April 10, 2008
Hybrids, Hybrids, Hybrids!

Some weeks ago I attended the big PGA show in Orlando. It seemed to me that every single manufacturer that called me over to their booth to “show me something new” or “something special”, simply meant that they wanted me to see and comment on their new Hybrid. These new clubs are called that because they contain the best features of a long iron and a fairway wood with few of the trouble causing attributes. Some, if you can believe it, had complete sets with each club shaped and balanced like a Hybrid.

A while ago, we tested the then available Hybrids only to find that Bobby Jones ran away with the field. Well to make a long story much shorter, we arbitrarily selected the 21 best Hybrids based on everything from previous test results to what I though after hitting a few!

Don't forget, you can now discuss our tests on the new rankmark message board loacted here!

We picked out 64 testers, 21 with 0-9 handicap and 43 with 10-30 handicap. All clubs were hit and ranked on distance, accuracy, and the golfer’s opinion and feel for the club. The point allowance was as follows:
5 points for 1st place
4 points for 2nd place
3 points for 3rd place
2 points for 4th place
1 point for 5th place

TEST RESULTS:
0-9 Handicap
Callaway FT 52  
Bobby Jones 48  
Hippo XXL 28  
Nickent 4DX 24  
Ping Rapture 21  
Yonex Cyber 20  
Cleveland XLS

19

 
Titlest 585H 19  
Taylor Made Burner Rescue 18  
Nicklaus Dual Point  18  
10-30 Handicap
Callaway X 67  
Ping Rapture 54  
Cleveland XLS 49  
Nickent 4DX 47  
Taylor Made Burner Rescue 36  
Mac Gregor NVG

36

 
Bobby Jones 30  

Nicklaus Dual Point 

23  
Grip H2O45 24  
Titlest 585H 20  



Callaway X Series
The X Hybrids are stainless steel hybrids that borrow from our X Series drivers and fairway woods. They incorporate a Modified X-Sole design for versatility and superior turf interaction, as well as proven Callaway Golf technologies.

CALLAWAY X
Series


score: 88

Bobby Jones by Jesse Ortiz
Using the same technology as the fairway metals, Bobby Jones hybrids are designed to replace the hard-to-hit long irons. Rather than designing hybrids that look like irons, Jesse Ortiz' philosophy takes advantage of the fairway metal's low and deep center of gravity, its wide bodied triangle-of-stability (TOS), and its versatile contoured sole. Instead of using the homogenous shape of most hybrids long, flat leading edge Jesse Ortiz has created a more traditional shape hybrid. It is a throwback to the old Cleek or Mashee. These clubs were designed for maximum performance, with the ability to get the ball out of every type of lie, whether it be a divot of fairway bunker.

Bobby Jones

score: 78

Ping Rapture
The combination of a 17-4 stainless steel body, tungsten nickel sole plate and 475 super steel face in the Rapture Hybrids raise hybrid performance to new levels of distance, forgiveness and control. The thin, super steel face provides a hot, responsive hitting area and allows PING engineers to re-distribute weight in the form of tungsten nickel on the sole. The heavier sole plate positions the center of gravity low and away from the face for higher launch and low spin—resulting in high, penetrating trajectories for longer, softer landing approach shots.


Ping Rapture

score: 74


Nickent 4DX

Nickent spent over one year to develop the next generation of state-of-the-art hybrids. Three different multi-material combinations were tried to find the best possible performance. In the end, Nickent developed the first hybrid to utilize a patented brazing technology that fuses a titanium crown with a steel body; all while making the crown the thinnest it has ever been on a golf club head.


Nickent 4DX


score: 68

Cleveland XLS
The latest edition to the HiBORE family, this new hybrid has taken performance to another level. Like the Halo, its very successful predecessor, this club's most obvious feature is the inverted crown design, which moves weight lower in the head to make the ball easier to get airborne. Where the HiBORE differs from the Halo is in its face profile. Incorporating feedback from Cleveland's staff Tour players, the toe area has become more square in shape, creating a 10% larger face area. The leading edge has also been flattened to further promote a larger hitting area and make the HiBORE hybrid more playable from all types of playing conditions. Its perimeter weighting also expands the sweet spot for ultimate forgiveness.


