5 Best Hybrid Golf Clubs: 2023

Hybrid golf clubs are the perfect, practical additions to the bags of many golfers, whether they’re experienced or still learning the game. The days when hybrids were consigned to high-handicap novices’ golf bags alone are now long gone.

Top professionals like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy now even include them in their arsenal. And who couldn’t learn from those guys?

We get that you probably want to know your options when it comes to selecting a great hybrid club. So, we’ve reviewed the best currently on the market and included a section on selecting the best hybrid clubs for your needs.

Let’s dig in!

The Best Hybrid Golf Clubs for 2023

Hybrid golf clubs are versatile as they’re designed with heads that resemble undersized fairway woods, with an aim of providing a more forgiving option to long irons. As such, they’re handy in several lie scenarios, offering powerful alternatives to your iron choices.

Hybrid clubs allow you to reduce your mis-hits – the level of consistency they provide will assist in upping your golf game. Any golfer will find some use for a hybrid club on the course!

The best golf hybrid clubs all offer slightly different qualities to golfers. Some are designed for more distance off the surface, while others have more forgiving features. In addition, some of these versatile clubs are more suited to beginners than to low handicappers, and vice versa.

Now that we have your attention, let’s have a look at some of the best golf hybrids around in 2023:

1. Best Overall: PING G430 hybrid

PING is one of the club manufacturers that uses adjustable hosels in their golf hybrids. These give you extra versatility and flexibility.

Have you heard of a ‘gap filler?’ Gap fillers are golf clubs that assist golfers out on the course to make up for noticeable distance gaps that another club like a fairway wood or long iron may not be able to.

The G430 hybrid fits into this category well as its adjustable hosel provides around 1.5 degrees of loft flexibility. This feature isn’t available in hybrids with a fixed hosel. The PING G430 also comes in six shaft options, meaning it can cater to a broad range of golfers.

Due to the Spinsistency feature, the G430 hybrid’s ball speed is impressive too – it can reach the mid-140 mph range off the surface. Aided by PING’s FaceWrap technology, its ball flight and distance aren’t bad either, with distances of over 220 yards attainable.

This would rank it very close to the top three hybrids in distance for 2023. For all of the above reasons, we’ve given the PING G430 hybrid our vote as the best overall hybrid golf club for 2023.

Specifications

• Loft: 17 to 34 degrees (2H to 7H options)
• Stock shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX70 & 80, Mitsubishi Kai’Li White 80, PING Alta CB Black 70, PING Alta Quick, and PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 85
• Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet (6 colors) & Tour Velvet Cord (2 colors), and Lamkin UTx (HL) (3 colors).

Pros

• Carbonfly Wrap crown technology reduces the club weight by 10 grams.
• The G430 hybrid has an adjustable hosel that provides around 1.5 degrees of loft flexibility.
• This hybrid’s mid-width head shape provides a perfect balance between forgiveness and playability.
• It comes with six different shaft options.
• The G430 is designed for faster ball speeds and distance.
• These are versatile clubs that are equally effective for tee or fairway hitting.
• PING clubs’ high-quality construction makes them immensely durable.
• Available for left-handers in all options.

Cons

• Although the G430 hybrid is worth the additional outlay, the club is expensive compared to most hybrid options.

Price

• There’s no hiding the fact that, at around $300, this hybrid is more expensive than most. The technology, durability, and benefits of the PING G430 hybrid demand it, though.

2. Best for Distance: Callaway Rogue ST MAX hybrid

The ST MAX hybrid is arguably Callaway’s longest Rogue ST hybrid design. It’s the perfect club if you’re looking to extend your distance from the fairway. The lofts are a little longer than those of other hybrid brands. So, if you’re looking for extra ball speed and forgiveness in addition to the extra loft, the Rogue ST MAX may be your answer.

Callaway has incorporated Jailbreak technology – an AI design – to enhance stability and speed in its Rogue ST MAX hybrids. Jailbreak features two perimeter-based frames which offer additional stiffness to the club’s toe and heel while not restricting flexing of the face.

