How to Use Hybrid Golf Clubs
By Steve Silverman
Hybrid clubs have been a wonderful innovation for medium- and high-handicap golfers. They have taken the place of fairway woods and long irons for many golfers who have struggled to use them. Hybrid clubs have a low center of gravity and are excellent for getting the ball up in the air.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Use a hybrid when you are in the rough and 200 yards away from the green. If you take a swing with your long iron under these conditions, it will likely get caught up in the long grass. However, pick up a hybrid and hit down on the ball and you will see your ball jump out of the high grass and fly toward the target. The hybrid is lighter and stronger than the long iron and the results from the rough are quite good.
Use a hybrid for a long fairway shot. This should be a shot that you hit fairly easily with a 3-wood, 5-wood or long iron, but many golfers can't stand prosperity after actually hitting their tee shot into the fairway. They tense up with the fairway wood or long iron and mis-hit the ensuing shot. You are much more likely to hit a straight and effective shot by taking an easy swing with your hybrid.
Use a hybrid club from a fairway bunker. Remember, you don't hit behind the ball in the fairway bunker the way you would a greenside bunker. Instead, sweep the ball out of the fairway bunker by taking a shallow angle with your hybrid. The ball should get out of that bunker with little trouble.
Use a hybrid to chip any shot that is 80 yards or closer. Many golfer will prefer to use their wedge and pitch the ball from this distance, but a chip shot is often an outstanding alternative when there are no hazards or obstacles in the way. Choke way down on your hybrid and take a chipping stroke with the club. This is particularly effective on an uphill approach to the green.
Go to the driving range and work with your hybrid club. Most golfers find int a much easier club to hit than standard woods and irons, but the more practice one can get with the club. In order to take advantage of hybrid clubs in a match or tournament, make sure you get sufficient practice with them on the range.
Tips & Warnings
Use the hybrid club to get your ball out of the heavy rough by swinging down on the ball.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
