Equipment
GolfWRX Members Choice: The Best Hybrids of 2017
Figuring out which hybrid is the best hybrid of 2017 is simple: Hit every single one of them against each other and decide which one is longest, straightest, best from the fairway, best from the tee, flies the highest, flies the farthest, is best out of the rough, is most versatile, feels and looks the best.
OK, maybe it’s not so simple. Hybrids are asked to perform many jobs; they are utility players that are hit from the tee, the fairway, the rough, on par 3s, into par 5s and long par 4s, and even used to chip around the greens and hit out of fairway bunkers. Some players want them to fly low and hot and run forever off the tee, while others need them to fly as high as possible to provide forgiveness as long-iron replacements.
But if there’s any group of people knowledgeable and dedicated enough to test out a variety of hybrids and determine what’s “best,” it’s GolfWRX forum members.
We recently asked GolfWRXers — after they performed their thorough testing of this year’s stock of hybrids — to vote on what they believed to be the best hybrid of 2017, and explain why. Here are the top hybrids selected, and what our members had to say about them.
Check out the forum thread for the full results and discussion.
TaylorMade M2 2017 (4.53 percent of votes)
Bomber_11: Taylormade M2 tops my list and checks all the boxes you need in a hybrid. It’s long, forgiving, accurate, and aesthetically pleasing.
Callaway Apex (7.17 percent)
Sef: I haven’t found anything to top the Apex hybrid, looking forward to trying the 818 H2 though. I did not vote for it since I haven’t hit it…
Titleist 818 H2 (10.94 percent)
GC70: Just got fit for the 818 H2 and it’s amazing. Can’t wait to get it on the course.
KCCO: I’ve played with a Titleist H2 21-degree and loved it. Compact, great shaft offerings for those not just scoring the head. Definitely curbed my 915, and no more dealing with the dirt slot. Performance was perfect for me. That list is pretty big, and have played a few, but the Titleist wins for me.
Callaway Epic (12.08 percent)
jimwright: The Callaway Epic hybrid is just the perfect size and shape. Not too big, not too small. The internal weighting and the materials used are fantastic. Great selection of no up charge shafts also.
Crabbie50: I moved from the 816H2 (21 degree) to the Epic and love the flight characteristics. Highly recommend it.
Cobra King F7 (13.58 percent)
chch3: Cobra F7 made me a believer in hybrids again. Great club.
dcorun: Voted for the F7 but, I’m currently playing the F6. The best hybrid I’ve played so far. Easy to hit, accurate, longer than I thought and not draw biased like most hybrids. I did hit the F7 but, did not see a big enough difference to change for now.
Dasenergi: F7 vote. The rails really shine on the hybrid. King slowly took over my bag again.
ChubbsWoodenHand: Tie between cobra F7 and Srixon h65. I like hybrids to act like irons and prefer to hit down on them like normal irons. Haven’t tried the apex though.
thevaultsky: Cobra F7 — being able to adjust the loft makes it much more useful as an iron replacement. The rails also come in handy. It has become my go to in a variety of situations.
Titleist 818 H1 (13.96 percent)
DougE: I have played many hybrids over the years. It took me 5 years to replace an old Nike CPR2, because I couldn’t find something I liked more. I tried many, including an Adams A7, A12, Ping G25, and some others, but always liked the old CPR best. The Adams and Ping were the best of all those I tried. Eventually, the Ping G25 became a mainstay in my bag alongside a 19-degree Titleist 913H. I never brought out the CPR again. Then the Titleist 816H1 came out and proved to be the best hybrid I have ever played, bar none… until last week. The new 818H1 is even better as I realized in a fitting this week. Felt fantastic. A 19-degree 818H1 is on my list to replace my 915F 5W in 2018. My present 816H 21-degree (set to 22 degrees) will stay in the bag until I can afford to replace it with an 818H2 21-degree. (The H2 is a bit more iron-like, with a smaller head, which fits my eye even better for the shorter hybrid.)
pmang: I have owned TM M2 and Ping G400 hybrids this year. I hit the Titleist 818 H1 today. Titleist was the best of the 3 for me.
Ping G400 (16.23 percent)
SirPercival: I’ve played a Ping G400 hybrid for some weeks now. So they get my vote. Imagine 818 would be nice though.
elwhippy: Difficult to choose as the majority of choices never make it to the UK or are only stocked in boutique stores around London. G400 looks and feels great.
Members Choice 2017
- LIKE158
- LEGIT13
- WOW4
- LOL9
- IDHT4
- FLOP14
- OB6
- SHANK39
Whats in the Bag
Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
- LIKE3
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
- LIKE2
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
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Equipment
What’s the perfect mini-driver/shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups 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.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
- LIKE3
- LEGIT1
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RG
Oct 8, 2017 at 3:15 am
Every year when new hybrids hit the market I go to my local big name Golf shop and hit them all. I check the numbers and if theres one that gives me good numbers I get a demo and try it on the course heads up against my Adams XTD. So far every year Ive returned the demo.
