The Hybrid is the Senior Golfer’s Secret Weapon… As Long as You Know How to Hit Hybrids Correctly.

If you can’t seem to get along with hybrids, it’s probably because no one ever taught you:

• Proper ball position,
• The perfect hybrid finish,
• Or how to lengthen your backswing.

All three of these things are absolutely crucial for a solid hybrid shot. Unfortunately, they’re also under-discussed, leaving you to suffer with topped shots and chili dips that are entirely avoidable.

And that’s a shame, because the hybrid is one of the best clubs for amateur golfers—especially senior golfers—when you learn the right way to hit hybrids.

Plus, you can use this club all down the fairway and even off the tee, so you mastering this one club is one of the most efficient ways to lower your score.

Sound like the solution you’ve been looking for?

Stick with me. I’m about to clarify three simple concepts you can use to finally unlock better hybrid shots.

How to Hit Hybrids Correctly: Key Points

• A hybrid’s design is different from that of an iron or driver, so you can’t expect the exact same strategies to apply.
• When hitting a hybrid, position the ball off the logo on your golf shirt.
• Finish your shot with the handle high.
• Lengthen your swing and improve your contact by swinging straight up and back instead of low and around your body. 

Three Secrets to Better Hybrid Shots

One of the biggest mistakes senior golfers make when it comes to their hybrid is that they try to treat it the same as they would an iron or driver.

But it’s not the same. There are deliberate design differences between your hybrid and all your other clubs. This club was essentially designed to be easier to hit than your long irons, and that alternate design requires an alternate approach.

Very few golfers get the memo on that. They’re just sold the message that a hybrid will fix all their problems, and then they feel like they got taken for a ride when they can’t stop topping it and chunking it. 

That’s not going to be the case for you. Not anymore. Here are three things you need to know about how to hit hybrids.

Secret #1: Ball Position

When you set up any golf shot, you have to consider the low point of your swing.

For an iron shot, you want to hit down on the ball. That means you need to position the ball at the low point or slightly behind it so you can make impact when the clubhead is still traveling at a downward angle. The ideal ball position here is just off the buttons on your golf shirt.

When it comes to your driver, the goal is to hit up on the golf ball. So you want to position the ball farther forward in your stance, off the inside of your lead heel.

With hybrids, however, you want to split the difference between those two and position the ball off the logo on your golf shirt. 

You’re not trying to hit up or down on the ball. It’s more like you’re trying to graze the grass.

How to Find the Perfect Ball Position for Hybrids

1. Stand with your feet together and the golf ball aligned with the center of your stance.
2. Step your lead foot about 2-3” toward the target.
3. Take a bigger step away from the target with your trail foot, finding your typical stance width.

You should find that the ball aligns with the logo on your golf shirt. If it doesn’t, adjust.

It might also help to use an alignment rod or golf club as a visual aid. Lay the rod on the ground so it tracks right from the ball to the space between your feet. Where does the rod or club enter your stance? Is it slightly forward of center? Does it align with the logo on your shirt?

If it does, you’re in business.

Secret #2: Finish Position

I cannot overstate the importance of your finish position. When you take a swing with the explicit intention of ending in the correct position, you tend to find the ideal swing shape naturally.

That’s why I’m constantly preaching about the virtues of the Arnold Palmer finish to my students. You know what I’m talking about—that classic, high-handle finish.

What you may not know is that the ideal finish changes slightly for a hybrid. 

For an iron shot, you want to finish with the handle high, but not quite as high as a hybrid. In a great iron finish, your hands are at about face level.

For a hybrid, you should finish with your hands higher than your head.

Seems like a small detail, I know. But go ahead and try it. You’ll be surprised at what a difference it makes.

Secret #3: Length of Backswing

Now this tip is by far the most important of the three. In fact, your backswing is probably the main reason you’re topping or chunking it.

Here’s what’s happening:

Your hybrid is longer than your irons. You know this. You also know that this distance forces you to stand farther from the ball.

What you may not realize is that when you get farther from the ball, your swing naturally wants to work around your body instead of going straight up and back.

Why Is a Flat Backswing Bad for Hybrid Shots?

A flat, around-the-body swing demands a lot of flexibility. It’s tough to get enough length at that angle, especially for those of us who aren’t 26 anymore. 

And when you have a short backswing, you instinctively try to accelerate quick on the downswing. This is where you start making contact-killing errors like pulling up and topping the ball.

To overcome this, focus on bringing your hands and arms straight back and up on the backswing. That vertical length is achievable for anyone at any age, and it’s a great way to pick up more clubhead speed without forcing it.   

What’s the Best Hybrid for Seniors?

Now, these three tips I just gave you will definitely improve your hybrid shots and help you finally learn to love this club. But you also deserve to know that some of the challenges you face are actually built into the club you’re using.

While hybrids are celebrated as amateur-friendly clubs, the tour pros love them, too. That means all the major manufacturers design their hybrids to suit a professional skill set.

Honestly, I get it. Who wouldn’t want to see their club in a tour player’s bag? And there’s no question that those celebrity endorsements move inventory.

The problem is that you’re not going to get the same results from a professional’s hybrid if you don’t have their flexibility, speed, and precision timing.

That’s why I emphatically recommend the VLS Maxvert 1 Hybrid to any senior golfer. I may seem biased because I helped design it, but it’s because I helped design it that I know it was created first and foremost for the senior golfer’s swing. 

And to the best of my knowledge, it’s the only one that can say that.

At the very least, you should check the Maxvert’s features if only to understand why you’re struggling so much with your big-name hybrid.

How to Hit Hybrids Correctly: A Recap

Let’s boil this down to a tidy checklist you can take with you to the golf course. To really nail your hybrid shots:

• Position the golf ball off the logo on your shirt.
• Finish with your hands higher than your head.
• Take your backswing straight up and back.
• Get a hybrid designed for amateur and senior golfers… or at least get to know why you might be struggling with the hybrid you already have.

If you’ve had your doubts about claims that a hybrid can revive your game, these simple tips will convert you. I guarantee it.

Thoughts? Questions?

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If you’re ready to take your game to the next level with customized coaching or one-on-one instruction, visit us at VLSCoaching.com. Or drop us an email at Info@VLSGolf.com and put COACHING in the subject line. We’ll get back to you right away.

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.