Which golf clubs do hybrid clubs replace?

Question

im buying a set of clubs from scratch, and i want to buy it piece by piece.....but i dont want to buy a set of irons, cause i want to use hybrids......so which ones replace what?? and give me the low down on the degrees of the clubs too..

Answer 1

I recently bought a 17 degree titleist 909h hybrid which i hit a little better than my old 2 iron,and i have just bought a 21 degree titleist 909h and i hit that a about the distance of my old 3 iron,but it does go a little higher so into the wind the distance can change quite dramaticaly.

Answer 2

There are different types of hybrid and it depends which type you use. The flat faced - but with a domed back type (like a shallow dome as opposed to a wood head) tend to have the same loft and shaft length as the same iron number. These 'iron-woods' have the same front appearance as a standard iron face including grooves with a shape that's low at the heel and high at the toe like a tear-drop. These seem to be less common these days but my experience suggests that it is this type that people seem to be quoting web articles as being true like for like replacements. The more common type is the type like a slimmed down fairway wood - except there is a slight face offset. These have fewer groves and a slight camber (bulge) to the face. They are much lower profile like a wood and look nothing like a traditional iron from the front. These tend to have 1/2" TO 3/4" longer shafts than their nearest equivalent iron (loft) and have a lower COG and flatter sole.

These are seldom like for like replacements. Some say that they are a full club longer in terms of distance but that depends on swing speed. They do impart greater energy but they send the ball higher too so the carry and roll varies from player to player. As a rule of thumb I would say that this type will play half to one club further than an iron you're looking to discard. Although they can be played like a wood, the offset design will lead to a hook if you address the ball too far up the stance. My advice is to place the ball more central (only a little forward) and swing as you would the iron.

I use a 26 degree 5h with an 80% swing for my 5i and a full swing for the shorter half of my 4i distance and a 20 degree 3h for my 3i and the longer half of my 4i (choked down an inch). I do have a 4h and a 2h but tend not to carry them as the 5h combo is better for true rescues out of the rough.

The 2h does sometime take the place of my 5wood on windy days but isn't quite as long.

Don't rule out 7 and 9 woods though if you like your woods. 5h is similar to a 9 wood.