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Tom's Featured Tip: Hybrids - Pretty Much All You Need To Know
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Hybrids - Pretty Much All You Need To Know
For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.
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Hybrids - Pretty Much All You Need To Know
I received an email from Rich B., who I gave couples lessons to - Rich and his wife - several years back. In the email he asked "Hi Tom, what's your thought of using a full set of hybrids and what brand would you recommend?".
Thanks for the question Rich.
My thoughts on using a full set of hybrids are: go for it if that's what you need.
The swing and age profile that would benefit from hybrids are
- If you prefer, or have gravitated to, a more sweeping than downward attacking type of swing, hybrids are for you.
- Senior golfers often prefer this type of club because of age related slower swing speed.
I'll give you buying recommendations after these Ten reasons why a switch to hybrids might help your game (credits to Tom Stickney):
- If your handicap is higher than 3
Higher handicap golfers must use hybrids because, generally speaking, they don't have the club head and ball speed to use long irons effectively. Shots with long irons that don't have ample speed will come out too low, have too little spin, and run off the back of greens. Remember that hybrids are designed to launch the ball higher, spin more, and come into the green softer; all things that the average player will find supremely beneficial.
The higher your handicap, the more fairway woods and hybrids you should have. A general rule of thumb:- 25+ handicappers should start their iron set with a 7 iron.
- 12-25 handicappers should start their iron set with a 6 iron.
- 10 handicappers or less should start their iron set with a 5 iron.
- 5 handicappers or less should start their iron set with a 4 iron.
- If you’re a flat-ball hitter
An LPGA Tour players’ average apex height with their driver is roughly 75 feet, and most amateurs never even get close to that height! Most average average players hit their long irons in the 45-60-foot range, with landing angles in the 20s and 30s. At that height, golfers simply do not hit the ball high enough to hold the green, which leads to hitting less greens in regulation.
- If your misses tend to be thin and right with long irons
The thin miss with a long iron comes from the player trying to lift the ball into the air, causing the hands to flip prematurely. This moves the low point of the swing too far behind the ball, and in an effort to avoid pounding the club into the ground, the player catches the ball thin.
There are three reason why hybrids help to eliminate this miss:- The center of gravity is farther back and lower, which helps lift the ball into the air.
- They’re less intimidating. Golfers know, from experience, how much easier and more forgiving higher-lofted woods and hybrids are to hit up into the air, which instills confidence.
- Vertical gear effect, will help increase spin on shots hit low on the face.
- If you've noticed your club head speed lagging over the last few years
While losing a little swing speed isn't earth shattering, hybrids will be more convenient as your speed decreases. The slower your swing speed, the less ball speed you can achieve, and the flatter the ball will launch; all bad things if you need to stop the ball on the green. Most of the time, and especially in this circumstance, adding height increases distance.
- If the course you play has lots of elevated greens
Whenever you’re hitting into an elevated green, your ball is naturally coming in flatter due to the rise of the slope and the reduced decent time of the golf ball from its apex. Therefore, a golf ball coming in higher will help offset the negative effects of the slope on your approach, and the ball stop quicker on the green. Hybrids offer that solution.
- If your long irons tend to chase off the back of the green after landing
Whenever you have a lack of speed, a lack of apex height and a lack of spin, you will have a flatter launch angle and thus, a flatter angle of descent into the green. Why would you want your longer irons chasing? Hybrids will allow the ball to stop because it counters all the above factors. However, if you play in hard and windy conditions, then it might be a good idea to have the long irons handy, because if it gets too blustery, a high and spinning shot will balloon. Approach shots are all about controlling angle of descent.
- If your course has tight fairways
Hybrids for the average player are easier to hit, we know, and this helps a player make better swings on more difficult driving holes. Your worst long-iron swings are almost always worse than your worst hybrid swings. Hit 1,000 shots off the tee with each, and I'll bet you put more hybrids in play.
From a more scientific standpoint, the softer landing angle and added spin produced by a hybrid will keep the ball from running too much when it lands. Tour pros use driving irons (which are basically part long iron/part hybrid) because they have a touch more versatility than hybrids when it comes to shaping shots and changing trajectory. The tour pros don't need the forgiveness, they need the control - but we aren't tour pros.
- If you play a "distance" ball
If you play a distance ball, chances are that you don't have the club and ball speed necessary to spin the ball and get the ball up high enough. The carry distance between irons should have consistent separation throughout the bag. The last thing you want to see during gap testing is your shots separated by 7-12 yards in all your irons until you reach a certain length of iron, then have your carry distances close in while the run out increases. Once you start seeing the plateau, that’s where you should start adding in hybrids.
- If you struggle hitting the ball solid with your irons
Hybrids can work with varying angles of attack unlike long irons - some good players are more sweepy, while others are a touch more diggy.
As discussed, hybrids are designed with this in mind: they have a wider sole, a lower and further back center of gravity, plus bulge/roll on their faces, which aids gear effect. These are all great designs that help the average player with impact and control. From a psychological standpoint, if you think something is easier to hit, you will make more relaxed golf swings.
- If you want to play better
Golf is hard enough without letting our egos get in the way!
If you have any of the weaknesses in your game (above) that a hybrid can help to correct, why not give them a try?
Hybrids - Where To Buy
The first thing that I want to say is this - I make absolutely zero money or other consideration from the recommendation below. I am recommending based on my personal use of their products and more importantly because of the unusually excellent quality control that they utilize in their shaft selection.
I've tried hybrids from several different big name manufacturers over the last few years, including my go to for my irons, Callaway.
In my research, I came across Thomas Golf. I had purchased a couple broomstick handle putters from them several years back, and I liked the quality of their work.
I had some email and phone conversations about a question I had on the correct shaft flex for me. I talked to their master clubfitter and he gave me his time and his recommendation. More importantly, he said something that resonated with me to the point where I wholeheartedly recommend them. He told me unequivocally that they frequency test each shaft to insure that you get the shaft flex that you order every time.
That's HUGE - a manufacturer that adheres to strict shaft flex measurement standards.
I recently sent them an email regarding their ability to make single length irons, and they replied with a very well thought out and detailed response.
I've saved the best for last - their products only cost a whole lot less than what you will spend on hybrids from any of the big name brands.
The hybrids and woods that I bought from them are more comfortable to hit than any of the (many) major brands that I own.
So check out their website ThomasGolf.com if you are in the market for a hybrid - or other clubs. You'll like them as much as I do.
Try it, you'll like it.
Email Comments: to TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, The Stack and Tilt Swing
Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,
Tom
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All the best,
Tom Tucker
Teaching Professional, Batavia Country Club
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach
Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
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