How To Buy A Utility Club

There is a funny story attributed to golfing legend Lee Trevino. Lee was out playing a round of golf in the rain when lightning began to flash across the sky. Lee went over and grabbed his #1 iron out of his golf bag and held it over his head as he said to the gallery following them, "Now I'm safe. Even God can't hit a #1 iron!" And that's exactly how the average golfer feels let alone a professional and truly great golfer. Some clubs seem just impossible to hit. Due to that fact many manufacturers have looked for ways to make clubs easier to hit. One of the clubs that has come to the rescue of the everyday golfer is the hybrid or utility golf club.

In fact, hybrid golf clubs used to be called "rescue clubs" because they helped you out of tight spots and made hitting certain shots easier. These days hybrid or utility clubs have become extremely commonplace even among professional golfers. How do you know which utility club will work best for you?

Consider what you are looking for. What are the problems you're trying to overcome? Do you have trouble making shots with your long irons? Comparable hybrid clubs have a head design that allows a lower center of gravity moved further back from the face. This design will help you to get the ball into the air much easier and at a much higher angle. Problem solved. Do you have trouble controlling your shots? Many hybrid clubs have a shorter shaft and a shorter shaft will help you to keep your shot on target. The shorter shaft helps you to apply the head to the ball accurately for greater consistancy in the shots you take. Experiment with different club lengths in a hybrid to see exactly which length will help you with your shots.

Typically, you should also realize that a hybrid will get about 5 to 8 yards more distance than their comparable iron. So can get a bit more length in your shot and with a higher trajectory. You won't get as much roll because of that increased shot height but you will find you will have much more control on where the ball ends up on the course.

One of the things to remember with the utility club is to never try to "kill the ball". Always let the club do the work. That's what you bought it for. On the tee, set the ball very low and position it near the center of your stance towards the target. On the fairway, ball position should be closer to the center of your stance, you swing down and through the ball, hitting the ball first and then taking a small divot. From a bunker, position the ball in the center of your stance. Dig your feet about 1 inch into the sand and use a three-quarter swing but with a full follow-through. When you're in front of the green, just pitch and run shots just as you would do with a seven or eight iron. And always remember...let the club do the work.

There are so many varieties in shaft style, loft, design and flexibility in hybrid clubs that you can always find something that will work specifically for your particular golf swing needs. Because these clubs are easier to hit and the shorter shaft lengths make them easier to control and hit consistently, there is a definitely a place for a hybrid or utility golf club in every golfers bag. Don't leave home without it!