Best Hybrids for High Handicappers 2023
The best of the best! We roundup the Best Hybrids for High Handicappers 2023
For high-handicap golfers, hybrids are an essential part of the golf bag. They offer the distance and speed of a long iron, combined with the forgiving nature of a fairway wood, making them easier to hit and more reliable, particularly for those challenging long shots.
In this guide, we’re going to explore some of the best hybrid clubs tailored for high handicappers. We’ve handpicked models that deliver on forgiveness, distance, and consistency: the TaylorMade Stealth 2, Ping G430, Callaway Paradym X, Cobra Aerojet, Wilson Dynapwr, and the Callaway Big Bertha.
These hybrids are designed to help you improve your game and reduce your scores, turning challenging long shots into confident strikes.
Best Hybrids for High Handicappers 2023
TaylorMade Stealth 2 hybrid
The new Stealth 2 hybrid looks powerful. Its looks haven’t changed too much since the previous model, but the new glossy crown gives it more of a classic feel. Behind the ball, it sits very square and doesn’t give you the feeling every ball is going to go left like a lot of other hybrids.
It did feel really easy to launch, and the shots I hit were quite high and not too powerful, which is a problem I see personally with hybrids. The spin was fairly consistent, and I’d be quite happy hitting it at a green knowing it had some stopping power.
TaylorMade has reduced the weight of the carbon crown, which has allowed them to move the centre of gravity back and to a more central location, which means the better strikes feel much better, and the bad strikes still perform well.
The Taylormade Stealth 2 hybrid will go in many golfers’ bags in the 2023 season. It looks like a premium players club, but with the amount of tech in the head, it actually plays much more forgiving than it looks.
PROS
- Really easy to get in the air
- Neutral-looking address position
- Great ball speeds from all strike locations
CONS
- Hosel is not adjustable
- RELATED: Read our full Taylormade Stealth 2 Hybrid Review
More info: Taylormade Website
Ping G430 hybrid
I really like the more rounded, fairway wood style shaping Ping have used in this hybrid. As someone who is more of a sweeper of the golf ball this suits my eye perfectly. I also love how clean the crown is and the very subtle dot used in the centre for alignment features.
Hybrids are funny clubs as they are very much gap fillers. I wouldn’t say you want them to go excessive distances as they need to fit a certain slot in your golf bag. Travelling the required distance is very important though.
Ping sent me a 4-hybrid and a 3-hybrid to test, as these are typically the lofts I would put in play.
PROS
- Smaller more refined shaping
- Fast ball speeds across the face
- Forgiving on off centre strikes
CONS
- Not as workable as other models
- RELATED: Read our full Ping G430 Hybrid Review
More information: Ping Website
Callaway Paradym X hybrid
The Paradym X hybrid looks top-notch. The blue forged carbon and rose gold weights give this club a really expensive feel, and the wood-shaped head is hugely confidence-inspiring. I love that Callaway have kept the clubhead clean and simple on the crown, which adds to its elite looks.
The big upgrade Callaway have made to their hybrids is the all-new cutwave sole design. It’s designed specifically to cut through thick rough, and an increased camber on the leading edge should improve how your club moves through the turf.
This is big news for hybrid players as often I have found that the clubs can get stuck when trying to get out of an iffy lie, which to me, defeats one of the main points of a hybrid. I threw some balls into the thick clagg at my home course Sand Moor and was pleasantly surprised that the shots came out pretty well.
The Callaway Paradym X hybrid is going to solve a lot of golfers’ problems in 2023. It’s tremendously long, easy to hit and has some serious bag appeal. Whether you want it to use off the tee as a safety club, or will be using it regularly for your 2nd shots, Callaway’s new forgiving hybrid will help you make less mistakes with your long clubs and lower your scores.
PROS
- Really easy to get in the air
- Neutral-looking address position
- Great ball speeds from all strike locations
CONS
- Not many shaft options for the premium price
- Not the most consistent spin outcomes
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Paradym X Hybrid Review
More info: Callaway Website
Cobra Aerojet hybrid
As with the rest of the Aerojet range, I really like the fast sporty look of this club. I also like the more rounded fairway wood shaping that Cobra have opted for in this model.
I love testing hybrids and was really impressed with this model straight off the bat due to its consistency. My carry distances varied by under 10 yards from front to back which is really helpful, especially when trying to control the ball into the greens.
