The popularity of hybrid clubs shows no sign of slowing down. And with good reason. If you struggle with your long irons, then the best hybrid clubs can be a more forgiving alternative, helping you to achieve a higher ball flight and a softer landing shot in general.
Longer irons can also be visually intimidating, especially for higher handicap players. Over the ball the lack of loft can leave the blade looking like a butter knife. Contrast this with a modern hybrid club that closely resembles your favorite fairway wood, albeit with a smaller head. The switch might just provide the confidence boost your long game needs.
But hybrids aren’t just easier to hit from the fairway. The design of the sole often makes them well-suited to long shots from the rough. And their versatility doesn’t end there. A hybrid can be used from just off the green as a friendly alternative to a putter or wedge from the fringe.
Better players can also benefit from the best hybrid clubs. If you’re playing a course that demands a few high flying, soft landing shots into long par-4s and par-5s then replacing your 3 or 4-irons with a hybrid could prove fruitful. Watch any professional event and you’re likely to see a number of players with hybrids in their bag.
They’re also a great alternative to long and even medium irons if your swing speed has slowed down a little. Fred Couples played a recent Champions Tour event with six, yes six, hybrids in his bag. Proof, if you needed it, that even the game’s best can benefit from some extra forgiveness.
As with all golf club sectors, there are a vast number of hybrids to choose from. We’ve created this guide to help you navigate this busy marketplace and find the right hybrid for your game. To ensure we give you the best advice we’ve tested a wide range of clubs, blending the qualitative and quantitative data to form our conclusions - and as always we’ve tested with a range of skill levels in mind.
If you want to dig further into the world of the hybrid, then check out our guides to both the best hybrid golf clubs for seniors and the best women's hybrids. Alternatively after you’ve done your research and decide that you still prefer the look of an iron, then our guide to the best driving irons should prove helpful.
WATCH: We test and compare all the latest golf hybrids in 2024
The Quick List
The Ping G430 hybrid is a club that combines performance with immaculate looks. It’s forgiving and produces consistent ball flights even out of more tricky lies.
This versatile hybrid performed very well out of various lies on the golf course. The forgiveness on offer was exceptional and the clean looks will please many.
A hybrid club that will suit golfers of all abilities thanks to the strong, all-round performance. Combining good distance with forgiveness makes this the ideal long-iron replacement.
The Halo scores high marks for the versatility. It's easy to hit out of any lie, performs exceptionally well on mis-hits, and gets the ball up in the air quickly.
The Darkspeed hybrid offers high levels of forgiveness with an abundance of power. The high ball flight, even from the rough, will inspire confidence to all levels of golfer
Surprisingly forgiving for such a compact hybrid, the TSR3 is also powerful and versatile. An excellent option for those confident enough to opt for a slimmed down model.
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Mizuno have once again produced a forgiving and versatile long iron replacement. A larger mid-sized head may not be to everyone's taste, but the performance was excellent.
Smoother looking crown creates a better look at address and the revised sole enables the ZX Mk II hybrid to be very versatile. No adjustability differentiates it from the competition.
Callaway tapped into its Tour roster to build a high-performance utility wood with fairway wood distance and hybrid precision.
Best Golf Hybrid Clubs
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Top pick
Like its fairway wood siblings, the G430 uses Ping’s Carbonwrap technology to help lower the center of gravity with improved launch and speed the goal. And it worked for us, providing impressive ball speed and carry numbers.
While we tested the 19° model, it’s offered in five more lofts up to 34° or a 7hy if you wish. It also boasts an adjustable hosel, allowing for a decent amount of customization to help you find the ball flight you’re after. There are five stock shaft options to accommodate a range of swing speeds.
At address the G430 is visually appealing. It features a compact head shape that includes some simple yet handy alignment aids - lines on the face of the club and a single dot on the top line. It sits nice and flush to the turf, delivering that confidence-inspiring look that many golfers are after in a hybrid club.
Similarly golfers are drawn to hybrids because they’re designed to be more forgiving. Certainly the G430 excelled on off-center hits, making it one of the most forgiving hybrid clubs we’ve hit. It also performed well out of the rough, with the ball really jumping off the face. Perhaps unsurprisingly this level of forgiveness did mean that it was a little harder to shape shots with the club. But if you're after a straighter ball flight from less-than-perfect swings, then the G430 hybrid won't disappoint.
If you’re not a fan of the ‘Ping sound’ that you get from many of its drivers and fairway metals, then you’ll be pleased that we found the G430 hybrid to be far more subdued on this front. The typically ‘tinny’ sound is replaced with something altogether more pleasant. The softer feeling off the face is equally agreeable and a nice contrast to the firmer nature of many hybrid clubs.
