Finding the right hybrid can be difficult. There are simply too many brands, technologies, and prices to choose from. In this article, we have constructed a list to help you find the best hybrid golf clubs for you.
In this article, we have boiled down a list of the 7 best hybrid golf clubs for every type of golfer. After hours of thorough testing of hybrids, we have finally found the best hybrid golf clubs for everyone from a beginner to a scratch golfer.
Best overall – TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Editors Choice – Ping G425
Best for mid-handicappers – Callaway Apex 21
Best for low handicappers – Titleist TSr3
Best for forgiveness – Ping G430
Best for distance – Cobra Radspeed
Best budget option – Wilson D9
Best overall - TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Pros:
- Forgiving
- High ball flight
- More ball speed
Cons:
- None
The TaylorMade SIM2 Max is an easy-to-play hybrid to replace your long irons with. Made with TaylorMade’s updated V Steel sole where weight is placed far down and far back to make the club more forgiving and easier to put more height on the ball.
Thanks to the V-Steel construction, the club’s versatility is increased and you can hit it from both the tee and fairway as well as tougher positions in thick grass out on the course. Comes with a tough C300 steel face built to deliver more ball speed and long shots.
The hitting surface is also equipped with Twist Face technology, which is a twisted hitting surface to reduce side spin and deliver straight shots.
Conclusion:
The TaylorMade Sim 2 Max is a game-enhancing hybrid golf club with a high ball flight for players of all skill levels. Sim 2 Max is an excellent choice if you are looking for a safe option from the tee or fairway.
Editors Choice - Ping G425
Pros:
- High ball speeds
- Forgiving
- Solid feel
Cons:
- None
The Ping G425 hybrid delivers long strokes and a predictable spin rate without compromising on the forgiving characteristics.
The face wrap technology means that the thin hitting surface in sea-aged steel goes into the crown and under the sole, which gives a high trampoline effect for faster ball speeds and a good departure angle. The hitting surface has a complex profile which means that on low hits the club has about 2.5 degrees less loft.
The reduced loft together with the face wrap technology means that the spin rate and ball speed are kept consistent even on low hits. In the sole of the club head is a carefully placed tungsten weight that keeps the club head stable through the ball hit and increases the club’s forgiving properties. There are 3 sighting dots on the crown that make it easier to address behind the ball.
Conclusion:
The Ping G425 is a hybrid club designed to be consistent in all positions. It suits the player who wants an easy-to-play option for long shots from the fairway, rough, or tee. The new Ping technology makes this hybrid more forgiving with faster ball speeds and a high launch to force the ball into the air in sticky situations.
Best for mid-handicappers - Callaway Apex 21
Pros:
- Large sweet spot
- Forgiving
- Faster ball speed
Cons:
- The design isn’t for everybody
The Callaway Apex 21 has a slightly larger club head compared to the Apex 21 Pro model. With a bigger head on the club, your confidence can increase and you can feel safe picking up your Apex 21 hybrid from the bag at the various challenges of the round.
In the sole part of the club, there is tungsten weight to get a low center of gravity with forgiving properties and a high ball trajectory. The Apex 21 hybrids are equipped with Callaway’s patented Jailbreak technology, which are two pillars placed behind the face to make it stronger and able to flex and provide more speed even on weaker hits. The two Jailbreak pillars are strategically placed to prop them up where golfers most often miss their hybrids, so even your off-center hits can deliver nice length.
The hitting surface of the club is designed with artificial intelligence, through this the ball hit can be soft but at the same time provide the ball speed needed for long shots. The adjustable adapter allows you to adjust the loft and angle of the club head, to optimize the flight of the ball according to your needs.
Conclusion:
The Callaway Apex 21 is one of the most solid hybrid clubs on the market. With an astonishing sound and the latest and greatest technology from Callaway make the Callaway Apex the hybrid for those looking for a safe alternative in all situations.
Best for low handicappers - Titleist TSr3
Pros:
- More distance
- Fast Ballspeed
- Great Adjustability
Cons:
- Not very forgiving
The Titleist TSr3 is a hybrid made for better players willing to compromise forgiveness for precision and control of the club head.
The stand-out feature of the TSr3 hybrid is mainly the adjustability it has to offer. Equipped with a comprehensive adjustable loft sleeve and adjustable sole weight that is designed to fine-tune your shots more precisely than any other hybrid on the market.SureFit loft sleeve gives you 16 individual settings for both loft and lay, and the adjustable sole weight lets you dail the club to whatever shot shape you want to enhance or neglect. While the TSr3 only comes with two stock loft options (18° and 20°) it still gives you plenty of options to adjust the hybrid to your liking.
TSR3 hybrids have a new, fine-tuned shape for better players, more precise adjustment options, and better contact with both fairway and ruff to give you more control over all results. TSR3 hybrids have a profile inspired by popular predecessors and give you confidence right from the start. A slightly smaller offset contributes to better performance.
Conclusion:
The Titleist TSR3 is a tour-inspired hybrid made for skilled golfers with a centered ball hit who are looking for a hybrid that provides good length with a penetrating ball flight and the ability to shape the shots to your liking.
Best for forgiveness - Ping G430
Pros:
- Forgiving
- Adjustable
- Higher ball speed
Cons:
- Not great for shot shaping
The Ping G430 and its carbon fly wrap technology consist of a new carbon crown construction and the edges of the head. The weight savings are moved to lower the center of gravity and increase ball speed.
