Best Hybrid Golf Clubs 2024: Buyer's Guide and things you need to know
GolfMagic reveals everything you need to know about the best golf hybrids in 2024.
Since their introduction to the game in 1998, golf hybrids have become increasingly popular, with Tour pros and amateurs relying on them for their versatility.
An ideal long iron replacement that can also double up as a handy green-side weapon, the hybrid has a wide range of uses, providing power and forgiveness when you need it most.
With offerings from all the biggest brands in the game, including PING, Callaway, TaylorMade and Cobra on offer, picking the right hybrid to suit you is a very important decision.
With that in mind, we have tested out all of the best hybrids available in 2024 to help ensure your next purchase is the right one.
READ OUR FULL TESTING PROCESS HERE
Our mission, as always, is to help you get the most out of your game and shoot lower scores at a price that is right for you.
To whet your appetite for our best hybrids test 2024 below, here's a quick look at GolfMagic Editor Alex Lodge's average numbers with each of the hybrids tested.
While the majority of brands promise added distance and forgiveness on top of improved looks, only a handful of them truly deliver it all.
Let's take a look at the best hybrids of 2024, starting with what we consider the best of the bunch:
TaylorMade Qi10 Hybrid
Key Features:
- Carbon crown: frees up mass for optimal weight distribution and forgiveness
- Internal split weighting and low CG: produces long-distance and easy, high-launch
- V Steel sole: improves turf interaction and versatility
Price: £269
Pros:
- A fantastic blend of distance, forgiveness and versatility
- Carbon crown looks fantastic behind the ball
- Our favourite hybrid of 2024
Cons:
- The white line on the top of the face may not suit the eye of every golfer
The TaylorMade Qi10, our top pick among hybrids in 2024, boasts exceptional versatility, offering substantial distance, remarkable forgiveness, and a confidence-inspiring appearance at address.
Throughout our testing, we discovered that this hybrid excels in launching the ball effortlessly from various lies, whether from the tee or the rough. Its design facilitates a high trajectory, maximising carry distance and making it particularly effective for approaching pins on lengthy par-5s.
While the Qi10 may not lead the pack in terms of sheer distance, its standout feature lies in its forgiveness. This attribute proved invaluable in keeping our shots on target, minimising our misses and enhancing overall consistency.
When faced with shots over 200 yards, where precision is paramount, the Qi10 instilled us with a sense of confidence and freedom to fully commit to each swing, knowing that its forgiving nature had our back.
It was that same confidence-inspiring performance which led us to choose the Qi10 to be our favourite hybrid of 2024.
READ OUR FULL TAYLORMADE QI10 HYBRID REVIEW
PXG Black Ops Hybrid
Key Features:
- High-strength stainless steel face: 10.5% thinner and more flexible than the 0311 Gen 6
- Carbon fibre crown: saves mass, allowing it to be redistributed low and to the club's perimeter for optimal CG positioning
- Precision weighting technology: allows spin and bias settings to be adjusted
- Squared face design: shifts perimeter skirt more vertical to boost forgiveness and deliver faster ball speeds
Price: £309
Pros:
- The longest flagship hybrid of 2024
- Compact head squares the ball nicely at address
- Monochromatic colour palette one of the best of 2024
Cons:
- Additional details at the back of the crown take away from the overall appearance
Bob Parsons, the founder of PXG, has gained renown for his enthusiastic "Kaboom baby" catchphrase, and a few swings with the Black Ops hybrid quickly reveal why he's so fond of it.
This hybrid is a true powerhouse, emerging as the leader in distance during our testing, narrowly edging out the Cobra Darkspeed.
Adorned in PXG's signature black, white, and silver colour scheme, the Black Ops presents a striking appearance behind the ball. While some may find the additional graphic details on the crown's rear less appealing, the overall design exudes sleekness and sophistication.
Like the Qi10, the Black Ops demonstrates remarkable versatility, but its standout performance comes off the tee. For those who struggle with confidence in their driver, this hybrid offers a compelling solution, delivering impressive distance and speed.
