Hybrids and utility clubs may be the hottest trend in golf today. To most golfers, the terms hybrid and utility club is the same. In fact, there are significant differences.

Lets first look at the utility club. According to Websters dictionary one definition of the word utility is something useful, or designed for use. Therefore utility clubs are defined as any club(s) that serves a specific purpose. You may know a utility club as a rescue, or a trouble club. A chipper is a utility club that has been around for a long time and has never been known as a utility club.

The word hybrid is defined a one of mixed origin or composition. Hybrids are clubs containing elements of both woods and irons. They are divided into two categories. The iron/wood and the wood/iron. The iron/wood is basically a hollow bodied iron. The clubface is flat like an iron. The wood/iron will have a curved face like a wood. The curved face on woods is called bulge. Bulge by definition is the intentional heel-to-toe curvature designed on the face of a wood head that is required to counteract sidespin imparted to the ball on off center hits.

Both styles of hybrids have the shape of a small old style wood. A wide sole that sometimes are cambered or radiused characterizes them. The size and shape moves the center of gravity down and too the back of the head to help produce a higher launch angle. Higher launch angle, with the higher ball flight it brings, also helps in stopping the ball on the green. How do hybrids relate to the average golfer? Before getting into that lets touch briefly on the basic golf swing. The swing with an iron, done properly, is different from the wood swing. The iron swing is a descending blow, while the wood swing is more of a sweeping blow. The vast majority of golfers use a sweeping type swing with both the woods and irons. I hear it time and again from golfers that say they would rather hit a wood than an iron.

Another example of this is how many golfers do you know that dont take a divot (unless they hit it fat)? How many times have you heard youve got to hit down on the ball to get it in the air? The natural tendency is to try to help the ball into the air. The designers of hybrids took these things into consideration when they designed hybrids. Hybrid clubs have a wide sole that is more suited to a sweeping swing. They are easier to hit on less than perfect lies. They are also an effective weapon around the green. I think they are easier to chip with. If you are the type of player that has a sweeping swing, hybrids could be the clubs youve been waiting for.