Because hybrid clubs were created as a synergy between irons and fairway woods, the senior golfer may be confused how to hit the hybrid. Should the set up and swing be like an iron or fairway wood?

The first thing the senior should know is there are differences in the swing between irons and fairway woods. An iron should have a slightly steeper angle of attack, striking down through the ball, imparting backspin on the ball and creating a divot after impact. The fairway wood requires a more sweeping action during the swing in which a shallower angle of attack is needed to sweep the ball off the turf because of the lower loft. Because the hybrid is generally designed to take the place of long irons with comparable degrees of loft, they should be played more likes irons with the senior golfer trying to create a slightly descending blow.

When using hybrids, the senior golfer should not make massive adjustments at set up. They can play the hybrid club like a mid to long iron depending on how much loft the hybrid has. If the hybrid has a middle iron loft (5 iron or 6 iron) they can set up for a middle iron shot. Most hybrids are designed to take the place of long irons (2,3,4 iron) as these are generally the most difficult clubs to hit.

1. The ball position will be equivalent to the loft of long iron it’s replacing, just forward of centre with a 4 iron for example.

2. The feet, hips and shoulders should all be aligned as normal (square to the ball-to-target line)

3. When swinging the hybrid comes ‘down and through’ impact. This is an iron action. Unlike a fairway wood shot where the senior wants to ‘sweep’ the ball away, a hybrid shot needs some extra backspin.

4. The senior golfer doesn’t want to produce a large divot, a slight divot is desirable.

Because of the hybrid design there is lots of perimeter weighting around the club to help lift the ball into the air so the senior golfer should not try to help the ball up, they should trust the club’s loft.

Flicking the hands at the ball or letting the left wrist (for a right handed golfer) break down at impact would be a mistake. The senior golfer should also be careful about leaving too much weight on the back foot. Through the hybrid swing, the senior should be moving forward on to the front foot.

This weight transfer towards the target will also help the senior golfer strike down and through the shot delivering a real ‘punch’ of power into the ball.