Time well spent.

[buteman]

I have been quite frustrated by my iron play lately, yesterday I went out to the local golf course with a golfing buddy who is a fine player. We chatted about my swing thoughts regarding my irons and he took a good look at my swing. It seems I was more concerned about the plane than I was about executing the shot, we made a slight change on my takeaway ( we produced a swing that was slightly inside out ). What a tremendous difference that small adjustment made, contact was crisp, distance was there. I carry two hybrids in my bag, both Nickent, one is 20 degree #3, the other 23 degree #4, they are great clubs for me as I don't hit long irons the way I used to 30 years ago. We were on the tee on a hole that was playing 239 yards, I happened to mention that this particular hole was an " in between clubs hole " I can't reach it with my #3 hybrid, I carry a strong 3 wood and have used it on this hole and twice put it in a nasty bunker at the back of the green. My buddy said " try this " and handed me a "Fusion" hybrid with 15 degree of loft, the first shot I hit had me dumbstruck, just right of center with a wee draw, pin high, 20 feet. Unreal it was indeed, being " Mothers day " the course was near empty, into my bag I went and pulled out a pack of Pro-V's three more shots with this hybrid, two on the green and one slightly pulled green high just off the fringe. So you can imagine what I will be shopping for today, anyone else out there who uses a low lofted hybrid ? I would be very interested in your opinions, thanks, buteman.

[RandomHero1090]

Re: Time well spent.

I have been quite frustrated by my iron play lately, yesterday I went out to the local golf course with a golfing buddy who is a fine player. We chatted about my swing thoughts regarding my irons and he took a good look at my swing. It seems I was more concerned about the plane than I was about executing the shot, we made a slight change on my takeaway ( we produced a swing that was slightly inside out ). What a tremendous difference that small adjustment made, contact was crisp, distance was there. I carry two hybrids in my bag, both Nickent, one is 20 degree #3, the other 23 degree #4, they are great clubs for me as I don't hit long irons the way I used to 30 years ago. We were on the tee on a hole that was playing 239 yards, I happened to mention that this particular hole was an " in between clubs hole " I can't reach it with my #3 hybrid, I carry a strong 3 wood and have used it on this hole and twice put it in a nasty bunker at the back of the green. My buddy said " try this " and handed me a "Fusion" hybrid with 15 degree of loft, the first shot I hit had me dumbstruck, just right of center with a wee draw, pin high, 20 feet. Unreal it was indeed, being " Mothers day " the course was near empty, into my bag I went and pulled out a pack of Pro-V's three more shots with this hybrid, two on the green and one slightly pulled green high just off the fringe. So you can imagine what I will be shopping for today, anyone else out there who uses a low lofted hybrid ? I would be very interested in your opinions, thanks, buteman.

The lower lofted clubs in my bag a a bit messy right now. Because TaylorMade's irons are a bit stronger in loft than a lot of other clubs out there (a 3 iron from TM is 19*). So I carry a strong 5 wood now, along with a 14* 3 wood. Its not a bad mix, but my 3i hybrid and 5 wood are really close in degree. However, the length of my 5 wood helps me hit it a bit farther than my hybrid.

Which brings me to my next point. Hybrids usually have a shorter shaft than a fairway wood of the same degree. The TM Rescue Dual 16* is 41", while the TM r7 Steel 16.5* Fairway Wood is 42.5". You will have better control with the hybrid and better distance than the fairway wood.

I have seen the "bags" of a lot of tour pros out there. Several are dropping 4/5 woods and picking up hybrids. Henrik Stenson plays a 17* hybrid and his carry yardage with it is listed at 240! He already hits the ball long enough, he probably gets better control from the hybrid vs. the fairway wood. Then again, the guy plays a 12.5* strong 3 wood too.

You have to hit them before you buy them. They are all so different. But I really liked my HALO and I love my Dual. Different strokes for different folks. Just look at TaylorMade's website. They now offer 5 different hybrid.

I think you will see more and more hybrid sets like Adams Golf offers...replacing, at least, the 3i & 4i with hybrids. Check out the Cleveland HiBore iron set!

Hybrids are here to stay...