Hybrid golf clubs received their name because they have characteristics of both irons and woods. Their development was part of the game improvement effort that created a variety of more forgiving clubs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Hybrids were designed primarily to replace long irons and are typically used on the fairway. They gained popularity quickly among casual players and are now common sights on pro golf tours. LPGA players such as Yani Tseng have won tournaments using hybrids.
History
Clubheads on the first known golf clubs were made of wood, but clubs with metal heads have been around for more than 250 years. Hybrids, meanwhile, were created at the dawn of the 21st century by engineers from the golf manufacturer TaylorMade. The clubs were often referred to as utility woods because their clubhead shape is closer to that of a wood than an iron.
Clubheads
The great modern innovation in irons is the development of game improvement models. The clubs feature extra weight around the periphery, forming cavity backs and making the irons much more forgiving of poorly struck shots. In contrast, the standard blade iron must be hit on the sweet spot in the middle of the clubface if the player hopes to achieve maximum distance. Hybrid clubheads resemble woods, but are lofted like irons. Like game-improvement irons, hybrid clubheads feature perimeter weighting, but much of their weight is set toward the rear and close to the sole of the larger clubhead, giving hybrids a lower center of gravity than irons. As a result, it’s easier for most golfers to hit the ball in the air with a hybrid than with a similarly-lofted iron.
Sole
The bottom edge of an iron is designed to slice a divot out of the turf when it hits the ground. When swung properly, an iron should hit the ball on a slightly downward angle. The iron will then take a divot after hitting the ball. Hybrids contain a flatter sole and won’t take much of a divot. Although golfers should also swing hybrids on a slightly downward plane, many casual players tend to hit the fairway before hitting the ball, no matter which club they use. Those golfers won’t be hurt as much when doing so with a hybrid because the hybrid’s sole doesn’t stick into the ground.
Results
Hybrids, like irons, are classified with a number system in which the smaller-numbered clubs have longer shafts and feature less loft than higher-numbered hybrids. Each hybrid is comparable to the same-numbered iron in terms of loft, but most golfers will find it easier to hit the ball in the air with a 3-hybrid rather than a 3-iron, for example, because of the hybrid’s clubhead design. Additionally, a hybrid shaft is a bit longer than a comparable iron shaft, allowing golfers to generate more clubhead speed.
References
Writer Bio
M.L. Rose has worked as a print and online journalist for more than 20 years. He has contributed to a variety of national and local publications, specializing in sports writing. Rose holds a B.A. in communications.