Best Hybrid Golf Clubs Reviews – Buyer’s Guide
Every golfer likes competition. So to stay at the top, what do you need to do? Hit better scores, right? And playing with the best hybrid golf clubs is one of the many ways of achieving that goal.
But finding the best one might be a challenging task. Because the golfing industry today offers tons of options in every possible category.So we’re here to help. Our list of the seven top choices for hybrids will assist in making the buying process easier.
We’ve discussed each of them in detail below with a useful section of advantages and disadvantages. Because we understand the importance of the game of golf as well as the golf clubs.
Quick Comparison: Top 7 Best Hybrid Golf Clubs
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* Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.com
Credit: golfoid.com
What Are Hybrid Golf Clubs: Hybrid Golf Clubs Explained
TaylorMade introduced the first hybrid club head called the ‘Rescue’ club. Now,hybrids cover a wide range of set of club options and, as such, there is no single type of hybrid golf club.
In general, the hybrid clubs’ heads are made to be shallower compared to a standard fairway wood. The center of gravity closer is also closer to the back and bottom, giving it great club-face control and hitting the sweet spot with ease. Plus, the club head can also have an iron-like lie angle when hitting the fairway.
The club face is usually made from a high-strength steel alloy that offers the same hollow bounce of a wood while giving control and weight of an iron.
Hybrids offering 18 to 24 degree loft on the face is an adequate substitute.
Hybrids are excellent for longer approach shots because they provide golfers distance and swing accuracy. These clubs are also fit when playing out of the rough which many newbie players find frustrating.
- Hybrids golf clubs offer:
- More weight slowing the club head but increases the applied force.
- Sharper front edges to cut through the grass.
- Enhanced club control which provides a more accurate shot
In general, hybrids are designed with a larger sweet spot on the club face. This means that even the least experienced players can hit a clean approach shot.
In most games, hybrids are used when a player would typically pick a 1 to 4 iron.
Irons are usually tough for beginners because the iron swing motion should be aimed down to the ball which many amateurs are struggling to do. Hybrids, on the other hand, provide a more natural, sweeping swing.
They’re also excellent for approach shots as the hybrid golf clubs loft means the golf ball may not skip off the green. Instead, it may land downwards with some touch of backspin to bring it to a quick stop.
What Is the Best Kind of Shaft for a Golf Club?
Golf club shafts may be made of steel or graphite and are available in five flexes. The clubhead speed rules the flex a golfer needs. The higher the clubhead speed, the stiffer the golf club shaft.
Extra Stiff
Extra stiff shafts (“X” on the flex scale) are recommended for golfers who drive the ball 260 yards or more and with a swing speed of 93 mph or higher. X shafts are commonly made of steel and are recommended for professional golfers, or golfers having high clubhead speed.
Stiff
Stiff shafts (“S” on the flex chart) are recommended for golfers who drive the ball 240 to 260 yards and with a swing speed 84 to 93 mph. S shafts are fit for golfers with single-digit handicaps as well as some with handicaps 10 to 15 who have high clubhead speed.S shafts are available in graphite or steel.
Regular
Regular shafts (“R” on the flex chart), is the most common flex and is recommended for golfers who drive the ball 210 to 240 yards and with a swing speed between 75 and 84 mph. R flex is excellent for golfers with mid to high handicaps and is made of graphite and steel shafts
Senior
Shafts with senior flex (“A” on the flex chart) are for golfers who drive the ball between 180 and 210 yards, and with a swing speed of between 60 and 75 mph. Senior male golfers and some women with high swing speeds are suggested to use this flex. Senior flex clubs are usually made of graphite.
Ladies
The Ladies flex (“L” on the flex chart) is for the slowest swinging golfers who drive the ball less than 180 yards and with a swing speed of 60 mph or less. This flex is the right choice for slow-swinging senior male and female golfers. Ladies flex is commonly made of graphite shafts.
