Hybrids - an introduction

One of the biggest golf equipment trends of recent times is the upsurge in interest in hybrid clubs, often also called utility or rescue clubs.

When most people talk of hybrids, they’re usually referring to plants or domestic livestock. But in golf terms, it refers to a cross between an iron and a fairway wood.

And like all good hybrids, their look reflects how much influence they get from each “parent.” Hybrid irons look like a meatier version of an iron, while a hybrid wood looks like a skinnier version of a fairway wood.

The background to the development of these clubs involves the notorious long irons. These are the clubs in the standard set of irons that a golfer uses when there is still some distance to get onto the green, but not enough to warrant the use of a fairway wood (or the ball is positioned in rough grass or such that a wood isn’t a sensible choice).

The problem is that it’s actually quite hard to hit long irons accurately. So manufacturers began to search for an alternative, coming up with hybrids.

But the concept really came of age in July 2004, on the final hole of the British Open playoff between Todd Hamilton and Ernie Els. It was Hamilton’s approach shot onto the green that won the tournament for him. And he did it from a difficult position using a hybrid club - the Sonartec MD Transition.

The shot sparked a huge interest in hybrids, and the following months saw the various brand equipment makers leaping onto the hybrid bandwagon to come out with versions of their own.

But enough about history, what about the clubs themselves?

By adding the characteristics of a wood to an iron, you basically get a bigger clubhead with a lower center of gravity than a traditional long iron. And you have a wider sole to give yourself more stability when playing through difficult terrain.

What that means is it’s easier for you to get the ball up and out of difficult situations like the rough. Which also explains why hybrids are also known as rescue clubs.

In other words, the clubs still allow you to hit the ball as far as you could with long irons, but you’re likely to hit more accurate shots with a better ball flight.

Todd Hamilton’s experience demonstrates that even the world’s best golfers recognize the benefits of having a hybrid or two in the bag, rather than relying on their skills with a long iron.

Initially, you were obliged to buy hybrids one by one to replace specific clubs in your iron set. Now there are iron sets on the market which already have the hybrids included, such as the Revelation set.

A typical clone hybrid costs around $30 to $50, while a top brand can go up to $250 in price.