golf club loft comparison

Question
Hi,  I am considering using hybrid clubs.  Would like to know which hybrid is comparable to which club throughout my bag.  There seem to be both iron and wood hybrid replacements available.  Thank you

Answer
Greetings Susan,

The hybrid clubs have gained popularity these past few years. 10 years ago, having a hybrid one's bag was like having a ball retriever. Then the Senior Tour started carrying them...again not a popular choice amongst the masses. Now most PGA Tour professionals carry at least one. Gone with the once popular 2-iron..hello easy, forgiving hybrid. Alot of vendor sales reps have admitted that hybrids are outselling fairway woods big time.

Ok, the comparison. The following are the typical lofts of fairway woods:

#3 fairway...15 degrees
#5 fairway...18 degrees
#7 fairway...21 degrees
#9 fairway...24 degrees

The following are typical lofts of hybrid clubs:

#2 hybrid...16 degrees
#3 hybrid...19 degrees
#4 hybrid...22 degrees
#5 hybrid...25 degrees
#6 hybrid...28 degrees

So as you can see the lofts are very similar between the two. But because they are so similar, why the switch? Well, for a couple of reasons:  The hybrid clubs are a bit shorter than the fairway woods, making them a little easier to control; They're a bit heavier and smaller in the head, so for some, they feel and look more like an iron; Because of the design features of a hybrid (low center of gravity, large sweet spot and tremendous forgiveness), alot of people have replaced their #3, #4, and even the #5 iron.

There are several configurations that make up a set of clubs. There are entire sets of hybrid irons, there are also transitional hybrid iron sets, and there are individual hybrids that replace the lower lofted irons in one's bag. You are allowed 14 clubs...and what makes up one bag will differ from another.

Thank you Susan for your question. I hope it was thoroughly answered, and gives you some insight of what's out there.

Good luck and keep swinging!

Ruth Ann Allen, PGA