- Read our full Ping G430 Hybrid Review
Best from the rough
If you liked the aesthetics of Callaway’s Rogue ST hybrids, then the brand’s Paradym Ai Smoke should appeal, as it shares the same matte black crown head. Similarly the head profile is on the larger side, designed to aid forgiveness and provide more confidence over the ball.
While the Ai Smoke driver and fairway woods feature the now-familiar crushed carbon sole, the hybrids opt instead for a steel finish. The generous camber means it sits flush to the fairway and cuts through the rough nicely.
Like the older Paradym hybrid the Ai Smoke clubs feature the brand’s Speed Cartridge technology. We found that it helped create plenty of ball speed combined with fairly low spin rates. If you’re after a penetrating ball flight then this club should give you just that. However, it is adjustable so if you need a little extra height you can alter the loft accordingly. As for loft options, it’s offered in 18º, 21º, 24º, 27º versions.
Compared to last year’s model, the Ai Smoke is more forgiving. It amply rewards toe and heel strikes, delivering a strong, piercing ball flight as if it had been struck in the center of the face. The level of forgiveness is testament to the Ai Smart Face technology that incorporates numerous sweet spots on the face based on the data collected from thousands of shots. Combined with the club’s appealing looks it adds up to one of the best Callaway hybrids we’ve tested to date.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Hybrid Review
Best wide appeal
Some clubs manage to incorporate technology that serves both professional golfers as well as us mere mortals. And TaylorMade’s Qi10 hybrid is one such club.
Here you get the larger carbon crown that’s featured across the entire Qi10 family as well as the Speed Pocket slot that sits behind the club face. The former is designed to better distribute weight in the head that lowers the center of gravity. Typically this equates to improvements in both launch and carry as well as making the club more forgiving. The latter also seeks to add ball speed as well as help out shots hit lower on the face.
And it works. The ball launched with ease from a fairway lie, while delivering a powerful flight when pegged up. From the rough, the V-Steel sole led to great turf interaction, with the club gliding effortlessly through the grass. You don’t get an adjustable hosel here but we liked how the club doesn’t have an overly closed face at address. That said, if you have tendency to slice the ball we found that it did turn over in the air to the tune of around 10 yards.
Both the sound and feel of the Qi10 are a delight. During testing we loved the loud crack and the lively feel off the face. When combined with the club’s ball flight and versatility it makes for an impressive club indeed.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Hybrid Review
Most forgiving
If you’re drawn to hybrids for their forgiveness, then Cleveland’s Launcher XL Halo should pique your interest. In fact, it earned a spot in our Editor's Choice Awards for this reason.
As the name suggests, the Launcher features a head design that’s larger than the typical hybrid. This alone could help provide you with more confidence. But it’s what the ball does off the face that really matters and it’s here that the club comes alive.
The Launcher is a real bag of tricks, packed with tech designed to help your game. The sole features three Glide Rails and during testing these lead to impressive clubhead stability regardless of the lie. The club also has Cleveland’s highest-ever MOI (moment of inertia), while the HiBore Crown Step helps to lower the center of gravity. As a result of all three elements, the ball got up in the air quickly and flew straight and high - even on off-center hits.
In short, if you’re looking for a forgiving club that performs well in variety of situations, then the versatile Launcher XL Halo is well worth considering.
- Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Hybrid Review
Best smaller profile
Like the rest of the Darkspeed family, the hybrid looks suitably modern. Unsurprisingly given the name it has a stealthy finish - black and gray matte colors dominate - that it combines with a sleek, compact head shape that should appeal visually to better players.
But there’s plenty of technology at play here to make this a club that higher handicap golfers will benefit from, too. It boasts both the PWR-bridge and H.O.T face tech employed in the brand's fairway woods. As a result during testing it was one of the longest hybrids we’ve hit, producing a high ball flight with some seriously impressive carry numbers.
If you’ve struggled in the past getting your long irons in the air, then this could be the model for you. We found that out on the course, armed with the ability to land it softly, it allowed us to attack long par-4s and 5s where previously we might have played it safe. We were also suitably impressed with its performance out of the rough, where the towering ball flight remained.
Together it adds up to a club that’s forgiving enough for golfers who need some help while still delivering the versatility that better golfers will appreciate.
- Read our full Cobra Darkspeed Hybrid Review
Best looking
While looks are subjective, we loved the TSR3’s elegant appearance. It’s the most compact of Titleist’s TSR hybrids and will appeal to those who prefer more of an iron-like look rather than something akin to a fairway wood.
At address you get to enjoy the brand’s typical gloss-black finish and smooth curves, but it’s the sole that’s particularly interesting. It features ‘relief pockets’ designed to improve turf interaction across a range of lies. Coupled with it being shorter from heel-to-toe, it makes for a club that we found to be impressively versatile.
