Hybrid or Iron? What should you be hitting?
Are you on the fence about whether or not to introduce hybrids into your bag? Still undecided as to what will be best for your game going forward, the data team at Shot Scope are here to help.
From their ever-growing database of over 350 million on course shots, Shot Scope can confidently shed some light to help with the decision surrounding hybrids vs irons.
First, let’s look at the distance debate:
Starting with the scratch golfer, we can see that they will typically hit a long iron further than a hybrid, with an average distance gain of 13yds.
It is worth noting that across the board, the majority of golfers carry a 5 iron over a 5 hybrid, with only 5% of golfers electing to have a 5 hybrid in their bag.
Interestingly, as we move up the handicap brackets, the distance gain reduces. The 11-15hcp golfer hits their 3i/4i marginally longer than the hybrid alternatives, and gains 8yds with 5i.
For the higher handicapper, 21-25, there is a split. The 3i is shorter, the 4i is pretty much the same, and the 5i is longer, so perhaps accuracy will be the deciding factor.
We look at two main things to determine how accurate the clubs are, green success and average proximity to the pin. When you are playing into the green, regardless of what club you are using, having the exact yardage is crucial, with Shot Scope laser rangefinders, you get just that!
Combined with one of the Shot Scope GPS watches which give you dynamic distance to the front, middle, and back of the green as well as to hazards and layup points, you can pick your club with confidence.
So, let's look at the approach shot statistics, starting with the 21-25hcp golfer.
Despite being longer, it would appear that the higher handicapper is more accurate with their 5h compared to their 5i. The difference in green hit likelihood is marginal and with the average proximity well over 100ft, it is unlikely either will be hitting the green very often.
For the other two hybrid vs iron decisions, again it is unlikely they will be hitting the green with these clubs and so it may be a decision surrounding club gapping that dictates what goes in your bag.
If both clubs are likely to miss the green, then whatever is leaving players shorter shots in for their second shot is likely the better option as being closer to the green is almost always the best option.
Based on average proximity to the green, perhaps hybrids are the better option for the higher handicapper, particularly the 3 and 4. The 5 hybrid is an interesting one as it is shorter than the iron but has a closer average proximity, suggesting some inconsistency in accuracy when using the 5 iron.
Moving back down our handicap brackets to 11-15hcp, what comes out on top in terms of accuracy?
Similar to the higher handicapper, the mid handicap golfer appears to be more accurate, or consistent, with a hybrid in hand based on average proximity.
Despite hitting irons marginally longer, as with our 21-25hcp bracket, there may be an inconsistency in the mid handicappers iron play. A potential issue with technique, or confidence, with these clubs could explain why the average proximity to the green is worse with irons than hybrids.
From the Shot Scope database, it is more common to see players with an index above 10 carrying 5-PW in irons and hybrids/woods for the top end of the bag.
Lastly, we analyze the scratch golfer
For the scratch golfer the 5i vs 5h reveals a definite winner when it comes to green success (likelihood of hitting the green) and proximity.
Not only does the 5i typically go further, it also has an average proximity nearly 10yds closer and is just over twice as likely to find the green - for the scratch golfer, 5i or 5h everyday.
As with the other handicaps, although the 3i/4i go further than their hybrid counterparts, the hybrids come out on top in terms of average proximity but have fairly similar green success likelihoods - again suggesting that the hybrid is forgiving and less penal on bad strikes.
So what should you use?
Well, the hybrids appear to do what the manufacturers tell us and offer a more forgiving alternative to long irons. For mid to high handicap golfers, considering swapping out some of your longer irons for hybrids could definitely help your game.
For the low handicapper, keeping both 5i and 4i in the bag appears to be wise, but perhaps drop the 3i as the penalty for mishits is great and although you are good, why make golf harder than it has to be?
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