In terms of ball speed this was pretty consistent with what I would see with my current 4-hybrid. This is ideal as I am looking for 185 yards of carry distance with this club to ensure it fits the relevant gap in my bag.
While testing this on the range and in a variety of lies on the golf course, I was really impressed with the versatility of this club. The deep body design has been paired with a high bounce leading edge which gives the club the ability to glide through different turf conditions easily. Having a longer club that works well from the fairway and rough is important to me for scoring and this really ticked those boxes. I even found it easy to use around the green for bump and run chip shots.
This is definitely an excellent 4-iron replacement for those who want something more forgiving or higher launching out on the golf course.
PROS
- Rounded fairway wood shape
- Very consistent
- Good distance
CONS
- High launching club might not suit everyone
- Not adjustable
- RELATED: Read our full Cobra Aerojet Hybrid Review
More information: Cobra Website
Wilson Dynapwr Hybrid
I love the simplicity of the head design, and the matte black head with red accents looks great. Wilson have used their tour players to help design the head, which has produced a flatter profile that makes it really inviting to hit.
If we just start with its looks, the Dynapwr hybrid looks brilliant in your hand and behind the ball. I love that the face is more shallow than before, making it easy to launch, especially from rough lies.
The head is quite big, which not everyone will like, but the mid to high handicapper, who is not necessarily the most consistent ball striker, will be grateful for this. It does give you confidence at address.
My first few strikes with the Wilson Dynapwr hybrid were pretty terrible (user error), but I was pretty pleased with the results. Even with my necky strike, I could still hit a ball that curved to the left and go a reasonable distance, which is great news for the slicers out there.
If you are a golfer that uses a hybrid plenty of times in a round because maybe you lack distance off the tee, this golf club will make a huge difference to your game. It’s as easy to hit as any hybrid I’ve hit, and you be very pleased with the results it produces.
PROS
- High launching
- Good out of bad lies
- Has a giant face that produced good speed from all locations
CONS
- Not adjustable
- RELATED: Read our full Wilson Dynapwr Hybrid Review
More info: Wilson website
Callaway Big Bertha
Reviewed by Nicola Slater
Callaway Big Bertha 2023 hybrids are designed for players of all abilities who seek to find an alternative to long irons. With a wide range of lofts, the Big Bertha looks inviting behind the ball and produces a higher launch ball flight than you would find in longer irons with added forgiveness. Big Bertha is Callaway’s most forgiving hybrid, aiming to promote a straighter ball flight and eliminate slices from players’ games.
I took it out on the course and was very impressed with how it performed. The first shot I went to hit on a par 5 I actually caught off of the bottom of the club and I was surprised how well it went. I found that even the shots that I didn’t quite get out of the middle of the club were still very much in play. The design of the Big Bertha hybrid features precision tungsten weight placing that creates plenty of forgiveness.
Overall, I think that this hybrid is a great option for any type of golfer who is looking for an easy-to-hit longer golf club option. Behind the ball, this hybrid looks like it’s going nowhere but in the air which is very reassuring. If you don’t quite get that desired result, the miss hits are incredibly forgiving. With the great range of lofts, it would also be a great alternative to fairways woods too.
PROS
- Looks appealing behind the ball
- Adjustable hosel
- Great range of lofts
- High launching
CONS
- None!
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Big Bertha 2023 hybrid review
More info: Callaway website
Best Hybrids for High Handicappers 2023
Choosing the right hybrid club is a game-changing decision for high handicap golfers. We’ve explored the unique offerings of some of the best hybrids on the market: the TaylorMade Stealth 2, Ping G430, Callaway Paradym X, Cobra Aerojet, Wilson Dynapwr, and the Callaway Big Bertha.
Each of these hybrids is designed to maximize forgiveness, enhance distance, and provide more consistent results, making them ideal choices for high handicappers. However, remember that the best hybrid for you will be the one that complements your unique swing and game style.
Take your time to assess your options and select a club that not only boosts your confidence but also helps lower your scores. Armed with the right hybrid, the fairway becomes a less intimidating place, and your game is set to reach new heights.
Nicola Slater
Nicola recently graduated from Stirling University where she studied Sports Studies, she wrote her dissertation on barriers to participation for women in golf.
Nicola plays her golf at Hickleton and she currently plays off +3. Having played for Yorkshire Ladies and has represented England at junior and senior level, she will soon be beginning her professional career on LETAS.
