{"id":1799,"date":"2020-12-16T08:49:29","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T08:49:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/outofboundsgolf.co\/?p=1799"},"modified":"2024-09-03T16:34:13","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T16:34:13","slug":"best-hybrids-for-mid-handicappers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outofboundsgolf.co\/hybrids\/best-hybrids-for-mid-handicappers\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 3 Best Golf Hybrids For Mid Handicappers: 2024 Updated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
I don\u2019t know about you but I\u2019ve always struggled with 200-220 yards shots because long irons are just hard to hit. That was until I got myself a hybrid, and in this post, we\u2019re going to be talking about some of my favorites for mid handicaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the best hybrids for mid handicappers 2024:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m a mid handicap hacker myself and if I were in the market for a new hybrid then these are the ones I\u2019d consider. I ended up buying the M6 not that long ago and absolutely love it. I\u2019ve compared it to some of the newer hybrids on the market and can\u2019t see any reason to spend the extra money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A mid-handicap golfer is someone that has a handicap between 11-20 and normally shoots in the 80s on a par 72 golf course. These golfers are considered to be slightly better than average.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You might find this hard to believe but if you can consistently shoot in the 80s, you\u2019re actually quite a bit better than most. The average golf score for people actually tracking their handicap is right around 91<\/strong> (for all age groups).<\/p>\n\n\n\n That doesn\u2019t give you the full picture though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What about all those golfers who don\u2019t track their handicap? If you were to include those scores then the average score would jump up closer to 100<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being able to shoot in the 80s means you play better than bogey golf. You do get a lot of those but you also get your fair share of pars.<\/strong> Even better, you might make one or two birdies per round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a mid handicapper then you\u2019ll want to look for specific features in a fairway wood. You\u2019ll still need the forgiveness<\/strong> that a high handicap would need but you\u2019ll also want some versatility<\/strong> for when you get better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not quite in the 80s yet? If that\u2019s the case, you might want to read our article on fairway woods for average players. These woods could work fine for you but there could be better options on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hybrids are the ultimate club in a golfers bag because they\u2019re more forgiving than longer irons and they\u2019re more versatile than fairway woods. Hybrids can be used off the tee, in the fairway, from the rough, and around the greens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I think all mid to high handicaps should carry at least one hybrid in their bag. They\u2019re one of my favorite clubs to hit and are way easier to hit than your 3-5 irons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are the main things hybrids are used for:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re teeing off and the fairway is super narrow<\/strong> or there\u2019s water right and your miss with driver is right, you might want to hit hybrid instead. I\u2019m much more accurate with my hybrid and as I said before, hitting your second shot from the fairway is an easy way to lower scores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most mid to high handicappers have a tough time hitting their longer irons<\/strong> (3-5). I stopped carrying them all together and just hit hybrids now. They hit the ball higher, longer, and are way more forgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re 190 yards out in the rough,<\/strong> there\u2019s no way you\u2019ll get there with your irons, and hitting fairway wood is 50\/50. That\u2019s where hybrid comes into play. You\u2019ll get the extra distance but it\u2019ll also be way easier to make solid contact compared to your wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s cool about hybrids is that you can use them around the green (almost like a putter). Sometimes when you\u2019re on the fringe you\u2019ll debate between putting and chipping. Some people don\u2019t have confidence in their wedge but it might be tough to gauge the speed with your putter. Putting with your hybrid<\/strong> can work really well for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hybrids are easier to hit than irons because the face is thinner and there\u2019s more weight behind and under the ball. This makes it a lot easier to launch the ball in the air.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Obviously, irons are more compact and the weight is more forward. That means you\u2019ll need to hit the sweet spot<\/strong> dead on and you\u2019ll need to have a pretty good amount of club speed<\/strong> to get that ball in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t hit the sweet spot then the ball will curve left or right<\/strong> or you\u2019ll just get zero distance. If you don\u2019t swing fast enough then the ball won\u2019t pop up in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thing that makes hybrids easier to hit is that they have graphite shafts.