It is often said, Fortune favors the bold. In the golf course though, Fortune favors the smart.
Choosing the best hybrid golf club depends upon the type of golfer one is.
Golf as a game has come to a point where players invest a fortune in getting the right golf bag. How much more so would he think about the type of clubs that he carries in them?
Technological innovation and evolution have given us the wonderful hybrid club or the ‘rescue’ clubs – and there has been no looking back ever since.
Golfers who considered the hybrid as a replacement club were forced to accept that these hybrids were lethal weapons to reckon with.
Today I am going to discuss the 5 best hybrid golf clubs there are out there.
Many Professional golfers have long back decided to ditch the clubs they struggle with and spend their money on the right things in golf.
Let’s have a quick look at our top 5 picks and what they win at:
- TaylorMade Golf M6 Rescue Hybrid – Technology
- Callaway Golf 2018 Rogue X Hybrid – Forgiveness
- Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Speedback Hybrid – Responsiveness
- Ping G410 Hybrid – Adjustability
- Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrid – Affordability
1. TaylorMade Golf M6 Rescue Hybrid
Tech Specs:
- Twist Face Curvature
- Advanced Speed Pocket Design
In 2019, TaylorMade stole the show when it launched the M6 Hybrid Club. It is the first time that a Hybrid has been designed with a twist face curvature.
It has 1.5 degrees of twist which can be visibly seen on the face. A new TPU slot insert graces the club leading to improved turf interaction and slot flexibility.
Why TaylorMade M6?
Twist Face Technology:
The cutting-edge Twist face technology (a vertical roll and a horizontal bulge to the clubhead) helps in improving the off-center hits by throwing it off-line and reducing the side-spin.
Since off-center hits the curve at a point, it needs the right alignment to reach the target. TaylorMade has taken into consideration that players with differing skills hit the ball through all extremes of the golf club – from the toe to the heel.
The clubface is twisted across the face in a way that even mishits end up straighter.
Advanced Speed Pocket Design:
The advanced speed pocket design improves ball speed and is redesigned to make it more effective. It’s covered with a thermoplastic urethane strip that greatly improves turf interaction.
The thin steel face of the Hybrid increases the ball speed and provides more forgiveness during off-center strikes. The cut-through slots on the sole improve the face flexing which helps during shots hit from the lower part of the clubface.
Center of Gravity Placement:
TaylorMade has done everything to ensure that the CG placement gives the optimal ball flight to the golfer. The weight has been moved behind the club at the lower end.
It also has a stepped portion between the front and the rear portion of the club, which ensures easy alignment and improved ball speed.
Let’s Review and Compare
- Visual Appeal: Instead of the Carbon finish, it has a full titanium design on its face. Some golfers state that this combination of the silver frontline with the blackhead reduces the overall visual appeal of the club. In comparison, the Ping G410’s matte look with its turbulators ad painted grooves gives a better look to the club. However, as some say, it’s not about how it looks, but how it performs!
- Forgiveness: While the advanced technology is certainly appreciative, it ranks lower in forgiveness compared to Callaway Rogue X’s Face cup technology.
- Consistency: Unlike the Pinemeadow EGI, TaylorMade can give all golfers consistent shots from all lie angles and greens.
- Hosel: It would have been better for TaylorMade to include an adjustable hosel to its package. Like the Callaway Rogue X, Cobra F9 Speedback, and the Pinemeadow EGI, TaylorMade falls short in improvising the hosel. In comparison, the Ping G410 is better in terms of helping average golfers to adjust their lofts.
Once again, TaylorMade is proved itself as one of the best hybrid golf clubs.
Our next hybrid promises an iconic package of technology.
2. Callaway Golf 2018 Rogue X
Tech Specs:
- Jailbreak Technology
- Ultra-thin Face and Hyper Speed Face Cup Technology
- Internal Standing Wave
Like the Callaway’s fairway woods and drivers, the Rogue X Hybrid includes the iconic Jailbreak technology and the Hyper Speed Technology to increase ball speeds and dispersion across the face.
Inside the clubface, there are 2 vertical bars that connect the top and the bottom of the club, in short tethering the top to the bottom, so when the club hits the ball, it expands, transferring the energy of the club to the ball upon impact.
Why Callaway Rogue X?
Jailbreak Technology:
Following the Rogue hybrid, the Rogue X’s jailbreak technology adds stiffness to the head and boosts ball speed. It also makes the ball launch easier for new players and low-spin golfers.