What’s the result? The beauty is, the hybrid doesn’t lose any ball speed in the process. Over and above the Jailbreak frames, the technology also features the extra-strength 455 Face Cup to improve launch, ball speed, and spin. The biggest positive of the Callaway Rogue ST Max, however, is the extra distance you’ll get from the tee or off the fairway surface.

Specifications

• Loft: 17 to 34 degrees (3H to 5H options)
• Stock shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 65/75 (Other custom options available)
• Stock grip: Callaway Universal – over 20 options

Pros

• The Rogue ST MAX hybrid is Callaway’s longest Rogue ST hybrid model.
• This hybrid features the new Jailbreak AI-technology system promoting speed and stability.
• Its high-strength AI-optimized 455 Face Cup delivers ultimate speed, launch, and spin.
• Up to 24g of tungsten is positioned strategically in several center-of-gravity (CG) locations, delivering a higher ball flight, faster ball speeds, and extended distance.
• The ST MAX hybrid has an iron-like, shaped head and an advanced sole.

Cons

• The club’s unique sound and feel may not be to the liking of some golfers.

Price

• The Callaway Rogue ST Max hybrid costs about $230, which is quite a saving on the PING G430. It is still pricier than most hybrid clubs available but offers great value for your outlay.

3. Best on a Budget: Cleveland Launcher XL Halo hybrid

The Cleveland Launcher XL Halo is a 2022 award-winning hybrid. It remains a popular club among mid to high-handicap club golfers in 2023 as it’s easy to use and lightweight with a vibrant feel. The included Project X Cypher shaft is a particularly impressive feature.

The Launcher XL Halo has an oversized head, giving you a confident feel while addressing. Its railed sole makes cutting through tricky lies much simpler. The Halo launches shots impressively, with its accuracy to the green also worthy of mention.

Additionally, an approach shot with this hybrid tends to not run through as much as similar shots played with long irons or fairway woods.

If you’re an average-speed player, the Cleveland Launcher XL Halo is an excellent option with a user-friendly design at an extremely cost-effective price. For this reason, we recommend it as one of the best golf hybrids for 2023, especially if you’re on a budget.

Specifications

• Loft: 18 to 27 degrees (3+ HY Wood to 6H options)
• Stock shaft: Project X Cypher HYB, and Project X Cypher 40 HYB (for 3+ HY Wood)
• Stock grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360

Pros

• A feature of the Launcher XL Halo hybrid is the HiBore Crown, which produces a deep and low center of gravity, promoting higher launch and low spin.
• It features Gliderail technology, allowing for greater distance on shots from practically any lie.
• The club has a softer feel at impact than most fairway woods, which helps to restrict hand and wrist fatigue over 18 holes of golf.

Cons

• The progressive head shape of the club may not be to everyone’s taste. Some golfers may prefer a more traditional design.
• The soft sound and feel at impact may not be to the liking of many golfers.
• There are no left-handed options in the 24 (5H) and 27 (6H) lofts.

Price

• The Cleveland Launcher XL Halo is a 2022 hybrid, meaning its price is now reduced. At $150, it is the most affordable hybrid on our list in 2023.

4. Best Adjustability Level: Mizuno CLK Hybrid

The Mizuno CLK Hybrid is designed as the perfect club to bridge the gap between your most lofted fairway wood and your longest iron. Its most impressive feature is that you can adjust all five of its available lofts by four degrees, meaning you can find the perfect fit for your yardage.

You will need to undergo a club fitting for the Mizuno CLK hybrid as every standard loft choice has a different length. There are 10 standard shaft options, meaning you’ve got a variety of choices. If you’re a southpaw though, these are more limited as most Mizuno models are only produced for right-handed golfers.

With its MAS1C Maraging Face, golfers can experience a greater transfer of energy and faster ball speeds from the whole club face. By reintroducing the Dual Wave feature not seen for over 15 years, Mizuno gives you the ability to achieve better turf interaction through steeper landing angles.

The hybrid’s crown appears flat and wide on address, giving it something of a fairway wood appearance, almost like a 7-wood. The club manufacturers have also improved the impact sound, meaning it’s now more solid than previous CLK releases.