<\/strong> These shafts are lighter than steel and should help you swing the club faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hybrids are essentially smaller fairway woods. The shorter shafts<\/strong> and higher loft<\/strong> are what makes them easier to hit. Think about what\u2019s easier to hit, your 5 iron or your 9 iron. The same goes for woods and hybrids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ideal hybrid is one that fits between your fairway wood and your longest iron. For most, that\u2019s going to be a 4 hybrid (22 degrees) since it\u2019s halfway between your 5-wood (18 degrees) and your 6 iron (26 degrees).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a mid handicap then you probably only need one hybrid.<\/strong> You can get more as you get better but I don\u2019t see any benefit to having 3 different hybrids and 2 fairways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What you\u2019ll want to do is get a hybrid that\u2019s between your wood and your longest iron<\/strong>. If you have a 3-wood (15 degrees) and a 5 iron (23 degrees), you\u2019d probably want a hybrid that\u2019s 19 degrees (2-hybrid). Anything less than 19 degrees and I\u2019d probably get a fairway wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think all mid to high handicaps should play 5-wood instead of 3-wood. The extra loft is going to be way easier to hit from the fairway and they should go the same distance. That\u2019s why I prefer having a 4 hybrid that\u2019s 22-23 degrees<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just in case you were wondering what my ideal bag looks like, I\u2019d start with only 5 clubs as a higher handicap golfer and add as I get better. Here\u2019s what clubs I would start with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can put up some pretty good scores if you got really consistent with these 5 clubs. My 175+ yard club would be 5-wood and then I\u2019d add a couple of irons that get me those distances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I got better (mid handicap range), I\u2019d look to add a few more irons and a hybrid. Here\u2019s what my bag currently looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll notice that it\u2019s pretty much every second club. I saved some dough doing it this way and it\u2019s never really caused any issues. Going into low handicap range, I\u2019ll add driver and the remaining irons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you know what hybrid you want to get (we\u2019ll talk about this next), one of the most important things you need to do is pick the right shaft flex. It might actually be more important<\/strong> than the actual club itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You could get away with using the wrong flex but it\u2019ll be tough hitting consistent shots. What\u2019ll end up happening is you\u2019ll be spraying your shots<\/strong> all over the golf course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having a shaft that\u2019s too whippy will give you a lot of pulls and hooks<\/strong>. Having a shaft that\u2019s too stiff will give you a lot of low slices.<\/strong> Both, not that ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, the first thing you need to do is figure out your swing speed.<\/strong> This will tell you what shaft you need to get. If you can\u2019t figure out those numbers, figure out how far you normally drive the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a general chart that will tell you what shaft to get based on your swing speed and drive distance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, it\u2019s time to finally get into the best hybrids on the market for mid handicappers. If I was in the market for a new hybrid, these are the ones I\u2019d consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t think it\u2019s necessary to go out and buy the most expensive club or the newest model. What I look at is what performs the best for the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve compared these hybrids to some of the most popular options and they perform very similarly. The distances are pretty much the exact same too. Let\u2019s jump in.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is A Mid Handicap Golfer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Are Hybrid Clubs Used For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Are Hybrid Golf Clubs Easier To Hit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Hybrid Clubs Replace Irons?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hybrid Loft<\/td> Hybrid Number<\/td> Iron Number<\/td><\/tr> 14-16<\/td> 1<\/td> 1<\/td><\/tr> 17-19<\/td> 2<\/td> 2<\/td><\/tr> 20-21<\/td> 3<\/td> 3<\/td><\/tr> 22-23<\/td> 4<\/td> 4<\/td><\/tr> 24-27<\/td> 5<\/td> 5<\/td><\/tr> 28-32<\/td> 6<\/td> 6<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n What Hybrid Clubs Should You Carry?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Hybrid Flex Should You Get?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Swing Speed<\/td> Driver Distance<\/td> Shaft Flex<\/td><\/tr> Under 80 MPH<\/td> Under 200 Yards<\/td> Senior\/Ladies<\/td><\/tr> 80-90 MPH<\/td> 200-240 Yards<\/td> Regular<\/td><\/tr> 90-100 MPH<\/td> 240-275 Yards<\/td> Stiff<\/td><\/tr> Over 100 MPH<\/td> 275+ Yards<\/td> Extra Stiff<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Best Hybrids For Mid Handicap Golfers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Taylormade M6 (My #1 Pick)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n