[RoverRick]

I have a poll going on another thread and it asks what you carry in your bag in terms of woods, hybrids, and wedges. Most responders do not vary their set ups and most carry 1 or more hybrids. I usually carry two hybrids but erroneously thought that it was better to have irons than hybrids because they are easier to keep down in high winds. Of course this depends on your hybrids. If you have game improvement hybrids that are designed to get the ball up no matter what then this may not be the case but mine are not. On windy days, and there are a lot of those, I would leave one or both at home and take the long irons.

Today, 35-40 mph winds, I went out and played 9 holes for practice. I took both my irons and hybrids ahd hit one of each every time I needed to and several other times just to practice and do my test. I discovered something very interesting. Of course since the shafts are longer on the hybrids the distance is not exactly apples to apples. But I am happy to report that hit the all of the clubs pretty flush everytime today. I hit draws and fades and high shots and low shots with all four of these clubs. What I found was the distance was of course longer with the hybrids, but in every case I was in better shape after hitting the hybrid verses the iron. I never had one that was much different but each one was marginally better. Now, I was striking all of the clubs well today but believe me, I took extra time with the irons verses the hybrids.


Also, you can jack around with the lofts and lengths of the hybrids and choke up or down or whatever and cover the same distance with 2 hybrids as you can say with a 5 wood, 3 iron and 4 iron. This opens up a spot for an additional wedge. I played Tuesday with an older gentleman who made a comment about me using a hybrid verses a long iron. And he talked about how much better he hit the irons than the hybrid. All I can say is with the proper hybrid (and practice) it is always better to have the hybrid than the long iron. Well struck balls with both clubs, you end up better off.

For those of you who say that you can not hit a hybrid, try a different hybrid. They are definately not all the same.And leave your ego and your long irons at home.

[GolfSpy Tim]

I'm carrying a 5 wood, and a 21 and 24 hybrid.

The 3 wood and I have a LOVE and HATE relationship like no other, just not worth carrying.

I'm about convinced the 5 wood doesn't need to be in there either.

I'd love to get an 18 hybrid in place.

[stevenhw8]

I go driver, 3w, 21* hybrid if I remember correctly, 4 iron.

4 iron is used for around 190 yards (theoretically) and everything between that and the driver distance, I just let the 3w or 21* hybrid decide randomly. I'm not consistent enough with them, but usually hybrid covers the 200 gap and the 3w covers the 220 distance (exact distance for a par3 we have here so I just tee off with it).

In my case, it's not about ego. I simply hit the 4 iron much better than any hybrid. I keep going between 46 PW, 52, 58 and 46 PW, 50, 54, 58 set ups. I think I'll stay with the 4 wedge set up, full shots are just more comfortable for me.

[RoverRick]

The funny thing was I thought I hit my 4 iron better. Heck I thought I hit the three iron better also. I hit the 3 iron off the tee box and absolutely killed it. I thought well that answers the question. 235 right down the middle. Beautiful ball flight. Then hit the 19 hybrid 20 yards past it. Right down the middle. The next hole into the wind I hit the 4 iron and 21. 4 iron right to the front of the green 165. Hybrid 172 to 3 feet from the flag. Both knockdown rollers. Crosswind very similar results. Nothing feels better than a well struck long iron but. When I know I have to hit a little further I over swing and the result on mishits are much better with a hybrid the shocking thing is the results of great hits are also better.

[wdgolf]

Quote

I hit the 3 iron off the tee box and absolutely killed it. I thought well that answers the question. 235 right down the middle. Beautiful ball flight. Then hit the 19 hybrid 20 yards past it. Right down the middle. The next hole into the wind I hit the 4 iron and 21. 4 iron right to the front of the green 165. Hybrid 172 to 3 feet from the flag. Both knockdown rollers. Crosswind very similar results.

What are the lofts of your irons? Most 3 irons are 21*, so you shouldn't be able to hit the 3 iron further. Plus, as you said, the hybrid is a longer, lighter club.

Personally, I've never carried a 3 or 4 iron. I could probably hit them now, but I like my hybrids, they're very easy to hit. Most professionals these days also carry at least one hybrid, so I don't think it's an ego issue at this point. The real problem is club manufacturers still insist on selling most clubs as 3-PW sets instead of offering an option for replacing the long irons with hybrids.