If you’re right-handed and want a hybrid golf club that’ll give you better ball flight and levels of adjustability second to none, consider the Mizuno CLK hybrid. It’s for this reason that this hybrid golf club makes our 2023 list of best golf hybrids as the club with the best adjustability level.

Specifications

• Loft: 14 to 27 degrees (all are 4 degrees adjustable)
• Stock shaft: 10 different options available
• Stock grip: Lamkin ST Hybrid 360 grip

Pros

• The Mizuno CLK hybrid is available in five different lofts that can all be adjusted by four degrees.
• The MAS1C Maraging Face allows for faster ball speeds and more energy transfer.
• Mizuno offers a variety of standard shaft selections, making it easier to find a shaft to match a golfer’s personal preference.

Cons

• Most of the Mizuno CLK hybrid models are only available as right-handed options.
• The range of adjustability options available means a professional club fitting is likely necessary.

Price

• Coming in at approximately the $200 mark, the CLK Hybrid is excellent value for money, even for a 2022 release.

5. Best for Moderate Swing Speeds: Titleist TSR1 hybrid

Titleist has recently released their new TSR1 hybrid. The club is designed to assist golfers thanks to some new benefits and features. The TSR1 is an excellent hybrid option for moderate-speed golfers, as it encourages increased spin with a higher launch angle.

How does it look? It has a wide-body look that will give you more confidence when addressing the golf ball.

If you have a slower to moderate swing speed, you’ll find the Titleist TSR1 features work together to keep the ball airborne for longer.

Titleist has incorporated Mitsubishi MMT SpeedMesh shafts across their entire range of clubs. These shafts are specifically engineered to cater to golfers looking for a lightweight setup that delivers superior speed and stability.

The Metal Mesh technology (MMT) used in these MMT SpeedMesh hybrid shafts includes lighter-weighted and ultra-thin materials concentrated in the shaft’s tip region. This optimizes the energy transfer from the club head to the golf ball, meaning longer distances and enhanced performance.

Titleist’s new TSR1 hybrid lineup offers you several benefits, including more user-friendliness. These benefits made the Titleist TSR1 a logical inclusion on our list of the best hybrid golf clubs for 2023.

Specifications

• Loft: 20 to 29 degrees (4H to 7H options)
• Stock shaft: Mitsubishi MMT SpeedMesh 50 shaft, with over 20 other options.
• Stock grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip standard, with several other available alternatives.

Pros

• The TSR1 hybrid is super-lightweight, catering to ultimate stability and speed.
• It has a deeply positioned CG which raises MOI and increases launch and ball speeds.
• The club’s wider footprint instills confidence while addressing and offering greater forgiveness.
• The Titleist SureFit hosel offers 16 loft and lie alternatives, making custom setups easy.
• Left and right-handed options are available.

Cons

• Certain golfers may find the club a little too lightweight.

Price

• The Titleist TSR1 is a premium hybrid club and, at nearly $300, is expensive compared to many others available in 2023.

Selecting the Best Hybrid Golf Club for Your Needs

Choosing the best hybrid golf clubs for your specific needs can be super difficult – even if you’re aware of all the best options out there. Without undergoing a club fitting with an accredited professional, this can be even more of a challenge.

So what to do?

We’re going to give you a few tips on what to look for to make this daunting task simpler:

Get out on the range

An effective way to choose the right golf hybrid for your game is to call at a range and give some clubs a proper test. There are many driving ranges that offer taped clubs for this purpose. Conducting your own tests will afford you some valuable insight into which is the best hybrid golf option for you.

Although a custom fitting would likely be even more effective, you’ll still be able to draw your own valuable conclusions.

While on the range, even swinging clubs with taped faces, you’ll be able to assess the hybrids’ weight and how compatible the shaft is with your swing. Clearly, this also gives you the chance to see how each club looks, how easy it is to hit, and the trajectory it provides. These factors can be very insightful, especially for high-handicap golfers.

