Equipment
‘5-iron vs 5-hybrid showdown…it wasn’t close’ – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been responding to a recent post that faced off a 5-iron against a 5-hybrid. WRXer Uglande kicked off the thread saying:
“Over the past couple of seasons, I have incorporated a 7 wood into my bag but have still shied away from hybrids. But after seeing so many lofted fairways and hybrids in some good players’ bags (e.g., I just noticed John Daly goes plays 17-19-22-26 degree Ping hybrids), I decided to put my T100 5 iron (26 degrees) to the test against a TSr2 24 hybrid, set at 25.
It was a blowout.
High, low, draw, fade, punchouts, bad lies … there wasn’t a single shot scenario I could create in which the hybrid did not beat the 5 iron, and usually by a long shot. But the most impressive was the incredible forgiveness on missed strikes. The 5 iron drop-off was dramatically worse. No big surprise, I know, but the magnitude of the separation is what struck me.
Normally, the equalizer would be the big-left miss with the hybrid, but I wasn’t getting any of that.”
Uglande added “What are your experiences with higher lofted hybrids, or what keeps you from bagging them?”, and our members have been getting involved with their takes in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- POKeefe: “I ran the same test with Z785 5i, ZX5 5i, and ZX 5H head-to-head. It also wasn’t close. The only advantage the irons had was a lower ball flight, which I prefer. However, the consistency was much better with the hybrid. My driver swing speed is 107, so I’m not exactly slow either. My hunch is most people would be better off pulling 3-5i out of their bag in favor of woods and hybrids.”
- CDLgolf: “I use a 4, 5, and 6 hybrid and for me they are so much better than long irons or higher lofted fairway woods.”
- 1puttTuT: “Over time I’ve realized I hate hybrids. I struggle with a two way miss and they also want to balloon up at that loft. I really like my set 5 iron, but I do go to a utility iron instead of a normal 4 iron or hybrid. My hybrid issue is probably shaft related, but I don’t need the added forgiveness or launch benefit of the hybrid so why chase the correct shaft when the iron is plug and play for the most part.”
Entire Thread: “‘5 Iron v. 5 Hybrid Showdown … It Wasn’t Close’ – GolfWRXers discuss”
Equipment
Putters that never made it: Check out some of the best tour builds that didn’t make the cut
Arguably, the best perk of being a professional golfer on the PGA Tour is the ability to request or even just be handed pretty much any club you could think of. It happens more often than you think, usually with putters around the practice green from one event to the next. Come Wednesday, the Tour bags lining the edge of the putting surface become resting places for fallen flatsticks that never made the cut.
So let’s take a look at some of the best we’ve seen out on Tour this year that never made it to the competition. (You may notice none of Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Scotty Cameron putters made this list. There are too many.)
Let’s start with this custom Damascus Milled Odyssey Rossie made for Ryo Hisatsune. Featuring a single line and the short-slant hossel, we’ve seen plenty of Number 7 and jailbird heads featuring the Damascus Milled insert, but this is the first and only one we’ve spotted in a Rossie. Hisatsune primarily putts with an Odyssey Black Series iX #9, but we have seen him recently with a TaylorMade TP Collection SOTO, so there could be potential that the Damascus Milled Rossie could end up in the bag.
Everyone wants to be Cameron Young right now. We’ve had Justin Thomas and Tom Hoge both game the Scotty Cameron 9.5R prototype. Well, for the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka nearly joined that list after requesting the same style of putter, with the full-length alignment line. But the Scotty Cameron reps took the request a step further and made one specially for Koepka with a Teryllium insert, similar to one in his previous Newport 2 gamers. The reason why this one didn’t go into play, though? Because it was too heavy.
Harry Hall was the third-best putter on Tour last year, so when Bettinardi made him a custom proto, you know it was going to be good. The custom BB28 blade features VDF face milling, a custom-welded single-bend shaft, and the owner’s initials – HH – on the sole of the putter. Hall, who usually games an Odyssey O-Works #7 W, has dabbled with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X already this year. Maybe there’s a chance this Bettinardi might make his bag.