The sole is also home to a moveable weight, allowing you to adjust the club’s center of gravity and, as a result, your ball flight. As a result, out on the course we were able to position it toward the toe to work the ball both ways, as well as leave it to sit neutrally, which enabled us to turn it over more easily.
Despite the compact shape, we found that the TSR3 was forgiving on off-center hits, delivering the same powerful sound and feel we achieved when we struck it well. It’s worth noting that the club does create a low, penetrating ball flight, compared to the Titleist TSR2 hybrid model for example. While at times this is just what’s required, many golfers look to hybrids for more height. If this is your priority then you may want to continue your search.
- Read our full Titleist TSR3 Hybrid Review
Best for better players
Like the Titleist TSR3, the Mizuno ST-Z 230 hybrid should appeal to those who prefer a simple, elegant looking club. The gloss black crown adds to the compact look at address, although it is fairly long from heel-to-toe. This is ideal for those who are looking for some added confidence, though perhaps less so for those who like to work the ball.
Out on the course we found the club delivered a nice, high ball flight from both tight fairway lies and from the rough. It translated to a ball that landed softly on the green, which is just what many golfers are looking for when they switch from long irons to hybrids. That said, the low to mid spin rates we experienced during testing meant the ball didn’t rise uncontrollably. This a club that allows you to control your shots.
These characteristics are in part due to the club’s Cortech Chamber that’s located in the head. It moves the weight closer to the face, lowering the center of gravity, which aids both launch and spin. Mizuno has also lowered the club’s sweet spot, making the club more forgiving across a range of lies.
- Read our full Mizuno ST-Z 230 Hybrid Review
Best for simplicity
As the name suggests, the MK II is the latest iteration of Srixon’s ZX hybrid model, and was released alongside the brand’s ZX5 MK II irons and ZX7 MK II irons.
If you’re familiar with the previous model you’ll notice some changes here. While the head shape looks much the same, it’s been given a new look. Gone are the step crown and the darker black finish, replaced with matte gray finish complete with a helpful, but subtle, alignment marker.
Not all the changes are cosmetic however. The club’s CG has been raised a tad, designed to deliver a higher launch while generating more spin. The roll on the face has been reduced, which combined with the stiffness-inducing Rebound Frame makes for a club that’s impressively long, and as a result one of the best hybrid golf clubs for higher handicappers. If additional yards are important to you, the ZK MK II won’t let you down.
The sole has also seen a redesign. It now closely resembles the ZX MK II fairway woods with notches in both the heel and toe. We found this resulted in a club that performed admirably out of the rough.
While the fixed hosel won’t appeal to those looking for adjustability we found that it added up to a well-balanced club. Loft options range from 17° to 28°, allowing you to replace all of the longer irons in your bag if required.
- Read our full Srixon ZX Mk II Hybrid Review
Most fairway wood like
The Apex UW is unique among hybrids in that it sits somewhere between a fairway wood and a more traditional hybrid. Much of this is down to its genesis as an ‘inbetweener’ for tour players seeking to fill the gap between their highest lofted wood and their longest iron, without having to resort to a typical hybrid featuring a draw bias.
While this is the newer model it retains much from the original. Its clean looks remains; here you get a simple gloss black finish with no alignment marks. The head shape too looks remarkably similar to the previous model. Perhaps the most obvious change is to be found in the sole design. Named the Cutwave Pro-sole, it’s unsurprisingly created to cut through the turf with ease.
So how does the Apex UW perform? Tested under windy conditions, we found that it delivered a powerful ball flight that handled the stiff headwind well despite having a high launch angle. Mis-struck shots resulted in a minimal drop in performance, with the dispersion impressively tight. The neutral bias and lower spin rates will likely appeal to the better player, which is the primary target audience for this club.
As for the new sole, it does just what Callaway designed it to do. We hit several shots from some grassy lies and noticed a marked improvement from the outgoing model. Given the club’s longer shaft length it could even give some of the best fairway woods a run for their money.
- Read our full Callaway 2024 Apex UW Review
How we test hybrids
Golf Monthly's testing procedure is designed to be as comprehensive as possible, resulting in reviews and guides that can be trusted to be both in depth and honest.
As we do for all clubs, when testing the best golf hybrids we try them both at the range or using an indoor simulator as well as out on the course. The former allows us to compile data using one of the best launch monitors, while the latter gives us that vital real world feedback. It’s here we can see how the numbers translate into on-course performance across a range of conditions.
It’s also important to remind you that a good review can never be bought. At Golf Monthly our words and opinions are the product of rigorous testing and years of experience only.
How to choose the right hybrid
When it comes to finding the best golf hybrid clubs for your game, we’d always suggest having a club fitting with a professional. However, we know this isn’t always an option, so before you buy, what are some of the factors you should be considering?
