Manitoba Golf Guide | 2015

MANITOBA GOLF GUIDE 2015 • 07

High-Tech Hybrids: New Technology A Boon for Players of All Ability Levels By Todd Lewys for the Free Press

Once upon a time, hybrid clubs were seen as defensive clubs. My, how times have changed. Today—more than 10 years after the clubs first appeared on the market—a new breed of high-tech hybrids are us- ing technology that’s allowing golfers to do more than simply recover from errant shots. Over the past two or three years, manufacturers such as Adams, Taylor Made—and now Titleist—have built the same speed slot technology into their hybrids that’s been used in both woods and irons. To say the least, that technology has made a huge dif- ference in the playability of hybrids. Previous to the speed slot technology, hybrids featured weighting set low and back in the clubs. That was a great feature, as it enabled golfers to hit high, soft shots from the fairway and rough, and to use the big- ger heads and low-set weighting to hit longer, straighter recovery shots out of bad lies. While those shots were higher and straighter, distance was still roughly the same—okay, somewhat better—than the long irons that hybrids replaced. Distance derived from using hybrids was better, and shot dispersion was better, but it would be fair to say that distance wasn’t explosive. The advent of speed slot technology changed all that.

Today’s hybrids now employ the same technology as seen in drivers (and, yes, irons). How does that technology work? Simple: a pocket or chamber is created behind the clubface. That pocket al- lows the clubface to flex at impact, creating more COR (Co- efficient of Restitution), or trampoline effect. “It’s tremendous technology,” said Southwood Golf & Country Club’s director of instruction, Tom Kinsman. “As good as the older models were, the new ones are better. They’re even easier to hit, and are more powerful.” Granted, older-style hybrids were more forgiving than long irons, but the infusion of speed slot technology— Titleist’s new 915 hybrids also feature a compression chan- nel to generate more ball speed—has made them even more forgiving. Like drivers, you can now miss a shot on the heel or toe and still get decent distance, and accuracy. Hit it in the cen- tre, and you stand to hit a rocket that soars high, travels far and, unlike hard-to-hit long irons, lands soft as a butterfly with sore feet. Without question, this is a boon for the average golfer, who can now replace their three, four and five-irons with hybrids that allow them to get the ball up in the air and hit more greens when they’re in the 180 to 200-yard range.

For better players, the clubs can now be considered of- fensive weapons. Whereas a strong low-handicapper may have been able to hit a traditional three hybrid 230 yards, they can now hit it perhaps 250 yards (or better). The results for low and high-handicappers alike can be dramatic: better recoveries, more greens in regulation and shots finishing in birdie range. “I think the bottom line is that these clubs, with their technology, will help all sorts of golfers play better,” said Garth Goodbrandson, director of player development for

Golf Manito- ba.“Try out a few different models and see which one works best for you. The technol- ogy really does work, and will help you enjoy playing that much more.”

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