Hybrid - Callaway X2 Hot Hybrid
Callaway, so named after its founder Ely Callaway who once said something I really like - something like golf is about that occasional good shot. This mantra defined Callaway golf equipment not just for its quality but about being user-friendly and very forgiving.
My own experience dated years ago when I was a beginner. All beginners will suffer from using a driver for it is the longest club and the bag and has a low loft. I tried using a 3 iron which is not an easy club to play too. It was not until an uncle passed me a Callaway Warbird no. 3 wood which I used in place of a driver or 3 iron that I begin to have a decent tee off. I still keep that club for sentimental reason. You have to remember that some of today's 3-wood is bigger than the old drivers of years gone by.
The problem with most golfers is that when they see that they are far away from the green, they will pull out their longest hitting clubs to play. This is so even for experience golfers. It is probably psychological. If you were to work on percentage and stick to that decision, you will probably end with a better score each time but if that hope for that occasional good shot is what you want, then be prepared for elation or more likely misery.
Loft
Today's technology offers more hope as they give you a hybrid - a cross between an iron and wood. These days, the 3 and 4 irons are almost dead save for a few romantics. When getting a hybrid, look at the loft and not the numbers as different manufacturers and brands use different loft and call it by the same numbers. For example, a 21 degrees lofted hybrid can be called a no. 3 or no. 4. Yet a no. 4 can be anything between 20-23 degrees. Generally, 21 degrees is to me a no. 4 and 19 degrees is a no. 3.
Distance
In golf terms in measuring distance, a two degrees difference in loft is equal to about 5m in distance (note: 1m is equal to 1.09361 yard). For easy mental conversion, just take the yardage and less 10% to get your metres in distance. So let's say you have a 21 and a 19 degrees hybrid this is the distance one should get if played correctly - 21 degrees gives 170m and a 19 degrees gives 180m. But then I said 2 degrees give 5m more? Yes, you will need to take note that whenever a club has a stronger loft of 2 degrees, the club is also lengthened by a couple of inches. This longer shaft length translate to 5m more giving a total distance gained of 10m.
Playing The Hybrid
Most hybrids are built to look and play like irons. The face looks like your irons but it has more bulk at the back to offer more perimeter weighting to pop the ball making it friendlier to use than an iron. Some folks actually play with an entire iron set of hybrids. Those of you whose swing is more comfortable with woods than irons should then choose hybrids that look and play more like woods. You can see that the shape of the bulk at the back makes it look like a fairway wood (just slightly smaller).
As for me, I find it more comfortable playing off the blue tee because I can just hit the ball with less concern example my tee off shots with the driver could never reach any bunker that was built to trap shots from the shorter white tee boxes. Playing off the white tee box on a par 5, you are usually tempted to try to reach the green in two by using your wood or hybrid but there are Out of Bounds markers and water hazards to trap and get you into trouble if you did not get a good shot. Using shorter irons may be a better option. Playing from the blue offers a better chance in case of straying.
Hybrids however, increases your hopes of putting it on a long par 3 from the white tee or the usual average distance from the blue. Hybrid shots tend to be go higher up and has a more parachute-like drop onto greens than a fairway wood due to loft and trajectory. Let me qualify - if played correctly. Haha. Let me introduce you to Callaway hybrid, in this case the X2 Hot:
Callaway X2 Hot Hybrid
In case you are not aware, Callaway is a late comer to hybrids. Initially, they must have thought that their irons are friendly and forgiving enough but when they came in, they did so with a vengeance.
In this version of the X2 Hot hybrid, Callaway claimed that the forged cup face adds distance and the tour-inspired shape is for accuracy. They added that by using a thinner and lighter 455 carpenter steel face produces faster ball speed across the face so you will achieve consistent and longer distance.
The problem with most golfers is that when they see that they are far away from the green, they will pull out their longest hitting clubs to play. This is so even for experience golfers. It is probably psychological. If you were to work on percentage and stick to that decision, you will probably end with a better score each time but if that hope for that occasional good shot is what you want, then be prepared for elation or more likely misery.
Loft
Today's technology offers more hope as they give you a hybrid - a cross between an iron and wood. These days, the 3 and 4 irons are almost dead save for a few romantics. When getting a hybrid, look at the loft and not the numbers as different manufacturers and brands use different loft and call it by the same numbers. For example, a 21 degrees lofted hybrid can be called a no. 3 or no. 4. Yet a no. 4 can be anything between 20-23 degrees. Generally, 21 degrees is to me a no. 4 and 19 degrees is a no. 3.
