5 Iron v. 5 Hybrid Showdown ... It Wasn't Close

[DE-ILLINI]

I put a 5H in the bag a few years ago as a trial and love it.  I can hit it from anywhere and have so much confidence with it.  I can not see ever going back to a 5 iron.

[PJE]

2 hours ago, Jayjay_theweim_guy said:

Replying though to point out that not all hybrids address the same.  Completely agree with you on the Ping hybrids---I'm still trying to figure out the best way to line that sucker up, and when I do, the weight feels weird in my hands.  Titleist TSR2 though, feels natural.  Looks it.  Easy to line up.

 

I don't go hybrids for 4-5-6, (despite the TSR ostensibly being a 4H), because I already hit the ball too high and I've i210s in the long irons.  No lying though, there's something fun and circus-y about hitting something like an older Cally 7w/Heavenwood, but who needs a 190 yd pitching wedge flight?

 

Anyway, gapping is pleasantly 5-ish mph and about 12 yds of carry between 4, 5, and 6-irons.  And they seem to go and stop where I want them, so why mess with it?

Thanks for the good advice on the Titleist. I will check it out. I am not sure I really need a 5 hybrid, despite my joking, but this thread has got me thinking. 

[ad_l1b]

13 hours ago, Mobert19 said:

@uglande Dare I say maybe the T100 might be too much club for you at the 5 iron spot? Seems like you found your solution but maybe these irons aren't the best fit for you?

Seems like a lot of people are starting to move into blended sets right around the 6 or 7 iron, Srixon and Titleist in particular seem to be popular options for this, going from say the t100 or t150 into the t200 further up the bag. I know for me the 5 iron is one of those clubs where if you asked me to move from a players distance iron into something harder to hit my butthole would pucker up. Hell I probably wouldn't even flinch if you handed me a full on GI iron in that slot. Not sure I'm ready to switch to hybrid there yet though. I'm turning 50 in 2025 so I'm sure at some point this exercise will come up as I seem to be constantly analyzing and tinkering with the top of my bag. 

[sm_watts]

As I get older and worse, I can't hide the fact that my G425 6H is far more consistent than my 6 iron, so I start at the 7 iron.  However, I skip the 5H as the distance gap between a 4H and 6H for me is only about 15 yards.  I do laugh every time I read someone's post on here about how they stick with a 5 iron for the 215  "accuracy" shots...  From 215, I just hope I can see the flagstick on my next shot.

[Pepperturbo]

I tested 3h & 4h and found their biggest asset was easy forgiveness, getting the ball up and each was longer due to longer playing length.  Not once did either hybrid give me the sense, it would do what I envisioned, and surpass the equivalent iron.  The negative I could count on was increased left or right dispersion compared to my equivalent iron.  Hitting a baby draw with 2i to 4i is relatively easy, for me, with hybrid much less so do to its inherent design and dispersion.  I want each of my clubs to give me 100% control.  In other words, if an error is made, it's on me, NOT the design inclination of a club.   

 

What someone like John Daly uses has no worth to my game?  Some of us are not all looking for our clubs to "forgives us our trespasses" LOL nor liken ourselves to marketing jargon. 

 

Two iron to LW, are scoring clubs to my game.  Changing inherent designs to get easier and longer requires changing how I think about the game.  That requires going back to the practice range to reinvent aspects of my game. 

 

Having said that, not one of the hybrids I tested was effective at hitting low stinger shots, nor was one effect at giving me a really low punch shot from 3" of rough, like recently using my 23' 4i', about 5' off the deck under low-hanging branches, to the fairway and run short of the green, allowing me to pitch to the pin, and tap in for par, to keep my lead going in a money game.   Five iron would have been too high, isn't a stinger club, nor would it be long enough.

 

 If someone chooses to fill their bag with hybrids, it's fine with me; my buddy carries 3 of them.  Haven't seen him do anything more than hit the ball straight and higher than I hit the equivalent iron.  Thus, experience shows hybrids have limitations.  Whether they are practical all depends on the users' style of golf and the courses they play.