With its combination of low spin, high flight, and consistent speed retention across the face, the Black Ops hybrid blurs the lines between a hybrid and a rocket launcher.
While we were stunned by the distance on offer from this hybrid, we should also mention that it is right up there with the most forgiving models we have tested, making it one of the standout performers in the category from 2024.
READ OUR FULL PXG BLACK OPS HYBRID REVIEW
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Hybrid
Key Features:
- Ai Smart Face: optimises performance using swing data from thousands of real golfers to promote maximum distance and tight dispersion
- Tungsten Speed Cartridge: repositions the centre of gravity low and forward to produce low spin and impressive ball speeds
- Larger Profile: provides amplified forgiveness and instilled confidence at address
Price: £269
Pros:
- Effortless to launch
- Excellent distance
- Sleek design
Cons:
- Ai Smoke branding on the crown takes away from the overall finish
- looks quite closed at address
Taking top spot for forgiveness, the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke, lives up to Callaway's slogan of "sweeter from every spot".
Utilising a new Ai-designed smart face, the Paradym Ai Smoke is said to have sweet spots across the face in order to maximise performance from off-centre strikes.
Did it follow through on this promise? Well, as far as we can tell from our testing, it's a resounding yes.
While the Ai Smoke wasn't the longest hybrid we tested in 2024, it was arguably the most consistently long.
Thanks to the new face, this hybrid retains ball speed impeccably well from across the face, which means that even from toe or heel strikes, we still saw our ball retain speed in order to get closer to the target.
In terms of looks, this hybrid is dripping in shelf appeal. The simple matte black crown looks superb sat behind the ball, with the electric blue detailing on the sole complimenting a variety of chrome panels beautifully.
All in all, there is plenty to love about this club, and despite not being our favourite of 2024, there was honestly very little to separate it from the TaylorMade Qi10.
READ OUR FULL CALLAWAY PARADYM AI SMOKE HYBRID REVIEW
Cobra Darkspeed Hybrid
Key Features:
- PWRSHELL insert and suspended PWR-BRIDGE design: create a more flexible face and sole for penetrating launch and maximum ball speed
- A.I. designed H.O.T. Face: features an optimised variable thickness pattern that delivers more efficient speed & spin across the clubface
- 12g sole weight: positioned as low as possible to promote high, towering ball flights for maximum carry distance
Price: £229
Pros:
- One of the longest hybrids of 2024
- sleek, stealthy design looks fantastic
- Very reasonable price point
Cons:
- Potentially too much rollout for attacking greens
Arguably the best-looking hybrid not only of 2024 but also of all time, the Cobra Darkspeed looks magnificent both in hand and down at address.
The totally matte black design wouldn't look out of place in Batman's armoury of gadgets, and much like the crime-fighting hero, this hybrid also knows how to deliver a knockout punch.
Missing our narrowly on the top spot for the longest hybrid of 2024, the Darkspeed is capable of delivering extraordinary speed.
Thanks to the PWRSHELL insert, this hybrid also feels incredibly hot at impact.
While the distance and speed this hybrid can deliver are exceptional, there are some slight drawbacks, forgiveness being one of them.
From our poorer strikes, we did notice the loss in accuracy was more significant than that of the Qi10 or Paradym Ai Smoke.
The other slight issue we found with this hybrid was how low it launched the ball. This, in turn, meant that our descent angle was reduced, making it quite tricky to stop on greens.
While the lack of forgiveness is an issue, we do believe that with a custom fitting, the ball flight could be tailored in order to be more optimal.
