This is the Ultimate review of the best hybrid golf clubs for high handicappers.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the following:
- The top three hybrid golf clubs to choose;
- A side by side comparison of the best models;
- Expert tips for buying;
- Lots more…
Want to pick the finest hybrid golf clubs for making the best strokes?
We have the best options for you right here…
Let’s get the ball rolling.
Top Ten Hybrid Golf Clubs For High Handicappers
Editor’s Choice – Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue X Hybrid
Value for Money | 8 |
Shaft Flex | 8 |
Head Options | 9 |
Workmanship | 9 |
Overall Score /100 | 68 |
Shaft Material | Synergy, 60G |
Flex | Regular, senior, stiff |
Height | 38 inches to 40.5 inches |
Gender | Men |
Pros:
- Advanced jailbreak technology
- Ultra-thin face with Face Cup technology
- Internal Standing Wave for low CG
- Generates higher ball speeds
- Suitable for all players of all levels
Cons:
- The price is on the higher side
- The flex can be too strong for some players
What makes the Rogue X Hybrid stand out from the competition is the excellent forgiveness. Even with minimum contact, you’ll find the ball heading up in a straight trajectory.
The ball speed is great too. The combination of jailbreak and face cup technology delivers better impact force across the face.
The sound and feel from a strike are impressive. Moreover, any low-spin player will love using this club.
Beyond that, these clubs are superbly versatile. Beginners and mid-level players will adjust to it easily. Whereas an experienced golfer will enjoy the features more effectively.
For any handicapper, this is one of the best hybrid golf clubs in the market. Undoubtedly, an outstanding product from Callaway.
Best Value – Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids
Value for Money | 9 |
Shaft Flex | 8 |
Head Options | 8 |
Workmanship | 7 |
Overall Score /100 | 64 |
Shaft Material | Graphite |
Weight | 242 to 291 grams |
Height | 37.5 to 40.5 inches |
Gender | Men |
Pros:
- An affordable hybrid club
- Great weight distribution
- A bigger sweet spot
- Available in 8 different lofts
- Easy to swing
Cons:
- It’s slightly heavier
- Chipping in the paint with the use
- Not the best choice for a pro player
First off, this is a great club for any beginner golfer looking to pick a dependable club at an affordable price.
Quite simply, the specially designed club head delivers a larger sweet spot. As a result, it’s a great club for high handicappers. Moreover, the low-profile clubface also delivers a higher ball lift.
The combination of a graphite shaft and stainless steel clubhead delivers solid durability. However, the paint quality isn’t the best.
The other thing is, this golf club is available in 8 different lofts. It also comes with a headcover.
On the whole, it’s the Best Value choice for handicappers. Period.
Top Pick – TaylorMade M3 Hybrid Rescue Club
Value for Money | 8 |
Shaft Flex | 8 |
Head Options | 8 |
Workmanship | 9 |
Overall Score /100 | 66 |
Shaft Material | Graphite |
Lie | 58.5° to 60.00° |
Height | 39.75 inches to 41.25 inches |
Weight | 1 pound |
Pros:
- A larger sweet spot
- A customizable design
- Dual-tone crown
- Excellent feedback
- A sleek and stylish look
Cons:
- Not the best choice for beginners
- A higher price tag
When it comes to delivering a customized performance, this hybrid golf club is one of the best. We have to say, the two-tone design of the crown looks attractive.
High handicappers will love the customizable 30-gram weight that can slide between the heel and toe. That allows you to adjust the ball flight just the way you want.
On top of that, there’s the speed pocket feature for making long-distance shots. It lowers the spin and increases the speed.
Also, the lightweight design makes the M3 so much easier for making a hit. The uniform performance across the clubface is excellent. As a result, you get more forgiveness.
All in all, the TaylorMade M3 is one of the best hybrid golf clubs for high handicappers. We had no second thoughts about marking it as our Top Pick.
Deep center of Gravity – Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Men’s Speedback Hybrid
Value for Money | 8 |
Shaft Flex | 7 |
Head Options | 7 |
Workmanship | 8 |
Overall Score /100 | 60 |
Shaft Material | Graphite |
Lie | 57.5° to 59.00° |
Height | 38.75 inches to 41.00 inches |
Gender | Men |
Pros:
- A large club head
- Adjustable tungsten weight
- Cobra Connect feature for distance tracking
- Speed back baffler technology
- A forged stainless steel face
Cons:
- Not the best choice for speed
- The shape is on the bigger side
With a slightly larger design, the F9 comes with a clean matte black finish. It looks great.
