What is a Hybrid Club?

Golf hybrid clubs (sometimes referred to as rescue clubs) can best be described as a cross between an iron and a fairway wood. They are designed to be used instead of those harder to hit long irons and are undoubtedly the most forgiving club you can have in your bag. Historically finding your golf ball in a relatively poor lie in the semi-rough has required the need for caution on the next shot with a mid-iron often being needed to get the ball back into play. A hybrid has changed this somewhat though and their ease of use from poor lies has given golfers the opportunity to advance the ball much further than ever before.  

They are a highly versatile club and can be used for tee shots on long par 3’s, lay-up tee shots on shorter par 4’s and approach shots to par 4’s and 5’s and even for little chip and run shots around the greens. A long iron requires a reasonably precise strike to get even a half-decent result whilst a hybrid club is nowhere near as demanding. A golf hybrid’s shallow face and a centre of gravity that is low, and further back from the face combine to create a club that is incredibly easy for you to get airborne.

Due to hybrids having a relatively long shaft they are usually only offered with graphite shafts, as a steel shaft in a hybrid would cause the club to be too heavy and would have a negative impact on performance. Hybrids are numbered the same as the iron they are intended to replace and are available from a (2) hybrid at around seventeen degrees of loft all the way through to a (7) hybrid around thirty-two degrees of loft. Depending on the model, the loft can often be adjusted in the same way a driver or fairway wood can.  

They are available in various head shapes and sizes. Some will more closely resemble a long iron which are aimed more at the better players. Others will have a much larger profile, almost starting to look like a fairway wood and are more aimed at the mid to high handicappers and will often be the easiest to hit and highest launching of all the hybrid styles. This is not a hard and fast rule however, as all of them are easy to use. 

If you don’t already have a golf hybrid in your golf bag, then you’re missing a trick. The difficult long approach from the fairway has been flipped on its head and golfers of all abilities can now look on wonder as their ball sails high towards the flag thinking “goodness me, did I just hit that?!” 

Call Scottsdale Golf on 0161 969 4644 or email pro@scottsdalegolf.co.uk today for further advice or to book a fitting with one of our master fitters. We can help you choose the perfect hybrid(s) for your game.