Our Hybrids

It is arguable the most important "new" club that has become popular in the last few years is the hybrid. It's not been a smooth ride. The early hybrids were modeled after fairway woods – long and light. Those models were not very good – considering that the most important reason to use a hybrid is for consistency.

Recently golf equipment companies have discovered that the secret to making hybrids work is to pattern them after a player's irons – shorter and heavier. We've been doing that at the Golf Lab for years.

Our method is to swing weight a hybrid the same as the irons in a player's set and use the same shafts with the same flex. Our goal is to make the hybrids feel and play as close to irons as possible.

Rebuilding an off the rack hybrid to match a player's irons almost always requires a shorter, heavier shaft and adding weight to the head. Then, there's the question of the correct way to hit a hybrid. Hybrids are meant to be hit like an iron. Ball position should be in the "long iron" position. A player's angle of attack should be downward, rather than sweeping. If you do that, you will improve your results with hybrids immediately.

When it comes to the brands we favor, it's hard to ignore Adams. As the leading choice of PGA Tour players, Adams is a safe choice. The Golf Lab is an Adams "Tech" account. We receive a limited number of bona-fide Tour hybrid heads in the sought after Tour models.

While matching irons is a good strategy for players who hit long irons well, mid and high handicap players will benefit from an innovation promoted by Wishon Golf. While all other manufacturers have standardized on a .370 (iron diameter shaft) – Wishon has gone the other direction with .335 (wood diameter shaft) in hybrids. The Wishon method is easier for mid and high handicap players to get airborne quickly. Consider the Wishon hybrids if you're long iron challenged.

Our experience is that hybrids are more susceptible to a player's "eye" than most other clubs. Once we find the correct shaft length, weight, material and flex, the best way to choose a hybrid is to hit it. Take a handful of hybrids that fit your eye and your swing to the range and you will surely come back with a new friend.