As I started to dive into fitting the new sticks for 2024, I realized I have never done a piece on fitting hybrids. So, I’ll give you a two-parter. Today will be about why (or why not) hybrids. Next week will be about fitting them.

In 2023, fairway woods with higher lofts outsold hybrids by a large margin. I could go to a fitting event without 3 or 4 hybrids and no one would care. We were the number one hybrid in 2023, but that means that we didn’t stink as bad as everyone else. Haha. The whole category was awful. Why did this happen? Simple. Fairway woods are easier to hit than a hybrid. Wait, no one said that – they all say hybrids are easier to hit. Let’s have a history lesson.

Hybrids started in the late 90’s/ early 2000’s. They were called “rescue” clubs. They were originally designed to be a replacement for a long iron. In the early days, they had lofts instead of numbers – we didn’t know what to call them, so we just said “this is my 21* rescue”. They were billed as being easier to hit than a long iron. And, they were right. They are. But… there’s always a but. But, they are not as easy to hit as a corresponding fairway wood. As with many new technologies, the industry started trying to woo the good players in first. “Try this out of the rough, pro”. “Whoa!! That’s nice!! What is this thing?” “It’s a rescue club. Imagine hitting this instead of that 2-iron.” “Oh yeah!! I want one.” And so it began. 19* hybrids replaced 2-irons. Then 21* or 22* hybrids replaced 3-irons. Then the game improvement versions started to surface. Hybrids became the fastest growing segment in the golf club industry. Everyone was ditching everything between their 3 wood and 5-iron for a hybrid.

When these things came out, we didn’t tell the whole story. We said “these are easier to hit that your long irons.” Players heard easier to hit and left it at that. They are easier to hit than a long iron, but still not as easy to hit as the corresponding FW Wood (see the chart below). Back in the late 90’s, it was a challenge to get a tour player to carry a 7 wood. Too good and too cool for that. A hybrid, though – that’s not a fairway wood. Gimme one of those. Everyone took that at face value and started adding hybrids.

What made them special? The sole was wider. It had less drag and grab than an iron – they would slide through rough with ease. The sweet spot was bigger. They were longer so they went a little farther. The mass was lower, so they flew higher and stopped faster than a long iron. All good things, right? Yes, except everything listed in this paragraph is also true in reverse than a FW Wood. A FW Wood is better out of the rough, flies higher, stops faster, bigger sweet spot, etc. I know what you’re thinking – “Joe member can’t stop his 3 wood or even get it up in the air”. Correct. If you compare apple to apples, though – a 9 wood to a 5 hybrid – EVERYONE will hit a 9 wood higher, straighter, easier…

As the years passed, we started making 6 hybrids, then 7, 8 and eventually 9 hybrids. I think you can find a PW Hybrid if you wanted one. Crazy, right? Here’s the reality. If a player fails to gain an appreciable difference in distance between two irons, something needs to be done to create that distance gap. The first step is to try a hybrid. If that doesn’t work, try a high lofted FW Wood. I’ll get you a good rule of thumb next week in where these changes happen. From a club comparison standpoint, though, you can use this:

2 iron = 17* Hybrid = 5 wood

3 iron = 19* hybrid = 5 wood/ 7 wood

4 iron = 22* hybrid = 7 wood

5 iron = 25* hybrid = 9 wood

6 iron = 28* hybrid = 11 wood

As always, your results with the player you are working with may vary. Try each club and note the distances. Use this chart as a guide.

My personal opinion is that no player should have more than two hybrids. Beyond that, the longer clubs should be FW Woods. Let’s say a player struggles with a 7 iron, so we try a 7 hybrid. This is great!! It makes no sense to go to a 6-iron, so we try a 6 hybrid. Let’s say we can get 10 yards between them (if not, skip it or try an 11 wood). If we’re already borderline with a 6 hybrid, why would we go with a 5 hybrid? Go to the 9 wood. Remember, this is my personal opinion, so try it if you like.

Next week, we’ll talk about how to fit hybrids, and how to make them work (or not) for anyone.

I hope this helps. Happy Fitting. Adapt, Learn, and Grow.