Re: Question about hybrids

That depends. What loft is your current 3i?

Re: Question about hybrids

I wasn't able to find the loft on my 3i, so for arguments sake lets say I don't have one. The loft on my 4i is 25 degrees. So it looks like the hybrid with 23 degrees loft might be the right choice for me. I would think that the hybrid with 23 degrees loft should go at least 10 yards further than my 4i with 25 degrees loft.

Re: Question about hybrids

Well, 19 from 25 is 6, so you could split the distance and go with a 22.

In my own bag I have a 27 5i a 23.5 4h and a 17 2h Yes, it's 6.5 degrees, but I'm not really attacking pins with my 2 and 4h.

Perhaps play a little without something between your 5w and 4i and see if you 'miss it'. You may find a simple chokedown on the 5w is all you need.

Re: Question about hybrids

LowPost42,

Is it not true that the lofts of the the hybrid and the iron it replaces do not match up? The replacement is in fact not as much to match the lofts, but the end relative distance and performance.

The 3 iron has a loft of what, 22-24 degrees? the 3 hybrid has a loft of what, 18 -20 degrees?

For instance, the 3 hybrid supposedly replaces the 3 iron, to hit the same distance. That may be true for a top golfer, but as it relates to guys like me I couldn't hit the 3 iron worth a darn, and certainly not near the distance it's rated to go in the hands of a top golfer. But, I would be able to hit the 3 hybrid very acceptablyy in distance and with more accuracy and height, than most of my long irons. It's got a shorter shaft, the head has a larger MOI and more weight to the back.

For me, it's not a matter of getting hybrids to necessarily replace the same number irons or woods distances per se, but it's to fit the performance I personally would get from the clubs, i.e. to fit into the ranges of the other clubs in my bag. In this regard, I still have a 5 wood at 19 degrees, because I can't hit the 4 hybrid (in my case) the same distance as the 5 wood, but I did replace the old 26 degree 7 wood with the 4 hybid. I have a 5 hybrid also, which is a dream.

As I hit the 4 hybrid so well, I'm thinking about bending the loft stronger to sneak a few more yards in distance.

Regards,

Ted

Re: Question about hybrids

I know some golf shops have simulators where you can test out clubs. Maybe they will let me use it to see whether I need a 3 hybrid or a 4 hybrid.

Re: Question about hybrids

Oh, oh, LowPost42, our posts crossed again I see. My post was meant to be after your initial reply.

I hope I didn't mess up the dialogue.

Regards,

Ted

Re: Question about hybrids

That to me is a must, at the least.

I have had so many clubs, some were disasters. They had the name, they felt good when I hefted them in the store, but once I used them in play, they were not for me.

Lately, the good stores came up with the simulators, which give a better idea.

I don't know if you have any stores, which give you a club (wood or iron from the set) on loan. You leave a credit card blank with them, they tape up the face and sole, and let you try it for a weekend. Short of breaking the shaft, and with you taking care not to hit it off gravel and such, there is no obligation on your part to buy it. I've taken many clubs out that way.

Here's another one. I would believe it's a global deal, but not sure. I bought a Adams boxter hybrid a couple of months ago. On the face of it was a stick on label which said 3 months unconditional return guarantee. I asked the store manager, if that was true. He shrugged his shoulder, and said if Adams was offering it, it's no skin off his back. I never did find reason to return it. The price was sweet too.

Ted

Re: Question about hybrids

Now I'm thinking about going with a 7-wood with 21 degrees loft. Is there much difference between a 7-wood and a 3-hybrid as far as purpose goes?

Re: Question about hybrids

Generally speaking the difference between the two is that a fairway wood will be lighter with a deeper center of gravity - increasing launch angle and playing at a longer length. Conversely, the hybrid will be heavier and shorter with a CoG closer to the face; however both the hybrid and the fairway wood will launch higher than a 21 degree iron.

Re: Question about hybrids

As far as purpose is concerned, my old (very old) 7-wood was 26 degrees. The newer ones decreased the lofts, but in their designs are able to get the same launch as the old ones, so your 7-wood could be 21 degrees.

My swap from the 7 wood to the 4 hybrid gave me the same effective distance, but as LowPost42 says, the 7 wood launch is higher. However, the hybrid launch is acceptably high, so there is no problem hitting to greens.

Ted

Re: Question about hybrids

Sorry if I sound like I am beating a dead horse but I want to make sure I understand something. It is my understanding that people mainly use hybrids because they are easier to hit than long irons. Are 7-woods also easier to hit than long irons?

Re: Question about hybrids

For the most part, yes.

Re: Question about hybrids

i agree.

I bought one of the early 7-woods available, because Trevino had one in his bag and used it effectively. Back then, I was a hacker and did not have a proper swing. So, it was a revelation, to get the height as well as a straight long shot. which if I tried to get with a 3 or 4 iron to go that distance, it would likely slice. I used to hit it 200 yards. I've had several 7 woods over the years and they were one of my favourite clubs in the bag.

The loft of the 7 wood provides more backspin, which over-rides the side spin of the long iron shots, to make it a dependable straight hitting club. Vijay Singh, for years, carried what he calls a 9 wood, which to quote - " My other fairway wood is a Callaway Big Bertha Steelhead 9-wood bent 7 degrees open to a 7-wood loft, but it behaves like a 5-wood. I can hit it high and about 240 yards. It's got an Apollo Tour graphite shaft.". I believe Rich Beem used a TaylorMade 7 wood bent to a 5 wood to win the PGA Championship.

These clubs (lofted woods) also get the ball out of the rough a lot easier, with the higher launch, and with the mass being able to get through the grass before impacting the ball.

The hybrids get the ball higher than the irons, but not as high as say the 7 wood. The clubs are shorter, so you get more control.

Ted