The Golf Thread

[Lexvol]

As in getting the ball in the air quickly, and hitting higher softer approach shots. I have a buddy that uses one, and he doesn't get the ball up very well with it. He mainly uses it longer shots out of the rough as a "rescue" club.

I have only hit a few off of the range, but I do like them. I have avoided them for some of the same reasons you guys have.

 

[GAVol]

One problem a lot of people seem to have is that they aren't sure whether to hit it like an iron or a wood. I think you can do either successfully, but I seem to have more success playing the ball slightly back and hitting it like an iron. It also helps me keep from hooking the bejeezus out of it.

 

[volfanbill]

why not hit the 5 about 160 until you're comfortable with it and not concerned with how far it goes. it's tough to play well with a hole like that in your set. the knock down 4 is a mighty tough shot

I can hit an easy 4 in the 180 range and my six 165-170, so i'm very rarely in between clubs. It became the club that is the most expendable. I should note, I sometimes leave the callaway 15 degree in the trunk and keep the five. Just depends on the length of the course or how driver friendly it is. If i can hit driver on most par 4's without worrying of hitting it into a hazard, I keep the five and put the callaway away.

 

[volfanbill]

As in getting the ball in the air quickly, and hitting higher softer approach shots. I have a buddy that uses one, and he doesn't get the ball up very well with it. He mainly uses it longer shots out of the rough as a "rescue" club.

I have only hit a few off of the range, but I do like them. I have avoided them for some of the same reasons you guys have.

I'm not sure about actual course situations, but the hybrids i hit in the simulator I had no problem whatsoever getting them up and to land softly.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I hit mine about like I would a 6 iron and let the weight of the club shoot the ball in the air. If I want to hit it low, I actually have to move it forward a bit and sweep the ball like a 3 wood. The further back I play it, hence the steeper my swing is, the higher I can hit it. Sounds non-sensical, but it works for me thus far.

 

[GAVol]

I hit mine about like I would a 6 iron and let the weight of the club shoot the ball in the air. If I want to hit it low, I actually have to move it forward a bit and sweep the ball like a 3 wood. The further back I play it, hence the steeper my swing is, the higher I can hit it. Sounds non-sensical, but it works for me thus far.

That makes perfect sense to me. Forward ball position with a longer club creates a tendency to flatten out the swing which creates a shallow arc and low ball flight.

 

[BigPapaVol]

The distance control probably isn't as good as a long iron, but a missed hybrid 2 goes about 220. A missed blade 2 goes about 180.

 

[GAVol]

I definitely worry more about "nuking" a hybrid than I do 2 iron. But like you said, it's a minor trade off for the forgiveness and playability.

 

[volfanbill]

The distance control probably isn't as good as a long iron, but a missed hybrid 2 goes about 220. A missed blade 2 goes about 180.

what hybrids are ya'll hitting? if i could find a two that only went 220 and a three that only went 200-210, i'd definitely change my mind about looking into them. so far i've hit the taylor made rescue clubs, the callaway heavenwoods, a walter hagen something, and a nikent (sp?).

edit- nevermind, just noticed you said a "missed" hybrid... i'm an idiot

 

[GVF]

OK, I'm a golf nut. My $.02 worth.

I bought a set of used Callaway S2H2 10 years ago after a brief whirlwind of clubs ranging from powerbilts to ping eye 2's. I have looked many times and never would give these up. They are a low/mid handicap iron. Shallow cavity/blade like irons. I'm visually not into looking down over huge oversized cavity backs. Even though my game could use them. My handicap has been as low as 11 on a 140 course. As high as whatever. Broke 80 for the first time ever last fall. Typically in the 85-92 range straight up. No shaves. I have now formed a liking for the equipment from Tour Edge. For the quality and price, it's hard to find much better. Some pro shops will carry them. A couple on tour use the Exotics premium model from Tour Edge. Driver prices range from $45 to $500. I have the $45 Titanium and love it. Let the boys get it for me for Father's Day, so I just took the cheap one. Great driver. Their version of the Taylor Made R-5/7 are $149 & $199. You can get into a quality set of irons from them at about $230. I am now swinging their 3 and 4 hybrid iron. That $45 driver has driven 280 yard par 4's and every once in a while a 280 plus on a par 5. I'm 41 now, so I'm learning that the shot is what makes the score and not the show, so I've revamped the gorilla syndrome. My biggest problem is the dead space between left ear and right that prohibits mentally playing 18 holes.

 

[GVF]

what hybrids are ya'll hitting? if i could find a two that only went 220 and a three that only went 200-210, i'd definitely change my mind about looking into them. so far i've hit the taylor made rescue clubs, the callaway heavenwoods, a walter hagen something, and a nikent (sp?).

edit- nevermind, just noticed you said a "missed" hybrid... i'm an idiot

Check out Tour Edge. I love theirs. Expect to pay about $75 +- for graphite. You'll have to search pro shops. Non-advertized, but tour quality and used on tour. Their premium line is the Exotics. I stick to the standard line. I've always struggled with long irons. I've replaced my S2H2 2,3,4 with Tour Edge 3,4 hybrid. I get around 180-200 with the 4 and 190-220 with the 3 on a clean hit. tour Edge is really good epuipment at fair prices. They are not cheapo clubs. Just priced righth w/o covering advertising.

 

[GVF]

One problem a lot of people seem to have is that they aren't sure whether to hit it like an iron or a wood. I think you can do either successfully, but I seem to have more success playing the ball slightly back and hitting it like an iron. It also helps me keep from hooking the bejeezus out of it.

