Took an extreme leap...

[adamc92]

Set up was...

 

G430 3H, i230 4-UW, 56/60. 

Was just tired of working hard every time to keep the game live and not fall off between days away for work. Would get to a good level, have a busy month and then spend another month trying to get back. 

 

Said enough was enough, and bought the G430 4-7 hybrids. 

 

In my early 30's, swing speed is 112 with the driver, personal best indoors of 119. I am on the lower launching/spin side (85-90 foot apex with irons, about 500-600 less than iron number through the bag). 

 

What I noticed in the first trackman session and three rounds with the hybrids...

 

3H: 245, 3000 and 47* descent angle

4H: 230, 4000 and 49* descent angle

5H: 215, 5000 and 50* descent angle

6H: 200, 6100 and 52* descent angle

7H: 185, 7200 and 54* descent angle

 

All peak height were between 118-128. Ball speeds are mid 140's to 150. 

 

Getting the extra 30-40 feet of height is a luxury. It's much easier (to me) knowing I can drop the launch down if needed but do not have to work to get height. To get any iron up into that 120-125 window was strenuous. These just come easy. I have been surprised to see both indoors and outdoors how consistent the faces are of the g430. Even when catching them low or intentionally trying to be super steep or shallow, there are no crazy kick ups in spin. Something else I have noticed is that these are not hitting a green and ripping back. They hit and just drop dead. 

 

One of my big issues is chest getting ahead of hands in transition, and these hybrids just allow a little more patience. 

 

Honeymoon period? Perhaps. But this is a change I wish I made in my early 20's. Not sure if anyone besides @Obee has gone to this extent, but, I highly recommend it. It changed both the way I play and think about the game. 

 

Current set up: g430 max 10k, g430 3-7H, i230 8 and 9i, 48/52/56/60 s159. 

Edited May 9 by adamc92

[POKeefe]

I have done something similar once or twice. Recently gone back the other way. I just can’t control the moonballs with the hybrids. It’s hard to control in the wind. A lot easier to hit as long as you can control the height.

[eric61]

I’ve been playing with a G430 5 hybrid lately and I love it. Once I figured out how to hit knock-down shots with it into the wind, it felt like it had opened up a completely new aspect of my game. 

I’ve been debating trying the 6H next! 
 

Have you had much trouble controlling distance on windy days with the 6H and 7H?

[Peninsulagolfer]

Did this down to 6-iron a few years back.  For me, the advantages were:
1. extra height on approach shots;
2. excellent out of fairway bunkers (there are a lot where I play); and
3. easier to hit out of poor lies.

That said, I have gone back to one hybrid, and again carry a set of irons up to 5-iron.  The biggest issue I had with hybrids was:
1. the high ball flight meant the wind was a much bigger factor - so distances/direction were less predictable on the course;
2. I would get a lot more 'flyers' that traveled way too far; and
3. overall the gapping was nowhere near as predictable and dependable as a set or irons.

So my solution was being fit at Ping.  Ended up with i530s with Alta CB shafts.  Now I have the best of both worlds.  Hot hollow irons with high launch shafts - and a hybrid four iron replacement.

 

 

[adamc92]

1 hour ago, eric61 said:

I’ve been playing with a G430 5 hybrid lately and I love it. Once I figured out how to hit knock-down shots with it into the wind, it felt like it had opened up a completely new aspect of my game. 

I’ve been debating trying the 6H next! 
 

Have you had much trouble controlling distance on windy days with the 6H and 7H?

 

I live and play in the Pacific Northwest. We have tighter, narrow courses with smaller greens that get fairly firm in general. While there is wind, it's not as extreme as other parts of the country. 

 

I might be in the minority, but when I stopped my obsession over flighting clubs lower - aside from wedges - and taking more clubs into greens, I saw improvement in greens hit and scoring. I just don't have enough time to practice. I seldom find even in windy days that I hit high ballooning shots that irritate me, it typically ends in something that comes down even softer and holds.

[Obee]

I love threads like these. They always create great conversation about bag set ups.

[animalgolfs]

9w 5h 6h in the bag - been toying with the 7h 

[gvogel]

12 hours ago, adamc92 said:

Set up was...

 

G430 3H, i230 4-UW, 56/60. 

Was just tired of working hard every time to keep the game live and not fall off between days away for work. Would get to a good level, have a busy month and then spend another month trying to get back. 

 

Said enough was enough, and bought the G430 4-7 hybrids. 

 

In my early 30's, swing speed is 112 with the driver, personal best indoors of 119. I am on the lower launching/spin side (85-90 foot apex with irons, about 500-600 less than iron number through the bag). 

 

What I noticed in the first trackman session and three rounds with the hybrids...

 

3H: 245, 3000 and 47* descent angle

4H: 230, 4000 and 49* descent angle

5H: 215, 5000 and 50* descent angle

6H: 200, 6100 and 52* descent angle

7H: 185, 7200 and 54* descent angle

 

All peak height were between 118-128. Ball speeds are mid 140's to 150. 

