These 3 Hybrid Swing Mistakes Are Killing Your Golf Game. Here’s How You Can Finally Put an End to Them.

There are three hybrid golf swing mistakes nearly every amateur golfer makes—especially senior golfers. (“Experienced” golfers, as I like to call them.)

And when I say these are the most common mistakes, I mean that in my 35 years of coaching, I’ve seen almost every student make them.

I’m willing to bet you’re making them, too. After all, everyday players are rarely taught how to hit hybrids correctly.

If you’ve been struggling to control your hybrid shots, you’ll probably find your biggest problem—and your best solution—in this article.

Stick with me to discover the most common amateur errors and how to ditch these bad habits for good.

Hybrid Golf Swing Mistakes: Key Points

Here’s everything we’re about to cover in a nutshell:

• The proper hybrid ball position lands between the correct position for irons and the correct position for drivers. If the ball is off the logo on your golf shirt, you’re in the right spot.
• Bring the lead arm straight back and up on the backswing. Dragging the club to the inside kills your contact and momentum.
• Instead of keeping your weight on the trail foot as you try to lift the ball with the clubhead, let your weight shift forward. Focus on getting your knees to touch at the finish, and you’ll find that weight shift naturally.

Mistake #1: Improper Hybrid Ball Position

Amateur golfers tend to set up with their hybrid like they’re setting up for an iron shot.

But hybrids come with a completely different objective. You don’t want to hit down on the ball and take a divot like you do with your iron. You’re not trying to get underneath it and hit up on it like you would with a driver.

Instead, you’re trying to catch the ball at the low point of your golf swing. That means you need the ball between the proper iron position and the proper driver position.

What is the Proper Ball Position for Hybrids?

The perfect spot is right off the logo of your golf shirt. I teach my students to find the ideal position this way:

1. Get set up with your feet together and the ball centered between your feet.
2. Step your lead foot toward the target.
3. Take a slightly larger step away from the target with your trail foot.

The difference between the step toward the target and the step away should be pretty minuscule. For example, if you stepped 10” toward the target, you’d want to step about 11” away with the trail foot.

When in doubt, use the logo on your shirt as a guide.

Mistake #2: Dragging the Club Too Far Inside

So many amateur golfers drag the club too far inside on the takeaway. This error destroys your contact and diminishes your clubhead speed.

The worst part?

It’s a mistake that gets easier to make the longer your club is. A long club like a hybrid forces you to stand farther back from the ball, and that distance naturally causes you to drag it inside on the backswing.

What you actually want to do is bring your lead arm straight back and up. That vertical swing path will instantly improve your contact and boost your distance, especially if you’re an “experienced” golfer. You get a much longer swing without all the deep twisting.

This strategy has made such a massive difference for my students, I created an entire senior-friendly golf system around it and wrote a bestselling book about it.

How Do You Create the Ideal Hybrid Swing Motion?

To master this method, I offer you a drill and a checkpoint.

The Drill

1. Put a golf tee on the target line about 16-20” behind your ball.
2. Take your hybrid setup.
3. Make a swing, ensuring that the clubhead moves over the golf tee.

The golf tee serves as a clear visual so you’ll immediately notice when you drag the club inside.

The Checkpoint

When you reach the top of your backswing, your lead arm should be somewhere between your shoulder and your chin. No higher, no lower.

Mistake #3: Trying to Lift the Ball

Ever have trouble getting decent launch off the turf with your hybrid? 

Yeah, that’s a common problem. And most amateur golfers unconsciously try to solve it by attempting to lift the ball with the clubhead.

If you tend to stand up in your hybrid shots, that’s probably why. You’re trying to get under this ball that’s sitting directly on the turf, and as a result, your weight stays back (effectively moving the low point of your swing), your head works up, and your club comes up.

Lo and behold, you top it.

Here’s what you want to do instead:

How to Get Better Launch With a Hybrid

Shift your weight into your lead foot as you swing down, and that’ll help you transfer a lot more energy into the ball on impact. 

Now, I’ve got a super simple swing thought that’s going to help you do this effortlessly.

When you finish your swing, get your knees touching.

If you simply do that, you will shift your weight. You can’t get your knees to touch when your weight is still on the trail foot.

This is among my favorite hybrid tips because it’s so simple but it makes a world of difference.

Next Steps for Perfecting Your Hybrid Golf Swing

And just like that, you’ve overcome your biggest hybrid golf swing mistakes.

Now what?

First, I recommend a basic understanding of modern hybrid design and how it can help or hinder your game. The fact is, traditional hybrids—like all golf clubs—are designed around the abilities of professional golfers. 

Many of the issues you’re having with your hybrid aren’t actually your fault; it’s just that you’ve got a club that was quite literally designed for someone else… to the extent that no amount of customization can save you.

The VLS Maxvert hybrid was actually engineered for amateur golfers—and seniors specifically. I recommend checking it out. You can follow this link to try it risk-free for 60 days.

If you’re really serious about advancing this and all other aspects of your game, check out VLSCoaching.com. You get direct access to me as well as world-class instructors from all corners of the industry. Plus, you get opportunities to hang out with friendly golfers from all over, both online and in person.

Now, before you go, be sure to drop into the comments and let me know what’s on your mind. Do you notice these three hybrid mistakes in your own game? Do you have any questions I haven’t answered?

We love hearing from you, so be sure to chime in!

About the Author

I’m PGA Teaching Professional Todd Kolb—a four-time Golf Digest Best-in-State Instructor, Amazon Best-selling Author, and Minnesota PGA Teacher of the Year. I’ve worked with students of all ages and skill levels in my 30 years of coaching, from first-timers to an LPGA major champion. I’m also the Director of Instruction for VLS Golf and USGolfTV.

My work with VLS Golf and USGolfTV revolves around helping the everyday golfer cut through overcomplicated traditional instruction to find solutions that actually work for them.