Now, Cobra has created a Baffler Rail technology that delivers a low CG and also improves the overall turf interaction. The result is a good level of forgiveness without compromising playability.
The golf club feels solid even though the feedback is on the lower side. But the overall precision levels are impressive.
The combination of ball speed and spin is perfect. In addition, there’s a 15-gram tungsten weight that lowers the CG to provide better stopping power.
It isn’t the best hybrid golf club for high handicappers or beginners. But with a few innovations with the design, Cobra has made it a dependable choice.
Best Distance – Tour Edge Bazooka Platinum Golf
Value for Money | 8 |
Shaft Flex | 7 |
Head Options | 6 |
Workmanship | 8 |
Overall Score /100 | 58 |
Shaft Material | Graphite |
Flex | Regular, senior, stiff, ladies |
Loft | 21° to 45° |
Weight | 2 pounds (regular) |
Pros:
- Delivers good forgiveness
- An affordable price
- 20 grams of weight can be added
- Comes with a headcover
- A lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Not the best in terms of distance
- Smaller than a standard hybrid
You can pick this club as a single piece or as a complete iron set. The lightweight design comes with a forged crown.
Note, there are three internal bars to provide extra durability. The low profile design also makes it easy to hit with.
The main feature of this golf club is the use of twin tungsten sole weights to get the CG lower. So even with the off-center shots, expect the ball to fly longer.
Keep in mind that it’s not the perfect hybrid. It’s slightly smaller and behaves more like an iron. Still, overall playability is pretty good.
Considering the price range, we feel that they are good for handicappers, though not the best.
Best For Slow Swingers – Cobra Men’s 2018 F-Max Hybrid Club
Value for Money | 8 |
Shaft Flex | 7 |
Head Options | 7 |
Workmanship | 8 |
Overall Score /100 | 60 |
Shaft Material | Graphite |
Loft | 19.00° to 31.00° |
Length | 40.25 inches to 38 inches |
Weight | 56 gram (regular) |
Pros:
- Offset hosel design
- Ultralight shaft design
- Forged 455 stainless steel face insert
- A fixed back weight
- A larger grip
Cons:
- The weight isn’t adjustable
- Not the best choice for beginners
With an offset design and ultralight structure, the F-Max is for golfers with a moderate swing speed. The design also ensures excellent forgiveness- a point handicappers will love.
A weight positioned at the heel delivers a higher launch as well as good audible feedback. At the same time, it will give you an extra distance than the standard irons.
Also, there are the crown alignment features to deliver straighter trajectories.
We feel that it’s particularly helpful for aged players who have lost some swing speed.
In the end, if you are looking for distance and consistency, this is a good hybrid club to pick.
Best Fast Swing – TaylorMade Men’s M2 Rescue Club
Value for Money | 6 |
Shaft Flex | 7 |
Head Options | 8 |
Workmanship | 9 |
Overall Score /100 | 60 |
Shaft Material | Graphite |
Loft | 19.00° to 28.00° |
Length | 40.75 inches to 39.25 inches |
Gender | Men |
Pros:
- A low profile face
- A fluted hosel design
- A forgiving hybrid
- Suitable for all lies
- A bigger speed pocket
Cons:
- It’s costly
- Not customizable
With its classic two-tone crown design, this golf club is great for delivering high launch angles. Besides, it won’t disappoint any handicapped golfer looking for high ball speed.
What we loved was the excellent feedback. The impact sound was good too.
Moreover, the redesigned Speed Pocket creates a larger sweet spot. The result is a forgiving design that inspires confidence.
The overall geometry and a low center of gravity, offer better playability and turf interaction for beginners.
However, the head is best suited for players with a slow or medium swing speed.
But at this price, we expected some more adjustments, like the best hybrid golf clubs for high handicappers.
Easiest To Hit – Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set
Value for Money | 6 |
Shaft Flex | 8 |
Head Options | 9 |
Workmanship | 8 |
Overall Score /100 | 62 |
Shaft Material | Graphite |
Lie Angle | 61.5° to 65° |
Height | 38.875 inches to 35.5 inches |
Gender | Men |
Pros:
- Performance boosting golf hybrids
- Extremely forgiving
- Designed for precision
- Delivers consistent ball speeds
- High quality materials
Cons:
- They are pricey
- Extremely lightweight for some players
What makes this golf club special for high handicappers is this- the combination of hybrid-like forgiveness and iron-like trajectory.
