In the last few years we have been hearing more and more about Hybrid golf clubs. What is a Hybrid? Simply put it is a cross between a conventional iron and a fairway wood. Initially they were referred to as “rescue clubs and were mainly used to get out of trouble and thick long grass. They have exploded in popularity as many of us have learned that these clubs are good for much more than getting out of the rough. Many golfers struggle with long irons due to the small clubface and low loft, they require a certain amount of skill to use effectively. In contrast the hybrid golf club has a larger, deeper clubhead providing a lower center of gravity which helps us get more loft. The curved sole slides easily through turf and can also be used effectively from the tee box. Joan will attest to this as it was her Hybrid that gave her a hole in one at Radium.
The hybrid head shape makes it extremely versatile and they are useful for getting out of poor lies, punching out from between trees and also in bunkers or chipping around the green.
There are a few techniques that differ slightly to swinging a hybrid vs an iron. Avoid tension in your forearms and hands as you grip a hybrid. Too much tension can prevent you from generating maximum clubhead speed and rob you of distance. As a drill, take a normal grip with your fingers, but leave your thumbs off the shaft. Swing the club with a thumbless grip. This will naturally ease any tension in your forearms. Try hitting the ball with this loose grip on a driving range to get the feel of a relaxed swing.
Tee the ball up lower for a hybrid than for a wood or iron. With a driver, for example, about half the ball should sit above the clubhead when you place the clubhead next to the ball on the tee. Because hybrids make it easier to loft the ball, only about a quarter of the ball should sit above the clubhead when the ball is on the tee. When hitting a tee shot with a hybrid, swing as if it were a fairway wood; use a flat, sweeping swing instead of the upward swing required for a driver.
Swing down on the ball when hitting a hybrid in the fairway. Instead of hitting a hybrid like a fairway wood, which requires a sweeping swing that takes little if any divot, swing your hybrid in the fairway as you would an iron. Swing from a higher angle, and strike the ball on a downward arc, taking a divot in front of the ball after making contact. Trust the loft of the club, as well as the hybrid’s construction, to lift the ball off the ground.
Utility clubs and hybrids are a relatively recent addition to the assortment of golf clubs, and they are growing in popularity because they are designed to be easier to hit for recreational golfers. In fact, they are easier to hit for all golfers, and most touring pros now carry hybrids. But they are a particularly good choice for us gals who are not going on tour any time soon and just want to have fun.
The terms “utility clubs” and “hybrid clubs” are generally used interchangeably. They denote a category of clubs that combine elements of both woods and irons into their design.