READ OUR FULL COBRA DARKSPEED HYBRID REVIEW
PING G430 Hybrid
Key Features:
- Carbonfly wrap: an ultra-thin lightweight composite crown allows weight to be reallocated to lower the CG and increase ball speed and forgiveness
- Facewrap technology: Thin, high-strength maraging steel face increases flexing to generate faster ball speed with a higher launch for longer carries
- Spinsistencty: variable roll radius creates less loft low on the face to improve performance by reducing spin to increase ball speed for added distance
Price: £269
Pros:
- Sleek and sophisticated look at address
- Incredibly easy to hit, offering plenty of forgiveness
- Wide variety of loft options available
Cons:
- Lacks the distance provided by other hybrids in the category
While the PING G430 may not boast the longest distance among its competitors, it excels in forgiveness and versatility, making it a standout choice for golfers seeking reliability and adaptability from their hybrids.
Remarkably easy to hit, the G430 is a dependable companion for golfers navigating various on-course scenarios. Its ability to generate a strong and steady ball flight, coupled with consistent spin rates and a high trajectory, positions it as an excellent option for reaching distant par-5s in two.
Arguably the most user-friendly hybrid on our list, the G430 features a shallow face and low profile, ensuring it sits flush to the ground, presenting a visually appealing and confidence-inspiring appearance at address.
In terms of aesthetics, the G430 lives up to the standards set by its predecessor, the G425. Sporting a matte black finish accented with flashes of lime green, this hybrid exudes shelf appeal and looks equally attractive both in hand and at address.
Although it may not match the sheer length or speed of some competitors, particularly for those seeking maximum distance, the PING G430 shines bright as a reliable safety option, offering consistency and ease of use that are hard to surpass.
Things you need to consider when buying a new fairway wood
1. Club Head Size
Hybrids come in a variety of different head sizes, with each suiting a different type of player and skill level. More compact hybirds tend to suit players who prefer to shape the ball, and a smaller profile behind the ball can often be considered more aesthetically pleasing,
Larger heads tend to offer increased forgiveness with a more confidence-inspiring look at address.
Size matters, so be sure to find a head size that fits your game and your eye.
2. Loft
Loft refers to the angle of the face in relation to the vertical, and it's a key consideration when purchasing a new hybird, with the majority of brands offering a range that typically includes 3, 5 and 7 woods. Each will come with its own set of characteristics, so choosing the right one for your needs is vital.
Ranging from a typical 3-hybrid loft of 19 degrees to a 5-hybrid that comes in around the 24-25 degree mark, the difference in distance and versatility on offer is broad. When choosing your hybrid, it's always key to consider what type of shot you want to hit, as the loft will be of paramount importance to get the results you desire.
A lower lofted club will produce a more piercing ball flight for more distance, while the increased loft of a 4 or 5-hybrid will help you get the ball airborne with greater ease while typically landing a little softer at the same time.
3. Adjustability
The two varieties of adjustability to consider when buying a hybrid are weight and loft.
Movable weights can be a handy tool to fine-tune both the centre of gravity and moment of inertia of your hybrid, with the PXG Black Ops being a perfect example of this.
Moving weight forward in the club head will result in a more piercing ball flight and increased distance while adding weight to the back of the club will promote increased spin, higher launch and improved forgiveness.
Some clubs also offer weights that can be adjusted for ball shaping. Additional weight at the toe of a club will create more draw bias, while moving weight closer to the heel will favour a fade.
4. Shaft
Getting the correct shaft in your hybrid is of equal importance to getting the right head. With a wide variety of weights and flexes available to suit different swing speeds, we highly recommend heading to your nearest fitting studio to ensure you have the correct setup to suit your swing.
Using lighter, less stiff shafts will produce a higher, right-to-left biased ball flight, while heavier, stiff shafts will launch the ball lower with a higher tendency to shape the ball to the right.
Most manufacturers will offer drivers in regular (R), stiff (S) and extra stiff (XS) shaft flexes.
Other flexes include light or ladies flex (L), senior (A) and more extra stiff options (XXS, XXXS).
5. Shot Type
Fairway woods are versatile tools that can be used for a wide variety of different shot types. Whether you're looking for something to offer a little added accuracy off the tee, or a tool to help you reach long par-5s in two, the wide variety of hybrids on the market can suit every golfer's needs
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