The hollow construction and the lower center of gravity ensure a high launch. In addition, the Ht1770 steel face delivers increased flex at impact.
Beyond that, the forgiveness levels are best in class. Add to that, the premium graphite shaft delivers excellent stability that makes them easy to use.
These clubs are pricey, but in terms of performance, they are one of the best hybrid golf clubs for high handicappers.
That said, even golfers with a low handicap and beginners will enjoy using them.
Best Playability – Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid
Value for Money | 7 |
Shaft Flex | 8 |
Head Options | 7 |
Workmanship | 9 |
Overall Score /100 | 62 |
Shaft Material | Graphite |
Loft | 19° to 28° |
Length | 40.5 inches to 38.25 inches |
Gender | Men |
Pros:
- Offers great distance
- A forgiving clubface
- Higher MOI
- Forged Hyper Speed Face Cup
- Offers good value
Cons:
- The clubhead shape isn’t elegant
- No adjustable features
If you are looking for playability and distance, the XR hybrid is one of the best choices for your golf bag.
Design-wise, the wrap-around head shape looks good and delivers good forgiveness along with high ball speed.
It has a meaty frame but a fairly light design. The impact sound has a crisp note to it.
High handicappers will love using it as with almost every swing, you get a high trajectory.
Then again, design characteristics like increased MOI and a low center of gravity make this club very easy to hit with.
Overall, an impressive performer that’s great for single-figure handicappers.
Superior Quality – TaylorMade Golf- LH M6 Rescue Hybrid
Value for Money | 7 |
Shaft Flex | 8 |
Head Options | 6 |
Workmanship | 8 |
Overall Score /100 | 58 |
Shaft Material | FUJIKURA ATMOS ORANGE |
Loft | 19° to 31° |
Height | 40.75 inches to 38.75 inches |
Lie | 60° to 62° |
Pros:
- Twist face technology
- Speed pocket design
- Improved ball speed
- A large COR area
Cons:
- No adjustability
- Not the lightest model in the market
With this club, TaylorMade has optimized the club face design to deliver higher and straighter ball flight.
What makes this club effective for any handicapper is the twist face technology. That involves a special face curvature along with a corrective face angle.
Other than that, there’s a TPU slot insert for delivering better turf interaction. The off-center performance is good. So even with low-face strikes, you get good results.
The model also does well to add some extra distance in your hits.
That said, the overall level of forgiveness was good but not great.
Frankly, there are better value for money options for low handicappers out there.
Buyers Guide: How To Choose The Best Golf Clubs For a High Handicapper
What are the different types of hybrid golf clubs
Hybrid golf clubs can be classified based on the type of shaft. Now that shaft is the largest part of the club that connects with the clubhead. So the overall performance of the hybrid will depend on the length and flex of the shaft.
These are the major shaft types.
Regular
This is the most common type of shaft found in off-the-rack hybrid clubs. It’s best for players with swing speeds between 75 to 84 mph. The ball travel distance is between 210 to 240 yards,
Stiff
This hybrid is designed for higher swing speeds ranging between 84 to 93 mph. You can drive the ball in between 240 to 260 yards with these.
Extra-Stiff
This is for players with even higher swing speeds above 93 mph. Obviously, these clubs aren’t the best for beginners or handicapped golfer.
Ladies
These hybrids are for players with swing speeds lower than 60 mph. The driving range remains within 180 yards.
Senior
These are for players with swing speeds ranging between 60 to 75 mph. A good option for newbies and high handicappers.
Other than this, hybrid clubs can also be classified in terms of body shape. A wider body design with a large head is best for high handicappers as it is more forgiving. Hybrids with a narrow body can be used by players with a faster swing speed.
Features to look out for
Let’s take a look at the main features to look out for while buying a hybrid golf club.
The Loft angle
This is the angle between the clubface and the vertical shaft. This impacts how the ball flies and spins after the hit. You can choose a low-lofted hybrid ( between 14°-17°) or a moderate-lofted hybrid (between 18°- 22°). Higher loft angles can be used when the ball is sitting in the rough.
The length
Usually, the length of hybrids is based on the traditional iron clubs. While the length of the irons can make them difficult to use, the hybrids offer better playability. Make sure that you are comfortable with the length in relation to your height and physical strength.