[Jmikecpa]

I have not carried anything more than a five iron in years. A decade ago in college I actually put a Callaway Heavenwood in my bag and it stayed for years. Much like today's hybrids I could hit it from anywhere and play it in any condition.

[GolfSpy Matt]

RR: I think you're point of "try a different hybrid" is a good one. Hybrids vary A LOT and people don't consider that. Just because I don't hit an offset Cobra driver well doesn't mean I should give up on hitting driver, right? Same should apply to hybrids.

[RoverRick]

As far as hitting the clubs further, up until November, I could hit the ball a lot futher. But unfortunately, if I did that 32 times during a round of golf, my back would hurt that night and for the next couple of days. So I have the option. Have back surgery to repair a disc, or swing the golf club at what I think of as 75%. Now, the funny thing about the 75% swing is that it is repetitive in terms of distance and direction. So what I have noticed is that when I do this the ball lands in the same place everytime. I used to average 287 with the drive and hit 70% of the fairways. I also was hitting only 4 GIR or 22%. Now I am averageing about 255 but hitting 95% of the fairways and 65% GiR. My putts are up a little but my chipping is down and my scores are down.

On the opening hole at my club, I used to hit driver, pitching wedge, to a very sloped, very small green. I usually was just off the edge of the green and hoped to pitch it close and stop it below the hole. Now I hit driver 8 iron, but am usually on the green and can putt it so that I am right at the hole and get a four. Pars actually rule the day.

I have found that if you can make pars then you usually win. I have not calculated my handicap lately but i think when I do it again it will be reduced a couple of strokes. And reducing a 6 to a 4 is a pretty big deal.



As far as hybrids being different. They are like irons but even more so. There are game improvement versions, super game improvement versions, and "player" hybrids. The Nike VR Pro II look very good to me. That size hybrid is very workable and is much like the older Hogans that I have but with a hotter face and some other features. It took me some getting used to but the 909H I have has a little larger head and while still workable not near as much as the Hogans it replaced. But it also replaced a 5W. So, I gave up a bit of workablility to an additional wedge which is a much better trade in my opinion. But in all honesty it does not out perform the Hogan but is at least equal to it.

Callaway miss a tremendous opportunity when they boght Hogan. Hogan was one of the premier forged iron companies. Callaway was the dominant game improvement companies. If Callaway would have kept the Hogan line for players irons how many more people would be out there playing Callaway-Hogan X Forged than are playing the Razr Forged. I know I would have a set of them. And probably have a lot more Callaway stuff.

I played Adams, Ping, Callaway, and Taylormade hybrids over the years a for a few rounds and did not like any of them. Too much offset in most cases and in all cases they simply did not out perform my Hogans. Two of my playing partners also hit Hogan Hybrid, They hit mine and liked it so much they bought them also. One guy has Adams a2OS irons but uses a Hogan 2 Hybrid for a 5 wood.

[Xamilo]

I don't carry any hybrids, not because of my "iron ego", but because I use a 7W 20º instead. I don't use a 4i (distance is mostly the same as the 7W so why bother?). As soon as I get some spare money I'm dropping my 5i for a Hybrid though

[RoverRick]

A point could be made that with an appropriate hybrid with its shorter shaft, you may be better off with a hybrid than a 7W but if it aint broke don't spend the money on it. Fix something that is broke. I had a Ping ISI 7W that had this tiny little head that I just loved. I replaced it with the hybrids in 2004. Plenty to spend the golf budget on without replacing working clubs.

[R.P. Jacobs II]

[quote name='GolfSpy Matt' date='25 February 2012 - 08:39 AM' timestamp='1330177153' post='52354']
RR: I think you're point of "try a different hybrid" is a good one. Hybrids vary A LOT and people don't consider that. Just because I don't hit an offset Cobra driver well doesn't mean I should give up on hitting driver, right? Same should apply to hybrids.
[/quot
Matt, I couldn't agree more..I was on the practice tee this past fall, next to a guy that I would guess was a 20-25 hdcp..He was attempting to hit a Nike VR Pro 21' PX 6.0..His ss was 85-90 w/a "soft" move from the top..Need I say more?..He turned to me & said, "I've never been able to hit a hybrid"..I looked in his bag & his other hybrid was a VR PRO 18', same shaft spec..I went up to the pro shop & got an Adams A12OS 22' w/a regular shaft..

