Hybrid or Driving Iron?

This blog is really for stronger players as distance is usually not the issue when choosing a hybrid or driving iron.  A lot of stronger players will use a driving iron or low lofted hybrid instead of a 3 iron or fairway wood.  The biggest issue is where will they be used on the course.

Sign up for a Fitting and See Which Will Work Best For You!

From the Tee

If you are using the hybrid or driving iron mainly from the tee, most players will choose a driving iron.  Typically used on long three par’s, the driving irons feel more comfortable and have the desired trajectory for most players we have fit.  The most popular driving irons have been the Titleist T-MB, TaylorMade p790 and p790UDI, Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli Hi, Srixon Z U85 and PXG 0311 X.   These driving irons offer minimal offset, a slightly higher launch angle and peak height, and more forgiveness than a standard 2, 3 or 4 iron.

From the Fairway

Here is where we would recommend the hybrid as it is more forgiving than a driving iron, a little higher ball flight and peak height, and more distance.  The most popular we have fit our customers for are the Callaway Apex , TaylorMade GAPR Low, Titleist 818H2, and Tour Edge CBx 119.  The lowest loft we have available is in the Tour Edge CBx 119 at 16 degrees.  These hybrids have a much smaller footprint than a typical hybrid like the Callaway Big Bertha or Tour Edge EXS which some of our golfers prefer.

Picking a Shaft

If you are playing a driving iron, we recommend using the same shaft you have in your regular iron set.  We would potentially make the shaft slightly softer in flex, similar to the “flighted” concept we see in a lot of iron sets.

If you are choosing a hybrid, the typical hybrid head weighs a little less than a driving iron head so we would choose a lighter shaft and add about three quarters of an inch in length.  So, if you are playing a 3 iron at 39 inches, a 3 hybrid would typically be 39.75 inches.  The hybrids will also create more distance since they are designed to have a higher “smash factor” or ball speed off the face.

Sign up for a Fitting and See Which Will Work Best For You!

 

Dan Sueltz