Equipment
‘5-iron vs 5-hybrid showdown…it wasn’t close’ – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been responding to a recent post that faced off a 5-iron against a 5-hybrid. WRXer Uglande kicked off the thread saying:
“Over the past couple of seasons, I have incorporated a 7 wood into my bag but have still shied away from hybrids. But after seeing so many lofted fairways and hybrids in some good players’ bags (e.g., I just noticed John Daly goes plays 17-19-22-26 degree Ping hybrids), I decided to put my T100 5 iron (26 degrees) to the test against a TSr2 24 hybrid, set at 25.
It was a blowout.
High, low, draw, fade, punchouts, bad lies … there wasn’t a single shot scenario I could create in which the hybrid did not beat the 5 iron, and usually by a long shot. But the most impressive was the incredible forgiveness on missed strikes. The 5 iron drop-off was dramatically worse. No big surprise, I know, but the magnitude of the separation is what struck me.
Normally, the equalizer would be the big-left miss with the hybrid, but I wasn’t getting any of that.”
Uglande added “What are your experiences with higher lofted hybrids, or what keeps you from bagging them?”, and our members have been getting involved with their takes in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- POKeefe: “I ran the same test with Z785 5i, ZX5 5i, and ZX 5H head-to-head. It also wasn’t close. The only advantage the irons had was a lower ball flight, which I prefer. However, the consistency was much better with the hybrid. My driver swing speed is 107, so I’m not exactly slow either. My hunch is most people would be better off pulling 3-5i out of their bag in favor of woods and hybrids.”
- CDLgolf: “I use a 4, 5, and 6 hybrid and for me they are so much better than long irons or higher lofted fairway woods.”
- 1puttTuT: “Over time I’ve realized I hate hybrids. I struggle with a two way miss and they also want to balloon up at that loft. I really like my set 5 iron, but I do go to a utility iron instead of a normal 4 iron or hybrid. My hybrid issue is probably shaft related, but I don’t need the added forgiveness or launch benefit of the hybrid so why chase the correct shaft when the iron is plug and play for the most part.”
Entire Thread: “‘5 Iron v. 5 Hybrid Showdown … It Wasn’t Close’ – GolfWRXers discuss”
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
CrashTestDummy
Jan 15, 2024 at 12:18 am
Hybrid distances generally go quite longer from the same iron number they replace. Hybrids are very versatile clubs that can be hit from many different lies, but much harder to stop on greens than irons. Still not gonna give up my long irons. One of the best feelings in golf is just pure-ing long irons.
J
Jan 12, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Sure, but it my experience dispersion is much worse (at least for me) with a hybrid despite extra height and distance.
Darryl’s brother Darryl
Jan 9, 2024 at 7:05 pm
I hit 4-9 hybrids and I’m amazing
OldJoe
Jan 5, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Can’t keep the Adams peanut 5h (25*) out of the bag, but it replaced my 4 iron. PRGR Nabla ID Tour forged 5 iron full 12 yards shorter than 5h.
Bob Jones
Jan 5, 2024 at 3:00 pm
I used to be able to hit a 4-iron pretty darn well, but when I tried the equivalent hybrid I got the same results so much easier I made the switch.
Birdman
Jan 4, 2024 at 10:50 am
I thinknwe can file this one under “Uhhhhhh…..no $hit Sherlock”
Barry W Pagano
Jan 4, 2024 at 10:00 am
I have the series of 4 thru 8 hybrids ..Im so pleased I made the change …when I do hit them right , the feel is amazing and they’re much more forgiving.
Rich
Jan 3, 2024 at 2:31 pm
The hybrid is a no-brainer for those who paddycake the ball, yes. Much depends on swing speed and strike quality. Those of us who can still swing the driver at say 105 and higher and hit the ss 95% of the time will take the 5 iron for better dispersion.
Erik Ugland
Jan 10, 2024 at 3:16 pm
I’m the original poster and I swing driver at 110+. Your comment is exactly what I would have said prior to doing my testing. But with my 5 iron (T100 bent 1 strong to 26 degrees), I was getting carry of 205 at about a 44 land angle. With hybrid (TSr2 set at 25), I was getting the same carry distance but with a 46-47 land angle (stopping power without ballooning) and significantly better consistence and dispersion. But, of course, YMMV. (Also, I was playing a AD DI 9x shaft, tipped 1 in., in the hybrid, FWIW).
Ace
Jan 3, 2024 at 1:05 pm
People just figured this out! Wow
Joe
Jan 3, 2024 at 10:54 am
I use a 2 hybrid and I have no problem hitting low shots like one person claimed.
The 2 hybrid replaced my 3 wood since it was only 5 yards shorter but much easier to hit.
My next hybrid is a cobra one length 4 hybrid which for my swing speed bridges the gap easily and it being only 7 iron length makes it the best club in my bag and my go to club.
Long irons are no contest against hybrids.