Upgrading from Callaway XR Hybrids...Recommendations?

[golfish!]

Fellow MGS'ers (that could sound like a bad word...xP) I am looking for recommendations on upgrading from my current gamer hybrids, Callaway XR 3 and 4 hybrid. I do use both clubs more on the course in the past year as my swing has improved to the point I am able to make the long approaches into greens and also as long lay ups on par 5's. Just wondering if the tech has changed to the point it would be worth upgrading them to newer hybrids. Yes I know I should probably go for a fitting, which if I do decide to upgrade I definitely will but wondering if the tech has changed much in hybrids from 2015 (I believe that is when they were released). Thanks and look forward to everyone's input!

[CarlH]

Yes, the tech has changed enough to consider upgrading.  My recommendation would be to go to a club demo days (or, in lieu of that, a retail store) and hit some different ones.  A few minutes on a launch monitor will be sufficient to direct you to the right club/shaft combo.

[ballplayer002003]

I too am looking at getting a new hybrid this year.  It's a club I don't hit too much but want something more forgiving.  I am thinking of the new Titleist or Cobra hybrids but I plan on hitting them first.  I agree with CarlH, hit them first in a demo day or at a store (hopefully with a launch monitor).  Good luck and let me know what you decide on. 

[golfish!]

Yep I have to see some major improvement in distance or forgiveness to get into a new club. Entire bag is almost upgraded (got the Mavrik irons last year, just got the SIM2 driver) so thinking maybe time to look at a new hybrid. Will let you all know what I go with if I do get a new hybrid.

[ballplayer002003]

I am going for more forgiveness.  I have the Callaway Apex hybrid and it's not the most forgiving of clubs.  I know there are a lot of better options out there for me but for as little as I hit it, I also don't want to break the bank so I may look into something from last year as well.

[golfish!]

3 minutes ago, ballplayer002003 said:

I am going for more forgiveness.  I have the Callaway Apex hybrid and it's not the most forgiving of clubs.  I know there are a lot of better options out there for me but for as little as I hit it, I also don't want to break the bank so I may look into something from last year as well.

My buddy just traded in his Apex 19 hybrid for a SIM (last year model) rescue. I will let you know what he thinks of the new club.

[John W Sutch]

Expecting a Hogan VKTR+ to arrive today on a try and buy.  22deg, Recoil F2 a flex. Good reviews. So we'll see.  Looking to replace a 4 yr old Mizuno 919. Will report how that goes.

[golfish!]

34 minutes ago, John W Sutch said:

Expecting a Hogan VKTR+ to arrive today on a try and buy.  22deg, Recoil F2 a flex. Good reviews. So we'll see.  Looking to replace a 4 yr old Mizuno 919. Will report how that goes.

Nice! Did you look at the reviews of the member testing? I actually was a part of that test for the GS53 3 wood. From my range numbers, I am hitting that club and my 3 hybrid about the same carry on average but i think that is due to my skill and not the club. I have had some really good strikes on the 3W where I have carried 20 yards further than my best hit 3H.

[John W Sutch]

On 3/26/2021 at 1:52 PM, golfish! said:

Nice! Did you look at the reviews of the member testing? I actually was a part of that test for the GS53 3 wood. From my range numbers, I am hitting that club and my 3 hybrid about the same carry on average but i think that is due to my skill and not the club. I have had some really good strikes on the 3W where I have carried 20 yards further than my best hit 3H.

Did look at member testing reviews. Hybrid info was minimal. Only way to know if the club is any good is to try it yourself. Anyway got two nine hole rounds with the Hogan 4 hybrid on Fri and Sat. My impression so far is that the club is a fairway finder off the tee. Works well from the fairway and light rough. Am averaging 170 -175 yard carry. And the ball goes where you aim. Had two bad shots and they were from bad swings. Six shots from the tee with five in the fairway. The other drew left into a fairway bunker. Six shots from the fairway or rough with the two bad swings going right off the toe. Overall I'm impressed. Club is a quality build and looks good. Am playing again tomorrow and if I hit it well as I did last week will definitely keep the club.

[Kansas King]

Honestly, hybrids haven't changed that much the last five or so years. At best you'll get some tighter construction tolerances that maybe help move a few grams around but nothing major. They are all mostly made out of stainless and the smaller head construction really makes it challenging to change how forgiving they are. I think the important thing with hybrids is you have to ask yourself what you are wanting to use them for. Are you looking for distance off the tee or are you trying to hold greens? Are you wanting hybrids that go a specific distance? 