They are definitley easier to pick up off hard pan and tight grass. Rarely use a 3/5 wood off fairway anymore since picking up my hybrids. I have lowered my score some with them.

 

[GVF]

I can hit a cut with a hybrid, but it scares me to death. Every time I set up to fade a shot with a hybrid I get the ominous feeling that a heat seeking "double cross" is about to happen.

That can happen easily. I laughed out loud on this one. Experience I guess.

One thing that has helped me is in my new Tour Edge Driver, 3&4 hybrid, I have regualr flex shafts. I have backed off on my brutus game and adapting swing to regulars. I have actually gained some distance, and much more control. I really get screwed up when I lay off a while and try to chip/finesse from 20 yards in. That game is good for me when I'm playing, but disappears real quick during layoffs.

 

[GVF]

I definitely worry more about "nuking" a hybrid than I do 2 iron. But like you said, it's a minor trade off for the forgiveness and playability.

Unless you are one of theose monster hitters, I wouldn't worry about nuking a hybrid too bad. Some gain in distance. But, swing to swing comparison, should only gain nominal yards. I might have gained 10-20 on average hybrid shot, but no real trouble controlling distance.

 

[GVF]

I play Pro Vs typically. When I am not in the mood to spend 45 bucks a pop I really like the Maxfli Revolution. I found a Pinnacle Exception on a course and I liked the way it felt. Last season I actually found a deal at a local sporting goods store. I bought three dozen "refurbished" pro vs for $36 bones. They lasted all season, and into this spring.

Slazenger RD Tour my ball of choice. $7 a sleeve or less, and in my opinion one of the best on hte shelf. Excellent strikability/distance/feel and bite.

 

[GVF]

Slices are so common that usually 1 lesson with a Pro is enough to at least figure out what causes it. Usually it's a fundamental issue that can be fixed fairly easily.

My slices are a byproduct of coming through stiff and coming out from the ball and not transferring thorugh it. A beer and 2 advil before teeing off usually solves the stiff fallout swing in a short bit. I have a natural fade, so when I mis it can be huge. My overcompensating sometimes has a reverse effect. The real nasty slice is when you set up for a draw...and don't!!!! My remedy...I try to set my feet up for a slight draw, ball back in stance just a bit, and make sure I transfer through with a well tempoed full swing. No holding back, no grip it and rip it. {The grip and rip is only used to end frustrations,} My best tee shots are when I feel the driver and hips go through the ball with the shaft coming back off my shoulder when done. Means I have stayed in hte swing and kept limber. Any abbreviation of that is a duck or a pidgeon.

 

[BigPapaVol]

My slices are a byproduct of coming through stiff and coming out from the ball and not transferring thorugh it. A beer and 2 advil before teeing off usually solves the stiff fallout swing in a short bit. I have a natural fade, so when I mis it can be huge. My overcompensating sometimes has a reverse effect. The real nasty slice is when you set up for a draw...and don't!!!! My remedy...I try to set my feet up for a slight draw, ball back in stance just a bit, and make sure I transfer through with a well tempoed full swing. No holding back, no grip it and rip it. {The grip and rip is only used to end frustrations,} My best tee shots are when I feel the driver and hips go through the ball with the shaft coming back off my shoulder when done. Means I have stayed in hte swing and kept limber. Any abbreviation of that is a duck or a pidgeon.

Sounds like a lot going on.

 

[BigPapaVol]

what hybrids are ya'll hitting? if i could find a two that only went 220 and a three that only went 200-210, i'd definitely change my mind about looking into them. so far i've hit the taylor made rescue clubs, the callaway heavenwoods, a walter hagen something, and a nikent (sp?).

edit- nevermind, just noticed you said a "missed" hybrid... i'm an idiot

you can get the distance you're looking for with shorter shafts and higher lofts

 

[vol_in_ar]

Will Phil, pull it out tommorrow?

 

[volfanbill]

you can get the distance you're looking for with shorter shafts and higher lofts

so would i look stupid carrying around a 6 iron hybrid in my bag and still having 3-PW? I don't know why, but i do have extreme changes in my distances from hybrids to regular irons.

 

[volfanbill]

so would i look stupid carrying around a 6 iron hybrid in my bag and still having 3-PW? I don't know why, but i do have extreme changes in my distances from hybrids to regular irons.

that being said, i really got the 3 and 4 iron hybrids up in the air. what would happen if i went higher?

 

[vol_in_ar]

You should play whatever your most comfortable with..

 

[Lexvol]

I get to play three times this week, and I have gotten most of the spring kinks worked out. Should be a fun week. I am even putting a little better now.

I play in a scramble on Thursday and thought I would ask this. Does anybody else despise starting a scramble on a par three?

 

[GAVol]

...especially if it's a long Par 3. Nothing says "No chance in hell" like walking up to the tee cold with 4 iron in your hand.

I try not to worry too much about scramble strategy though. I learned long ago that it's best just to go have a good time because inevitably some nimrod that has never won anything to amount to a hill of beans has loaded a team and is going to pencil whip you by inflating his team's handicap and then shooting a crazy low number.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

**Note to Sean O'Hair... Good on you for firing at the pin on 17 young man. If I were 2down with two to play I'd be shooting for the trophy too...

**Note to Johnny Miller... Lay off the kid you big know-it-all jackass...