What Are Some of the Best Brands of Golf Clubs?
According to an article in LiveStrong.com, the top 10 golf club brands are:
- Callaway
- TaylorMade
- Titleist
- Cleveland
- Mizuno
- Wilson
- Odyssey
- Ping
- Cobra
- PXG
Top 7 Picks of the Best Hybrid Golf Club
Why do golfers need a hybrid in their golf bag? There are two reasons. The first one is that a hybrid golf club offers better playability by giving you more forgiveness. This way you can strike the ball from anywhere you like. The second reason is that you can use a hybrid to achieve more distance easily when dealing with Par 4 and Par 5 shots.
1. Cobra Men’s 3-4 W Bio Cell Hybrid Club – The Most Advanced Hybrid Golf Club
The Cobra Men’s 3-4 W Bio Cell Hybrid Club comes with E9 Face and Bio Cell technology. Do you know what these are capable of doing? They provide you with a faster, larger sweet spot. And this gives you low spin and high launch with maximum distance. That’s the whole point of using a hybrid, isn’t it?
These best hybrid golf clubs have the MyFly8 technology. Now, this particular feature combines with the SmartPad to offer eight different adjustable loft options. This too helps in increasing distance. On top of that, it also optimizes yardage gaps and manages trajectory.
If we had to pick a flaw in the Cobra Men’s 3-4 W Bio Cell Hybrid Club, then it would be a tiny one. The crown’s webbing design seems to be too large for such a small head. But this doesn’t interfere with how the hybrid performs, so there’s no need to worry about it.
We Like
- The high-strength, forged thin steel inserts deliver faster speed and longer distance.
- The special weighting of the hybrid provides exact launch condition.
We Don’t Like
- The club’s webbing design on the crown doesn’t fit the size of its small head.
COBRA BiO CELL Fairway and Hybrid
2. Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid – The Easiest to Hit Hybrid Golf Club
The Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid might just be the perfect choice for all types of golfers and can be considered one of the best hybrid golf clubs for high handicappers. It’s because the golf club consists of a different face cup. And what this particular component does is increase ball speed to give you just what you need, forgiveness and distance. So you don’t need to worry about off-center strikes.
Another great feature is the redesigned head shape of these hybrid golf clubs. The repositioned weight does an excellent job at offering that extra forgiveness.
A good hybrid is one that comes with a flexible face cup. So you can achieve better ball speed as well, right? And this is what you get with the Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid.
The only problem here is the lack of loft adjustability. But not many golf clubs offer this kind of a feature, so we’re sure you’ll be just fine without it.
We Like
- The clubface is very forgiving.
- It delivers high trajectory with a soft landing.
We Don’t Like
- The hybrid’s graphite head doesn’t offer an excellent feel.
- No loft adjustability.
XR Hybrid: More Forgiveness, Ball Speed & Distance
3. TaylorMade Men’s SLDR Rescue/Hybrid Golf Club – The Best Hybrid Golf Clubs for Consistency
You will be glad to know that the TaylorMade Men’s SLDR Rescue/Hybrid Golf Club is constructed with improved technology. This comes in the form of the enhanced Speed Pocket feature.
What the TaylorMade Hybrid golf clubs do is increase the rate of face flex during impact, which promotes faster ball speed. And this, in turn, gives you longer distance consistently.
The same technology also makes it possible for you to shift the CG lower as well as farther forward. This gives you more ball speed along with less spin rate.
In fact, the CG’s low-forward position enables you to increase loft. So you get the perfect combination of low spin and high launch for maximizing distance.
The part that’s slightly disappointing is the weight of the hybrid. It might be a tad too heavy for some golfers. And what this does is interfere with the clubhead speed.
We Like
- It gives you long carry, high launch, and fast ball speed with little spin.
- Shaping every shot is incredibly easy with the club.
We Don’t Like
- The hybrid is not light enough.
SLDR S: What Does the “S” Mean?
