DO I NEED A LONG IRON OR A HYBRID?
Long irons are geared towards producing a lower, more penetrating ball flight and are often used as a tee club on narrow holes. Our PXG Fitting Specialists tend to see lower handicap players and/or high swing speed players opt for the long iron.
Players who hit down on the ball or don’t feel confident with a hybrid often opt for a long iron.
Players looking for a higher ball flight, a softer landing and less roll out will find that a hybrid makes for a good addition to their bag.
DO I NEED A HYBRID OR A FAIRWAY WOOD?
While there is some overlap, a majority of players carry at least one fairway wood and hybrid in their bag.
Higher handicap players as well as slower swing speed players may find a hybrid more forgiving.
Hybrid clubs offer a deeper center of gravity and improved MOI which is great for players seeking higher ball flight, forgiveness and distance from a variety of lies, including from the rough or even a fairway bunker.
Some players find hybrid clubs easier to hit than fairway woods due to the shorter shaft length. A hybrid is played more like an iron, while a fairway wood has a longer shaft length.
Fairway woods are a good option for players seeking distance from a good lie in the fairway or from the tee.
WHICH HYBRID REPLACES A 3-IRON?
Typically, a 3-iron is replaced by a 19 degree hybrid or a 5-wood, a 4-iron is replaced by a 22 degree hybrid or a 7-wood, a 5-iron is replaced by a 25 degree hybrid, and a 6-iron is replaced by a 28 degree hybrid. All of our hybrids and fairway woods are designed with adjustable loft hosels to dial in distance gapping.
WHAT LEVEL OF GOLFER CHOOSES A HYBRID OVER A LONG IRON?
Typically, golfers with a lower clubhead speed or a player who struggles with launching the ball high, or even players who don’t get consistent face contact will find greater forgiveness in a hybrid club.
Golfers looking for greater workability and a penetrating trajectory may find a long iron helpful in their set up.
WHAT CLUB REPLACES A HYBRID?
Hybrids can be replaced by long irons or fairway woods of similar lofts. For example, a player could choose to use a 3-iron, 19 degree hybrid, or 5-wood interchangeably depending on desired performance and course condition.
For maximized distance, we recommend fairway woods. For improved forgiveness, higher launch, and versatility, we recommend hybrids. For lower, penetrating ball flight and maximum workability, we recommend long irons.
IS A HYBRID A RESCUE CLUB?
The terms ‘hybrid’ and ‘rescue club’ are often used interchangeably. As a club type they are extremely versatile offering both distance and a higher launch. Many players choose to add a hybrid to their bag in place of a fairway wood or long iron.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LONG IRON AND A DRIVING IRON?
PXG’s GEN2 Driving Iron provides for a moderately sized, blade-style head design with a thin top rail appearance and minimal offset.
Our driving irons produce a penetrating ball flight that helps to keep the golf ball out of the wind and in the middle of the fairway, the 0311 X is an ideal option for golfers to augment their bag in adverse playing conditions.
The wider sole width and minimal offset compared to our 0311 Irons helps to lower the center of gravity, producing less spin. PXG offers high-performance, low-spin driving irons in 15 degree through 24 degree lofts.
Compare PXG Long Iron vs. PXG Driving Iron Specifications.
5-WOOD VS. 3-HYBRID – WHICH ONE SHOULD I CARRY?
According to our PXG Fitting Specialists, the choice between a fairway wood and hybrid club often comes down to two critical elements.
For the most part, our PXG Troops call out distance as the biggest factor when it comes to making the decision. A 17-degree 3-Hybrid is similar to an 18-degree 5-wood in terms of distance. However, the length of the club and size of the head varies. This can impact swing results such as workability. For example, a 5-wood might be easier to hit off the tee while the 3-hybrid could present greater versatility from the fairway or out of the rough. Ultimately, the decision often nets out at which club provides the player with greater consistency. With consistency comes confidence and lower scores!
If you’d like to find out which club might suit your game, schedule a fitting at a PXG fitting location near you.
