| Hybrid golf clubs have appeared in the past few | | | | today can consistently hit a 4 iron. How is it that the |
| years, and their popularity will no doubt continue to | | | | lofts and lengths of clubs were allowed to change? It |
| increase. Phil Mickelson used a hybrid numerous times | | | | so happens that there are no official standards for |
| during his win at the 2007 Player's Championship. | | | | these and other golf club design parameters. Thus |
| Many other top PGA Tour players use hybrid clubs as | | | | the golf club companies could make the lofts be |
| well, and the popularity of these clubs will continue to | | | | whatever they thought was best for the marketing |
| skyrocket. Taylor Made has said that one-fourth of all | | | | department, within reason. |
| its wood sales in 2007 will be hybrids. Almost | | | | Why Does The Ball Fly Higher With a Hybrid Golf |
| one-third of U.S. golfers now choose to carry a | | | | Club? |
| hybrid golf club in their bags compared to about 7% | | | | The answer to this question is easy to understand. |
| in 2004. The trend is clear. | | | | With a hybrid golf club the center of gravity (CG) of |
| Why Use a Hybrid Golf Club? | | | | the club is farther back. For example, the CG of a 4 |
| In short, a hybrid golf club is easier to hit than a long | | | | iron or any other iron club for that matter is slightly |
| iron with the same loft, and with a hybrid golf club | | | | behind the club face. A 4 hybrid, which looks like a |
| the ball will have a higher trajectory. To understand | | | | small wood club (wood as in 3 wood, 5 wood, etc. All |
| this one needs to know about two things: the 24/38 | | | | these are made of metal these days) has a CG that |
| rule, and the vanishing loft phenomenon which has | | | | is farther back. This make the ball get into the air |
| occurred in golf over the past 20-30 years. | | | | easier and thus the club seems easier to hit. |
| The 24/38 Rule | | | | Should You Hit Hybrid Golf Clubs? |
| This is a rule known by golf clubmakers. Essentially it | | | | Unless you are a very skilled player to whom the 24 |
| says that most golfers, that is the vast majority, do | | | | 38 rule does not apply, the answer is probably yes. |
| not have the ability to consistently hit an iron with 24 | | | | Even PGA Tour players, who clearly are not bound |
| degrees or less of loft and 38 or more inches of | | | | by the 24/38 rule are using them because sometimes |
| length. For the vast majority of golfers in today's | | | | they want to get those long iron shots higher into |
| world, this means that they cannot hit shots | | | | the air. In fact for most players, the longest iron in |
| consistently with any iron longer than a five iron. | | | | their bag should probably be a 5 iron. 3 and 4 hybrids |
| Here's why. | | | | should replace your 3 and 4 irons, which most golfers |
| The Vanishing Loft Phenomenon | | | | cannot hit properly and consistently. And remember, |
| Surely every golfer is aware that the lofts of iron | | | | your hybrid golf clubs should be the same lengths , or |
| clubs have crept lower over the years. Golf club | | | | at most a half inch longer, than the iron which they |
| companies would introduce new clubs and promote | | | | are meant to replace. You want to replace the 3 and |
| how much farther you can hit a 5 iron, for example, | | | | 4 irons with the equivalent hybrid golf clubs. What |
| with their new clubs than you could with your old 5 | | | | you don't want is a club that will hit the ball further |
| iron. They didn't immediately tell people that the new | | | | and create a yardage gap between the 4 hybrid and |
| club had less loft and was really more like their old 4 | | | | 5 iron, for example. Thus, the lofts of hybrid golf |
| iron, but eventually this became obvious. So a 4 iron | | | | clubs and the irons they are to replace should be |
| today has generally settled into lofts of 23-24 | | | | equal as well. You want your 4 hybrid to travel the |
| degrees vs. 28 degrees some years ago. Applying | | | | same distance that your 4 iron did. Give hybrid golf |
| the 24/38 rule to this means that only a few golfers | | | | clubs a try- they are a great addition to the game. |