Hybrid Mania

If the hybrid club is good enough for a PGA Pro, why don’t you have one in your bag?

These days, a golfer has an array of options when purchasing a set of clubs. In years past, in addition to their woods, players carried the traditional 3-iron to pitching wedge. However these clubs may not be the right fit for every golfer. In an industry that is producing golf balls with lower and lower spin rates, hitting the traditional long irons has become increasingly more difficult.

That is why the hybrid golf club industry has taken off. There are many different models available for the consumer to try, but they also share common traits, such as a larger sweet spot that makes them easier to hit and a lower center of gravity that has been moved further back to provide a player a higher launch angle for softer landing shots.

Hybrid clubs are no longer just for the high handicapper. Today you increasingly see them in PGA Tour players’ bags and your local club professional’s bag. With the exception of golf lessons, the hybrid club is one of the sure-fire ways to lower your scores immediately.

When playing a hybrid club you should play it just like you would play a long iron shot. This will allow the hybrid club to perform correctly and sweep the ball. You should position the ball two to three inches inside your front foot.

The other important component when hitting a hybrid club is proper posture, which will allow you stand the appropriate distance away from the ball. To practice good posture, stand straight up with your arms hanging by your side and your heels about shoulder width apart. Now hold the hybrid out in front of you at shoulder height. Start to bend from the waist and at the same time you should feel that you stick out your backside a little. The feeling you will have is that you are sitting against a high stool. As you tilt try and keep your back straight as possible. Lower the club down about 4 inches off the ground and then flex your knees to reach the proper setup. This setup will help you achieve a more rounded swing with all of your longer clubs, which promotes a more shallow angle of attack and a sweeping attack of the ball.

The best advice on looking into hybrid clubs is to go to a demo day at a local golf course and experiment with a variety of different lofts and lies under the watchful eye of a PGA Professional. Keep in mind that hybrid clubs are interchangeable; they do not have to match your set of irons or woods. Hybrid clubs are typically longer in club shaft length than a traditional iron so you will need to be fit by a professional so that you can fill the proper caps in your club selection.

Michael Bemis is the Head Professional at the Renaissance Club in Haverhill.