Hybrids vs Irons – Which Clubs Should You Be Carrying?

Hybrids vs Irons – Which Clubs Should You Be Carrying?

One of the most frequently asked questions I get from the average golfer is whether they should be playing with hybrids or irons. The honest truth is it depends on the individual, and what works best for them.

However, in this post, I am going to provide tips that will help you in your decision-making process.

My Previous Adventures With Irons vs Hybrids

When Cobra launched their Baffler utility club in 1998, I honestly didn’t pay much attention to it.

For I was from a traditional golf family that felt any new technology that helped your game was cheating, and had no place in the sport.

We were such traditionalists, that my father was still using a wooden 1 and 3-wood, in the early 2000s.

However, as time passed I began to appreciate the forgiveness and additional loft provided by hybrids, and eventually added one to my bag.

For years I had made life difficult for myself, trying to perfect the art of the 3-iron shot. When I would hit the odd one out the middle, I was unable to get a soft landing and the ball ended up rolling off the back of the green.

Overall, I have found that hybrids are easier to hit, provide better launch and land softer than long irons.

 

Irons Overview, Characteristics & Compositions

There are two umbrella categories for golf irons, forged and cast. Forged irons are a solid one-piece club with a turned down sweet spot.

The best example of forged irons are blades, which have a thinner face, and offer less forgiveness. Given the difficulty of playing with blades, they are best suited to superior golfers. 

Cast irons are created by adding liquid metal into a predesigned mould. This method has enabled iron manufacturers to get creative with their designs. The ability to mass-produce irons using the casting techniques means that these irons are more affordable than their forged counterparts.

Iron Clubhead Designs

Blades

Blades are forged irons that have a thin face and a compact sweet spot in the centre of the head. They enable players the freedom to work their shots, for increased accuracy and distance control. However, the small sweet spot means blades are less forgiving, which is why it is suggested that lower handicappers and solid ball strikers only play with these irons.

 

Cavity Backs

As the name suggests, these irons have a cavity placed behind the clubface, which focuses more weight around the outside of the head. The cavity helps to enhance the moment of inertia (MOI) which reduces the clubhead’s ability to twist at impact. As a result, the irons are more forgiving on heel and toe mishits.

 

Advantages Of Irons Over Hybrids

• In windy conditions, irons help you to keep the ball lower.
• Irons allow you to shape your shots more than a hybrid.
• There is no sound like the acoustics of hitting a crisp long iron shot

 

Pros And Cons Of Irons

Pros

• Irons are easier to shape your shots with
• They can help you keep the ball low in windy conditions
• Produce a crisp sound when you middle it

Cons

• Slower swing speeds struggle to get the ball airborne
• Long irons are unforgiving
• Long iron approach shots don’t sit quickly on the green, due to a piercing ball flight

 

 

Hybrids Overview, Characteristics & Compositions

Hybrids were designed to offer golfers an alternative to fairway woods and irons, that are more challenging to strike. There are two broad types of hybrids, woods and irons.

The woods are the more common of the two and offer golfers a chunkier design that helps you loft the ball into the air, and provides maximum forgiveness.

 

Center of Gravity (CG)

The CG on hybrids is located at the back and bottom of the clubhead, which helps golfers to get the ball airborne with ease. This results in a higher shot trajectory, consistent carry, and soft landings into greens.

 

Bottom Runners

Another core feature of hybrids is the bottom runners or rail features that help the club navigate the turf to ensure clean contact with the underside of the ball. In thick rough, your iron may dig into the turf and cause you to hit behind your ball, resulting in a fluffed shot.

 

Advantages Of Hybrids Over Irons – Composition Of Club And Brief Overview

Hybrids provide you with an alternative option to fairway woods and long irons. Although they have a wide sole, like a 3-wood, the face is flat which helps you to hit the ball squarer, and get it airborne.

