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”
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Whats in the Bag
Xander Schauffele WITB 2024 (May)
- Xander Schauffele what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees @10.1)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 70 TX (45.5 inches)
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 80 TX
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Mizuno MP-20 (3), Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-10)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid X100 (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-10)
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-10S @57), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60-K @61)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Odyssey Toulon Design Las Vegas Prototype 7CH
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
Check out more in-hand photos of Xander Schauffele’s clubs in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Cam Smith WITB 2024 (May)
- Cam Smith what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X
3-wood: Ping Max G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 7 X
7-wood: Titleist TS2 (21 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Elements Proto 8F5
Irons: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi (2, 3), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X Custom Series
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-08M, 60-04T)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130X (46, 52, 56, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009M
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Tack
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos of Cam Smith’s gear here.
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Whats in the Bag
Patrick Reed WITB 2024 (May)
- Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G400 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125 MSI 70 Tour X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125MSI 80 Tour X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex Pro (18 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila RIP Phenom Hybrid 100 TX
Irons: Titleist 716 TMB (2), Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56-08M @55), SM10 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot RX Pt Customs No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
More photos of Patrick Reed’s WITB in the forums.
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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.