4. Adams Golf Super LS Hybrid Golf Club – The Best High-Performance Hybrid Golf Club
For excellent performance, there’s nothing better than the Adams Golf Super LS Hybrid Golf Club. The crown slot is redesigned to be thinner, longer, and deeper. Such a quality is solely responsible for improving performance.
What the crown slot also does is enhance deflection throughout the face to maximize launch angle without increasing spin. These hybrid golf clubs have a multi-material construction. This contributes to creating a low center of gravity, which also improves the performance level.
You will also appreciate the contrast PVD face as it makes alignment easier. But what you might not like is the short length of the club.
We Like
- The hitting surface is big enough for smooth launch.
- It generates high as well as penetrating ball flight.
We Don’t Like
- The hybrid is not well constructed.
- It is not long enough.
Adams Hybrid Testing:
5. Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 Hybrid Wood – The Best Professional Hybrid Golf Club
The design of the Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 Hybrid Wood is compact with minimal offset. This enhances the physical appearance of the club. It is Cleveland’s first hybrid created with special clubface thickness technology.
What this does is give you the hottest ball flight for center strikes as well as additional ball speed for off-center strikes.
The best part about the Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 Hybrid Wood is its Glide Rail feature. The dual rails have a sole with a delicate center keel. This goes a long way in reducing turf drag to provide you with more speed and lift on impact.
As far as high launch is concerned, there’s nothing to worry about. Thanks to the low-weighted position of the club. The only problem with the hybrid is that it is highly susceptible to chipping. So this is where durability takes a hit.
We Like
- It moves through tall, rough grass quite easily.
- The premium shaft offers sufficient stability and speed with a solid feel during impact.
We Don’t Like
- Poor durability.
Cleveland Golf 588 Hybrid
6. Cobra Men’s Baffler T-Rail + Hybrid Club – The Best Affordable Hybrid Golf Club
Don’t be fooled by the cost friendly price of the Cobra Men’s Baffler T-Rail + Hybrid Club. Just because it’s the affordable option doesn’t mean it has any fewer features than the hybrid golf clubs.
The Cobra Men’s Baffler T-Rail + Hybrid Club has a unique rail sole. This part of the club consists of high-density weights for longer and higher ball flights.
Plus, the hybrid is constructed with a shallow face. This is useful in generating higher launch for improved distance and carry.
The only problem with the Cobra Men’s Baffler T-Rail + Hybrid Club is that it doesn’t offer maximum forgiveness. This is never good news for beginners and amateur golfers.
We Like
- The club pushes the golf ball to fly higher and land softly.
- It squares perfectly well, which boosts confidence.
We Don’t Like
- The hybrid is not very forgiving.
Cobra Baffler Rail Hybrid
7. Callaway Men’s Big Bertha Individual Hybrid Club – The Best Hybrid Golf Clubs with an Adjustable Hosel
With loft adjustability, the whole experience becomes so much more convenient, doesn’t it? The Callaway Men’s Big Bertha Individual Hybrid Club offers phenomenal OptiFit adjustability. You get to pick from eight different loft/lie options. This is perfect for optimizing trajectory as well as shot shape.
You will be quite taken aback by the low, forgiving CG of the club. What it does is provide high MOI, which makes the hybrid very forgiving and increases ball speed.
When using a hybrid, the ball speed comes from the clubface, right? So the Callaway Men’s Big Bertha Individual Hybrid Club has a robust, light, and thin face to give you maximum speed.
The loft adjustments always come with instructions, don’t they? But that’s not the case with the Callaway Men’s Big Bertha Individual Hybrid Club. So you might have to figure that one out all by yourself, which is not as complicated as you’d expect. And most of all it’s also one of the best hybrid golf clubs for seniors.
We Like
- The trajectory, setup, and feel of the club are excellent.
- It gives you more distance with better control.
We Don’t Like
- There are no instructions for loft adjustment.
