A hybrid golf club is an iron or wedge that has been totally redesigned to incorporate the many positive characteristics found in woods, including a wider sole, gear-effect spin correction and a larger head. The result is a forgiving, easy-to-hit replacement for conventional irons.
Most hybrid irons have the same loft, length and weight as a traditional iron and are direct number replacements to their iron counterparts. For example, a #7 hybrid iron (7-hybrid) will replace a #7 traditional iron (7-iron).
While some golfers like the added confidence of the large heads of high-lofted woods, others appreciate the medium size of hybrids for shots out of the rough. Golfers also appreciate the hosel offset built into many hybrids, which can reduce the tendency to slice the ball.
Another wood characteristic you’ll notice right away on hybrid irons #1-9 is their curved faces, an effect known as “bulge and roll.” As with drivers and fairway woods, this curvature creates the shot correction called “gear effect,” which naturally straightens shots hit on the toe or heel.
How hybrids are used: Hybrids are played using the same or similar ball position as traditional irons. Your hybrids should also be built to the same length, flex and swingweight as your irons. Many golfers have found great success by replacing their traditional irons with hybrid irons, especially players who prefer to sweep the ball off the ground rather than hitting down and taking divots.
Hybrid wedges: These clubs are better out of long grass than traditional wedges because they tend to glide through the blades and are less likely to get hung up. The hybrid sand wedge is much simpler to hit than a traditional sand wedge because it doesn’t require a special setup for bunker shots; simply set up and swing as on a normal iron shot, hitting about 1.5 inches behind the ball. Using a hybrid from the sand removes a lot of variables, so all you need to think about is how hard to swing.
