There’s no question that higher-lofted fairway woods have really increased in popularity in recent years. Even some tour pros are using 7-woods when they were once thought of as taboo for better players. That said, hybrids are still a popular, user-friendly option for average players who struggle to hit mid and long irons.
To that point, the thing to remember about hybrids is that they are intended to be used more like irons. With the beefy clubhead, I know they sort of look like a fairway wood, but you’ll get a lot more out of these clubs if you set up and swing like you’re holding a 5-iron. That means addressing the ball more in the middle of your stance and striking the ball with a slightly downward angle of attack.
The feeling you want as you stand over a hybrid shot is that your chest is over the ball. You might have heard the term “covering the ball.” That’s what I mean when I tell you to get your chest over it like I am in the photo at the top of this article. This thought, combined with a ball position that’s farther back than if you were using a fairway wood, puts you in position to pinch the ball slightly off the grass before the club takes a small divot.
Jason Guss, Golf Digest Best in State Teacher, Naperville (Ill.) Country Club.
HOT LIST INSTRUCTION: Tee It High? | Need More Speed? | Fairway Off the Tee | Hybrid vs. Wood | Irons Too Low? | Missing Greens? | Deaden the Strike | Help in the Sand
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
