Best Hybrids for Beginners

Cobra King F9 Speedback Hybrid

OUR Choice

Callaway Rogue Hybrid

TaylorMade M4 Hybrid Hybriding

PING G400 Hybrid Hybrid

Choosing the best hybrids for beginners

There are some considerations that should be taken into account before purchasing best hybrids for beginners.

Testing the Waters

One of the first steps in order to get a feel for the type of club you desire is to ask another golfer to lend you one of their clubs for a few rounds. While this might sound a bit trite, it will provide you with an overview of the action of a hybrid as well as how its feel differs from traditional woods and irons. It is also a good idea to compare the "feel" of your woods and irons alongside a hybrid. This can enable you to appreciate the similarities as well as the notable differences. Remember that there is nothing wrong with asking!

Determine Which Clubs You Need to Replace

Many professionals will recommend that you only replace those clubs or irons which are giving you trouble. If you find yourself working well with a certain iron or wood, do not feel as if you need to replace this model with a hybrid. It is better to be much more selective and to only change those clubs which have been giving you trouble. This is particularly the case in terms of high handicappers and beginners in general. If you are unsure or you feel that you might need to make future adjustments, it might be wise to select a hybrid model which comes in a wide array of angles.

Lightweight and Yet Flexible

This next suggestion involves more common sense and yet, it should still be mentioned. Lightweight drivers are easier to manipulate and they can also help to address issues such as arthritis in the fingers or wrists. Still, purchasing a club with a moderately flexible shaft will add to your yardage due to the responsiveness of the head upon impact. Experiment with different flex/weight ratios in order to determine which combination best suits your requirements. This video helps to explain more about how shaft stiffness can affect your shots.

A Forgiving Sweet Spot

Knowing where to buy the best golf hybrids is not nearly as important as appreciating what to look for in terms of forgiveness and design. One of the advantages of many hybrid clubs is that the associated contact face tends to be much more robust when compared to traditional irons. As this YouTube video points out, being provided with a solid centre face is arguably more important a faster swing, as superior levels of contact will always drive the ball farther down the green. This is why it is wise to select a hybrid club with a sizeable sweet spot.

Offset and Shaft

Always remember that the purpose of a hybrid golf club is to enhance your existing technique as opposed to replace it entirely. So, be sure that the layout of the club is matched as close as possible to the wood or iron which you are looking to address. Take into account the length of the shaft as well as the offset between the shaft and the head. Also, ascertain the flex of the shaft before deciding upon a specific make and model. Try the club out at the store or at a nearby range to confirm that its mechanics meet your personal specifications. You will otherwise likely find that your entire swing and accuracy have been taken for a loop. This is never a good thing when you have been hoping to correct otherwise minor issues.

Hybrid Loft Angles

Loft angles are another important area to address, as these will obviously have an impact upon efficiency as well as overall accuracy. Let's take a look at a handy conversion chart that will provide you with a quick go-to guide as well as take much of the guesswork out of the equation:

3 wood: Hybrids of between 14 and 16 degrees.

5 wood/2 iron: Hybrids of between 20 and 22 degrees.

7 wood/3 iron: Hybrids of between 23 and 25 degrees.

9 wood/4 iron: Hybrids of between 26 and 29 degrees.

Keep in mind that specific makes and models might offer a wider range of angles, to simply use this guide as a rough outline during the selection process.

The Centre of Gravity (COG)

The centre of gravity of any hybrid golf club is critical if you hope to make firm and reliable contact with the ball (3). While this is always obvious with traditional irons and woods, it is even more important if you are just starting out or if you happen to be suffering from a high handicap. A lower centre of gravity tends to provide more control and consistency and the majority of hybrids share this feature in common.

The same holds true when referring to the sole of the face. Wider soles are much more forgiving and as mentioned previously, they will be able to provide you with a more flexible margin for error. Not only can this help to reduce a profound handicap, but the intuitive feel of these models will enable you to analyse your swing as well as the point of contact.

Are Hybrid Clubs for Beginners Really Able to Produce Results?

This is a question which has come up frequently in recent times. After all, would it not make much sense to improve your game with a traditional wood or iron as opposed to simply opting for a hybrid as a type of "shortcut"? This is nothing more than a misconception. Beginners can vastly benefit from the design of hybrid golf clubs due to their responsive nature as well as the sheer variety of loft angles to choose from. While some traditionalists will always stick with their irons and woods, novices and high handicappers can be provided with a number of unique advantages thanks to the introduction of hybrid models. In fact, even some of the best players such as Jimmy Walker, Mark Wilson and Phil Mickelson now regularly carry hybrids in their bag.