The grip
When you are swinging at a high speed, you need a solid grip. Make sure to choose a hybrid golf club that offers a comfortable grip. Check out the texture and the wrapping style of the grip before picking.
Adjustable head
Some clubs come with an adjustable weight that helps in changing the loft or weight position of the hybrid. This allows you to customize the club for different types of shots and trajectories.
These are things to consider
Here are a few points to consider before choosing a hybrid golf club.
- It’s necessary to identify the areas of weakness in your game. This can be frequent mis-hits or having problems hitting fairway woods. This will allow you to determine the loft angle of the hybrid you want to replace an iron.
- The hybrids can be used to replace the long irons or the woods. Depending on that you need, choose a thick or a shallow club face.
- Make sure that the shaft type and flex of the hybrids match the rest of the clubs in your golf bag. In case you choose differently, there will be higher chances of inconsistency in your swing. Best, try it out before purchasing.
- Make sure to fix a budget before buying. There are plenty of top-end choices in the market. But there are affordably priced models too that can offer high handicappers great playability and swing speeds.
Jargon buster
Let’s take a look at some of the common jargon
Coefficient of Restitution
Also known as COR, it’s the measure of the amount of energy that gets transferred from the club face to the ball. A higher value of COr results in higher speeds and more distance.
Fairway
This is the area in the course between the tees and the putting greens where the grass is cut short. The area is also clear of trees, bushes, and other obstructions.
Hosel
This is the hollow part of the clubhead that attaches with the shaft. It’s also termed as “neck”
Lie
This is the resting place of the ball on the golf course. It can be easy or even unplayable. Other than that, it also denotes the angle of the club head with respect to the shaft.
Yardage
This is the distance between the ball and the target. The yardage helps in selecting the right type of club.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a hybrid club?
Yes. The reason is hybrids are easier to use than standard irons, especially for high-handicappers.
How far should I be able to hit a 4 hybrid?
The range is between 120 to 170 yards for women and 160 to 210 yards for men.
What is the most forgiving hybrid club for a golfer?
There are quite a few clubs that deliver great forgiveness. Among them, the TaylorMade M3 Hybrid Rescue Club is a great choice for handicapped golfers.
Our Analysis, Comparisons & Test Results
Value For Money
At the end of the day, everyone loves a hybrid club that offers a solid combination of price and performance.
Quite a few affordably priced products offer excellent loft options.
Here’s how the products performed.
Value For Money: Best Rating | Total Marks Out of 10 |
Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids | 9 |
Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue X Hybrid | 8 |
TaylorMade M3 Hybrid Rescue Club | 8 |
Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Men’s Speedback Hybrid | 8 |
Tour Edge Bazooka Platinum Golf | 8 |
Cobra Men’s 2018 F-Max Hybrid Club | 8 |
Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid | 7 |
TaylorMade Golf- LH M6 Rescue Hybrid | 7 |
TaylorMade Men’s M2 Rescue Club | 6 |
Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set | 6 |
To start with, we have the Pinemeadow Excel EGI as our Best Value choice. With a wide sweet spot, it’s perfect for high handicappers on a budget.
The Callaway Rogue X and the TaylorMade M3 scored equally well.
Next, the Cobra F9 offers some great features along with an interchangeable weight design at an affordable price.
The Tour Edge Bazooka is another good choice for golfers on a budget.
Callaway XR and the TaylorMade LH M6 scored slightly low in terms of price to performance ratio.
Lastly, we have the TaylorMade M2 and the Cleveland Launcher HB with the lowest scores. They fell behind the top-performing hybrids in terms of features and overall playability.
Shaft Flex
The amount of shaft flex required for golfers will depend on the force of the swing. For beginners, hybrids with greater flexibility are the best choice.
Keep in mind, even the stiffest hybrids will have some amount of flex at impact. Also, the specifications of flex vary depending on the manufacturer.
So rating them under this metric wasn’t easy.
Take a look at the scores.
Shaft Flex: Best Rating | Total Marks Out of 10 |
Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue X Hybrid | 8 |
Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids | 8 |
TaylorMade M3 Hybrid Rescue Club | 8 |
Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set | 8 |
Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid | 8 |
TaylorMade Golf- LH M6 Rescue Hybrid | 8 |
Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Men’s Speedback Hybrid | 7 |
Tour Edge Bazooka Platinum Golf | 7 |
Cobra Men’s 2018 F-Max Hybrid Club | 7 |
TaylorMade Men’s M2 Rescue Club | 7 |
The three best hybrid clubs scored the highest in this category. The flexibility levels were balanced for all three. The regular and the stiff models delivered the right level of stiffness in most cases.
