Developed as a combination of a fairway wood and an iron, the hybrid molds the reasons a golfer would use the two types of clubs into one easier-to-hit golf club. You should be able to use a hybrid in the same manner as you would use a long iron (2-iron through 5-iron), but with more distance.
Characteristics of the Hybrid
Hybrids are designed to be easy to hit, no matter if you strike the ball on the "sweet spot" or if you are off-center a bit. Hybrid golf clubs have a flat face, like an iron, but also the wide sole of a fairway wood. The smaller club head makes it easier to hit from the rough and longer grass, without the resistance you would feel from a fairway wood, at the same time provides much of the same loft as an iron. The basic idea of the hybrid is to be able to get the distance of a fairway wood with the trajectory of a long iron.
Problems Hybrids Help to Fix
While many problems with your golf game can be fixed by adjusting your swing, investing in hybrid clubs can be an easier, albeit more expensive solution. Since lower-lofted clubs like a 2- or 3-iron can be difficult to hit, the balance and wider sole of a hybrid can help you strike the ball cleaner with the same distance as these long irons. If over-swinging or an inability to fully swing the club is your problem, the hybrid requires less effort with more of a sweeping motion, similar to a fairway wood.
Yardage for Irons
Many players with golfing experience have an idea of how long they can hit each club in their bag. Professional golfers will generally be able to hit their irons farther than the average player, but since the vast majority of golfers are not professional, it is helpful to have an idea of how far an average golfer in normal conditions -- described by Leaderboard.com as a 40-year-old male in still wind -- can hit each iron in his bag. Leaderboard.com says that the nominal distances corresponding with common irons are as follows: 4-iron, 170 yards; 5-iron, 160 yards; 6-iron, 150 yards; 7-iron, 140 yards; 8-iron, 130 yards; 9-iron, 120 yards.
Yardage for Hybrids
The most common hybrids on the market are Nos. 2 through 5 hybrids, and average golfers will be able to hit these between 165 and 205 yards, making them a little longer than your average irons. The No. 2 hybrid hits the longest, at between 195 and 205 yards, with the other hybrid distances as follows: No. 3 hybrid, 185 to 190 yards; No. 4 hybrid, 180 to 185 yards; No. 5 hybrid, 165 to 170 yards.
How They Compare
The difficulty and inconsistency many golfers face with their long irons can be helped by the distance and forgiveness of a hybrid. The No. 4 hybrid adds about 15 to 20 yards past the distance an average golfer can hit her 4-iron. The lower hybrids hover around 200 yards, which would require almost a perfect shot from an average golfer with a 2- or 3-iron. If you can afford to purchase hybrids, you almost are guaranteed to add distance and save strokes on the golf course.
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