Edited December 15, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[mrdctaylor]

100%.  Since I took up golf again after about 15 years laying off, I discovered hybrids.  I got a 3.  Then a 4.  Finally got a 5.  They are great.  When I got around to replacing my ancient irons, I only bought a set up through 6i.  I hit the 6i so well that I thought I might like the 5i better than my old 5H, so I ordered one.  I've put it to the test and carried it on the course.  And I've put the 5H back in the bag.  It is just better for me.  I'm an OK golfer (around a 13-15 HC) but have a fairly slow swing speed.  Hybrids are just much better for me.  My son, who has a much faster swing speed can crush his long irons and has problems hitting hybrids. 

[EKB]

Just picked up a 5H on close out so starting the head-to-head comparison with my 5i.  I imagine I’ll be like many here in that the 5H will fly higher and longer but it’ll be hard to knock the 5i out of the bag because it’s my go to rescue club (plenty of use)

[gvogel]

8 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

I tested 3h & 4h and found their biggest asset was easy forgiveness, getting the ball up and each was longer due to longer playing length.  Not once did either hybrid give me the sense, it would do what I envisioned, and surpass the equivalent iron.  The negative I could count on was increased left or right dispersion compared to my equivalent iron.  Hitting a baby draw with 2i to 4i is relatively easy, for me, with hybrid much less so do to its inherent design and dispersion.  I want each of my clubs to give me 100% control.  In other words, if an error is made, it's on me, NOT the design inclination of a club.   

 

What someone like John Daly uses has no worth to my game?  Some of us are not all looking for our clubs to "forgives us our trespasses" LOL nor liken ourselves to marketing jargon. 

 

Two iron to LW, are scoring clubs to my game.  Changing inherent designs to get easier and longer requires changing how I think about the game.  That requires going back to the practice range to reinvent aspects of my game. 

 

Having said that, not one of the hybrids I tested was effective at hitting low stinger shots, nor was one effect at giving me a really low punch shot from 3" of rough, like recently using my 23' 4i', about 5' off the deck under low-hanging branches, to the fairway and run short of the green, allowing me to pitch to the pin, and tap in for par, to keep my lead going in a money game.   Five iron would have been too high, isn't a stinger club, nor would it be long enough.

 

 If someone chooses to fill their bag with hybrids, it's fine with me; my buddy carries 3 of them.  Haven't seen him do anything more than hit the ball straight and higher than I hit the equivalent iron.  Thus, experience shows hybrids have limitations.  Whether they are practical all depends on the users' style of golf and the courses they play.

Fixed it for you.  To each their own.

 

I picked up a Titleist TSR1 26* hybrid (Atmos Tour Spec 75 gram shaft), and now I don't need a 6-iron. 

 

I played nine holes one evening with only the hybrid, and after a few holes it was remarkable what I could do with it, including putting.

[jeffrey r]

5 hours ago, Radeon962 said:

Moved to a Callaway Paradym X 5H Mitsubishi Tensei AV White 85s and Titleist TSR1 6H PX Evenflow White 90s at the end of last season. 
 

Love them and now my irons start at 7i. 
 

High and straight and have both playing with a slightly open face setting.

 

 

I had much success last season with Paradym X 4 and 5 hybrids with Smoke Black 80 shaft. My 5 hybrid was super reliable, and there was simply no comparison with the trepidation and mixed success I had previously with any sort of 5 iron, whether players, GI or SGI.

 

My 4H spot is open for competition in the offseason between Paradym X, Apex 21 and Big Bertha 4H heads that I have around and can swap onto my Smoke Black shaft. YMMV.

[Wardonation]

I should change from a 4 iron to 4 hybrid BUT I cannot lose the "punch out" shot with the 4iron. I need the ball to fly low for at least 30 yards at times and hybrid does not do that for me.

[Pepperturbo]

2 minutes ago, gvogel said:

Fixed it for you.  To each their own.