More established golfers can assess which golf hybrids are easier to work and adjust for fine-tuning their strokes.

Assess each hybrid club’s performance

The performances of golf hybrids are potentially the most important factors to consider before you add one to your golf bag. You’ll want the club to be versatile to assist you in several situations on the course.

Trying out the different hybrids off the tee and off the fairway surface are good places to start. Hopefully, these will be the positions you’ll be using your hybrid most!

Thereafter, try each from the rough, near the green, and from central positions within low-lipped fairway sand traps. By testing out golf hybrids in diverse scenarios, you’re able to assess their performance and find one that serves each function best for you.

Establish how the hybrid club feels

Conducting your own analysis on several golf hybrids can provide valuable insights into the feel of each while swinging, particularly at the point of impact. Some might generate louder sounds as they impact a golf ball, with others being more muted.

On top of this, you could experience a vibrant and thrilling feel off the club face, or it could be more of a luxurious thudding feel.

Which is the better feel?

Which feels better depends on your preference entirely, but that’s exactly why these tests are important. You want to end up choosing the club that feels the most satisfying, as your mental state during a golf round impacts a lot on the rest of your game.

Consider testing the different hybrid golf clubs both outside and inside, or at different ranges. In this way, you can assess the feel of each club in different surroundings.

No two golf courses are exactly alike, so doing this will provide a better understanding of what you do or don’t enjoy about the feel of each hybrid.

Consider attending a demo day

If you hear of any demo days being held close to you, consider taking part. These days give golfers the chance to try out a range of golf club makes and models to assess how they feel and perform.

Look at factors like increased ball speed and whether you achieve consistent ball flight to gain more distance with the clubs you try.

Find the best hybrid golf clubs to suit the style you want

Although “looks aren’t everything” when it comes to most things in life, let’s be honest, they do help somewhat, right? Choosing a golf club that appeals to you aesthetically is no different, and looks may be more important than you think.

If you like the appearance of your golf club, you’ll likely feel more confident about playing a decent stroke. Conversely, if you don’t like the look of the hybrid club you’re using as you’re addressing your golf ball, you’re more likely to be mentally distracted.

This can have a negative impact on your golf swing. For this reason, take some time to examine several hybrids. Look at the club head of each, feel the grips, and pay attention to the feelings you get while doing so.

Every hybrid club has its own set of characteristics. They vary in shape, some with higher toes to look more like irons than fairway woods. It’s therefore important to assess the club to get a feel for it and to see if its aesthetics will suit you.

Assess the overall positives and negatives to find the best golf hybrid for your needs

The very best way to assess and decide on the best hybrid golf clubs would be to book a golf club fitting session, which would likely give you all the answers. If you can’t attend a fitting session for some reason, don’t despair. The above tips will help, and you can look at other factors that will provide further clarity as well.

By intimately knowing your game and your style of playing, you can learn a lot without a fitting session.

Look at and familiarize yourself with a hybrid’s length, its flex, and the material its shaft is made from. Take note of the size and shape of the club head. If you’re aware of all these factors, you’ll be in a position to make a good call about which will be the best hybrid golf clubs among those you’ve tried out.

FAQs

In golf, what is the difference between a hybrid and a rescue club?

The terms ‘hybrid’ and ‘rescue’ are often used interchangeably. The main difference is that a hybrid tends to look and perform more like fairway wood while a rescue club is closer to an iron. There are many overlapping features between the two. Your choice between them will depend on your specific swing style and preferences.

Can hybrids be customized for individual golfers?

Yes, most hybrid clubs can be customized to suit specific golfing styles, with shaft lengths, shaft flexes, and grip sizes able to be modified. A professional custom fitting is recommended to ensure you get the best performance and fit. For example, if you’re looking for a more forgiving hybrid, a certified professional will know how to help.

What club should I leave out of my bag if I want to include a hybrid?

Ashley Jones

If you’re considering adding a hybrid to your golf bag, it may be wise to omit your 3-iron or 4-iron, as hybrids are often used as replacements for these clubs. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your individual needs and on which clubs you tend to use less.