Callaway Rogue Hybrid

Callaway is one of the most respected names in the industry and they have developed the Rogue series specifically to address the needs of high handicappers. Let's take a look at some of the benefits:

PROS

Available in both left- and right-handed configurations.
Loft angles of between 17 and 29 degrees are available.
An entire set of long irons can therefore be replaced if necessary.
Three different shaft flex configurations can be selected.

CONS

A handful of possible drawbacks should still be mentioned:

One of the most expensive models currently on the market.
Such advanced technology might not be entirely suited for beginners.

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TaylorMade M4 Hybrid

The TaylorMade M4 Hybrid is thought to represent the main competitor to the Callaway model mentioned above, as it shares many of the same traits in common. Not only is this version slightly cheaper, but it offers a plethora of unique features which are certain to deflate high handicaps:

PROS

Loft angles between 19 and 28 degrees.
Essentially an "all-in-one" line designed to cope with most shots.
A very forgiving club face for beginners.

CONS

While the benefits mentioned above can never be taken lightly, it is still only fair to point out a few possible drawbacks to take into account:

The hosel cannot be adjusted if needed.
The head is extremely large; perhaps lessening one's field of vision.
There is no weight track on the bottom of the club.

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Cobra King F9 Speedback Hybrid

Anyone who feels that speed and swing efficiency are critical concerns has come to the right place. The Cobra King F9 Speedback is aptly named, as it offers many streamlined qualities that are suited if you already have the confidence to improve the velocity and trajectory of your swing. So, what are some traits which allow this hybrid to be so popular?

PROS

A slightly smaller club head when contrasted with other models.
You will be able to increase the speed of the ball without sacrificing the forgiveness of the club.
A shaft that offers a firm and solid feel. This is important for those with faster swing speeds, as too much flexibility can represent an issue.
Shots associated with low spins and high loft angles.

CONS

In order to remain completely objective, it is wise to list some possible downfalls of the Cobra King F9 Speedback:

The rather "flashy" appearance of the club might not be suited for everyone.
You are not provided with the ability to adjust the shape of your shot.

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PING G400 Hybrid

The G400 is the latest in the G hybrid series offered by PING. As with any model, the main intention of this model is to allow the golfer to hit the ball with a higher loft than would be possible with an iron. This is an obvious concern when choosing the best hybrids for high handicappers. However, the angle of attack must be steep enough so that the ball will stop on the green where desired. How have the designers at PING addressed these and other issues? Here are some interesting qualities found within the G400 hybrid.

PROS

The G400 offers a more rounded head when compared to the standard G series. This can help with forgiveness when tackling a tough position.
The club head offers a slightly rough texture. This can help to reduce spin.
White and black grooves will help the golfer to properly align the ball before a shot.
The rear weight is noticeably smaller in relation to the G series. This primarily arises from the fact that the entire club head is 30 per cent denser (while not increasing its overall size).
The inclusion of a stainless steel crown has helped to further reduce overall weight.

CONS

As impressive as these amenities are, there are still some possible cons:

The increase in speeds attributed to this series are negligible in some cases (between 1 and 1.5 miles per hour).
The overall visual design is not markedly impressive.

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Cleveland Launcher HB Hybrid

There are many unique qualities of this hybrid club and once again, Cleveland Golf does not fail to impress. It is just as important to mention that the aesthetics associated with this hybrid are combined with a sense of durability that is not often encountered within affordable clubs. Let's take a quick look at some of the primary features associated with the Launcher HB:

PROS

Users can choose from a variety of loft angles as well as degrees of flexibility within the shaft.
The angle of the hosel can be adjusted when required in order to suit the swing preferences of the individual player.
An attractive two-tone metallic design is featured throughout the club face.
The club face will decompress slightly upon impact; resulting in a softer feel and a significant amount of forgiveness.

CONS

There are still some possible pitfalls to consider if you hope to make an informed decision:

This level of engineering might not be fully appreciated by novices.
The Cleveland Launcher HB Hybrid is one of the most expensive models on the market.

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And our Winner is ...

Callaway Rogue Hybrid

These are all excellent hybrid golf clubs for beginners to use. As we can see, each offers a handful of proprietary qualities and there is no doubt that their popularity will continue to increase. It is still important to mention that this list of the top five models has a clear winner. After careful consideration, the Callaway Rogue Hybrid is the victor. Why is this the case?

There are several reasons behind our observation. Not only is the Callaway Rogue flexible in terms of launch angles and shaft flexibility, but it is possible to adjust the hosel and a softer feel upon impact is great for beginners. While the technology could be slightly overwhelming for some, there is no better way to learn than by partnering with the best in the business. This is why the Cleveland Launcher HB has obtained the top spot.

Still, be sure to experiment with different hybrid clubs and never be afraid to think outside of the box. Experts are not born overnight and bit of trial and error can go a long way towards success.

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