These questions will likely help your search because some hybrid designs are low spinning distance machines that are hard to land on greens with while others are designed to impart more spin to hold greens and fill gaps better. Your current Callaway's are perfectly capable hybrids but you may find better options depending on what you want. I wouldn't get to excited about technology making the club drastically better. The only thing you can do to truly change your hybrid performance if you get new clubs is a good fitting. Hybrids really are hard to buy off the shelf because they truly play closer to an iron and that makes spin and weight a huge issue. 

Off the shelf hybrids may be okay but if you tend to hook the ball most are setup with a draw bias to help the many slicers of the world. A good fitting can correct some of this but it is worth being aware of. In terms of fitting, if you want distance, it's easy. Just find the longest and probably lowest spinning hybrid on the launch monitor and your golden. However, if you want to find a club to go a specific distance or hold greens it gets a little more nuanced. I personally bought a Cobra F8 hybrid last year because it was higher spinning and was good at holding greens but I eventually ditched it because I had a hard time holding it off from going left. I still have this club because I think a reshafting and some lead tape may get the club in the bag again. I replaced it with a hybrid iron that is a little more iron-esque but they help with spin and control. I didn't want pure length from my hybrid, that is what the driver and 3-wood are for. I needed something I could hold a green with from 225 yards.

Being able to hold a green from 200+ or at least be close to the green in a reliable fashion is a very fast way to improve scores depending on your course. You may find that a combination of a hybrid and hybrid iron is what will help you the most depending on your needs. Best of luck!

[golfish!]

34 minutes ago, Kansas King said:

Honestly, hybrids haven't changed that much the last five or so years. At best you'll get some tighter construction tolerances that maybe help move a few grams around but nothing major. They are all mostly made out of stainless and the smaller head construction really makes it challenging to change how forgiving they are. I think the important thing with hybrids is you have to ask yourself what you are wanting to use them for. Are you looking for distance off the tee or are you trying to hold greens? Are you wanting hybrids that go a specific distance? 

These questions will likely help your search because some hybrid designs are low spinning distance machines that are hard to land on greens with while others are designed to impart more spin to hold greens and fill gaps better. Your current Callaway's are perfectly capable hybrids but you may find better options depending on what you want. I wouldn't get to excited about technology making the club drastically better. The only thing you can do to truly change your hybrid performance if you get new clubs is a good fitting. Hybrids really are hard to buy off the shelf because they truly play closer to an iron and that makes spin and weight a huge issue. 

Off the shelf hybrids may be okay but if you tend to hook the ball most are setup with a draw bias to help the many slicers of the world. A good fitting can correct some of this but it is worth being aware of. In terms of fitting, if you want distance, it's easy. Just find the longest and probably lowest spinning hybrid on the launch monitor and your golden. However, if you want to find a club to go a specific distance or hold greens it gets a little more nuanced. I personally bought a Cobra F8 hybrid last year because it was higher spinning and was good at holding greens but I eventually ditched it because I had a hard time holding it off from going left. I still have this club because I think a reshafting and some lead tape may get the club in the bag again. I replaced it with a hybrid iron that is a little more iron-esque but they help with spin and control. I didn't want pure length from my hybrid, that is what the driver and 3-wood are for. I needed something I could hold a green with from 225 yards.

Being able to hold a green from 200+ or at least be close to the green in a reliable fashion is a very fast way to improve scores depending on your course. You may find that a combination of a hybrid and hybrid iron is what will help you the most depending on your needs. Best of luck!

Great response. I am looking for a club that will hold a green at 200+ yards. I dont come across that too much since if I am more than 220 from the front of the green I will just lay up anyway but once in a while I get a chance for an eagle/birdie set up. For now it looks like I may just hold on to my current gamers for a few more years!

[TBT]

I was playing a older Bridgestone J40 2 hybrid and a Cobra F7 4 hybrid....I hit the Bridgestone well but I’ve never hit the Cobra very well, it came as part of my prize as the winner of the Original Cobra Connect Challenge.

I’m not sure if it’s a natural draw bias club but I tend to hook it off the planet so I don’t play it much.

I was in Mexico a couple of weeks ago and played 2 rounds with Callaway Rogue rental clubs....I absolutely KILLED the 3 hybrid in that set!! I was hitting it 210 -215 off the tee with a 5 yard draw....I loved it so much I went on Callaway Pre-Owned while I was still on the course for my 2nd round in Mexico and bought one. It launches nice and high...and it’s very forgiving


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