Ever since hybrid golf clubs first hit the market, they have been golfers’ buddies. Generous and forgiving, these are qualities every golfer wants from their clubs as they look to crack the code playing good, consistent golf. Whatever lie we find on the rough or rough fairway, there’s a good chance we can get to it with our hybrid and from there, hit a good, sexy shot.
Also known as lifesaver clubs, they are an excellent choice for all handicapped golfers. For older golfers in particular, they are most advantageous if the player cannot generate the same speed and power in their swing as they can in a younger golfer’s lifetime. But don’t worry, there’s no need to feel inferior because hybrid golf clubs have been turned into the bags of pros when they feel conditions suit the gentle landing of a hybrid shot rather than the long iron or fairway wood. The hybrid stick even works well as a “belly wedge” for the little chip-like putts we sometimes have to play from the green when we need to hit the ball a few yards or so through the rough on the shooting surface. Yes, we’ve all played it at one point or another!
Here at AMERICAN GOLF, we’ve hand-picked the ten best hybrid clubs for 2023. Read on and see which ones seem most suited to giving our game a boost at the right time.
The best hybrids of 2023
Ping G430 Hybrid (£279):
Top: 17°, 19°, 22°, 26°, 30°, 34° Left-handed: Yes
This is really the club for golfers who love hybrids because there are options for lofts from 17° all the way up to 34°. This takes a player across the spectrum from a traditional four-wood loft to a seven-iron. Not only that, but Ping gives buyers a choice of loft, flex, shaft, shaft length, grip, and grip thickness. That should allow one to create the hybrid club that fits their game better than anything else, making it one of the best hybrid clubs for 2023.
The engineers at Ping have left no stone unturned in their efforts to create a market-leading hybrid club. The G430 is all about speed and performance. The lightweight construction of the Carbonfly Wrap technology saves 8 grams of weight and lowers the center of gravity, as well as creating a great sound for the ball at the paddle. The Facewrap technology encourages greater distance and higher shot release, two very pleasing aspects of the hybrid club, while the added weight of the backstrap provides more tolerance. With an eight-way adjustable hose for changing loft and lie, there is ample opportunity for the player to customize the type of trail they want for maximum distance and accuracy.
TaylorMade STEALTH 2 Hybrid (£239):
Upper: 19°, 22° Left-handed: Yes (19°, 22°)
One look at the list of male and female golfers in the TaylorMade family tells us all we need to know about quality hybrid golf clubs. If it’s good enough for Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Scotty Scheffler, and Nelly Korda, it’s more than good enough for us.
With that in mind, it’s easy to see how the TaylorMade STEALTH2 makes our 2023 Best Hybrid Clubs list. Built in the red and black colors that Tiger has built throughout its career, the STEALTH 2 has a lower center of gravity (CG) than the original. The CG is also more face-centric to improve performance around the sweet spot, so hit shots should feel even sweeter!
The hybrid has a lowered toe and heel, so it creates better interaction with the turf and causes less friction with the club head, making it ideal for shooting from tight or hard lies. while the corrective face angle is designed to reduce lateral spin and deliver straighter shots – a deal any golfer would be happy to sign up for.
Callaway Paradym Hybrid (£269):
Upper: 18°, 21°, 24° Left-handed: no
Do you love woods and feel a little anxious about iron? Then the Callaway Paradym hybrid could be the answer. This hybrid is shaped like a wood and can be a real confidence booster in the title position for those of us who prefer our woods, as we look down and see a club in the shape of a wood.
As one of the best hybrid golf clubs for 2023, it offers very good versatility and control and is good from a variety of lies. There’s a soft yet firm feel to your shots while the cutwave sole offers an increased camber on the leading edge that’s specifically designed to cut through turf with ease, making it extremely valuable for shots from dense rough. Callaway Paradym also offers adjustable hose technology to change the club’s loft to aid flight and control of the ball.
Titleist TSR 2 (£259):
Upper: 21 degrees, 24 degrees Left-handed: no
For any golfer who uses a hybrid putter in a similar way to a wood, the Titleist TSR2 could be the way to go, as it was designed specifically for players with an all-round swing.
As one of the best hybrid clubs for 2023, Titleist consulted with some of their top players about how they wanted a hybrid sound and feel. Manufacturers have taken that on board and came up with the TSR2 so that if it looks good, looks good and feels good, it will only give an extra confidence to the person holding the club in their hands. This hybrid is designed to move faster through rough, inclement conditions thanks to added sole relief pockets, which cause less friction. There is also an adjustable hose, to suit the conditions of the day or personal preferences.