Honestly, this one doesn’t need a description. It’s Kieth Mitchell’s custom Scotty Cameron Napa. One Scotty Cameron face stamp, two Scotty Dogs, two Scotty Cameron 7-Point Crowns and one Circle T. That is all. Oh, except for the Cashmere Cameron headcover.
Finally, and just for fun, how about we pour one out for this TaylorMade Spider Tour X made for Scottie Scheffler in its new torched finish. It’s unlikely we’ll see a putter change anytime soon from the best golfer in the world. In fact, he hit just two putts with it on the Harbour Town practice before going back to his trusty gamer.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (52-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-08M), SM11 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat 1.5 Tour Prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
In our forums, our members have been discussing their favorite major winning irons used by Tiger Woods. WRXer ‘golferdude54’ kicks off the thread saying:
“Mizuno MP 14/29. Titleist 681T. Nike Forged Blades. TaylorMade P7TW.
Among these irons that helped Tiger win 15 majors, which is your favorite in terms of looks?”
And our members have been naming their favorites and why in response.
Here are a couple of posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- SwingBlade: “I prefer the early blades he played and the more recent TM TW’s especially because after Tiger had his major behavioral setbacks, part of Nikes support payback was making Tiger play a Nike putter and cease using his beloved uniquely customized Scotty putter.”
- ProjectX: “This (Nike Forged Blades) and there’s not even a close second.”
Entire Thread: “Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
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Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
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CrashTestDummy
Jan 15, 2024 at 12:18 am
Hybrid distances generally go quite longer from the same iron number they replace. Hybrids are very versatile clubs that can be hit from many different lies, but much harder to stop on greens than irons. Still not gonna give up my long irons. One of the best feelings in golf is just pure-ing long irons.
J
Jan 12, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Sure, but it my experience dispersion is much worse (at least for me) with a hybrid despite extra height and distance.
Darryl’s brother Darryl
Jan 9, 2024 at 7:05 pm
I hit 4-9 hybrids and I’m amazing
OldJoe
Jan 5, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Can’t keep the Adams peanut 5h (25*) out of the bag, but it replaced my 4 iron. PRGR Nabla ID Tour forged 5 iron full 12 yards shorter than 5h.
Bob Jones
Jan 5, 2024 at 3:00 pm
I used to be able to hit a 4-iron pretty darn well, but when I tried the equivalent hybrid I got the same results so much easier I made the switch.
Birdman
Jan 4, 2024 at 10:50 am
I thinknwe can file this one under “Uhhhhhh…..no $hit Sherlock”
Barry W Pagano
Jan 4, 2024 at 10:00 am
I have the series of 4 thru 8 hybrids ..Im so pleased I made the change …when I do hit them right , the feel is amazing and they’re much more forgiving.
Rich
Jan 3, 2024 at 2:31 pm
The hybrid is a no-brainer for those who paddycake the ball, yes. Much depends on swing speed and strike quality. Those of us who can still swing the driver at say 105 and higher and hit the ss 95% of the time will take the 5 iron for better dispersion.
Erik Ugland
Jan 10, 2024 at 3:16 pm
I’m the original poster and I swing driver at 110+. Your comment is exactly what I would have said prior to doing my testing. But with my 5 iron (T100 bent 1 strong to 26 degrees), I was getting carry of 205 at about a 44 land angle. With hybrid (TSr2 set at 25), I was getting the same carry distance but with a 46-47 land angle (stopping power without ballooning) and significantly better consistence and dispersion. But, of course, YMMV. (Also, I was playing a AD DI 9x shaft, tipped 1 in., in the hybrid, FWIW).
Ace
Jan 3, 2024 at 1:05 pm
People just figured this out! Wow
Joe
Jan 3, 2024 at 10:54 am
I use a 2 hybrid and I have no problem hitting low shots like one person claimed.
The 2 hybrid replaced my 3 wood since it was only 5 yards shorter but much easier to hit.
My next hybrid is a cobra one length 4 hybrid which for my swing speed bridges the gap easily and it being only 7 iron length makes it the best club in my bag and my go to club.
Long irons are no contest against hybrids.