 

Getting the extra 30-40 feet of height is a luxury. It's much easier (to me) knowing I can drop the launch down if needed but do not have to work to get height. To get any iron up into that 120-125 window was strenuous. These just come easy. I have been surprised to see both indoors and outdoors how consistent the faces are of the g430. Even when catching them low or intentionally trying to be super steep or shallow, there are no crazy kick ups in spin. Something else I have noticed is that these are not hitting a green and ripping back. They hit and just drop dead. 

 

One of my big issues is chest getting ahead of hands in transition, and these hybrids just allow a little more patience. 

 

Honeymoon period? Perhaps. But this is a change I wish I made in my early 20's. Not sure if anyone besides @Obee has gone to this extent, but, I highly recommend it. It changed both the way I play and think about the game. 

 

Current set up: g430 max 10k, g430 3-7H, i230 8 and 9i, 48/52/56/60 s159. 

I'm 70 and just went driver, 5-wood, 7-wood, 5, 6 and 7-hybrids, 7-iron to PW.

[North Butte]

As a lefty there's not nearly the selection of high-lofted hybrids as righties have. So not surprisingly, of the few hybrids I've ever hit with more than 23 degrees of loft I've not been lucky enough to find one that works for me. And lefties can pretty much forget 25, 26, 27 degree fairway woods unless they want some oddball off-brand club. 

 

But I have done the "extreme leap" myself a few years ago. When Cleveland had the HB Turbo all-hybrid set I played them for the better part of a year (100+ rounds). They certainly were easier to get up in the air and hit good shots than 4-iron or 5-iron in a normal set. Things were kind of mixed for me in the 6-iron, 7-iron, 8-iron range. Once I figured out my swing and setup with them (which was somewhat different for me than conventional irons) they worked well. Plenty of height although that seemed to come with distances a little shorter than I expected for their respective lofts. Where that plan fell apart was the 9-iron (9-hybrid?) on down. Just could not hit those well at all.

 

Honestly, for my swing, in the 7-iron and 6-iron slots I'm not sure most hybrids are hella easier to hit than big headed, hot faced, super dooper game improver irons like G430 or similar. My current thinking is maybe 6-iron (25-26 degrees?) is about the shortest club where the perfect hybrid has potential to outperform a G430 of the same loft. I doubt very much a 28-29 degree 7-iron hybrid would accomplish much versus a SGI iron.

[animalgolfs]

14 minutes ago, North Butte said:

My current thinking is maybe 6-iron (25-26 degrees?) is about the shortest club where the perfect hybrid has potential to outperform a G430 of the same loft. I doubt very much a 28-29 degree 7-iron hybrid would accomplish much versus a SGI iron.

The long heel to toe blade length/offset is what killed this thinking,  for me. I'm way more consistent with a hybrid 26 & 30 degrees. 

As I stated, I'm toying with 34/7h. The only drawback - I get stopping power on firm greens with 7i -  7h just bounds then stops. 

 

Reference - 6h is my 150-163 yard club. 7i = 143yds / I hit 6h more than 7i from 145 

[OnTheBag]

As a super senior, I started adding hybrids when I struggled to get the ball in the air.  Now, I play 4H-7H, then 8i down.  It just makes things easier on this old body.  

 

Good on you @adamc92 for finding what works for your game and having the balls to pursue it.  Golf is hard enough.  No need to make it harder.  

[jt2gt]

OK...TSR2 24 (5h) inbound based on this thread...but that's as far as I go..

[Dyno4]

1 minute ago, jt2gt said:

OK...TSR2 24 (5h) inbound based on this thread...but that's as far as I go..

These are the threads that keep me coming back to the WRX

[Obee]

43 minutes ago, jt2gt said:

OK...TSR2 24 (5h) inbound based on this thread...but that's as far as I go..

The first taste is free ...

[OnTheBag]

1 hour ago, jt2gt said:

OK...TSR2 24 (5h) inbound based on this thread...but that's as far as I go..

The Kool-Aid is tasty once you try it.

[runningblind11]

15 hours ago, adamc92 said:

Set up was...

 

G430 3H, i230 4-UW, 56/60. 

Was just tired of working hard every time to keep the game live and not fall off between days away for work. Would get to a good level, have a busy month and then spend another month trying to get back. 

 

Said enough was enough, and bought the G430 4-7 hybrids. 

 

In my early 30's, swing speed is 112 with the driver, personal best indoors of 119. I am on the lower launching/spin side (85-90 foot apex with irons, about 500-600 less than iron number through the bag). 

 

What I noticed in the first trackman session and three rounds with the hybrids...

 

3H: 245, 3000 and 47* descent angle

4H: 230, 4000 and 49* descent angle

5H: 215, 5000 and 50* descent angle

6H: 200, 6100 and 52* descent angle

7H: 185, 7200 and 54* descent angle

 

All peak height were between 118-128. Ball speeds are mid 140's to 150. 