1. Performance
While you may have your heart set on a certain brand or model, it’s how the club performs in your hands that really matters. A hybrid should be one of the more versatile clubs in your bag, so if possible, try it off the tee, from a fairway lie and out of the rough. Use the feedback you get from different models to inform your decision. Were you routinely hitting the club high on the face? How did the ball flight differ on heel and toe strikes compared to center hits? Did it move easily through the turf?
Equally, think about the improvements you’re hoping the clubs will bring to your game and then view the results in relation to these. Typically you’ll be looking at distance, ball flight, carry and spin. Hybrids come in a range of lofts so you’ll want to consider how these perform as well as how they’ll fit in with the rest of your clubs.
2. Feel
How a club sounds and feels at impact is really important. Of course it’s subjective so again there’s no substitute for hitting balls. A friend may tell you they love the sound and the feel of their hybrid but you may find you have a different take entirely. Do you like a club to feel softer at impact or prefer the ball to fly off the face? Is a muted sound more appealing or does the loud thud that some hybrids produce help to instill confidence? Trying a range of models will help you decide your preferences.
3. Looks
Like feel, looks are subjective, but just as vital. How a club looks at address can really make a difference to the swing you put on the ball. Does it instill a sense of confidence, whether that be a larger head for higher handicappers who want forgiveness and distance or a more compact shape for better players who enjoy working the ball? Or does it instead create nagging doubts about your ability to hit the desired shot? By trying a number of clubs you’ll be able to see what, from a visual perspective, works best for you.
4. Budget
The last but not the least of your considerations is your budget. Fortunately the sheer number of hybrid clubs on the market means that you’ll likely find a price tag to match your budgetary requirements.
Again testing here is important. While the premium clubs may be calling your name they may not be a good fit. After all, what’s best for Rory, Tommy or Tyrrell might not be best for you, no matter what the advertisements are telling you. Equally just because a model is modestly priced doesn't mean it won’t excel out on the course. Our years of testing have shown us that many budget models can perform admirably compared to their more expensive counterparts.
For more buying advice when it comes to hybrids, check out our other guides on the best hybrid clubs for seniors, or best women's hybrid golf clubs.
FAQs
What is the difference between a hybrid and a rescue?
There is next to no difference between a hybrid and a rescue because a rescue club is actually just the TaylorMade version of a hybrid.
What is a hybrid golf club good for?
There are two clear benefits to a hybrid when answering this question. First the best thing about a hybrid is that it combines the best bits of a fairway wood and long iron into one convenient club. They help players get the ball in the air easier and help fill the gap between woods and irons in relation to distance gapping.
Hybrids are designed with a lot more perimeter weighting, which is possible because the heads are so much bigger. The hollow design also allows for a lower and deeper centre of gravity that encourages a higher launch, making it much more versatile from tricky lies.
Therefore, for the average golfer liable to mishits and drives finding the rough, a hybrid can be handy for getting back into position. Another big benefit to the hybrid is versatility. Not only can hybrids be used to help in the rough, from the fairway and off the tee, but also around the green too.
What is the difference between a hybrid and a fairway wood?
Hybrids are smaller than fairway woods in terms of clubhead size and shaft length, because they are designed to fill the gap between woods and long to mid irons. Hybrids are usually easier to hit than woods because of the lower centre of gravity and denser head construction and because the club design encourages you to hit down on the ball, in the same way you would with an iron.
Hybrid shafts are heavier than those in a fairway wood, with average weightings around 80 to 90 grams, which makes them easier to swing with more control. Lighter and longer fairway wood shafts can often tempt players to try and swing too fast resulting in inconsistent strikes and a lack of accuracy compared to hybrids.
Which hybrids should I carry?
This is completely personal and comes down to the way you choose to set your bag up. If you use several long irons and struggle to hit them, then a hybrid could definitely help fill these spots in the bag. Alternatively, if you are not getting on well with your five-wood, then hybrids come with similar lofts so can replace it easily.
Senior golfers and women golfers often favour hybrids that replace longer and mid irons in the bag, because they are more playable and offer more distance than their iron equivalents. This is why you will see hybrids available in lofts and head sizes ranging from 2H to 7H, or 17° to 29°.
Do professionals use hybrid golf clubs?
Interestingly, with the growth in hybrid technology over the last few years, more and more professionals are starting to put hybrids in their golf bags now because they are significantly easier to hit than long irons, and they tend to help get the ball in the air easier which can be very useful when hitting out of rough or hitting second shots into par-5's.
Top players like Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have both put hybrids into the bag at one time, and the clubs usually come in and out of the bag dependent on course, setup and conditions.
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