Callaway Talks on Big Bertha OS Irons & Hybrids
best Hybrid Golf Clubs – Buying Guide
Credit: golf-monthly.co.uk
Now that you know what the best hybrid golf clubs are, it’s time to understand a little more about how they work and what they do. In simple words, a hybrid is nothing but a highly valuable combination of a fairway wood and iron.
The thing about hybrids is that they hand out more control than fairway woods. And on top of that, you also get maximum forgiveness when striking the golf ball. Isn’t that good news for beginners and amateur golfers? Of course, it is!
You will find many professional tour golfers with a hybrid. So what does this tell you? That these golf clubs are gaining popularity, right? And this is the reason why we’ve created such a helpful guide for you. So you can select what’s best for your golfing skills.
The Advantages of Playing with Hybrid Golf Clubs
Since you know they’re a combination of wood and iron, hybrids offer several benefits. The first and most significant benefit is distance. With regular deliberate practice, you will soon notice that you can hit hybrids further than traditional long irons.
This is the primary reason why so many professional golfers use a hybrid golf club instead of a 5 wood. Another reason for doing so is that hybrids are comparatively easier to hit than long irons. They offer more forgiveness and don’t dig into the ground as long irons do.
So if you’re an average golfer, then buying a hybrid golf club might be the best decision you make to play better.
The Key Components of Hybrids
Credit: independentgolfreviews.com
- Every hybrid golf club consists of iron’s face and wood’s backing. And we all know how beneficial these characteristics are in the game of golf.
- The golf club is relatively easier to hit, which is perfect for beginners.
- Hybrids have specially built light graphite shafts. You will find no other golf clubs on the market with such an individualistic shaft design.
- They offer a smooth glide instead of digging into the turf.
- The best part about a hybrid golf club is that you can use it from the bunker, rough, and fairway.
- Many golfers tend to play their chipping shots as well with hybrids.
Important Features to Take into Account When Buying the Best Hybrid Golf Clubs
Loft
Hybrid golf clubs have graphite shafts lighter than irons. They also come with more forgiving, hotter clubfaces. Do you know what this means? It means that you can use a hybrid instead of iron (with the same loft) to achieve more distance.
The loft of the hybrid depends on where you decide to use the golf club. For example, when the ball is teed up, you might want to pick a lower-lofted iron. This gives you a stronger flight.
Adjustability
There are only a few models on the market built with adjustable hosels. And we’re pretty sure you know that by now, don’t you? We’re not implying that hybrids with no adjustable hosels are not worth considering.
You should be aware that you only require maximum adjustability when you play on different courses. This means more changeable winds. (How to adjust hybrid golf clubs)
The sole weight is also another adjustable feature. It is ideal for changing ball flight. But again, you only need this particular component if you struggle with a consistent miss.
Color
When it comes to modern hybrids, they can be as traditional or bright as you want them to be. There’s no right or more suitable color for hybrid golf clubs. You can select whatever you like based on your personal preferences.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hybrid Golf Clubs Reviews
When it comes to buying the best hybrid golf clubs, you will come across many options on the market. So the selection process might get confusing. But you should know that hybrids are comparatively easier and more comfortable to hit than low irons.
So don’t give up just because the process is complicated.
But with our helpful guide and seven top recommendations, this should not be a problem. Also, when you know all about the Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid, there’s nothing else you need to look at.
The Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid has a unique face cup design to increase ball speed. This gives you maximum forgiveness and greater distance.
You will be glad to know that the hybrid contains more MOI and low CG. This comes in the form of a redesigned head shape and Improved Internal Standing Wave. Such a quality makes the golf club very forgiving even for those off-center strikes.
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Sources:
1. http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/gear/gear-galleries/the-best-hybrids-2016-76420
2. http://www.golfmagic.com/equipment/ten-of-the-best/best-hybrids-2015-review/21441
3. http://www.golfbidder.co.uk/golf-advice/517/golf-utility-buyers-guide.html