He started hitting balls and actually was getting 165-175 yds air time & his misses were much, much better than the Nike..He was elated..My point is, how many guys are out there like this guy, who are hitting clubs that they have no business hitting, then they walk around saying that that type of club sucks?...I'm also sorta ashamed that he bought those clubs in our pro shop, though the asst. pro said this guy was set on getting the VR Pros..Oh well..The best...Fairways & Greens 4ever...

[ninjacobra]

i get confused with the current manufacturers jacked up lofts on hybrids. i use a R11 21 deg 4 hybrid to replace my 3 iron. should i be using a 19 to fill that gap? but that would kick my 5 wood out of the bag.

i might be able to replace my 4 iron but i love using it for punch shots out from trees, where i play is tight fairways with tall trees on both sides. ive jst nv been able to keep the ball punched out low and piercing from a tree root filled ground with a hybrid. maybe i jst need the right hybrid

[GolfSpy Tim]

this sport never ceases to amaze me with the amount of testosterone running through guys' brains, playing from the tips cause it seems cool when they can only drive 250 yards max, playing a stiff to x-stiff shaft just to they can tell their buddy they have it "cause they swing harder"

all to the end of causing them to play worst.

pondering how the sport as a whole can help guys starting out get into the right gear more easily.

is it their friends fault who lead them in and astray, or the manufacturer's faults for building what "sells" vs. what works?

sorry, taking this thread a different direction.

[ninjacobra]

GolfSpy Tim, on 26 February 2012 - 08:14 AM, said:

this sport never ceases to amaze me with the amount of testosterone running through guys' brains, playing from the tips cause it seems cool when they can only drive 250 yards max, playing a stiff to x-stiff shaft just to they can tell their buddy they have it "cause they swing harder"

all to the end of causing them to play worst.

pondering how the sport as a whole can help guys starting out get into the right gear more easily.

is it their friends fault who lead them in and astray, or the manufacturer's faults for building what "sells" vs. what works?

sorry, taking this thread a different direction.

when i first started playing my SS was 90mph and i got a reg Cobra Speed Ld driver abt 6 mths later it went up to 97 and the ball started to balloon on me and i had to upgrade. partially due to the head and also the really whippy reg shaft

sometimes is it really necessary to buy ur exact same specs if u knw ur probably gonna "outgrow" the clubs if ur a relatively new golfer? i think it really depends on ur budget.

on the other hand, the guy with the 80mph ss using a vr pro with Px6.0 reminds me of my buddy who jst started out and want to hit the same spec shafts that im using.

last friday when i was trying out the i20 and the R11s my buddy wanted to hit the same stiff flex driver that i was hitting. he hit a couple and the shaft being too heavy and boardy for him duffed the drives abt 140yards.
The store assistant being honest and not a vry good salesman he didnt really water down the truth and jst told him straight " with ur swing u shdnt be using a Px shaft at all"
needless to say, my friend didnt buy anything and on the way to the car said the launch monitor in the shop was broken and wants to try somewhere else

[R.P. Jacobs II]

GolfSpy Tim, on 25 February 2012 - 05:14 PM, said:

this sport never ceases to amaze me with the amount of testosterone running through guys' brains, playing from the tips cause it seems cool when they can only drive 250 yards max, playing a stiff to x-stiff shaft just to they can tell their buddy they have it "cause they swing harder"

all to the end of causing them to play worst.

pondering how the sport as a whole can help guys starting out get into the right gear more easily.

is it their friends fault who lead them in and astray, or the manufacturer's faults for building what "sells" vs. what works?

sorry, taking this thread a different direction.

Please axcuse me for going OT, because this could be a thread in & of itself, though I lay the "blame" @ the feet of the OEMs, though just as our goal is to go as low as possible, theirs is to sell as much as possible so I don't know what I'd do differently..I've lost count of the number of sales associates/asst. pros/pros that I've seen sell a club to a person that they had no business buying & even less chance of hitting effectively, & they all say the same thing: these guys come in with and wanted THAT brand/club..They couldn't move "em off it..So, unless the buyer can be educated BEFORE he hits the store/pro shop, they're gonna buy what they've got in their mind that they need..Sites like this are a great place to start, though peer pressure is a powerful thing, & there are alotta sheep out there...Fairways & Greens 4ever...