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