Question for the Planet golfers
 

Has anybody played with the hybrid wood clubs? Lately, I've been killing it on the course with my woods, but I'm garbage when it comes to hitting my irons. I'm curious to know what people think about the hybrids - are they easier to hit, do they have more control, etc. etc.

I do know it could get expensive to totally re-outfit my bag with the hybrids, so I guess I just need opinions if it's worth considering.

Dude - you could spend $500 on hybrid clubs - easily.

Buy yourself 10 lessons instead and learn how to swing a golf club. You can buy hybrid clubs all day, but if you don't know how to get the clubface square at impact, you're wasting your money.

Or you could take me out golfing and I'll teach you how to swing. I'm no pro, by no means. But I do know the fundamentals.

Hey Phil, on a side note today I drove the ball as well as I have ever have.

Problem is, I'm too big and swing to hard for that Intergra driver I have. It cracked on me today off the sole plate, again. This is the 2nd club if you recall a couple of years ago I told you about the 1st one.

Looking for a new head, I thinking I need to change to a more solid head or a stronger metal...... Any sugestions ?

You know how big I am and how hard I swing......

Hehe Actually I am looking at buying a Titlest hybrid iron. And yes they are easier to get the ball in flight instead of a 3 or 4 iron. Higher flight same yardage will hold the greens better. Plus they give you more options around the green. I bet you see atleast 3 shots from hybrids around the green each day of the British open this week.

Titlest, Big Bertha's, .... which you think.

The hybirds are great .....IF YOU WANT TO SPEND THE CASH...........

Lessions are cheaper if you don't play much .

Hmm. 500 bucks? Ehhh, maybe you're on to something........

I think the problem is that I try to overcompensate for the flaws in my swing, instead of trying to fix my swing. Example - last week on a course in Northern Iowa while on vacation, I'm on a 565 yard par 5. I hit the driver 300+, right down the middle. The hole doglegs right, with water in front and trees on the right. The two guys I'm with (we were playing best ball at this point) both lay up to the left, and I take out the 3 wood and smack it over the water and through the trees to about 30 yards off the green. At that point, I duff all over the place with the wedge.

I have seem to lost my feel for my irons, whether it's on the box, in the faiway, or in the rough. Can't hit 'em.

Or maybe I should think about losing this John Daly sized boiler I've grown around my midsection. That way I can get an even swing at the ball.

Not sure where you are shopping but you can find hybrids (at least Callaways and the titlest hybrid iron I was looking at) for under $200

Back yard golf fixed my problem......... get ya 10 balls and cut the grass.
Turn the ball where the # is on the back of the ball and don't take the eyes off the # as you swing.

Yah, I do that on the box, and I've noticed improvement.

Part of it is I just need to play more. I've only made it out a handfull of times this year. Last year, I played three or four times as much.

One on the Leading Drivers being sold now. Lot of peolple like the ability to make the ajustments.

http://www.taylormadegolf.com/r7/

Where do you do your club shopping?

Well, how many is he gonna buy? I'm all about being an equipment whore. I've been down that road. But my game didn't improve until I hired a pro. Now my game blows because I play twice a year. Not even a pro can fix that.

You know I swing hard. I've broken my share of Callaway drivers. But I've had a steelhead 3+ in my bag for a long time alongside my Titleist 965J. I don't know what you should but, though. I don't get out too often anylonger. Stinger would know, though.

Absolutely. First, I'll have to tie up my insane wife with her three-months-down-the-road planning habits. Talk to her, will ya? :D

You have to play consistantly to shoot consistantly.

I understand she recently ran a marathon. That means she's a lot tougher than me. You talk to her.

I really love those Titleist utility irons. Very easy to hit but still keep the playability and control of an iron. My next club purchase will be to replace my 2-iron with one.

I miss golf big time.

There you have it........

This was at a local proshop here in Springfield that tries to keep everything competive. The reason I know about those two is that I won $150 GC in a 2 man event there about 2 weeks ago. Tried the Titlest liked alot because it felt like an iron but was able to to get airborn alot easier. They were out of the Callaway am going this week to try it out. The Callaway I believe was around $170-$175 the Titlest was around $185 I believe.

You may want to check out the Taylor Made 580XD. Its a late model but the golf stores (golfsmith for sure) are selling them pretty cheap.

Definitly ebay. For instance if you are patient enough you can get a Callaway Hybrid for around $100.

Great way to get some cash for old clubs too.

Is that the one with the counterbalance weights? I've seen that thing in action - quite impressive.

Two weeks ago, I had never even swung a hybrid, and didn't know much about them. Went out golfing with my dad, who recently picked up a couple Taylor Made Rescue Mid TP hybrids. Curious, I hit a couple balls with one of them, and absolutely loved it - MUCH easier to hit than a long iron (I was swinging a "3", which replaced a 3-iron). I liked the ball flight a lot better, too - it seemed to bore through the wind better than my 3-iron, flew longer, and was easier to draw.

For reference, I'm a decent golfer - generally mid-high 80's, occasionally venturing into the low 80's or (on the really "fun" days) into the 90's. I'm taking lessons as well, but I find the hybrids much more enjoyable to hit than a long iron. I shelved my 2-iron for a 5w 2 years ago, and now I'm looking to trade my 3-iron for a 3 hybrid (rescue mid tp). I don't plan on more than one hybrid, but I'd definitely like that one. Unfortunately, they're a little spendy for me right now... :(

Its the model right before the one with the weights. The one stinger was talking about (the R7) is the new one.

I didnt care for the R7 but i have seen plenty of people knock the hell out of it.

