How To Hit a Hybrid Golf Club From Tee to Green

Hybrids are a gift from the Golf Gods. I’m convinced these mythical beings got tired of seeing golfers struggle with hard to hit long irons and gave an engineer the idea for a smaller fairway wood. 

Thus… the hybrid was born in the early 2000s. Now, they’re a staple in all types of golfers’ bags, including some of the best players in the world. 

While almost everyone can benefit from hitting hybrids, a lot of golfers get confused on how to hit them. Often wondering…

• Do I hit down on a hybrid?
• When should I use my hybrid? 
• Can I use a hybrid from the rough?
• Do I hit a hybrid like a fairway wood? 

Today, we’ll answer all those questions and more. Keep reading to learn how to hit a hybrid club with impressive consistency (Hint: it’s easier than you think). 

How to Hit a Hybrid From the Fairway

If you don’t have a hybrid (or two) in your golf bag, you’re making golf much harder on yourself. The days of attempting to hit long irons that come with your iron set are over. Do not settle for the 3 or 4 (or maybe even 5 iron) that comes with your iron set. 

Hybrids, high lofted fairway woods, and utility irons are a much better choice. Hybrid golf clubs are the focus of this article and great because they are:

• More forgiving
• Easy to hit from the rough
• Help you launch the ball higher
• Are extremely versatile and can be used for all type of shots
• Perform much better overall (even with slower swing speeds) 

But they’re only effective if you learn how to hit them. Follow our step-by-step process below to start hitting hybrids better than ever.

Related: Driving Iron vs. Hybrid 

Step 1: Buy the Right Hybrid

Before getting into the setup and swing, it’s important to make sure that you buy the right hybrid. For example, if you want to replace your 4-iron, you might think buying a 4H is the best choice. But it’s not as simple as swapping a hybrid for the same long iron. 

Even if the loft is the same between the two clubs, hybrids go further thanks to the larger head design. Studies have shown that these clubs go 8-12 yards longer so buy accordingly! 

Usually, clubbing down is the way to go. So if you want to replace your 4-iron for the same distance, you would want to buy a 5H instead. 

Additionally, make sure to buy the right clubhead as there are so many options. Some are larger heads that more closely resemble fairway woods and built for distance. While other hybrids are smaller and made for more skilled golfers who prefer to shape the ball. 

Step 2: Setup Accordingly

Here’s where most golfers mess up and make it hard to hit hybrids well – the setup. Since a hybrid is a blend of fairway wood and iron, it’s easy to get confused and wonder… “Should I hit a hybrid like an iron? Or a fairway wood?”

The answer: hit your hybrids like your irons.

You want a slight descending blow to create a shallow divot when hitting hybrids. To do this, you need to set up to the ball accordingly.

First, make sure your feet are about slightly less than shoulder width apart to build a sturdy base. Since this club is 40-42 inches long, you need enough width but not too much so that it’s hard to swing down on it. 

Next, make sure the ball position is in the front-center part of your stance. You don’t want it as far up as you do with fairway woods or drivers. But you also don’t want it too far back or you’ll get too steep on the downswing. 

Finally, make sure you’re standing comfortably from the ball and not reaching for it. Standing slightly closer to the golf ball will actually help you get the club on the correct plane. 

Also Read: How To Hit Long Irons Like a Pro

Step 3: Swing Smooth

Once you’re set up the right way, swing the club like a normal mid-iron and press the handle slightly forward at address. A slight shaft lean with the correct setup will help with a descending blow.

Then, swing smoothly with your hybrid and don’t try to kill it. Most amateurs make the mistake of trying to swing too hard and their ball striking suffers as a result. 

Remember, the club is built for high-launch and long distance; you don’t need to swing out of your shoes to make this happen. Instead, swing smooth throughout the entire swing, specifically in transition to hit it well. 

Sternum Over the Ball 

If you aren’t making consistent contact, check your chest position too. As Michael Breed said in the below Golf Channel video, “Make sure that the chest is staying down in the shot and almost pointing toward your lead foot.” 

How to Hit a Hybrid Off the Tee 

Please note, your setup shouldn’t change much whether you’re hitting a hybrid off the ground or from a tee. But the biggest mistake most amateur golfers make with hybrids is teeing the ball up too high. This makes it easy to hit underneath it and possibly leave a nasty skymark on your golf club.

Instead, tee it low, just like you would with an iron. Remember, you want to hit down and through the shot like an iron. A ball that is teed up lower will also promote a more descending blow at impact. 

How to Hit a Hybrid From the Rough 

Hybrids are great because they can help you escape the rough! 

If you have a decent lie in the rough, you can hit a hybrid from here too. But always make sure to check if the lie is good enough before pulling this club out of the bag. Since a hybrid is larger than an iron, if you try to hit it from very thick rough the club can close and result in a massive pull. 

However, if the lie is decent, a hybrid is a great option from the rough. If the ball is sitting up on the grass (known as a flier lie), try to swing slightly more up on it. Also, plan for it to travel an extra 5-15 yards too thanks to the great lie.

If the ball is sitting down in the rough, move the ball slightly closer to the middle of your stance to hit down and through it. It’s also not a bad idea to slightly open the face at address to account for the rough closing of the face at impact.