The thin and strong hitting surface in sea-aged steel now continues a bit up the crown and also down under the sole to increase the flexibility of the hitting surface. The result is more length and higher launch in your strokes.
Spinsistency gives the face a variable roll radius that improves performance even on thinner shots by reducing spin and increasing ball speed for optimal length. The lightweight eight-position hosel gives you the ability to adjust the loft to 1.5° and the lie up to 3° flatter than standard to further fine-tune your ball flight.
Conclusion:
The Ping G430 hybrid clubs have the latest and greatest technology that Ping has to offer right now. With forgiving properties and great launch and ball speed. Are you a player that needs a little bit more help from the hybrid it’s exactly what the G430 has to offer.
Best for distance - Cobra Radspeed
Pros:
- More distance
- Forgiving
- High ball speed
Cons:
- Looks aren’t for everybody
The Cobra Radspeed hybrid has been equipped with Hollow Split Rails technology which gives the club a low center of gravity. These rails allow the club to slide easily through the grass in all positions and provide a high launch on the fairway.
Cobra has spaced out the weights in the club head with one weight closer to the face than before and one far back to deliver increased ball speed while forgiving properties. The forged hitting surface gives you a good feel when hitting the ball and a high trampoline effect for more distance.
Conclusion:
The Cobra Radspeed hybrid with its low center of gravity and perfectly placed weights on the club head makes this hybrid very forgiving even on off-center hits whilst also delivering fast ball speed and high launch angle. What more can you ask for in a hybrid?
Best budget option - Wilson D9
Pros:
- High ball speeds
- Forgiving
- Great price
Cons:
- High spin
The Wilson D9 hybrid golf club has been engineered to be versatile and a great option for many positions on the course. a hot-hitting surface made of thin Carpenter Custom 455 steel. The face has Variable Face technology which makes it different thicknesses at key points to provide optimal ball speed wherever you hit.
The weighting has been optimized to increase the club’s forgiving properties and provide a high launch angle. The design and head shape is developed together with Wilson’s professional players out on tour.
Conclusion:
The Wilson D9 has everything you want and need in a great hybrid and more. Great looks and the performance to back it up. And all this for a great price, what more do you need to hear?
Buying guide
The 7 things to consider before buying a new hybrid
Buying a hybrid can be difficult for many reasons. That’s why in this buyer’s guide, we are going to help you to locate what you are looking for when buying the best hybrid golf clubs, fairway woods, or any golf clubs for you and your desired outcome on the course. Keep these tips and tricks will help you when you are on the lookout for a new hybrid.
We are going to go through 7 of the most crucial points to find the best golf hybrid or fairway wood for you.
1. Budget
When looking at hybrid golf clubs, fairway woods, or just golf clubs, in general, it is important to find something that suits both your player level and the size of your wallet. There is a wide range of how much a hybrid will cost. What you can keep in mind is that there are almost always bargains to be had if you can live with a model that is 1 or 2 years older. And we promise, even if there’s a red price tag on the clubs, they can still be really good.
2. Asses your ability
Do you have a typical miss? Do the golf balls always go in the same direction or are you one of the few who always hit the fairway? Do a mini analysis of your game from the tee and be honest with yourself. The better you know your own game, the greater the opportunities to help you.
3. Outcome
Many say they want to hit longer and get a straighter ball flight. But to do that, unfortunately, it also often requires you to spend time on training. However, a hybrid can be a great help along the way to, for example, remove an unwanted screw or create a feel – which in turn can very well lead to both length and precision. Think about whether there is something specific you want to achieve.
4. You do You
Many people need a lighter and kinder shaft than what they play today! Some people think that if you hit fade or slice, the shaft is too soft because your friends say you swing fast. It doesn’t have to be that way at all – and often it’s a swing technique issue. Golfers with lower handicaps sometimes play wrong shafts, but it is a bit more macho to demonstrate that you have Stiff or X-stiff. And sure, it can mean that some misses get a little better when you hit worse, but your pursuit of optimal length is sacrificed and you will quickly look around for a new hybrid. A good general tip is to drop the macho style and choose a softer shaft.
5. ball flight
Manufacturers today have rules to adhere to the current properties and this makes it difficult to produce revolutionary innovations. Nevertheless, the latest models of golf clubs often go a few meters longer than the previous ones. This is because the flight of the ball is more optimized through height and spin. Therefore, the loft is incredibly important. Many golfers today say they hit too high and that the ball does not roll as far as their friends. Then the question is whether it is the carry we are looking for or the total length. What do you want your ballpark to look like and what will the result be?
6. Feel or Looks
Everyone likes different things. An important part of finding the right hybrid is that you should enjoy looking at it. It gives you confidence before the shot and you probably dare to swing the club a little more freely and naturally. The feel is also subjective, but what feel do you want in a hybrid?
7. The shaft
This may be too advanced for some, who just want the shaft to feel “good”. But with the help of different properties, you can make some changes in both safety from the tee and feeling in the shot. Can you put into words what you are looking for? A feeling that the club swings easily or maybe that when you miss, the club does not turn in your hands. These are factors that play a role in the choice of the shaft.
Summary
Choosing the best hybrid golf club can be very difficult, but does it have to be? You just have to be true to yourself and your needs and ask yourself questions like. What’s my budget? How often do I play? What do I want to get out of my hybrid? You can come a long way with some common sense. The only thing that matters is how confident you feel when you are going to tee or are in the rough and need a rescue club.