Rescue Clubs
A new category in golf, rescue (or hybrid) golf clubs are designed to replace harder to hit long irons. A typical set of irons would be 3-PW (8 irons) and many golfers find the 3, 4 and even 5 irons quite difficult to hit consistently well. This is where rescue golf clubs come in. They are a cross between an iron and a wood and they have dual characteristics. Firstly, they have the easy to hit properties of a wood with larger, more forgiving heads. Secondly, they have the same accuracy properties of iron with shorter shafts and iron-like faces for control. An added benefit of rescue golf clubs is that they are much easier to hit from poor lies or from the rough.
Low Handicap
As a low handicap golfer, you may not have invested in hybrids as you feel comfortable with long irons. However many tour professionals now use hybrid clubs instead of 2 and 3 irons and you should try them out. Hybrids have a higher trajectory and therefore softer landing than the equivalent iron. They are also easier to hit out of rough and difficult lies as they tend to twist less than irons.
There are high specification “Tour” or “Tp” versions of hybrid golf clubs which give a lower, more penetrating golf ball flight and which avoid “ballooning” of shots which can occur with the very low centre of gravity in standard hybrid clubs. These are worth investigating as they also tend to have high spec shafts.
There are also some hybrids with Flight Control technology where you can alter the face angle to vary trajectory.
Medium Handicap
At mid handicap level, hybrids are a must. A 3 hybrid replacing a 3 iron is a definite recommendation and a 4 hybrid replacing or even complimenting a 4 iron is a strong one too. It should not be necessary to go any higher at this level but you could consider a 2 hybrid depending on how you get on with fairway woods. A 2 hybrid can be a good option instead of a 5 or 7 wood.
Shafts can be steel or graphite here and is down to personal preference. Some golfers prefer steel shafts to match their iron sets but many still opt for graphite which can give the benefit of being lighter and with a longer shaft that can lead to club head speed benefits.
High Handicap
As a high handicapper you are missing out if you don’t have any hybrid golf clubs. The recommendation here is to have at least a 3 and a 4 hybrid to replace the 3 and 4 irons. They will be much easier to hit on the correct trajectory. You may also consider replacing your 5 iron with a hybrid too depending on how you get on with it. Unless you particularly strike your irons well you will not miss a 3 and a 4 iron.
The design of a hybrid golf club is to be easy to hit from the fairway or the rough. There are many models to choose from and they are pretty much all of a high standard. Avoid “Tour” or “TP” models which launch the golf ball lower.
At this level is it recommended that you use a graphite shaft, regular flex. Seniors or lady golfers can use senior (or A) flex or L flex respectively.