While hybrids offer a variety of advantages, here are a few of the most common ones:

• Clubhead glides through any lie to help you connect with the ball cleanly
• The low CG propels the ball into the air easily
• It offers excellent forgiveness
• The high flight and sharp descent results in soft landings into greens

 

Pros And Cons Of Hybrids

Pros

• Helps slower swinging players get the ball airborne
• Ball lands softly
• The club is forgiving
• The clubhead glides through the turf with ease to ensure a clean connection with the ball

Cons

• Not ideal for shaping your shots
• The loft you get from the hybrid can be a problem in windy conditions
• Draw bias does not suit players with a natural draw

 

Hybrids Or Irons For High Handicappers

If I had the option of hybrids when I was a high handicapper I would definitely have had them in my bag.

As a high handicapper your ball striking ability is still a work in progress and any clubs that can help you get the ball airborne consistently, are the way to go.

 

What About Mid To Low Handicappers

Low handicappers may prefer irons because they allow for more shot workability.

However, it doesn’t harm to have one hybrid in the bag at least, to help even the best golfers navigate through thick rough.

 

How Does The Distance Of Hybrids Compare To Irons?

Tour Experience Golf conducted a review of hybrids vs irons to compare the total distance of a T100 4 and 5 iron vs a Ping G410 4 and 5-hybrid.

 

Here is how they compared:

Club	T100 4-Iron	Ping G410 4-Hybrid	T100 5-iron	Ping G410 5-Hybrid
Total Distance	237 yards	240 yards	217 yards	221 yards

 

The golfer doing the testing for Tour Experience Golf (TXG) is a scratch golfer, hence the insane distances. However, even he was hitting the 4 and 5-hybrids further than the corresponding irons. His ball speed with the hybrids was 6 mph faster than with his T100 irons.

 

How Do The Hybrids vs Irons Compare On Accuracy

During a MyGolfSpy test on hybrids, woods and long irons, the 3-hybrid and 3-iron were on a par when it came to GIR percentage, however, the 3-iron hit more fairways in regulation.

They analysed data from scratch golfers to 20 plus handicappers and found the following results between a 3-hybrid and 3-iron.

 

Club	3-Iron	3-Hybrid
FIR%	31.86%	29.38%
GIR%	11.32%	11.2%

 

How Do They Compare On Launch Angle And Carry Distance?

During their test, the TXG team found that the hybrids launched at a higher angle, and carried further than the irons.

Club	T100 4-Iron	Ping G410 4-Hybrid	T100 5-iron	Ping G410 5-Hybrid
Launch Angle	13.1 degrees	14.5 degrees	14.8 degrees	16.5 degrees
Carry Distance	225 yards	231 yards	208 yards	214 yards

 

It is interesting to see that the 4-Hyrbid launched as high as the T100 5-iron. That gives you an idea of the assistance you receive in getting the ball airborne.

 

Which Clubs Suit Which Types Of Shots?

Irons suit players that are looking to work their shots, as it provides a more piercing ball flight. Hybrids are better if you are looking to hit the ball straight and high and land it softly.

The workability element of irons is what attracts superior players to them. But, if you are looking to get the ball up in the air and straight, the hybrid is the way to go.

 


 

Who Should Carry Which Clubs?

As a lower handicap player, I prefer irons over hybrids because I prefer to work my shots.  I have no doubt that there are many players who are better than I, that share the same sentiment.

Therefore I believe lower handicappers are better suited to irons, while high handicappers should take advantage of the added assistance from hybrids, in getting the ball airborne.

 

Which Hybrid Replaces Which Irons – Loft Comparison

I have broken down the average degree of loft for each hybrid and iron, to give you an idea of what each hybrid substitutes.

 

Club	Loft	Club	Loft
3-Hybrid	18 – 19 degrees	2-iron	17 – 19 degrees
4-Hybrid	21 – 22 degrees	3-iron	20 – 21 degrees
5-Hybrid	23 – 25 degrees	4-iron	22 – 24 degrees
6-Hybrid	26 – 28 degrees	5-iron	24-28 degrees
7-Hybrid	29 – 31 degrees	6-iron	29 – 32 degrees

 

Our 3 Favourite Irons

Taylormade M6 Irons

The M6 irons were built for speed and distance.

Taylormade designed these irons using Speed Bridge technology, which enhances your ball speed to give you added distance while maintaining forgiveness.