Distance
In golf terms in measuring distance, a two degrees difference in loft is equal to about 5m in distance (note: 1m is equal to 1.09361 yard). For easy mental conversion, just take the yardage and less 10% to get your metres in distance. So let's say you have a 21 and a 19 degrees hybrid this is the distance one should get if played correctly - 21 degrees gives 170m and a 19 degrees gives 180m. But then I said 2 degrees give 5m more? Yes, you will need to take note that whenever a club has a stronger loft of 2 degrees, the club is also lengthened by a couple of inches. This longer shaft length translate to 5m more giving a total distance gained of 10m.
Playing The Hybrid
Most hybrids are built to look and play like irons. The face looks like your irons but it has more bulk at the back to offer more perimeter weighting to pop the ball making it friendlier to use than an iron. Some folks actually play with an entire iron set of hybrids. Those of you whose swing is more comfortable with woods than irons should then choose hybrids that look and play more like woods. You can see that the shape of the bulk at the back makes it look like a fairway wood (just slightly smaller).
As for me, I find it more comfortable playing off the blue tee because I can just hit the ball with less concern example my tee off shots with the driver could never reach any bunker that was built to trap shots from the shorter white tee boxes. Playing off the white tee box on a par 5, you are usually tempted to try to reach the green in two by using your wood or hybrid but there are Out of Bounds markers and water hazards to trap and get you into trouble if you did not get a good shot. Using shorter irons may be a better option. Playing from the blue offers a better chance in case of straying.
Hybrids however, increases your hopes of putting it on a long par 3 from the white tee or the usual average distance from the blue. Hybrid shots tend to be go higher up and has a more parachute-like drop onto greens than a fairway wood due to loft and trajectory. Let me qualify - if played correctly. Haha. Let me introduce you to Callaway hybrid, in this case the X2 Hot:
Callaway X2 Hot Hybrid
In case you are not aware, Callaway is a late comer to hybrids. Initially, they must have thought that their irons are friendly and forgiving enough but when they came in, they did so with a vengeance.
In this version of the X2 Hot hybrid, Callaway claimed that the forged cup face adds distance and the tour-inspired shape is for accuracy. They added that by using a thinner and lighter 455 carpenter steel face produces faster ball speed across the face so you will achieve consistent and longer distance.
It has less offset and more scroll lines to achieve a more iron-like look.
The crown has a Chevron-like logo to help you with alignment during set up. As you can see, it sits neutral with a minimalist crown and this may not be what you want if you are a high handicapper where your preference is for a bigger crown and more offset. You may opt for the bigger Callaway Big Bertha.
One of the biggest likes I have for Callaway woods be it drivers, woods or hybrids is the sound it makes on impact (not composite multi-material woods). It gives off a high pitched metallic sound which is unique. Some golfers may prefer a more muted sound like a click or a thud. It has been claimed that his face is hot that is why the so called name X2 Hot.
Whichever types of drivers, woods, hybrids or irons that you will buy, there are some that are built as draw-biased. Draw-biased clubs are always more forgiving due to the nature of its perimeter weighting but the downside is that a neutral club is always more playable on different terrains. Frankly, this is not the most forgiving hybrid to hit especially at 19 degrees loft and a longer length. Those whose swing are flatter and more fairway wood-like can always opt for a 5-wood which are usually 18-19 degrees. Some brands even offer a strong 4-wood at 17 degrees.
I like the bright yellow graphics on the shaft. In the past, most pros play with clubs that are entirely minimalist from grips, shafts, to club heads. These days, the colours are out, especially with Tour shafts. Bright hues of blue, orange, green, yellow, red and many others are dominating golf courses.
Even the grip for this one looks classy. I like.
When hit correctly, this can be quite a monster for distance and it certainly look the part from its appearance. Hybrids delivers more forgiveness that long irons lack and provides more control that fairway woods cannot. There are many more interesting versions from Ping G30, Adams Tight Lies, Srixon H45 and others from Cobra, TaylorMade or other Japanese makes.
I am still experimenting. However, I am not looking for the best looking club nor the one that can go the furthest in distance but I am searching for the most forgiving club in the relentless pursuit of excellence. This is no different from an audiophile or photographer who upgrades his equipment and gears. I only need to squeeze more time.
Golf as in life, play as it lies.
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