Here we test the 2023 Hybrid offerings to discover which is the best hybrid golf club for high handicappers.
Why use a hybrid over a mid or long iron?
In short, high handicappers benefit from using hybrids over mid and long irons in two vital areas. They are easier to hit and they are more accurate! In fact studies have shown that from 180 yards high handicappers double their chances of hitting the green with a hybrid over an iron. Think about that – twice as many greens hit, double the number of birdie putts, and we would like to hope double the number of pars recorded, simply replacing 3, 4, 5 and 6 irons with a couple of hybrids! Incredible!
How do I know if a Hybrid is the right club for me?
You should try a hybrid if:
You cannot reach par 3 holes with your longest iron
You need a fairway finder tee shot
You can hit your 5 wood but not your 5 iron
Seven and nine woods look ridiculous to you!
Is the best hybrid for high handicappers going to be the best hybrid for me?
Maybe yes, maybe no. If you are a slicer then something with an offset is a good idea. If your swing speed is low then something lightweight that promotes high ball speed is a good idea. Our insights are intended to point you in the right direction.
The candidate for Best Hybrid Golf Clubs for High Handicap golfers are:
There are many hybrids on the market, each proclaiming to be the club that will bring a little magic into your game. In order to settle once and for all which is the best hybrid for high handicappers we have whittled the contenders down to a few big name brands and some surprising mid range and low cost options. Please note that all of the clubs tested are available in both mens and ladies configuration. The candidates are:
Ping 430
Titleist TSR3
Wilson D9
King Cobra Air X
Ping 430 Hybrids
Reasons to buy
It flies remarkably straight
By changing where you grip the club it can replace 2 or 3 long irons
Easy to hit from anywhere
Feeds your confidence
Very useful for pitch and run shots
Reasons not to buy
Premium price
Difficult to shape shots
Must be properly fitted to get full benefit
I must tell you that for me the Ping 430 brought that sought after magic to my game. This was the only club that suited my eye when I addressed the ball. The fitting provided me with the shaft that made hitting the ball a joy. The ball flight was predominantly straight with little or no curve. In fact I found it almost impossible to summon draws and fades, which frankly is a good thing for me, I am terrible at it anyway!
I could hit the ball cleanly from the fairway, first cut, pine straw, sand, hard pan, pretty much every lie that Mijas Golf could throw at me, the dispersion was amazing both in latitude and longitude. I even found success using it for 30m – 70m pitch and run shots!
Gripping the club at its full length gave me a carry distance that matched my 3 wood, another club that I cannot hit! Gripping the Ping 430 in the centre of the grip produced a consistent distance equal to my 4 iron, and from the bottom of the grip it would also replace my 5 iron. Imagine, one hybrid does the job of three clubs with greater ease, consistency and accuracy! Magic!
I have never fallen so deeply for an inanimate object quite like I fell for the ping 430 Hybrid number 2. For me this is the clear winner. However there are more to test, and as usual my old mate JW sees things very differently!
Titleist TSR3
Reasons to buy
High quality product
Distance
Stopping power
Good looks
Reasons not to buy
Premium pricing
Not the most forgiving
Titleist manufactures products of unassailable quality. They are the creme de la creme. That is reason enough for many players to buy Titleist products, but, are they the best hybrids for high handicappers, do they offer that forgiveness that most high handicappers need?
The Titleist TSR3 looks fabulous, with little offset it is designed to allow players to work the ball.
The huge range of adjustability allows players to fine tune the club to produce exactly the repeatable style of flight they desire.
The TSR 3 is forgiving, it is much easier to hit than a long iron. It is however aimed at faster swinging players with the ability to attack flags. This is a beautiful product but not in our opinion the most forgiving hybrid for high handicappers.
Wilson D9
Reasons to buy
Very easy to get it airborne
Huge spin makes it stop on the greens
Very affordable
Reasons not to buy
High spin reduces overall distance
Sole looks as if it will mark and scratch easily
The Wilson D9 delivers its promise and delivers a club that is very easy to hit. This is exactly what most high handicappers need. The D9 imparts tremendous levels of backspin onto the ball which helps it to fly high and stop on the greens quickly.
The downside is that it does not hit the ball as far as its competitors. The trade off is less distance versus less cost, high consistency, easy to hit, stops on the greens.
There are many reasons to buy this club, yet the trade off in distance makes it a tough choice.
King Cobra Air X
Reasons to buy
Anti slice offset
Light weight promotes greater speed
Absolute bargain
Easy to hit
Reasons not to buy:
Anti slice offset
Light weight
I like Cobra Golf. I like that their drivers deliver measurably more distance. I like that their products always do what it says on the tin, and I love that they charge significantly less than the other big brands. What’s not to like?
The King Cobra Air X does a specific job. It is aimed at players with moderate to slow swing speeds, its objective is to maximise ball speed, stop the slice and fly the ball nice and high to maximise carry.
It does all three with the effectiveness that we have come to expect from Cobra.
As good as this club fits its mission brief it is not the right club for me. The offset just did not look good to me, rather than preventing a slice, for me it promoted wild swinging hooks!
It is extremely light weight, great for maximising ball speed in slower swingers but made it more difficult for me to feel the clubhead.
The King Cobra is a bargain compared to the others, and if you are a moderate to slow swinger, if a slice is your nemesis then this King Cobra Air X might very well be the best hybrid for high handicap players!
Summary
One man’s meat is another man’s poison. My choice for the best hybrid golf club for high handicappers is the Ping 430, its solid feel, lack of offset and versatility suited the weaknesses in my long game perfectly. For JW the Titleist is the one that he wants to take home. It smoothed out the rough edges in weak areas of his game and would save him at least 1 shot per round.
All of the clubs tested are good golf clubs. All have been thoughtfully designed to do a job. Even though the Ping is my personal choice, I award the title of the Best Hybrid Golf Club for High Handicappers to the Cobra.
Its blend of getting the job done, serving its player and the amazing value offered makes it a no brainer to add to your list .
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