| Hybrid golf clubs have appeared in the past few | | | | hit a 4 iron. How is it that the lofts and lengths of clubs |
| years, and their popularity will no doubt continue to | | | | were allowed to change? It so happens that there are |
| increase. Phil Mickelson used a hybrid numerous times | | | | no official standards for these and other golf club |
| during his win at the 2007 Player's Championship. Many | | | | design parameters. Thus the golf club companies could |
| other top PGA Tour players use hybrid clubs as well, | | | | make the lofts be whatever they thought was best |
| and the popularity of these clubs will continue to | | | | for the marketing department, within reason. |
| skyrocket. Taylor Made has said that one-fourth of all | | | | Why Does The Ball Fly Higher With a Hybrid Golf |
| its wood sales in 2007 will be hybrids. Almost one-third | | | | Club? |
| of U.S. golfers now choose to carry a hybrid golf club | | | | The answer to this question is easy to understand. |
| in their bags compared to about 7% in 2004. The trend | | | | With a hybrid golf club the center of gravity (CG) of |
| is clear. | | | | the club is farther back. For example, the CG of a 4 |
| Why Use a Hybrid Golf Club? | | | | iron or any other iron club for that matter is slightly |
| In short, a hybrid golf club is easier to hit than a long | | | | behind the club face. A 4 hybrid, which looks like a |
| iron with the same loft, and with a hybrid golf club the | | | | small wood club (wood as in 3 wood, 5 wood, etc. All |
| ball will have a higher trajectory. To understand this | | | | these are made of metal these days) has a CG that |
| one needs to know about two things: the 24/38 rule, | | | | is farther back. This make the ball get into the air |
| and the vanishing loft phenomenon which has occurred | | | | easier and thus the club seems easier to hit. |
| in golf over the past 20-30 years. | | | | Should You Hit Hybrid Golf Clubs? |
| The 24/38 Rule | | | | Unless you are a very skilled player to whom the 24 |
| This is a rule known by golf clubmakers. Essentially it | | | | 38 rule does not apply, the answer is probably yes. |
| says that most golfers, that is the vast majority, do not | | | | Even PGA Tour players, who clearly are not bound by |
| have the ability to consistently hit an iron with 24 | | | | the 24/38 rule are using them because sometimes |
| degrees or less of loft and 38 or more inches of | | | | they want to get those long iron shots higher into the |
| length. For the vast majority of golfers in today's world, | | | | air. In fact for most players, the longest iron in their bag |
| this means that they cannot hit shots consistently with | | | | should probably be a 5 iron. 3 and 4 hybrids should |
| any iron longer than a five iron. Here's why. | | | | replace your 3 and 4 irons, which most golfers cannot |
| The Vanishing Loft Phenomenon | | | | hit properly and consistently. And remember, your |
| Surely every golfer is aware that the lofts of iron clubs | | | | hybrid golf clubs should be the same lengths , or at |
| have crept lower over the years. Golf club companies | | | | most a half inch longer, than the iron which they are |
| would introduce new clubs and promote how much | | | | meant to replace. You want to replace the 3 and 4 |
| farther you can hit a 5 iron, for example, with their new | | | | irons with the equivalent hybrid golf clubs. What you |
| clubs than you could with your old 5 iron. They didn't | | | | don't want is a club that will hit the ball further and |
| immediately tell people that the new club had less loft | | | | create a yardage gap between the 4 hybrid and 5 |
| and was really more like their old 4 iron, but eventually | | | | iron, for example. Thus, the lofts of hybrid golf clubs |
| this became obvious. So a 4 iron today has generally | | | | and the irons they are to replace should be equal as |
| settled into lofts of 23-24 degrees vs. 28 degrees | | | | well. You want your 4 hybrid to travel the same |
| some years ago. Applying the 24/38 rule to this | | | | distance that your 4 iron did. Give hybrid golf clubs a |
| means that only a few golfers today can consistently | | | | try- they are a great addition to the game. |