 

Getting the extra 30-40 feet of height is a luxury. It's much easier (to me) knowing I can drop the launch down if needed but do not have to work to get height. To get any iron up into that 120-125 window was strenuous. These just come easy. I have been surprised to see both indoors and outdoors how consistent the faces are of the g430. Even when catching them low or intentionally trying to be super steep or shallow, there are no crazy kick ups in spin. Something else I have noticed is that these are not hitting a green and ripping back. They hit and just drop dead. 

 

One of my big issues is chest getting ahead of hands in transition, and these hybrids just allow a little more patience. 

 

Honeymoon period? Perhaps. But this is a change I wish I made in my early 20's. Not sure if anyone besides @Obee has gone to this extent, but, I highly recommend it. It changed both the way I play and think about the game. 

 

Current set up: g430 max 10k, g430 3-7H, i230 8 and 9i, 48/52/56/60 s159. 

I have wanted to do this, but never pulled the trigger.  What shafts are you using in these?  I am similar driver SS, and have had the Ventus 10x in hybrids with success. 

[jt2gt]

1 hour ago, Obee said:

The first taste is free ...

I do love my TSR2 4h set to 22...can hit it low/high, draw/fade.  Think I am going to set the  (5h) tsr2  to 25 and see how it goes.  

[sumo101]

Not too sure if this is quite as extreme - I've played at least a couple of hybrids for several years.

 

This season changed the top end of the bag entirely.......

 

Driver at 12* 5, 7 & 9 wood (all Ping G430) - wanted to get more height on my shots than even hybrids (low ball hitter) and early indications are that I've achieved this - also, went to regular flex shafts.

 

Can't elevate a 3 wood at all so basically the 5 wood replaces 2/3 hybrid the 7 replaces 4 hybrid (comfortably) and the 9 sits in the 5 hybrid/iron space.

[gator022]

Those of you with a 7 wood in the bag too, what’s your next hybrid? I’m finding my 4h and 7w are about the same carry distance even though the lofts are 19.5 and 22 and the 7 wood is longer. It’s a higher ball flight.

 

I’m tempted to try or look at 7w 5h and then 6 iron.

 

Haven’t tried a 6 hybrid yet but not against it….

[hammergolf]

20 hours ago, adamc92 said:

Set up was...

 

G430 3H, i230 4-UW, 56/60. 

Was just tired of working hard every time to keep the game live and not fall off between days away for work. Would get to a good level, have a busy month and then spend another month trying to get back. 

 

Said enough was enough, and bought the G430 4-7 hybrids. 

 

In my early 30's, swing speed is 112 with the driver, personal best indoors of 119. I am on the lower launching/spin side (85-90 foot apex with irons, about 500-600 less than iron number through the bag). 

 

What I noticed in the first trackman session and three rounds with the hybrids...

 

3H: 245, 3000 and 47* descent angle

4H: 230, 4000 and 49* descent angle

5H: 215, 5000 and 50* descent angle

6H: 200, 6100 and 52* descent angle

7H: 185, 7200 and 54* descent angle

 

All peak height were between 118-128. Ball speeds are mid 140's to 150. 

 

Getting the extra 30-40 feet of height is a luxury. It's much easier (to me) knowing I can drop the launch down if needed but do not have to work to get height. To get any iron up into that 120-125 window was strenuous. These just come easy. I have been surprised to see both indoors and outdoors how consistent the faces are of the g430. Even when catching them low or intentionally trying to be super steep or shallow, there are no crazy kick ups in spin. Something else I have noticed is that these are not hitting a green and ripping back. They hit and just drop dead. 

 

One of my big issues is chest getting ahead of hands in transition, and these hybrids just allow a little more patience. 

 

Honeymoon period? Perhaps. But this is a change I wish I made in my early 20's. Not sure if anyone besides @Obee has gone to this extent, but, I highly recommend it. It changed both the way I play and think about the game. 

 

Current set up: g430 max 10k, g430 3-7H, i230 8 and 9i, 48/52/56/60 s159. 

More golfers should just use the clubs that help them play better. But unfortunately many would rather have bag cred than scorecard cred.

[animalgolfs]

9 minutes ago, gator022 said:

Those of you with a 7 wood in the bag too, what’s your next hybrid? I’m finding my 4h and 7w are about the same carry distance even though the lofts are 19.5 and 22 and the 7 wood is longer. It’s a higher ball flight.

 

I’m tempted to try or look at 7w 5h and then 6 iron.

 

Haven’t tried a 6 hybrid yet but not against it….

7w > 5h works fine - I was shocked at the 5h covering the gap...but it does effortlessly.  I also carry a 9w but the 9w/5h are basically the same,  just different trajectories getting there

[NRJyzr]

Reading this thread is ironic for me, I just went in the other direction.  LOL

 

[adamc92]

6 hours ago, runningblind11 said:

I have wanted to do this, but never pulled the trigger.  What shafts are you using in these?  I am similar driver SS, and have had the Ventus 10x in hybrids with success. 

 

Using the stock Alta CB black 70 S in each. Driver is the 65 S. 

Edited May 9 by adamc92