Working With Hybrids

By Britt Lindsey and Jim Yachinich

Hybrids are now main stream and it is important to understand some of the club building dynamics that are involved. One of the questions we get asked most is “How long do I make a hybrid club”? Obviously, the most important thing is to make it fit the player, but with regards to the head, shaft, grip relationship, it’s all about the head weight and the length the club is going to be built. Generally, head weights are what they are in woods and irons, because of industry average lengths or what some consider standard club lengths. Due to the wide range of hybrid clubs, the idea of a “standard” length for all hybrids just is not possible. However, by knowing the head weight and comparing that head weight to that of a particular iron or fairway wood, you will know what the “standard” length of that particular hybrid was meant to be (See step 5 below).

In the GolfWorks catalog, there are suggested length charts on the hybrid head pages. These lengths are based on particular shaft weights and grip weights to give a “standard” swing weight. The swing weight range based on these parameters is between D0 and D2 in most cases. If the shaft weight or grip weight varies, the swing weight range may change. We have outlined the steps below that need to be considered when building any hybrid.

Rules of Thumb when working with Hybrids

1. Identify if the Hybrid uses a wood shaft (.335" or .350") or an iron shaft (.370" or .355" taper tip).

2. Identify the weight of the hybrid clubhead.

3. If the hybrid uses a wood shaft (.335" or .350"), compare the head weight to that of a fairway wood that has the same head weight.

For example if the hybrid weighs 228 grams which is closest to that of a 7 wood (230 grams). In this example you would follow the tip trimming instructions for a 7 wood when working with the CT H16 Hybrid.

4. If the hybrid uses an iron shaft (.370" or .355" taper tip), compare the head weight to that of an iron that has the same head weight.

For example the KE-4 18 degree has a listed head weight of 231 grams which is closest to that of a 2 iron (233 grams). In this example you would follow the tip trimming instructions for a 2 iron when working with the KE-4 18 degree hybrid.

Note: With the KE-4 Hybrids with adjustable weight, you should use the adjusted weight to identify your trimming instructions.

For example if you removed the 8 gram weight in the KE-4 18 degree it would lower the weight down to 223 grams which is now closer to that of a 1 iron and you would now use the trimming instructions for the 1 iron.

5. Finished club lengths would also be based from the clubhead weights and whether they compare to that of a wood or an iron. In the CT H16 example the finished length of 41" with graphite and 40.5" with steel are the same as we would use for a 7 wood at 230 grams headweight.

Please Click on the manufacturers below to see each OEM Hybrid Guide: