Hybrid Irons

Do you still have long irons in your bag? Can you hit them? Really?

About six years ago, I could hit my 4-iron to my liking two out of three times, my 3-iron about one out of three times, and my 2-iron was for the tee only. I had three clubs in my bag that weren’t doing me any favors.

So I went to the range one day and there was a Ben Hogan demo. Ben Hogan line was still a prominent player in the equipment market. I talked to the rep about the hybrid irons I had been hearing about and he gave me a 21-degree club, equivalent to a 3-iron, to try out.

I walked over to an open mat and dropped a few balls. The club felt a lot heavier than my 3-iron, so I decided I would just take an easy swing the first time. Whack! The ball flew out straight and long, as good as any 3-iron I had ever hit. Then two more balls, two more great shots.

I had just hit the best long iron shots of my, life three times in a row.

About a month later I ordered a 19-, 21-, and 24-degree hybrid and retired my long irons. I would recommend you do the same, and you might take a close look at replacing your 5-iron, too.

Two things about using hybrid irons. They’re meant to replace irons, so you still have to hit down on the ball like you do with other irons. Trying to sweep the ball as if it were a fairway wood doesn’t work too well.

Second, and I tell myself this every time I get set to swing one, stay out of its way. Just make an easy swing and let the club do the work. The more you try to force the shot with a hybrid iron the worse it will be for you.

There’s no substitute for practice, but if you want to buy some good shots, get some of these.

One more thing. Please don't call them 'rescue clubs'. I don't use them to chip out of trees into the fairway. I use them to send the ball from the fairway to a green 180 yards away. And it gets there.

See more at www.bettergolfbook.com.