Hybrid Vs Iron

I think you hit on the best advice in playing what you feel most comfortable hitting. We are all different and many TT members here will be playing different set ups for the same reason, regardless of their handicap. Go with what gives you the most confidence.

For every golfer who favors the hybrids, there's one who favors the long irons. Personal choice as to what works best for you.
I can tell you my experience is that I like hitting a hybrid off the fairway and sometimes off a tee, but where I play the rough is heavy and grabs the clubhead so doesn't work well for me out of the rough. I use a 19 degree TS2 hybrid and also carry the U505 4 iron. Prefer the U505 out of rough, but also like the performance of it from just about everywhere else on the course. Best advice is to demo both and see what works for you.

Calling back to the fitting goals with the T-series Gen. 3 irons, the objective is each club should provide ideal launch, height, and descent angle to hold a green. Each club should provide 10-15 yards more distance than the last.

Most golfers will get to a point where the next club will not provide enough launch and descent angle, so the trajectory is flatter and the distance will vary greatly depending on the firmness and grass height where it lands. Not to mention a 3 or 4 iron may not ever land and hold that green.

If the shot window for your 3 or 4 irons don't look like your 5 or 6 iron, then you may need to go for clubs that provide the basics of a shot comparable to shorter irons. Options used by pros include a more forgiving iron, a driving iron, a hybrid, or even a fairway. We can't advise you to swap in replacements for your irons, or tell you that a hybrid is the solution. Although that may be the most common replacement for a long iron. We don't know how well you do with your current setup.

I happen to prefer hybrids then fairways, but I worked with a fitter to get the right clubs in my bag so I have the right tool for the right job, for me.

Great description and direction.

This is a simple one. When you are practicing on the course, hit a hybrid and an iron and see which one works the best for you.

At the end of the day, it comes down to preference. I stop at a 4 iron in my bag and then pick up a 18 degree TSR2 Hybrid. I find compared to 2 o 3 irons the hybrid is easier to hit off a variety of bad lies plus it goes so much higher...

IMHO

As one can see in my thumbnail, I have a rather unusual bag.

Fred Couples carries a 6 hybrid.

In my younger days I could hit a 1 iron. I played for 7 years with 3-4 woods, 3-5-7-9 and a “dual wedge” and 1 season of that was on the high school golf team. I played my Dad’s 2–PW for 23 years.

I had a back injury in 2005 after not playing for 3 years. Didn’t start playing again until 2007. I also discovered 7 woods. The longest iron I’ve carried in my bag since then is a 7 iron. I just recently put a 9 wood in the bag and added back a 34 hybrid (which I hadn’t used since 2014).

I have a golf partner who actually feels more comfortable hitting a 3 iron.

I actually carried a 2 wood, 1 iron and 2-P 40 years ago. And carried 3-4 wood, 3-5-7-9 irons and a dual wedge for my first 7 years and even played on the high school golf team with that rig until my dad handed down his X/31 staff 2–PW in 1979.

I had re-learn how to swing a club in 2007 after a back injury. Since then, the highest number I have carried is a 6. I could no longer hit a 3 wood. My dad gave me Titleist 975F 16.5 and 20.5 fairways in 2007 (I played them for 3 years). I actually used True Temper Lite XL shafts on them. I also started using hybrids with steel shafts. Could never master a 21 or 23 hybrid so I carried some form of a lofted fairway wood up until 2012. I carried a Puma 9 wood with the 975s; that and a Nickent 3DX 29 were a good combo. Used G10 28 and 32 hybrids plus a 35 hybrid until 2010. I sort of missed real fairway woods so I got 21 and 28 fairways plus a 34 hybrid from Louisville Golf.

I played a Burner lofted driver (HT draw) between 2011-2017 with M flex. Also a Burner 7 wood until 2012.

Got a 910F 19 in 2012. Found I hit the 910H 27 very well. The issue was the gap. Once I got used to hitting these on the A2 setting, Callie 9 woods swung a bit flat. Went to a 7 wood in 2014. Played it and the 910H 27 until 2017. Also, played a Sumo2 SQ 34 hybrid between 2012-2015.

I like hitting an 18 or 19 fairway (915F 2017-2018, 913F until 2020) but the issue has been the gap. I can hit a 25 or 27 rather consistent (816H1 since 2019). I have been using a 910F 21 up until April of this year with 816H1 25/27 or 910H 27 (Kai’li and Ilima shafts on the 910s and Diamana 70 on the 816s).

One thing that has happened is my ball striking has improved to the point where a Bassara shaft is a bit whippy. Been teetering with Diamana 60 S or R on the drIver since 2021. Been using stiff on my fairways and hybrids since 2021. Went to 70g on the fairways in 2019.


Oh yeah…. played 695 MB 7-P between 2020-2023 S300. For short irons since beginning of 2023 has been 716CB 7 (32*) and 716MB 8 iron (39*) with Vokey 46-10F.

Just did an upgrade to fairways and hybrids to TSR1 in March. I am carrying TSR1 18 and 23 fairways with Diamana 70 R shafts. I tried the TSR1 (it is still at the house but I found out my trusty old 816H1 27H is a go to club with a Tensei 70g stiff slightly soft stepped)

Now we get to the best part….. found a Sumo2 SQ 34H with a stiff shaft. No turning back …. it even beats a G10 32H. I have a T100S 9 iron (39*) and an SM10 46-10F. I also have 695MB 8 and 9 irons (practically new heads and Project X 5.5 shafts) in reserve but why bother?

Hi Austin,
The last few years I’ve been using the T200 Utility 4 iron and the U505 3 iron but recently I’ve lost a bit of confidence with the 3 iron so I got a TSR2 21 hybrid.
It’s the best decision I’ve made in a while, it’s just so easy to hit and is so versatile.
If I was you I would go hybrid.
Cheers
Blair