Hybrid golf clubs have had a profound impact on the game of golf since they appeared on the scene in the late 1990s. They are highly adaptable to most hitting situations on the course, making them useful for a variety of distances and prompting "Golf Digest" to call them "the one club you need." Many golfers find that it is easier to get a clean hit from a hybrid than it is from a long iron or a fairway wood.
Long Distances
Hybrid clubs first gained wide use as a substitute for both fairway woods and long irons when shooting from distances greater than 160 yards from the hole. Though hybrid clubs are shorter than fairway woods or irons, the longest hybrids can cover distances from 160 yards to more than 200 yards depending on your swing. "Golf Digest" notes that use for long distances remains typical on the PGA Tour, as only 10 players at the U.S. Open in 2009 carried a 2-iron on the extremely long Bethpage Black golf course.
From the Rough
Hybrids achieve better distance from the rough than long irons or fairway woods because of their unique head shape. Fairways woods are best when used with a sweeping motion along the grass, so they become impractical from the rough. Irons are capable of digging a divot for a better shot from the rough, but their large face can create resistance in the turf and slow your swing speed. Hybrid irons have the small face of a fairway wood but the loft angle of an iron, so they can launch a ball from the rough easily and achieve greater distance.
Swing Speed
How fast you can swing the club may affect what distance gains you experience, if any, when using a hybrid. According to the Golf Club Revue website, the average player with a moderate swing speed can expect to gain five to eight yards on his swing simply by switching to hybrid clubs. If you are a skillful golfer and have a fast swing speed, these gains may be lessened or nonexistent.
Roll
One area that you may experience a slight distance loss when using a hybrid club is if you want to hit a low trajectory shot and allow the ball to roll on the fairway. Because of the head design on hybrids, they typically get under the ball more and create greater backspin, which in turn cuts down on forward roll after the ball lands. This feature can be useful when using hybrids to stop a shot on or near the green.
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