Furthermore, there are speed pockets inserted underneath the wide sole of the club to improve turf interaction and ensure a solid connection from any lie.

Overall Score: 97/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Ping G710 Irons

Ping designed the G710 irons using alloy material that is fit to be used in the aerospace industry.

These alloys initiate increased clubhead flex and speed on your downswing, which gives you a higher launch, and additional carry.

The G710 irons further enjoy enhanced MOI, that offer you additional forgiveness and consistency on off-centre hits.

Overall Score: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Cobra F7 Irons

The Cobra F7 irons offer you the choice of normal length shafts or one-length shafts that are the same length throughout the set.

This style of shaft was developed in conjunction with 2020, US Open champion, Bryson DeChambeau.

Furthermore, the long irons in this set have full hollow heads, while the mid-irons have semi-hollow heads.

The short irons are designed with full cavity back heads, while the wedges are blades. Each club in the set was created to perform to its maximum capability.

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Our 3 Favourite Hybrids

Taylormade Sim Max Rescue

Taylormade’s Sim Max rescue club is designed to glide through unpleasant lies, to ensure solid contact is made between the clubface and the ball. The CG on this rescue club is low, to allow for quick launch, and longer carry.

Finally, the face is fitted with Thru-slot speed pockets to promote clubface flexibility and consistently fast ball speeds.

Overall Score: 98/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Ping G410 Hybrids

The G410 is a customizable hybrid offering you eight different ball flight options. The thin steel face of the club promotes enhanced ball speed, for a higher longer carry.

The higher trajectory of your shots with the G410 enables you to land it softly on any green. Finally, the texture of the clubface helps to reduce spin, and give you the comparable distance to fairway woods and long irons.

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Cleveland Launcher Halo Hybrid

Gliderails on the Launcher Halo Hybrid allow the clubhead to glide swiftly through any turf, and make a clean connection with the ball. The club contains a HiBore Crown which gives it a low centre of gravity, resulting in a higher launch and longer carry distance than long irons.

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

FAQ

Are Hybrids Easier To Hit Than Irons?

Yes, hybrids are easier to hit than irons. Hybrids have a lower CG, which helps you to get the ball airborne easier, and offers you longer carry.

 

Should Any Golfers Replace All Of Their Irons With Hybrids?

If higher handicappers are struggling to generate sufficient ball speed, it is worth replacing all your irons with hybrids.

 

5 hybrid vs 5 iron

In the TXG hybrid vs iron test, the 5-hybrid outperformed the 5-iron, and as a result, I feel it is better for the average golfer.

Club	Ball Speed (MPH)	Launch Angle	Backspin (RPM)	Carry (Yards)	Total (Yards)
5-Hybrid	144.4	16.5 degrees	5134	214	221
5-Iron	138.2	14.8 degrees	4730	208	217

If the 5-hybrid gives you better results and is easier to hit, why wouldn’t you carry it in your bag?

 

Why Can I Hit Irons But Not hybrids?

If you can hit long irons but not hybrids, you have the opposite problem to most golfers in the world.

If this is the case, it is likely to do with your setup. Set the ball up in line with your front heel, and shift your weight forward on your downswing to get through the ball.

 

What To Hit From The Rough?

It is best to hit a hybrid from the rough.

That is due to the clubhead’s ability to cut through any turf and connect with the underpart of the golf ball.

 

Why Do I Keep Topping My Hybrid?

Most golfers try to scoop their hybrid shots, to get it airborne, but the reality is the hybrid does the work for you.

Instead of trying to scoop the ball, and setting it at the back of your stance, you should rather hit through the ball, and place it in line with your front heel.

If you place the ball too far back, you will not swing through the ball and likely top it.

 

Conclusion

After reviewing the MyGolfSpy and TXG hybrid vs irons tests, it is safe to declare that golfers of all abilities should be carrying hybrids in their bags. The additional assistance in getting the ball airborne and the high level of forgiveness from hybrids make it a no brainer.

While golfers with slower swing speeds will benefit the most from hybrids, any golfer can enjoy their benefits.

If you are looking for a club that is reliable and will get your shots airborne consistently, take a look at the Taylormade Sim Max Rescue here.