The increased weight pads at the bottom of the club help high and mid handicappers achieve higher launch on all types of turf conditions.
Face Cup Technology:
Callaway calls its Carpenter 455 steel face the super-hot feature of their hybrid club. A separate piece is welded onto the body of the club.
The footprint of the club is slightly bigger than the Rogue hybrid, so it’s more pulled back from the face of the club, thus giving higher ball flight, an ultra-low center of gravity, and more MOI.
For these reasons, Rogue X has more forgiveness for the good and the not-so-good swings.
Internal Standing Wave:
Locating the Center of Gravity can be a struggle with Hybrids. Callaway engineers have used the ISW technology to position the CG low and forward to help golfers improve their ball launch and lower their spin.
Let’s Review and Compare
- Feedback: While Callaway’s technology has improved the overall performance of the club, its feedback on impact is quite low compared to other hybrid clubs. Players looking for feedback will be more impressed by the sensation developed by using the Cobra F9 Speedback.
- Hosel: The Hybrid lacks Callaway’s standard adjustable Optifit Hosel technology which could have provided loft and lie combination to make it much better. In comparison, the Ping G410 hybrid does better with its adjustable hosel (+-1.5 degrees).
- Technology: While this is the first time that Callaway has introduced their Jailbreak technology into their hybrids, TaylorMade’s Twist-face design wins due to increased attention towards mishits, making them more popular with High and Low handicappers.
- Forgiveness: The club provides more forgiveness compared to other clubs due to its Face cup technology.
Our next pick has outdone itself!
3. Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Speedback
Tech Specs
- SPEEDBACK and Baffler Technology
- Forged Stainless Steel Face
- Cobra CONNECT
With its F9 Speedback Hybrid, Cobra has certainly combined technology with playability.
Whether it is the redesigned rail system or its and Baffler with SPEEDBACK technology, Cobra has outdone its entire group of clubs by launching the F9 – touted as their fastest hybrid.
Why Cobra F9 Speedback?
Baffler Technology with Speedback:
While Cobra has been using the Baffler technology for some time, the F9 has been designed by introducing the SPEEDBACK technology. Between its two rails, a low, back weight structure is introduced around the Center of Gravity.
This greatly increases the ball speed and distance from any lie due to the combination of turf interaction and low CG.
Tungsten Steel Weights:
Cobra has added 15-gram tungsten steel weights between the rails on the back to help the club smoothly glide through the greens (including thick roughs) while promising the same distance and ball speed.
Forged Stainless Steel Face:
Forged 455-face Stainless steel has been used for the body and the face of the club which increases forgiveness and responsiveness. Players hitting off-center strikes can achieve the same ball speed with this feature.
Cobra Connect:
Cobra has partnered with Arcos to put the Cobra Connect tags on its hybrids to allow the player to track his shots. These tags help the golfer to analytically review their performances by viewing their distance and accuracy of every shot on their mobile app.
Let’s Review and Compare
- Visual Appeal: The crown of the club has a plain matte finish which gives it a clean sleek look. Coupled with it are the rails with the raw metal guise.
- Adjustable shaft/loft: Golfers who still adjust their hybrids will be disappointed as Cobra F9 does not have adjustable shafts to fine tune the gaps in their shots. To offset this, Cobra provides lofts with a gap range of 17°, 19°, 21°, and 24° respectively. However, the Ping G410 is an adjustable hybrid and scores better than Cobra F9 in terms of consistency.
- Usability: Cobra F9 comes in a one-length model, which effectively eliminates the need for repeating the set-up across the green and simplifying the game for all players. A golfer can use the F9 as a suitable replacement for his 7-Iron.
- Size: The F9 has a larger clubhead than the F8, increasing the MOI and forgiveness. The increased weight also helps high and mid-handicappers to align their club for their perfect shot.
- Grip and App: The Lamkin Crossline Grip is a welcome addition to the club as it is fitted with the Cobra Connect. Considering the financial impact, this feature is optional; however, it still scores above the other hybrids.
The next hybrid has achieved what no other hybrid on our list has done yet!
4. Ping G410 Hybrid Club
Tech Specs:
- Trajectory Tuning 2.0
- Painted Grooves
Ping G410 came as good news for golfers who were hunting for a hybrid with an adjustable hosel.
