I’ve been using hybrids instead of long irons for a number of years now because I can hit them farther and also have better accuracy. In this post, I’m going to be comparing a hybrid swing to a long iron swing and talking about the key differences.
Long story short, the difference between a hybrid and a long iron is the amount of forgiveness and the required speed to make a solid shot. If you want to hit a long iron a long distance you’ll need to generate somewhere around 95-100 MPH of swing speed to be able to get it up in the air. You’ll be able to swing the club much slower with a hybrid to get the distance and ball flight you’re after.
I think a lot of average golfers could benefit from using a hybrid instead of their 3-5 irons because they’re way more forgiving and easier to hit. If you’ve never hit one then you’ll most likely need to practice a number of times to get the hang of it but I’m pretty confident in saying you’ll really enjoy it. Let’s jump into a few more details about hybrid and long iron swings.
How To Hit A Long Iron
In order to hit a solid shot with your long iron, you’re going to need a good amount of speed through impact and a slightly downward strike. You aren’t going to want to take a big divot like you would with a wedge but what you’ll want to do is make a really clean strike. Here’s how you should play a long iron:
- Stand with the ball slightly forward of center.
- Put the center of your body over the clubhead.
- Swing the club and barely brush the ground.
When you hit an iron shot purely it’ll almost feel like you’ve hit it thin. It’s going to take quite a bit of practice and I’m sure you’ll slap shot a few but the feeling you want to get is 95% ball and 5% ground.
It’s going to be pretty tough for the average golfer to consistently make solid shots with their long irons. As you start getting better you’ll want to have more control over the ball and that’s where your iron would be ideal. You can shape the ball around easier and control how high or low you want the shot.
How To Hit A Hybrid
If you’re someone like me and don’t swing the club too hard you’ll most likely benefit from a hybrid. The center of gravity is further back and there’s more bass behind the ball. Since that’s the case, it won’t take as much speed to make solid contact and get that ball up in the air.
One of the reasons I like a hybrid is because it can be hit like your long iron but it can also be hit like your fairway wood. If you hit slightly down on the ball you’ll make good contact and you’ll also make solid contact if you sweep the ball off the ground (just like you would with a fairway wood).
You’re going to have much more forgiveness because the club isn’t going to dig into the ground and your margin of error is much smaller. Here’s how you should play a hybrid:
- Stand with the ball slightly forward of center.
- Put the center of your body just behind the clubhead.
- Swing the club and barely brush the ground.
When you make solid contact you’ll quickly see the benefit of using a hybrid. Your shot will go so much higher and you’ll most likely get more distance out of it. Even if you hit slightly behind the ball you’ll still make decent contact and get some distance because the wider bottom will glide along the ground.
As you start getting better, a hybrid might not be the best option for you because it’s not as versatile. It’s pretty tough to control the ball and shape it around the course. Irons are much better for drawing/fading the ball or keeping the ball low. I’m sure most people reading this don’t need to worry about that and will be better off with a hybrid. It’s what I use and is one of my favorite clubs. You can see a list of my favorite hybrids here.
Let me know your thoughts and any questions you have. Like this article? Feel free to give it a share!
Looking to get some new golf gear? Click here to check out our recommended gear page to see the stuff we’re recommending and the cheapest place to get them.