A few years ago, the talk amoung the touring pros was about hybrid irons and how well they had improved their games by adding these clubs to their bags. As a consequence, there was a mad rush of amateur golfers to their local sporting goods stores buying up these hybrids and adding them to their bags in hopes of improving their games only to find themselves amoung a group of frustrated amateur golfers who could not hit the things. I was certrainly amoung this group of frustrated golfers.
About 3 years ago, I had the opportunity to volunteer for the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn for the Senior Tour and carried the standard for them. On Saturday of that tournament, I had the priveledge of carrying the standard for a group that included the great Jim Thorp. As we approached the 18th that day, lightening was stricking all around Rock Barn and a lightening delay was sounded stopping play until the lightening had passed. During that delay, Mr. Thorp graciously offered me a seat inside of the scorers tent next to him and he broke out in conversation with me about the game. I had mentioned to him about the problems I was having with hitting my hybrid 2/3 iron with any kind of consistancy and that I just assume leave the club at home. He told me that a lot of the problems with hitting these clubs was that people think they should hit them like fairway woods or drivers. He said to try setting the ball back in my stance when hitting this club and position the ball somewhere between the mid-line of my body and my back heel. This forces one to hit down on the ball, giving it better trajectory and ball flight toward the target.
I went to my local driving range, took Mr. Thorp's advise, and starting pureing my hybrid every time I hit it. Now, I cannot imagine leaving this club behind as Mr. Thorp's advise has certainly helped this aspect of my game. As a matter of fact, just yesterday, I was playing a 499 yard par 5 and hit my driver down the middle of the fairway to a point 219 yards from the pin. Using my hybrid 2/3 iron, I set the ball back in my stance, took my normal golf swing, lofted the ball off the fairway, hit the front edge of the green, rolled about 8 more yards and dropped in the cup for my first ever double eagle. Thank you, Mr. Thorp, for your sound and accurate advise!
