HYBRID MASTERCLASS

Top 50 Coach Lysa Jones explains how to make the most of this versatile club

- Lysa Jones

How many golfers carry a 3-iron? According to the data, some 53 per cent of amateurs carry a 3-hybrid instead of a 3-iron. Why? A hybrid is more forgiving than a long-iron due to the low centre of gravity and it's more versatile and effective, meaning you can use it from many different lies. Psychologically, the hybrid will suit the eye of more golfers and it's more inviting than a long-iron.

Although we tend to see the low single-figure player opting for a longiron, most of us will benefit from adding a hybrid or two to the bag. There is so much more versatility these days in terms of loft options and the bottom line is that a hybrid will hit the green more often than an iron.

1 Back to basics

I would always advocate the importance of good fundamentals, so focus on your aim, grip, stance, ball position and posture. Your aim and grip is your steering wheel. Your posture gives you the plane angle and it gives you balance and power - without that you can't create a consistent stroke. You want to make sure your weight is on the midpoint of your feet and you have a good ball position, about a clubhead inside your lead foot. From here, you have a very solid set-up, you're in balance, the grip is neutral and there is some good power to tap into.

2 Find the right address

Here is a very easy way to check your distance away from the ball - it's one you don't see too often. Lay the club on the floor, as shown above. The end of the grip should sit where the heels of your feet are. This gives you a good benchmark. Then you need to make sure you're angling the spine correctly as well - this should be slightly tilted, but not a massive amount, and tilt from the hips.