 

I picked up a Titleist TSR1 26* hybrid (Atmos Tour Spec 75 gram shaft), and now I don't need a 6-iron. 

 

I played nine holes one evening with only the hybrid, and after a few holes it was remarkable what I could do with it, including putting.

Thank you.  Fixed it.  Dyslexia influences writing.  A staff member edits all corporate correspondence, and an Editor helped with the two books.  Neither of them deal with my postings.  LOL 

 

I just heard that a friend replaced his 6, 5 and 4 with hybrids; he's feeling pretty good about his game.  Recently, I played an 18 hole fundraiser over 5700yds, using 4i, 9i and LW as putter.  The downside, my buddies decided to take driver and putter out of my bag, as additional handicaps on top of the strokes they get from me. LOL yuck... should be interesting, we're playing 6000 yd white tees in a few weeks.  Winner donates the payout 😛

[Antmeister]

I play ZX4 irons and personally I don't feel I need any help in their loft range (21-44). Could easily be different scenario if I was playing something like ZX7, T100 etc. I still need to address here the urge to test 9W, because why not. My next club after 4i is 7w.

[Potch]

Decent player (2 Handicap) who made the switch to hybrids a few years ago and not looking back. Have the 22* & 26* G410s, and the combination of being able to set the head flat/open and using a heavier, stiffer shaft have helped me avoid the big miss left with the hybrids (or at least no more with the hybrids than any other club in the bag). I guess I don't understand the appeal of misses going shorter. I have multiple approach shots on my home course that are 200+ yards where I need to cover water, and missing left or right a bit is way better than short. A playing lesson with a pro 25 years ago reinforced that - he pointed out how much closer misses that were a little offline to the target but the right distance ended up to versus missing short. Anyway, my hybrids aren't going anywhere.

[azgreg]

@Obee

 

[Roejye]

I have both a 5 hybrid and my set 5 iron in the bag. I have realized the 5 iron spot is the line of demarcation for me, I CAN hit the 5 iron well, but I hit the 5 hybrid better, more often. The problem is at my home course, I rarely use the 5 hybrid. I use the 5 iron a lot more often as a punch out club. It's basically the same thing that @Wardonation says about their 4 iron.

 

Honestly, the 5 hybrid is probably the most likely club to be removed from the bag, not because I don't like hitting it, I do, but just from overall lack of use. It's making my plans for the BISC a pain in the @$$ as I have a 5 wood and 3 hybrid that seem to be basically the same club but I would like to do some on course testing. 

Edited December 16, 2023 by Roejye
Removed word salad

[bgfgolf]

I play hybrids at 19, 21, 24. I’m convinced the optimal choice at those lofts is hybrid over long iron. Look at how many LPGA tour pros have hybrids at those lofts, and even higher. Scratch and plus handicaps aren’t better than LPGA tour pros with respect to quality of strike and consistency. 

 

its like using blades. You do you, but they aren’t optimal.

[uglande]

19 hours ago, Wardonation said:

BUT I cannot lose the "punch out" shot with the 4iron.

I see several responses like this ... this exactly why I have kept my 5 iron (and before that my 4 iron). But this is what surprised me the most in my testing. The punch-out shot with the 5H was actually easier than with 5i. It actually came out lower than 5i, and there was no digging. 

 

My guess is that when moving the club head at such a slow speed, you're not really activating the power/launch aspects of the hybrid that normally separate it from the iron. So you're just delivering the same loft at the ball but with more room for error. 

Edited December 16, 2023 by uglande

[llewol007]

Most struggle with hybrid because with the slightly bigger head, player try and hit them like their fairway woods. Best approach to hitting the hybrid similar to hitting a punch shot with your irons and getting aggressive on coming down on the ball. Not being afraid to bottoming out the clubs. I call it a cheater club because the larger surface area creates for more forgiveness on your strike. I typically find more distance and so I would carry a 4 hybrid to replace my 3 iron and a 5 hybrid to cover my 4 iron distances.