Cobra AeroJet Hybrid (£219):
Upper: 19°, 21°, 25° Left-handed: Yes (19°, 21°)
This Club Cobra hybrid can be summed up in three words, speed, speed, speed. Having worked with American big-hitter Bryson Dechambeau until very recently, it’s probably no surprise that he’s pushed the boundaries to generate more distance and speed than seems possible. All aspects of the technology used have combined to create this as one of the best hybrid cars of 2023 to focus on speed. There is a 43g suspension bridge weight design that gives flexibility and pushes the center of gravity down to release faster ball speed. The clubface has been engineered with AI and machine learning to create a more colorful, 15-inch-thick face to enhance speed and spin.
But in addition to faster ball speed, the Cobra AeroJet prides itself on combining distance with a higher launch to provide more tolerance on longer approach shots. And if we can find a club that gives us distance and tolerance if we’re less than perfect with our shot, can we really ignore it?
Wilson Dynapower Hybrid (£179):
Upper: 19°, 22°, 25° Left-handed: Yes (22° only)
The Wilson Dynapower club hybrid comes in cheaper than some of the other best club hybrids for 2023, but don’t judge that as a sign of a shortage.
Manufacturers at Wilson have worked with some of their touring professionals to produce a club with a center of gravity weighted lower in the head to generate faster ball velocity and easy releases. This means there is more tolerance for us and better performance on lower hits than just higher launch angles to deliver consistent performance with respect to distance.
The Wilson Dynapower may also suit golfers who like a putter with a larger head, for a bit more reassurance in the title on how to hit the ball.
Tour Edge Exotics E722 (£149):
Upper: 22°, 25° Left-handed: No
Tour Edge grippers have put a lot of thought into their design and have garnered very positive reviews from customers. The keys here are a high launch and a straighter ball flight. The weight has been extended from the leading edge to the trailing edge resulting in high shooting shots with maximum ball speed to the club face.
The Tour Edge has also used Maraging Steel Diamond Face technology to create one of the best hybrid clubs of 2023. With 41 different shapes, thick and thin diamonds produce a huge sweet spot, helping to generate more ball velocity and providing you with a more forgiving club when you’re hitting those long shots. About the center.
Ping G425 Golf Hybrid (£279):
Upper: 17°, 19°, 22°, 26°, 30° Left-handed: Yes
The Ping G425 is no slouch compared to the Ping G430 and is one of the best hybrids of 2023. With five different loft options, golfers really can find the hybrid that fits their game on top of all the other custom dimensions. Where Ping excels.
This club has higher MOI (Moment of Inertia) levels, which in plain terms means it’s more forgiving as it aims for more ball speed, greater distance and consistent spin – which you don’t like about this set. Another big feature is the three-point alignment on the club crown. The visual aid is perfect for making sure we get the club and ourselves in exactly the right position for our photo shoot. With all these benefits, it is not surprising that players describe this as a very easy club to achieve.
TaylorMade STEALTH Plus + (£219):
Upper: 22° Left: Yes (Top – 19°, 22°)
The TaylorMade STEALTH Plus+ is one of the best hybrid clubs because it’s a hybrid for the better player. With a sleeker head, this club is an alternative to a long iron rather than a rescue stick to get us out of trouble and looks more like an iron than a fairway wood. This club offers distance and control and thanks to the speed pocket it has a larger sweet spot, making it perfect for both of those things.
Because of the extra distance it generates, this racquet is a good option off the tee rather than the driver, with length not being an issue. But because the ball has a slightly lower flight, it is not quite as good for approach shots in the green, and is therefore more suitable for players with a lower handicap looking for a club to support their long game rather than one that can be used for shots in the green.
About the author
Adam Lanegan – Golf Writer
Adam is a freelance news and sports journalist who has written for the BBC, The Sunday Post, The Eye, The Times, The Telegraph and more. He has been writing about golf for nearly two decades and has covered 13 Open Championships and two Ryder Cups. Not only does Adam cover golf, he has been playing golf for as long as he can. He was a member of Northenden Golf Club for about 25 years until his children arrived and his last official handicap was 11, although on any given day his form fluctuated between eight and 18.