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
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
View this post on Instagram
OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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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