golfrewind.com

I've spent a bit of time looking over this site and seen many posts from people recomending hybrids because they are easier to hit, easier from the rough and stop quicker if attacking a green.

But the only argument for using irons i've seen is "I dont need hybrids I hit my irons just fine".

Which is not a reason to use irons, just a reason to not spend money.

So what, if any are the advantages of using irons instead of hybrids?

Only ever hit a hybrid once myself.

Irons offer a lower trajectory and many people are just more comfortable with an iron. I for one have always hooked hybrids until I tried the Adams Idea Pro's. I would rather use the irons which I would hit stright or fade 9/10 times then hit a shot left 2/5 of the time. Most hybrids have a bit of offset to to make them easier to hit and this for people having trouble hitting left it is a death trap.

And if you do hit your irons just fine then that is a reason not to switch to a hybrid. Why spend money on something youre gonna to hit the same?

I had a set of three hybrids (18°, 21°, 23°) I bought when I was having trouble hitting my 5 FW, 3i, and 4i. They worked great for about 6-8 months, which for me at the time was probably 12 rounds of golf. Then I started playing more often, and found I was losing accuracy and distance with them. I took out the 18° out and put my 5FW back in, and started hitting the FW very well. Finally put my 3i and 4i back in the bag and have been hitting them pretty well - a lot more accurately and consistent distances.

I think what happened was I started practicing my short game more - 8i thru PW - and the swing I developed for those "irons" was better suited to the longer irons than the hybrids. Suddenly the irons were just more comfortable to swing. I still keep one hybrid, the 23°, in my bag when I play a course with heavier grass in the first cut off the fairway, as it helps get the ball out without the grass grabbing the hosel as much as it would on my 5i.

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I only carry one hybrid and I think it's a great club and it replaces my 2-iron. I still carry a 3 - PW a Gap and Sand wedge.

But I agree that irons are more shape-able, offer a lower trajectory, and are generally more accurate. But a hybrid is excellent out of rough and sand. They can be shaped to an extent they are generally longer hitting than the club it replaces and that makes it very useful.

I will sometimes remove my hybrid and replace it with my 2-iron if I know it's going to be windy. The boring flight of a 2-iron is generally preferable than the higher launch characteristics of the hybrid, (both are 18 deg. lofts).

My hybrid has a square head and little offset because I wanted something that played more like my 2-iron rather than a fairway wood or rescue club.

Dollar for dollar, I believe that the advantages of carrying a hybrid outweigh the advantages of a long iron. They're easier to hit, they can be shaped, (though maybe not as accurately as an iron), they're great out of many non-faiway lies and their distance is longer. In my opinion, except for windy conditions, I can't see a bigger advantage in a long iron. Hybrids just have too many good points to be ignored.



-JP

This is a great string, some good info here. I hit my 3 iron fine and everyone told me a hybrid will shave strokes so I got a Sonartec MD-99 (used/cheap). I draw the **** out of it and it consistently goes left off the turf/tee/wherever. I do hit it longer than my 3 iron though so I'm interested in finding a hybrid that would work for me. I hear now that there are some hybrids that are more like irons and those would be better for iron players. Does anyone have insight on this? It sounds like Adams Idea is good club that is closer to iron setup.

I just posted a mini-review on the new Cleveland Hibore Hybrid Irons....which I bought right away! How much do I like them?..........

EGO

I'm sorry Mr3856a but I have to disagree. IF you are like me and have trouble left/hooking then a hybrid is a horrible club choice to choose. Most with one or two exceptions are made with alot of offset and can be even worse or a club than a 3 or 4 iron. The only reason I'm playing a hybrid is because I had it bent open by my club fitter and my set came with it. I would much rather play a 3 iron as I can hit that consistantly and with a much lower trajectory and the super high shots I hit with the adams hybrid. Mind you they go the same distance on a day with no wind but playing a 3 iron does have its advantages over a hybrid. Also people with very high swing speeds will not benefit from a hybrid. Look in the January edition of Golf Digest where it describes this. (Mind you that is with swing speeds of 115-125)

if you want a wood based hybrid that is not draw biased, also try the Titleist 585h. in the iron based hybrid category, i've heard good things about the mizuno MP-FLI-HI.

good luck.

Couple things... (sorry for Jackin' the thread guys)

First... how is A.L Gustin looking these days? It's been about 8 years since I played it last.

Second... with higher swing speeds, would replacing a higher lofted wood with the hybrid be more beneficial than replacing the long iron? I'm considering putting a hybrid in the bag instead of a 5-wood when I play courses that need it.

gl2u

from my experience with hybrids is that you must "hit" the ball as opposed to striking the ball. By that I mean that you have to have more of a sweep style swing like a driver or wood swing that in my opinion would acount to the higher trajectory and less workability. I'm not sure weather or not the hybrids would create more spin than a long iron or not but with the sweep style of swing needed to hit them I tend to have many more mishits, thin shots bladed shots shots off the toe or heel than I do with an iron.

Just thought I would throw my perspective out there for you since you were wanting some insight on why to hit an iron over a hybrid.

Zebra

Gustin is decent. The greens are ok but recently they have been horrible with so many pitch marks not repaired. The placed some tee boxes but others remain uneven. Overall I cant really complain about $12 green fees.

As to the hybrid/wood question - Different strokes, different folks. To me they almost act the same but I prefer a smaller profile head of the hybrid if I was going to go with a 3 iron replacement.

Gustin sees alot of play. I remember when I went to school there it was never in very good condition, but then again it was never in bad condition either.

I think Zebra nailed it, at least for me, in that my sweeping swing is more suited for a hybrid than a long iron. Although it's been awhile since I tried a long iron, but my hybrid game works well so if ain't broke...

Some great replies there. Thanks everyone.

You answered your own question. If you hook, any club with an offset/draw bias is not going to work for you, be it a hybrid, driver, or a sand wedge. And it is true that guys with a swing speed of 115+ might have ballooning problems, how many of us have that type of swing speed?