The industry is known to be very inventive. After the loft of golf clubs became less and less over time and the difficulty of the so-called “long irons” increased at the same time, the hybrid was born. This is one of the reasons why sets from 5 iron upwards are sold today; the longer irons can easily be replaced with hybrids. The advantage of hybrids is that the center of gravity is low and very close to the clubface. Hybrids are therefore easier to play than long irons.
The evolution of the loft – example: 4 Iron
| 1960s & 70s | 1980s | early 1990s | late 1990s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 iron | Loft: 28° | Loft: 26° | Loft: 25° | Loft: 23° – 24° |
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The Golf Hybrid is the replacement for irons
A hybrid should primarily be regarded as a replacement club for an iron. Due to the shaft length, a hybrid 5 replaces a 4 iron, a hybrid 4 a 3 iron and so on. You can find out how to find the right irons here. Alternatively, if you assume that a golfer always swings the ball the same way, a hybrid 3 can also replace a 5 wood, a hybrid 4 a 7 wood and a hybrid 5 a 9 wood. You can find out how to find the right woods here. Basically, however, humans are not robots, so it is always a question of swing type and preference.
The steeper the swing, the more likely a golf hybrid
The combination of hybrids in the bag is usually determined according to the golfer’s swing speed and preference. It is quite possible that up to three hybrids are suitable for the player. However, hybrids are not suitable for every swing type. As a guide, the steeper the vertical angle of attack, the better suited you are to hybrid clubs and the more you can carry in your golf bag. The flatter the impact angle, the less or no hybrids are recommended.
Loft intervals of the hybrids depend on swing speed
At a swing speed of less than 50 miles per hour (approx. 80 km/h; e.g. with the 6 iron), a loft interval of five to six degrees between hybrids is recommended. At a swing speed of up to 75 miles per hour (120 km/h, 6 iron), a loft interval of four to five degrees is recommended; at more than 75 miles per hour (6 iron), three to four degrees between the hybrids. You can find out how to increase your swing speed here.
| swing speed (with a 6 iron) | 50 Mph | 75 Mph | more than 75 Mph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft-Intervall between the hybrids | 5° – 6° | 4° – 5° | 3° – 4° |
Is the focus on length or precision? As hybrids are primarily iron replacement clubs, it is generally clear that precision is the main focus with these tools. So don’t expect extra length in your shots. If you are looking for length, you should consider woods.
Ball position like a wood or more like an iron?
Ball position like a wood or more like an iron? Experience has shown that if you position the ball like a wood, it will be topped with the hybrids. The ball position should be more like a 5 iron, even if hybrids are visually closer to woods. The ball flight height of the hybrid is flatter compared to irons and higher compared to woods.