Ping G30 Hybrid

Everything has hybrids these days. Your cars, orchids - you name it and they have it. Golf must have have its own hybrid of course. Anyone remember the Cobra Baffler. I have played with one before. As you go down the numbers in golf clubs, the the lowest lofted irons are difficult to play. Golfers of the past suffered more and they have to work harder until inventions and technological breakthroughs, physics and materials did wonders. They had different toys.

Then it started as rescue clubs, back in the good old day. Tom Crow was a scratch golfer and Australian inventor who founded Cobra Golf in 1973. He gave us the Baffler. The Baffler's bottom has two heavy metal rails, an idea that grew on Crow watching catamarans skidding across the sea. But catamarans has got nothing to do with snakes so why Cobra? Crow was watching a snake charmer in India and he was baffled as he could not believe what he was seeing. That was how he got the name ''Baffler''. Crow is now in his mid-80s. 

His competitor  was Stan Thompson who gave us the Ginty. His inspiration was from the keel of a sailboat. Thompson died in 1995 and he used to claim that Ginty was a Sottish black sheep son who kept getting into trouble but will always find a way out. 

This is the reason why I am always observant and keep a keen eye on details and what I might learn everyday. Be it snake charmers or a boat's keel. (Note: Ping was the sound its ''Anser'' putters made). 

In 1976, Crow got a call from a young Australian pro who wanted Crow to make him a set. His name is Greg Norman. It started a great friendship. Sometime between 1989 to 1990, Norman left Spalding and returned to endorse, play and invest in Cobra. His $2m grew to $44m by 1996 when the parents of Titleist brand bought over Cobra. 

Every major golf brands now have their hybrids even if they came on much later. Callaway was a very late comer and if I remember correctly so too Ping and the rest. TaylorMade came on with one which they cal the Rescue which I have played. For some golfers who has difficulty launching the ball, there are a full set of hybrids for you. Some have a full set that look like wood type hybrids while others are iron type hybrids. Cleveland and Tour Edge have such special sets. Some have hybrids that look like woods while other have their look more like irons - with a chrome strip as top line differentiating from the black back portion. Most hybrids are made for you to swing like irons but there a few that may play more like woods. So get them right.

Ping G 30 Hybrid

By the time I got here, Ping has already introduced the Ping G series and now they even have the latest G400. 

The cover has a grip for you to pull it off and socks for you to pull it back on.

Some hybrids are designed with a chrome line separating the black crown at the top which is more glaring but the G30 has it softened to just a lighter shade. 

I have mine in a 22 degrees and a 19 degrees since 4 degrees difference can be a distance difference of 20m and anything below 19 degrees would be much harder to hit.

You can see how it is much better to use a hybrid instead of using 3 or 4 irons. The bulk at the back distributes the centre of gravity and stretched it right to the back. 

It frames the ball well and gives any golfer confidence to go for it.

Golf is all about confidence. Once you step up, just hit it. Do not over think as it your thoughts during a swing makes your swing mechanical.

I also have one in 19 degrees. A difference of two degrees can be up to 10 metres more or less. So if  you hit a 22 degrees hybrid for 170m then a 19 degrees one could fetch you 185m.

Ping hybrids do not have a lot of off set so will have little draw bias and plays neutrally so you should be hitting them straighter from the tee or from the turf. They offer stronger loft too as you could see that the hosel position is in a more forward position.  

It is well balanced, neutral and very playable.

When I see friends struggling with their golf I always offer them encouragement, telling them that they actually have only one problem and it is a loft problem. It always lift them up and when they asked what was this loft problem, I would say it is a "Lack Of Fxxxing Talent". They would be totally destroyed!!

Mid to high handicappers can use this but even player players will like it.

Ping own stock shaft for the G30 series comes with ''High Balance Point".

They have models with less loft but remember what I have told you. The lesser the loft the harder to play with. Do not be greedy and overestimate your own ability. So make suitability a strong suit. Remember what I told you before about the ''Loft '' problem?

Golf as in life. Play as it lies.