and could still easily play.  In fact, maybe I will.  😉

 

Another mentioned was the 2014-ish Adams Idea Pro.  Kind of a smaller head but very hot with a great feel and sound.  Also, for those worried about a hybrid being a "hook machine," these had little to no offset and as I recall a flatter lie angle than most others at the same degrees of loft.  Not an easy hybrid to hook, unless you really put a hook swing on it.  I still have one of those too in a 20* head.  Very nice club.

 

 

Edited November 10, 2023 by JoeHatesSnow

[RH82]

Still bagging an Apex hybrid (2015) version and to me nothing beats it. Still see it in a lot of Callaway staffer bags.

[DrDon]

I can't knock the King Cobra Baffler DWS hybrids out of my bag.

[DaveGoodrich]

On 11/7/2023 at 1:26 PM, rodge said:

I've always thought that TaylorMade could've stopped making hybrids when they made the Rescue Mid TP.  Pretty much a perfect golf club as far as I'm concerned.   

 

A reasonable opinion. But for sure they could have stopped when Adams made the 2014 Pro and Pro Minis (Adams was owned by TaylorMade at that point).

 

[bladehunter]

Hybrids are like wedges in my opinion. If they work. They work forever. As in they’re to hit a specific distance or gap , and escape from tall rough when 180 -220 out. There’s no expiration date on that tool 

Edited November 10, 2023 by bladehunter

[mrdctaylor]

I tend to agree.  I play with two Adams Tight Lies hybrids from 2014 and they are my favorite clubs.

 

[BHI 99]

2 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Hybrids are like wedges in my opinion. If they work. They work forever.  

Perfect analogy.