Golfers have quickly taken to hybrid clubs, with half of all players carrying at least one, according to "Golf Digest." The clubs, which feature a sole about half as much as a fairway wood and twice as much as an iron, are easier to hit longer and farther than equivalent irons. Instructors say the proper way to hit these clubs is much the same way you already hit irons or fairway woods.
Step 1
Swing fully, just as you do with any club. Keep your arms from racing ahead in the swing, says Hank Haney, Tiger Woods' former swing coach. Complete the swing with a balanced finish on the left leg for right-handed golfers.
Step 2
Hit the hybrid down and through, just like with an iron, if the ball is sitting down a bit in the grass. Hit the ball first, then take a divot after, says top Canadian teacher Shawn Clement.
Step 3
Swing the hybrid as you would a fairway wood when you have a good lie in which the ball is sitting up on the grass. If you're a right-handed golfer, tilt your spine slightly to the right to help you swing on the correct path and plane. Use the sole of the club to skip off the turf as it hits the ball, which will make the ball fly higher.
Tips and Warnings
- The best way to find what kind of hybrid you need is to try different degrees of loft while measured by a launch monitor, a radar device that measures ball speed, launch angle and spin rate of a shot. Many pro shops will let you use their monitor if you're in the market to buy a club. Look for the club that fulfills the yardage you need to replace a 3-iron, 4-iron or both.
- Not every 3 hybrid and 4 hybrid is the same. A survey of 2010 hybrid offerings from Callaway, TaylorMade, Adams and Ping shows 3 degrees difference in loft in 3 hybrids and up to 5 degrees difference among 4 hybrids. When buying a hybrid, check for the degrees in loft of the club, not the generic number the manufacturer applies.
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