$169, graphite
adamsgolf.com
It's for: Better players
Michael Vrska, Director of product development:
"We created a world-class product that will appeal to
a wide range of players, including the game's best.
We spared nothing in designing it, and our expertise in
hybrid technology is evident the first time you hit it."
How it works: The forgiving "Boxer" head (MOI is 2,880 g x cm2, 18
percent higher than Idea Pro Gold) helps misses hug the target. Plenty
of back weight gets shots airborne with ease. A lively maraging steel
face boosts ball speed. The 7-gram steel screw helps fitters handle
shaft-weight differences in Tour models and custom orders. Comes in
Matrix Ozik Altus graphite (lower flight) or MRC JavlnFx (higher flight).
Idea Tech a4 hybrids (19° and 22°) form a lovely package with Idea
Tech a4 irons (5-PW). "The development process for the irons started
on Tour. Then we added forgiveness characteristics to make them
the right choice for a wide range of players," says Vrska. The forged
cavity-backs have a rear "stabilizer bar" to minimize impact vibration.
Four mini-cavities enhance forgiveness and lower the club's CG.
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$199, graphite
bobbyjonesgolf.com
It's for: Low and mid-handicappers
Jesse Ortiz, COO and chief designer:
"I realized after two seasons of
Tour events that the hybrids'
popularity is based largely
on the ability to bend
the hosel for each player's
required lie and face angle.
Tour vans have special
jigs for this sort of
bending. It's both
challenging and fun
to design a club that
allows any pro shop
to offer this level of
customization, without
compromising my design
and weighting theories."
How it works: A "stress
ring" is cut into the bottom
of the adjustable hosel. This
subtle upgrade enables fitters to
tweak the face angle (open, square
or closed) or lie angle (upright,
standard or flat). The three-piece,
multi-material construction
(stainless steel body plus two
different maraging steels in the
crown and clubface) contributes to
a full-bodied feel and well-rounded
performance. Lastly, the contoured
sole provides ample versatility
from different lies.
$139, steel; $159, graphite
callawaygolf.com
It's for: All skill levels
Dr. Alan Hocknell, VP of Innovation and Advanced
Design:
"The 'dual-runner sole,' originally introduced in
our FT hybrids, promotes solid contact in a variety of turf
conditions. We also lower the club's leading edge to
make the sweet spot more accessible for you."
How it works: The omnipresent "S2H2" design takes weight from the
hosel and distributes it elsewhere (such as to the sole). The low, deep
center of gravity allows you to get under the ball and achieve proper lift
(creating a higher ball flight than the iron it replaces). The rails are designed
to limit turf interference so you get a solid strike regardless of lie.
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$149, graphite; steel throught custom order
cobragolf.com
It's for: All skill levels
Peter Soracco, Principal Design
Engineer:
"Improving on the
number-one selling utility metal
is a challenge. In the new Baffler
TWS, we adjust internal weighting
to lower the center-of-gravity location,
creating a slightly higher launch angle and
increased moment of inertia (MOI) for even
more forgiveness and consistency. In
addition, we increase face area for more
ball speed on off-center hits. Lastly,
we have a contoured sole to provide
maximum playability from all types of lies."
How it works: To start, TWS stands
for "triple weighting system." Three
weights shift mass rearward to
boost MOI and heighten forgiveness.
The stainless steel head has a
sloping "fast back" crown (hidden
from view) that contributes to
high-launching shots. A large,
thin maraging steel face insert
enhances ball speed on offcenter
hits so distance won't
suffer. As Soracco states, the
sole should glide through poor lies.
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![$149, graphite
mizunousa.com
It's for: Mid- or high-handicappers
David Llewellyn, club R&D manager:
"The MX-700 hybrid,
like the MX-700 fairway
wood, has an extremely
hot face. We couple this with the
'drop down' crown to create
greater ball speed and a higher
launch than conventional hybrids."