This Trajectory Tuning 2.0 feature allows golfers to customize their ball flight for better results. It provides more than eight lofts and lies combinations (1.5 degrees angle) to fine-tune the game.
The lie angle can also be flattened by 1 degree. So whether you’re hitting off the tee or into the rough, the Ping G410 is a club-worthy of inclusion in your bag.
Why Ping G410?
C300 Maraging Steel:
The C300 steel material used to design the club is extremely durable and strong. This thin material creates faster ball speeds as its flexes at impact.
Larger Profile:
Ping G410 has provided extra stability by designing a larger 17-4 stainless steel head that improves the MOI by 6.5%. Golfers can use it to hit the ball in a variety of situations across the golf course.
The larger clubhead also instills confidence in high and mid handicappers when they stand at the address.
Tungsten Back Weight:
The club also has a more back weight which allows the player to align the clubface precisely at the target. The high-density tungsten weight provides more forgiveness to the golfer, which is required if he wants to launch the ball higher.
Painted Grooves:
On the clubface, a black semi-circle is inserted in the center of the white scorelines to help golfers align their club to the golf ball. This black semi-circle is called the ideal-hitting area which reduces the chances of off-center hits.
Let’s Review and Compare
- Turbulators: The Ping clubhead includes Turbulators that make it more aerodynamic by tripping the air passing over it. No other hybrid in the list contains this feature that adds to the performance of the club.
- Consistency: The club is more consistent due to the tungsten weights and a bigger head, which is an absolute win over the Pinemeadow.
- Club Face: The Ping G410’s textured and painted face gives two benefits – it reduces ball spin and helps the golfer align the ball accurately at the address. No other club gives this dual benefit.
Our final hybrid is both – better and inexpensive – at the same time.
5. Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids
Tech Specs:
- Graphite Steel Shaft
Affordability – the word that comes to mind when talking about the Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids.
While it cannot be directly compared with the TaylorMade or the Callaway, it surely strives to provide the same features at an inexpensive price.
It also comes with enormous categories of diverse loft configurations to choose from. Players looking out for an on-budget golf club can purchase the Pinemeadow and use it for a long time.
Why Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids?
Forgiveness:
The clubface has a low profile, thus improving ball flight. The wide sole of the club helps high handicap players to hit longer and accurate shots.
Headcover:
The Pinemeadow comes with a headcover that helps protect the club during transportation.
Weight:
Unlike other cheap Hybrids, the Pinemeadow has a heavier clubface that gives greater ball control to the golfer.
The weight is balanced throughout the clubface which widens the sweet spot which helps the golfer to use the hybrid from the good as well as the bad lie.
The weight is complemented by its low-torque Pine Meadow hybrid graphite shaft which makes it much better and much durable than the low-budget clubs.
Let’s Review and Compare
- Technology: It goes without saying that Pinemeadow scores less on the tech front compared to the TaylorMade, Callaway, and the Ping G410. However, the Pinemeadow modestly gives a decent ball flight at an affordable price nonetheless.
- Appeal: Owing to its price and lack of solid technology, the Pinemeadow looks visually less appealing than the Callaway and the Cobra F9 Speedback. It has a 32 degree on the face which may hinder the beginner from playing long shots; however, it is feasible to hit balls off the rough without using the tee.
- Performance: While the Pinemeadow boasts of being inexpensive, it may not deliver solid consistent performance in all types of situations on the golf course. Pinemeadow can certainly work harder on adding basic technology to make it more consistent and appealing to the professional golfer. Beginners would need long hours of practice to get the perfect fit using this hybrid.
- Loft Configurations: Beginners like the Pinemeadow for the different configurations that it offers. In fact, unlike the Cobra F9 and the Ping G410, golfers can replace all their irons with these hybrids!>/li>
Golf has proved to be a game with endless possibilities. Hybrid clubs are an innovation in themselves; however, companies have gone forward in packing their hybrid clubs with more features the current technology can provide.
The difficulty in hitting the iron has increased the popularity of the hybrids.
Choosing the right hybrid requires a careful and deliberate approach.
The most important thing to understand is the combination of the clubs in your bag.
While the drivers are the longest and the lightest clubs, the wedges are the shortest and the heaviest.
Hybrids would fall in between.
An accurate understanding of a golfer’s handicap will help him to choose the right Hybrid with the best weight and flex.
What is your best hybrid golf club?
What parameters do you employ while choosing the right hybrid?
Let us know in the comments section below.