To My Fellow Hybrid Hackers...

[Mors Ab Alto]

Until today, I had subscribed to the theory that a hybrid should be swung like a fairway wood, meaning a shallow sweeping swing with no divot. Due to the offset of the club, I also had to open the clubface to reduce the chances of hooks. This method has worked for me for quite some time, but I recently "tweaked" my swing, and have been getting mixed results with my hybrids.

So, today, I decided to try hitting my hybrid more like an iron, meaning on a more upright plane, and with a square clubface, and it seems to work for me. On the longest par 5 today, decided to lay up to 70 yards and I hit my 22* from 268 yards to just inside 40 yards (usually hit it about 200 yards). It was odd at first to take a divot with a hybrid, but the results are much better.

Do any of you hit your hybrids with a descending swing, or am I the odd man out?

[Rockford35]

The Sontartec site has a description outline that a hybrid should be hit like an iron, and NOT like a fairway wood.

Sontartec Hybrid Tips.

R35

[Mors Ab Alto]

I've got 2 golf Bibles (Golf Magazine and Golf Digest), and both have run numerous articles written by famous golf professionals (namely Rick Smtih and David Leadbetter), and they all say to sweep the ball. It used to work, but now I have a much steeper swing path, and had to change.

Considering that reading golf magazines and watching golf instruction videos is how I've primarily learned, I wonder if I've been screwed from the get go. Man, I wish my instructor were here so I could ask him. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

[twogreen]

Originally Posted by Mors Ab Alto

So, today, I decided to try hitting my hybrid more like an iron, meaning on a more upright plane, and with a square clubface, and it seems to work for me. On the longest par 5 today, decided to lay up to 70 yards and I hit my 22* from 268 yards to just inside 40 yards (usually hit it about 200 yards). It was odd at first to take a divot with a hybrid, but the results are much better.

Do any of you hit your hybrids with a descending swing, or am I the odd man out?

I try to remember to do it; but sometimes I forget because it is not a natural feeling to me. I do get better results when I remember; and often get the hook when I forget.

[Eracer]

I hit down on it like I would an 8-iron.

[Clugnut]

I find it easier to hit down with a descending blow on everything but driver. You can hit some good three woods off the deck and take a divot. Let the disagreement begin!

[Bravo]

A hybrid is so versatile that you can do both with it...

I like to sweep mine from the fairway but when I am in the rough, I hit down on it like an iron.

The club responds well to both approaches....


These things are gold.

[smitty]

I know the hybrids I play (the Callaway Fusions) fly the ball much better with a slightly descending blow. I don't strike down as much as a short iron, but generally try to give it the type of blow I would give a 4-iron. When I notice that I'm not getting the height and distance I want out of my hybrids, it's generally because I have gone back to sweeping them. That seems somewhat more natural, and something that's easy to fall prey to, since they look more like woods than irons. But once I get back to just thinking about making a descending blow, they I start striping them again with good distance and really nice loft.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

The Sontartec site has a description outline that a hybrid should be hit like an iron, and NOT like a fairway wood.

Sontartec Hybrid Tips.

R35

Did you see that new wedge? I know you must have. They had a pic of it in jet black but only say it comes in Satin. What a tease.

[iQfOreVa]

i used to sweep with my hybrids and had mixed results. one day at the driving range, i decided to close my eyes, pretend that i was hitting a regular 5-iron and swung at the ball and voila, perfect. so now, i swing my hybrids like i'm hitting with regular irons.
i don't come down as much as i would with a shorter iron, but i don't swing it like a fairway wood.