How it works: This baby is
built to help you hit it high. The
sloped crown (hidden from view)
contributes to the low, rear CG (for
smooth liftoff). The crown design
also gives fitters the ability to
make loft and lie adjustments. The
strong, thin, lightweight steel face
produces a broad area of maximum
ball speed. One result is minimal
distance loss on off-center hits. The
crown decal [also hidden from view]
can assist with proper aim. The club
comes in 17°, 20°, 23° and 26° lofts.](https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/golf/2014/11/29/gallery_images/Mizuno-MX700-Hybrid_600_1.jpg)
$149, graphite
mizunousa.com
It's for: Mid- or high-handicappers
David Llewellyn, club R&D manager:
"The MX-700 hybrid,
like the MX-700 fairway
wood, has an extremely
hot face. We couple this with the
'drop down' crown to create
greater ball speed and a higher
launch than conventional hybrids."
How it works: This baby is
built to help you hit it high. The
sloped crown (hidden from view)
contributes to the low, rear CG (for
smooth liftoff). The crown design
also gives fitters the ability to
make loft and lie adjustments. The
strong, thin, lightweight steel face
produces a broad area of maximum
ball speed. One result is minimal
distance loss on off-center hits. The
crown decal [also hidden from view]
can assist with proper aim. The club
comes in 17°, 20°, 23° and 26° lofts.
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$199, graphite
nickentgolf.com
It's for: All skill levels
John B. Hoeflich, COO:
"We have several
brainstorming sessions to decide
on a direction before we embark on a
new design project. Improving on our
4DX Ironwood is no easy task. The guys
in our Tour department suggested that we add
'wings'. We thought it was a bird-brained idea at
first, but testing proves that the wings work and
significantly increase MOI. And Tour players love it!"
How it works: The all-stainless steel head has a
deeper face than 4DX but a similar launch profile.
Rear "wings" with tungsten-polymer inserts move
mass to the perimeter. The result is Nickent's highest-
MOI hybrid (3,130 g x cm2). The 5DX Ironwood has
an "A-frame" face (thicker in the middle, thinner
at the edges) that increases ball speed high on
the face. This combines with stronger lofts (by 1.5
degrees per club) for noticeable distance gains. The
sole screw (2, 4, 6 or 8 grams) can be removed by
Nickent for swingweight adjustment. Comes in nine
lofts (1.5° increments) from 14° to 26°.
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$169, steel; $199, graphite
pinggolf.com
It's for: All skill levels
Marty Jertson, senior design engineer:
"The exciting part about designing the
Rapture V2 hybrid is working with such
a significant amount of tungsten. In the
final design, close to 50 percent of the
total head weight is tungsten. That gives us the
opportunity to drive up the inertia while positioning
the center of gravity (CG) location very low to raise
the launch angle."
How it works: The stainless steel body is
"weighted down" (in a good way) by the tungsten
sole. A sloping crown and longish face further
contribute to the club's forgiving disposition.
Clubs come in 17°, 20°, 23°
and 27° lofts with Ping
TFC939F or Mitsubishi Rayon JavlnFX M7 shafts.
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$199, graphite
taylormadegolf.com
It's for: All skill levels
Dr. Benoit Vincent, Chief Technical Officer:
"Our first Rescue delivered new performances
in challenging on-course situations. Since
then, we've researched solutions to manage
ball flight direction (hybrids often have draw
bias compared to the irons they replace). Rescue TP
has our compact adjustable mechanism, which allows
you to dial in preferred lateral trajectory."
How it works: Rescue TP and standard Rescue
both have stainless steel heads with extremely thin (0.6
mm), light walls. The light crown allows 8 extra grams
to be used in the sole. The effect is a higher launch
and less spin. Rescue TP also features "flight control
technology" (similar to the R9 driver and fairway woods).
Eight face angle settings (2° closed to 2° open) provide
up to 30 yards difference in left-to-right flight. The
standard Rescue has a fixed setting (high-draw bias).
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$179, graphite
titleistgolf.com
It's for: Primarily 0- to 9-handicappers but playable to 15
Dan Stone, VP of R&D:
"Our target audience wants performance
with control from their hybrid. The 909H provides precise launch
and spin from loft to loft. Lower lofts provide a fairway wood-like
launch with better trajectory control, while higher lofts provide a
higher launch versus an iron without excess spin."
How it works: This line (15°, 17°, 19°, 21° and 24°) progresses nicely
in size, shape, amount of offset and CG location. As Stone suggests,
the idea is to match performance in terms of ball flight, workability and
trajectory control. Each 909H has a longish face (in Carpenter steel, to
increase ball speed) and a fairly large head (for added confidence).
The 909H comes with Aldila Voodoo or Titleist Diamana Blue 80 shaft.
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