I was gifted an R7 a couple weeks ago, and when I hit it right, I can absolutely bomb the ball. Last week I hit two around 320 right down the middle - absolutely nutted them. Still working on consistency, but the ball explodes off the face when hit properly...

Absolutely the best hybrid I've hit is the 2005 Cobra Baffler. I've tried the TaylorMade Mid, Adams Idea, Callaway Heavenwood, Hogan...the Cobra Baffler is STUPID-EASY to hit. Try it out.

http://www.cobragolf.com/utility_met...tails.asp?id=1

I have the 3 iron replacement. Very versatile.

Here is a question for the golfers, not sure why I am thinking of this but:

Since the R7 and I believe another manufacture (can't think of it right now) are useing moveable counter-weights in the club, would you be allowed to adjust durring a match? I would think not but posses an intersting question. Also if one of the weights fell out would you be able to replace in the match?

So just to clarify, was Phobia saying these clubs are 500 bucks a pop (potentially), or 500 bucks a set?

The other manufacturer would be Adams

Good question. Im almost positive that you cant adjust anything during the round but have no idea what would happen if one fell out. If one of the weights fell out wouldn't the driver would be useless until its until its replaced?

Most of the new hybrids run 120-150 a club. Tour Edge makes a full set of hybrids 3-PW..Here's a new set...but they can be had cheaper..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...168772437&rd=1

or here

http://www.intheholegolf.com/page/IT...r-Edge/TEJMIWS

What irons/woods are you looking to replace with hybrids? They are roughly about 120 each for the popular models.

Woh I had no idea someone was making full sets of them.

My woods, I couldn't be happier with. My irons, all of them, until I saw the price tag. Realistically, probablly my 3,4, and 9 irons.

Crazy eh? There are a couple of other companies that are even less well known making them too. I think hitting a SW hybrid would be kinda weird.

Thanks for the heads up on the golfing toys, all. I'll check back later. My eyes are heavy, and I'm off to bed.

What irons are you playing now?

Maybe start with 3 iron replacement and see how you like it. I honestly have no idea what the higher lofted ones would be like. Im just speculating but i figure you are going to lose a lot of feel and playability with them.

Edit:
Have you always not liked your irons? A hybrid 3 and a new set of irons may be a better approach.

There is a hole on the golf course I play the most that I'm having trouble with... a 5 wood is too much, and my 9 wood isn't enough. I don't hit my long irons worth a damn for distance, and was thinking of getting a hybrid. What would the loft be that would be similar to the distance of a 4 iron or 7 wood?

A standard 4 iron is about 24 degrees of loft. Hybrids tend to hit the ball higher and land the ball softer than a long iron. Therefore, hybrids may have a slightly stronger loft than the irons they replace. Most 4 iron replacement hybrids are 22-24 degrees of loft.

One I would recommend is the 2005 Cobra Baffler(there are several older models) 23 degree 4/R(4 iron replacement) with the Aldila HL graphite shaft. They are "stooopid-easy" to hit.

One option may be to get new irons(Miles said that)...I don't know what you have, but you may want to get fitted for a new set(like the Callaway X-18's or the Ping G2 irons). Both are easy to hit.

Or...you may want to save the $ on a round and buy a lesson. Usually worth the money.

A friend of mine has the Butch Harmon Laser Swing trainer. The thing works. When I get into a funk, I go over there and work it out. It visually shows you what you are doing wrong and helps you learn the correct swing plane. I've thought about buying one myself. You can get one here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

Ultimately, it's not the arrow...it's the Indian(or CHIEF!).

Here's a used one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

Just buy an older 7 or 9 wood. You can find them on ebay cheap. You'll get ribbed on the course for playing a 9 wood but I could care less.

I get my clubs at this place....they customize them to your measurements.


http://www.wgagolf.com/default.htm

Cheap too.

It would almost be worth the trip to point and laugh.

My Mom hit a Hole-in-One with a 7 wood...no shit...in a ladies tournament too.

:hmmm: Doesn't Vijay Singh play a 9 wood? I believe so

Yep. He probably hits it 275+ too.

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.a...6&select2=7376

It's bent to a 7 wood loft and it's 7 degrees OPEN!...crazy club. That would be a slice machine for me.

There, I fixed it for you.

I have a question for you golfers. Lately, with my irons, I've been concentrating on staying behind the ball. It's my new thing and for whatever reason, it's helped my short game swing. I find it difficult to have that mind set with my woods or driver. My question, is the swing with irons other than the obvious (shorter club) essentially the same as the swing with woods and drivers or is it an entirely different swing?

I am going out tomorrow for the first time in a looooong time can't wait.

Have a good time. Have you been to a range lately, or are you just going to give it a whirl?

I may hit the range within the next thirty mins. I can't go in cold. I am bad enough when I do practice... ROFL

I often find that I play better when I've been off for a while. I guess I'm looser and have lower expectations.
What about you, when you swing your long clubs, does your swing change much? I set up with the ball more forward with the long clubs, but other than that, am I wrong trying to duplicate my swing with an iron and long club? Maybe this question is so different with each person it can't be answered.

Bowser:

Two things.

1) Do you have a Golf Galaxy where you live? The one by me sells used clubs, and I've gotten sticks there hellacheap. Right place, right time kinda thing. Plus they have a monitor to give you an idea how you're hitting it without going to the range.

2) Don't rule out new irons. For the cost of 2-3 hybrids, you could own a new set. Recommendation: 2004 Callaway Big Berthas. Ridiculously easy to hit. So much so, I just got rid of my Clevelands for a set two weeks ago.