[black bnr32]

3 hours ago, bgfgolf said:

I play hybrids at 19, 21, 24. I’m convinced the optimal choice at those lofts is hybrid over long iron. Look at how many LPGA tour pros have hybrids at those lofts, and even higher. Scratch and plus handicaps aren’t better than LPGA tour pros with respect to quality of strike and consistency. 

 

its like using blades. You do you, but they aren’t optimal.

That’s because LPGA players don’t generate the speed necessary for good launch conditions in long irons

[teedub21]

8 minutes ago, black bnr32 said:

That’s because LPGA players don’t generate the speed necessary for good launch conditions in long irons

And in the real world (not Golf WRX) neither do most of us.  

[gvogel]

21 hours ago, mrdctaylor said:

100%.  Since I took up golf again after about 15 years laying off, I discovered hybrids.  I got a 3.  Then a 4.  Finally got a 5.  They are great.  When I got around to replacing my ancient irons, I only bought a set up through 6i.  I hit the 6i so well that I thought I might like the 5i better than my old 5H, so I ordered one.  I've put it to the test and carried it on the course.  And I've put the 5H back in the bag.  It is just better for me.  I'm an OK golfer (around a 13-15 HC) but have a fairly slow swing speed.  Hybrids are just much better for me.  My son, who has a much faster swing speed can crush his long irons and has problems hitting hybrids. 

John Daly is playing 3, 4 and 5-hybrids.  His longest iron is 6.

[Pepperturbo]

18 hours ago, azgreg said:

@Obee

 

If I recall, he's been using hybrids for some time now.  He's a great example of making his choice of tools work for him.

[Liveonce]

Have a ping g425 22* hybrid. Has the Ping Tour 85s in it. Wanting to add a 26*, would the same shaft most likely work?

[animalgolfs]

7w 9w 5h 6h....though I think a 7h turned down will gap perfectly to the 5h. It's something I'm gonna test soon.....

 

There are shots that I can't hit with a 5i - that are stupid easy to hit with the 5h

[azgreg]

49 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

If I recall, he's been using hybrids for some time now.  He's a great example of making his choice of tools work for him.

The last I looked the longest iron in his bag is an 8i and he's capable of shooting in the 60's.

 

[optimator]

5 hours ago, azgreg said:

The last I looked the longest iron in his bag is an 8i and he's capable of shooting in the 60's.

 

I thought I’d read 6i, using a set of Sub 70’s. But I might be wrong.

[Lemonde]

One of the major issues here is not the number stamped on the club but the loft.  I’m alway remissed to remember what Wishon said about lofts.  Unless you have 100mph+ in speed, good luck hitting an iron below 24 degrees.  My current 223 5 iron is 25 degrees, playable but not perfect even though I can hit it about 215.  I don’t play a lot anymore so I think a 5 hybrid would probably work better. My issue is that the 5 iron is my go to club for off the tee at  white tee tight courses which I play with family and co workers.  I’d like to think a 5 hybrid can do the same.  Seriously pondering only 6-GW in an upcoming 243 replacement. 

[gator022]

26 minutes ago, optimator said:

I thought I’d read 6i, using a set of Sub 70’s. But I might be wrong.

He’s talking about @Obee not Daly

[optimator]

3 minutes ago, gator022 said:

He’s talking about @Obee not Daly

Like I said, I could be wrong 😁

[POKeefe]

11 hours ago, uglande said:

I see several responses like this ... this exactly why I have kept my 5 iron (and before that my 4 iron). But this is what surprised me the most in my testing. The punch-out shot with the 5H was actually easier than with 5i. It actually came out lower than 5i, and there was no digging. 

 

My guess is that when moving the club head at such a slow speed, you're not really activating the power/launch aspects of the hybrid that normally separate it from the iron. So you're just delivering the same loft at the ball but with more room for error. 

I agree with this. Choke up, play the ball back in your stance a bit, and let it rip. I know a few people though who mentally need a low lofted iron for punch shots. Personally, I find them easier to do with a 3 or 4h.