Using Hybrids

Many people tend to stick to what they know when chipping on the green, and tend to avoid the new hybrid clubs. Used correctly though, the hybrid club can be a brilliant tool on the course to perfect your short game.

Practice
Just before you start your round of golf, it is always best to have a few practice shots with the hybrid club. Try to take into consideration the lie of the land and the quality of the land, what are your obstacles? Focus on how the ball rolls when practicing and how far it rolls. When used properly the hybrid club will help provide you with a more consistent game. When practicing, put a rake between you and the green, this will show you how far the ball stays in the air when chipping, and how far it rolls.  When played properly the ball should carry between 3 and 5 ft.

Stance
When using the hybrid chip, it is best to take your usual chipping stance, but use your normal putting grip. Have the ball just slightly forward of the centre when you are setting up. Using this position you can produce a shallow swing which will provide a small lift of the ball just before it begins to roll out to the pin.

An All-Rounder
The hybrid club can be used on a variety of different lies. The club can even be used to chip from semi-buried lies. By using the same chipping method as mentioned before you should find that the club will lift the ball slightly into the air before it rolls towards the pin, making the club as essential club to be carrying around, whatever the situation you are in.

Consistency
To ensure that you maintain consistency within your short game using the hybrid club, you should ensure that when chipping, your left wrist remains locked. The swing momentum should come from the small movement of your shoulders rather than from the movement of your wrist. Keeping this stance means that you will provide a consistent accurate movement that will allow the club to hit the ball in just the right place to give it that small lift, and then plenty of run.