Early Mistakes
 

The first generation of any product is not usually perfect. That was definitely the case with hybrids. The first generation was modeled after the ground- breaking Adams and Orlimars – long, light and whippy. Head styles looked like fairway woods, just smaller. They were just as hard to hit accurately as fairway woods.

The pendulum then swung to clunky, short, heavy and stiff. The Mizuno Fli-Hi is a good example of that genre. The Taylor Made Rescue also became popular for no good reason. Manufacturers had still not discovered how to put together a hybrid that was long, accurate and easy to hit. Hybrids were still no fun.

 

 Building Your Hybrid
 

We’ve spent a lot of time experimenting with hybrids at the Golf Lab. Here’s what we found out:

A hybrid should be no more than ½” longer than the iron it is designed to replace. Most three irons are 39” long. If you choose a 21* hybrid to replace your three iron, make sure it’s no more than 39.5” long. Most off the rack hybrids are still too long.

A hybrid should have a shaft that is similar to your iron shafts in both weight and flex. Most hybrids off the rack today are supplied with 85 gram shafts. That is too light for most players. Our favorite hybrid shaft at the Golf Lab is the Aerotech 110 gram Steel Fiber shaft. At a minimum, move up to 95 gram shafts in your hybrids.

If you’re matching your irons, you need to match the lie angle of your irons. Most hybrids can be bent to adjust lie angle. The Golf Lab has the specialized equipment and experience to adjust hybrid lie angles for a perfect fit.

Choosing your set makeup requires a little thought. Hybrid lofts will be a little lower than corresponding iron lofts, usually by a degree or so. Even with a lower stated loft, hybrids go quite a bit higher. The most popular loft is 21*, to replace a three iron. Most players then choose a 18* to bridge the gap between a three wood and the 21*. That takes care of your two and three iron replacements. The third choice is a 24* that will replace your four iron. Some hybrid models are available up to 36* although high loft hybrids are appropriate mainly for seriously iron-challenged players.

Above all, never buy a “pig in a poke”. You can know for sure which hybrid works the best for you, but not unless you try before you buy. The Golf Lab has all of the best models available for demo at the range or on your course.

If you’re thinking about adding hybrids to your bag, here are a few of our favorites:

 

 Bobby Jones
 

If the Bay Area has a favorite son in the golf industry, it’s Jesse Ortiz. Jesse and his father, Lou, brought the Orlimar Golf Company to prominence and then watched the meteor burn out in the atmosphere. Jesse is back as the chief designer at the Bobby Jones Golf Company.

The Bobby Jones hybrids are truly different. They are small, contoured and finished like a piece of jewelry. The most interesting feature is the shape which allows you to hit your hybrid out of a deep divot. They are finesse clubs. Bobby Jones makes their products available as “heads only” for a small and select group of custom golf shops – including the Golf Lab. Match yours up with a 95 or 110 gram Aerotech Steel Fiber Shaft for great results.

 

 Nickent
 

Nickent made its name on the Nationwide Tour. Dozens of Nationwide players have chosen the Nickent and to some extent the company has been responsible for the proliferation of hybrids on Tour. The shape is on the small side with a contoured sole and a little offset. Nickent hybrids come in many more lofts than most lines, allowing fine tuning to distance control. The club is inexpensive, $129 in stock form, but the shaft needs to be replaced for best results.

 

 Adams Golf
 

The leading hybrid on the Senior Tour is Adams. The Adams is a little deeper in the face and a little larger than most. That makes it a good choice off the tee as well as the fairway. One nice feature is the weight screw that allows you to adjust swingweight without using lead tape. Adams supplies the Golf Lab with “heads only” of its Tour products so we can build your custom Adams hybrid with the shaft of your choice without wasting the shaft that comes with the club.

 

 Nike CPR
 

We call this one the “flying saucer”. It’s certainly an avant-guard design that will be a little hard for traditionalists to love. It has one advantage: it’s absolutely the easiest to hit of all of the hybrids we have tried. Plus it comes in lofts up to 32*. The CPR has been the most popular with senior players and women.