Cleveland XLS

score: 61


TaylorMade Burner Rescue
» SuperFast Club Technology allows for an extremely light shaft and grip to promote faster swing speed for added power

» Large steel clubhead promotes the highest MOI of any fairway wood in golf for tremendous forgiveness for long, straight results

» Steel Pull-Face construction provides high COR to promote faster ball speed for increased distance


Taylor Made
Burner Rescue

score: 54


MacGregor MT
MT Hybrids feature the same technology forward features, construction and sole design as the MT Fairway Woods. The face progression and set-up is similar as well. But the MT hybrids have slightly deeper faces for more confidence at address than with long irons. Rest assured, the Cup Face 360° Technology has been employed to make the entire club face the sweet spot and provide confidence in knowing even off-center or miss won't negatively affect one's game.


Mac Gregor
MT

score: 47


Hippo XXL
The hot new XXL irons from Hippo are the easiest hitting and most forgiving irons ever! The XXLs are a hybrid set of irons with the 3 and 4 long irons being replaced with utility rescue-style clubs for greater playability and versatility The short and mid-irons feature an undercut cavity head design for greater forgiveness and consistency. A flow weight system is also utilized that progresses through the set that not only assists to download the center of gravity for a better ball flight and more distance, but also makes for greater precision and control in the short and mid-irons

Hippo XXL


score: 43

Nicklaus Dual Point
C.G. “Center of Gravity” aligned with optimal face flex point for maximum trampoline effect.
Visually enhanced top line to aid alignment.
17-4 PH stainless steel head that features welded soleplate construction and added weight below the CG.
Multi-layered face – Thinner around the perimeter and thicker in the center, expanding the clubhead’s “high trampoline zone”.
Progressive offset.
Rifle® Graphite shafts (also available in light weight Precision® Steel Crank Shaft® with ShockShield™).


Nicklaus Dual Point

score: 41


Titlest 585H
The 585•H utility metals blend the best playing characteristics of fairway metals and long irons to provide superior playability and control from the tee, fairway and rough.

Developed with input from touring professionals, the new 585•H offers fairway metal-type launch with a flatter ball flight for iron-like control.


Titlest 585H

score: 39


Grip H2O5
Over the last few years, a new trend has developed. Golfers have been replacing their harder to hit and inconsistent long irons and short fairway woods with easier to hit "hybrids" or "utility clubs." Developed by studying the golf games of recreational golfers - men and women with handicaps ranging from six to infinity - the G.R.I.P. Hyper Steel Hybrids offer you the distance of a fairway wood and the accuracy of an iron. Our hybrids are technologically advanced, easy to hit, fun to use, and save strokes.


Grip H2O5

score: 38


King Cobra DWS
We took the #1 selling utility metal* in golf and made it even better. First, we improved the weight distribution by enhancing our proven Dual Weighting System, which increases MOI for even more forgiveness. And then we incorporated Cobra’s fastback crown design, which shifts the CG lower and deeper, for higher launch and greater carry distance. It’s the kind of club that won’t just improve your game – it’ll change it completely.


King Cobra DWS

score: 32

Allowing each manufacturer one entry in each division
Rank mark’s testing system has a 5% margin of error, so some of these may be ahead of the one in front of them.

Here are some that were a part of the test and received many votes:
Adams Tight Lies 16  
Alpha Version  25  
Innovex RLS 21  
Mizuno CLK 24  
Sonartec H3 23  
Wilson Fybrid

20

 


I on the other hand personally like Mizuno Cobra, Adams, and Wilson and if I had a choice would pick one of them over the winners.

Kindest Regards,

Charlie Mandel
CEO RankMark






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