I'm sure there are a lot of golfers who remember a time when they were hitting their 3 and 4 irons well. I know I do. I actually remember a time when my 4 iron was one of my favorite clubs in the bag. Can you believe that? I truly am being serious.
Lets face the facts though. Many people have never been very good with their long irons. Many other people "used to" like their long irons, but now "hate" them. It takes a lot of practice to become skilled with a 3 iron. After putting in all of that practice, how many shots do you actually hit with a long iron during a round? Not too many, if any.
Enter the hybrid. Not only are they much easier to hit than long irons, they can be used many times during a round of golf. Let's go over a few shots where you may have not considered using a hybrid.
The Fairway Bunker
The important thing to remember is your angle of attack. You want your angle of attack to be shallow. Choke up on the club. Move the ball slightly back in your stance to reduce the chance of catching too much sand. Sweep that ball right out of the bunker.
The Rough
Believe it or not, hybrids are made to cut through the rough easier than irons. Take a few practice swings with an iron and then a few with your hybrid and you'll become a believer. Unlike the fairway bunker, in the rough you want a steep angle of attack. You want your club in contact with the long grass for as short a time period as possible. Shorten up your swing and hit down on the ball.
Chipping
The next time you need to play a long chip and run style shot, bring out the hybrid. Choke way down on the club and take a very narrow stance. Basically just swing the club back and forth like you are going to hit a really long putt. Practice this one a bit and I believe you will like it.
There you go. Technology truly is making the game easier. Take these tips over to the course and have some fun.