RG
Oct 8, 2017 at 3:13 am
Every year when new hybrids hit the market I go to my local big name Golf shop and hit them all. I check the numbers and if theres one thats gives me good numbers I get a demo and try it on the course heads up against my Adams XTD and every year I return the demo.
Joe J
Oct 7, 2017 at 3:12 pm
Cobra F7 over everything I’ve tried. Disclaimer: Best use is out of rough because of the bottom rails. I have a steep, upright swing (my irons are + 1/2″ with 3 degree upright lie angles) so no hybrids work for me out of tight fairway lies. I only use hybrids out of the rough and nothing comes remotely close to the F7 for that purpose for me.
Lee
Oct 6, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Did each of these voters test each of the Hybrids? Does not sound like it.
Robert Parsons
Oct 6, 2017 at 4:11 pm
The best hybrids weren’t made in 2017. How about the Adams Pro a12? That was a great hybrid. Several others, but not from 2017. PnT?
Smiller
Oct 6, 2017 at 11:46 am
I knock the snot out of an old mizuno t-zoid 5 wood. Best hybrid I have ever owned. It’s friggin incredible when you have a tucked back pin over warter.
Crackshot
Oct 6, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Keep on dreamin’……..
Swingman/Jerry
Oct 6, 2017 at 11:26 am
I like the Big Bertha OS 2016 Hybrids – forgiving, long, and consistent, EZ
Crackshot
Oct 6, 2017 at 3:32 pm
You like the Big Bertha? Now try a real woman!
Jerry
Oct 28, 2017 at 10:57 am
You do know the “Big Bertha” was a WW1 Cannon, right?
John Krug
Oct 6, 2017 at 11:20 am
The Callaway Epic shown is a 2 hybrid, but the loft is 18 degrees, hardly a 2, more of a 3.
Crackshot
Oct 6, 2017 at 3:34 pm
Yer dominant eye is really sharp… you know it all
John
Nov 18, 2019 at 8:37 am
Based on your comments here, id say its clear who the “know it all is”….
A bit insecure and sensitive are we?
Hybrid Expert
Oct 7, 2017 at 9:17 am
If the loft is 18*, I sure wouldn’t call it a #3 hybrid. If that were the case, a 2 would be 15*? 18* is close to an old #1 iron.
jbrunk
Oct 6, 2017 at 1:32 am
My WITB:
Cobra King F6+ 1W 11.5° Diamana D+ 63 S
Cobra King F6 3-4W 14.5° LTD Rogue Black 70 S
Cobra King F6 Baffler 18.5° 4-5W LTD Rogue Black 70 S
Cobra King F6 4-5Hy 22° Matrix Red Tie HQ4 S
Mizuno JPX-850 Forged 5i-GW C-Taper Lite 110 S
Mizuno S5 56•14 & 60•10
Odyssey White Hot Pro 7 CS
Crackshot
Oct 6, 2017 at 3:33 pm
A Cobra King man….watch out!!!!
Shooter McGavin
Oct 5, 2017 at 9:01 pm
Been hitting the Mizuno CLK and loving it over my 816 H2. Looking at maybe doing even a 16 degree to replace my 3 wood.
Crackshot
Oct 6, 2017 at 1:28 am
I will never replace my trusty 3 wood. Hybrids look like sissy clubs.
Michael
Oct 6, 2017 at 11:08 am
Only a sissy would make that remark. You spot it, you got it.
Crackshot
Oct 6, 2017 at 3:29 pm
I bag a 2-iron…..you start at a 6-iron…..ya sissy!!!!!!!!!!
Vegas Bullet Dodger
Oct 7, 2017 at 4:43 pm
I start at 8i….
And break par
Vegas Bullet Dodger
Oct 5, 2017 at 5:29 pm
Nothing can beat the g25 2,3,&4h and g20 5&6 hybrids
Skait up yo
Crackshot
Oct 6, 2017 at 1:29 am
Buy American…. not Chinese
John Krug
Oct 6, 2017 at 3:13 pm
You must walk around naked.
Crackshot
Oct 6, 2017 at 3:25 pm
Hey, gurK…. yer chow mein
Peter in Parker
Oct 5, 2017 at 12:28 pm
The title should be renamed ‘Most Popular Hybrids of 2017 for owners that bothered to Vote’.
SK
Oct 5, 2017 at 3:43 pm
It’s well known in marketing circles that golf club purchases are based on emotions… and after having bought the clubs trying to justify the purchase with desperate logic like “they are the best”, and “I love them”, and “so-and-so plays them and he won with them”!!!
Geeerheads just buy new clubs for the pride of ownership… and don’t even play them for fear of scratching the soles and wearing the grooves. “Here’s my WITB, now tell my about yours and how do they feeel?”
Think or Thwim
Oct 5, 2017 at 12:08 pm
A panoply of personal preferences…. pa thetic !!!
Dennis Mcmahon
Oct 10, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Perhaps