Hybrids - adjustable versus fixed?

[pmcuk]

What do you favour for all-round playability? Fixed heads or adjustable? Or does it make no difference? And why?

 

I was surprised how much a couple of fixed head hybrids I made up outperformed the adjustable hybrids I was using (TM, Titleist) for playability. By this I mean easier to hit and better ball flight. Hence the question.

 

Both hybrid types are available in current models and used by tour players, especially on the LPGA. 

 

 

 

 

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Edited April 24, 2022 by pmcuk

[Billfitz]

I jumped on the adjustable driver and fairway wood bandwagon with Taylor Made R11. To be honest they didn't work any better than my previous woods. Two years ago I went to a fixed shaft Cleveland driver and dropped the fairway woods in favor of fixed shaft hybrids. They all work better for me than the last two generations of Taylor Made did. I'm hitting around 80% of fairways with driver now, so to say the least I'm pleased.

[pmcuk]

19 minutes ago, Billfitz said:

Two years ago I went to a fixed shaft Cleveland driver and dropped the fairway woods in favor of fixed shaft hybrids. They all work better for me.... 

 

That's pretty much what I've been finding, though still have an adjustable driver.

[Billfitz]

When's the last time you adjusted it? 🤒

 

What convinced me not to be concerned was the fact that I hadn't changed any of the adjustments after I'd had the clubs for maybe two weeks.

[Howard_Jones]

Personally, i prefer fixed but bendable hosels, but NOT for the hosel itself, its about weight distribution where a "modern bolted hosel" has a higher wgt (hosel side) than the classic, so the designer has less weight to distribute like he wants too.

If you measure VCOG and RCOG on this 2 different types of heads, you will most likely find that fixed hosels has a lower VCOG and a longer RCOG compared to the bolted shaft models, unless they are a fusion model where at least the crown is carbonfiber.

That could be the case for you, if you found the fixed hosel models to launch easier (lower VCOG) and with more strait shots.(longer RCOG).

But, i would NOT play a fixed hosel i cant bend lie angles right on, since i play hybrids with 24* and 27.5* loft, so lie angles becomes important just like for irons.

 

Edited April 25, 2022 by Howard_Jones

[Stuart_G]

17 hours ago, pmcuk said:

What do you favour for all-round playability? Fixed heads or adjustable? Or does it make no difference? And why?

 

I prefer adjustable - for the sole reason of being able to dial in the best face angle.   That allows me many more choices when it comes to other aspects of the head design to find the best fit than it would if I had to limit my selection to those heads with a stock face angle that was a good fit.

 

 

17 hours ago, pmcuk said:

Both hybrid types are available in current models and used by tour players, especially on the LPGA. .

 

Unlike most of us, they can hand pick heads to get the specs (like face angle and lie angle and loft) that are good fit even for the bonded designs.

 

 

14 hours ago, Billfitz said:

When's the last time you adjusted it? 🤒

 

What convinced me not to be concerned was the fact that I hadn't changed any of the adjustments after I'd had the clubs for maybe two weeks.

 

IMO - It's the ability to dial in the specs in the initial testing/fitting that is the main benefit, not the ability to change it later on.   Swings generally don't change that much for most to really need to go back and change it.

 

Well, (since this is golfwrx) I admit it's also the ease at which one can test different shafts side-by-side at the range.

[evoviiiyou]

For me its not even a question...always adjustable loft sleeve. Give me the option to open that bad boy up/ flatten/...really its the only reason a hybrid is on the back vs my 3iron...what most manufactured state as square, to me tend to go left..going left.  I do not want to have to work to hard with hyburrito...open it all the way up with a stout shaft and rip it.

[ChipNRun]

I use hybrids as the balancer, so I prefer adjustable. The fairways and of course the irons are bonded, so adjustable Hybrids allow me to make the bridge tweaks.

[driveandputtmachine]

Once I find one I like I prefer the adjustable collars, for the plain and simple ease of using all fit adapters to try all of the shafts I have in different heads.

 

I also have a weird view thing where heads that are measured(fairways and hybrids only) square actually look closed to me.  My Cobra Hybrid is adjustable as is my 7 wood and my 3 wood(TM 300 mini).

 

However I just picked up a 5 wood(gap between my mini and 7 wood or hybrid was too big) from @Duffner's Waggle and it actually looks very square, played it for the first time in a tournament on Saturday.  Hit it three times, 2 were good and on drew a little too much but was just off the fairway.  I do not think I will be attempting to bend a SIM Max 5 wood.

[Duffner's Waggle]

Most hybrids just look hookish to me, so I like being able to open them up a bit. That said, I have played some glued that were pretty square: Tour Edge CB Pro U, Mizuno CLK, granted both were like 16-17* of loft, so that probably helps!