The Cleveland Launcher HB and the Callaway XR were equally dependable when it comes to stiffness.
Now, the TaylorMade Golf- LH M6, was missing the stiff variety. But the regular and the senior hybrids performed well.
The flex in the rest of the clubs wasn’t so reliable. Golfers with a high swing speed might end up with low ball speeds even with a stiff club.
Head Options
The head options for most of the clubs were well-designed to provide good forgiveness and superior ball flight.
With multiple advanced engineering techniques used, the overall performance of the clubs was good.
However, some of them are better suited for handicappers than others.
Head Options: Best Rating | Total Marks Out of 10 |
Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue X Hybrid | 9 |
Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set | 9 |
Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids | 8 |
TaylorMade M3 Hybrid Rescue Club | 8 |
TaylorMade Men’s M2 Rescue Club | 8 |
Cobra Men’s 2018 F-Max Hybrid Club | 7 |
Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Men’s Speedback Hybrid | 7 |
Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid | 7 |
Tour Edge Bazooka Platinum Golf | 6 |
TaylorMade Golf- LH M6 Rescue Hybrid | 6 |
We have the Rogue X and the Cleveland Launcher HB as the top scorers.
The Rogue X combines jailbreak technology and Face Cup technology to deliver a great head design. The thin face design of the Launcher HB makes it a great pick of high precision and forgiveness.
Up next, the Pinemeadow Excel EG along with the TaylorMade M2 and M3 performed equally well.
The bigger sweet spot and the low center of gravity make the confidence-inspiring clubs for any handicapper.
Next, we have the two clubs from Cobra and the Callaway XR. Their head options were good but not the best.
The remaining clubs couldn’t impress us with their head options.
Workmanship
We all love a hybrid club that looks good and functions like a champ.
The fact is, the overall workmanship of most of the clubs in this category is quite good.
Still, some of the top-end products offered better features as well as durability.
Workmanship: Best Rating | Total Marks Out of 10 |
Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue X Hybrid | 9 |
TaylorMade Men’s M2 Rescue Club | 9 |
TaylorMade M3 Hybrid Rescue Club | 9 |
Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid | 9 |
Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Men’s Speedback Hybrid | 8 |
Tour Edge Bazooka Platinum Golf | 8 |
Cobra Men’s 2018 F-Max Hybrid Club | 8 |
Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set | 8 |
TaylorMade Golf- LH M6 Rescue Hybrid | 8 |
Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids | 7 |
Actually, it was hard to differentiate between the top four performers under this metric.
The Rogue X and XR Hybrid from Callaway are great picks for handicappers with their excellent workmanship.
The M2 and M3 from TaylorMade are equally good. While M2 delivered solid impact, we were sold after testing the personalization features in the M3.
The clubs from Cobra and the Tour Edge Bazooka came next. The overall workmanship wasn’t as good as the toppers. But they are good additions to your golf bag in terms of workmanship.
Unfortunately, the Pinemeadow Excel EGI emerged with the lowest score. There were some long-term durability issues that worked against it.
Final Verdict: Best Hybrid Golf Clubs For High Handicappers
Total Best Rating | Total Marks Out of 100 |
Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue X Hybrid | 68 |
Pinemeadow Excel EGI Hybrids | 64 |
TaylorMade M3 Hybrid Rescue Club | 66 |
Cobra Golf 2019 F9 Men’s Speedback Hybrid | 60 |
Cobra Men’s 2018 F-Max Hybrid Club | 60 |
TaylorMade Men’s M2 Rescue Club | 60 |
Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set | 62 |
Callaway Men’s XR Hybrid | 62 |
Tour Edge Bazooka Platinum Golf | 58 |
TaylorMade Golf- LH M6 Rescue Hybrid | 58 |
Conclusion: Best Hybrid Golf Clubs For High Handicappers
Time for a quick recap.
The Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue X is the Editor’s Choice in this category. It’s the best hybrid golf club that you can pick in terms of overall performance.
For budget buyers, we have the Pinemeadow Excel EGI as the Best Value pick.
The TaylorMade M3 Rescue is our Top Pick. It ticks all the right boxes with a sleek design and superb forgiveness.
So these are the top picks that will suit any handicapper when it comes to performance.
Now that we have shared all the details, it’s time for you to make the right choice.