TOP 10 HYBRIDS

Taylormade Stealth |

£229

TG VERDICT Year after year, Taylormade fairways and hybrids consistently test fast, powerful and long. And thanks to being our second longest hybrid of the year, the Stealth certainly didn’t let the side down. It’s very much a flat-out speed and distance hybrid, with a mid-width body. If you feel hybrids have the tendency to pull left of your target, the narrower Stealth Plus will be a better fit.

Ping G425 |

£249

TG VERDICT Taylormade may have a reputation for making fast and long fairways and hybrids, but Ping have a knack of coming up trumps when it comes to forgiveness and playability. The G425 might be a year old but it’s still a really solid hybrid choice, demonstrated brilliantly by how our test pro hit shots into the smallest dispersion area (163.8 yds2) of all 22 hybrids we’ve tested this year.

Cleveland Launcher XL Halo |

£189

TG VERDICT There isn’t a double-digit club golfer in the land who won’t hit the Launcher XL Halo better than their 3, 4 and 5-iron. Yes, the head’s pretty big, but like the Launcher XL’S matching iron, it’s not cumbersome or awkward and the wide body adds spin, which at average speeds aids launch and keeps shots in the air for longer. A really good hybrid choice for the majority of club golfers.

Srixon ZX |

£229

TG VERDICT We’re suckers for cute little fairways and hybrids here at TG, and the ZX is one of those clubs. This year our data has the model down as our longest hybrid (226 yards carry), and our consistent test pro kept shots within a nice tight dispersion area (third best), with only nine yards of carry distance variation (second best) between his best and worst hits. Seriously impressive.

Wilson Launch Pad |

£175

TG VERDICT The Launch Pad has a wide body, so it’s a good fit for players who hit hybrids like fairways and sweep shots off the turf. We love the higher-than-average spin, the extra shot height and the steeper descent angle, all of which will improve carry distance at more average club golfer speeds. Consider this a brilliant option for slicers.

Honma T//world GS |

£249

TG VERDICT Honma are very adept at creating equipment that performs brilliantly in the hands of average speed players. The GS definitely isn’t for everyone; it has a 55g shaft, 25g lighter than most, and often a driver shaft weight. But average speed players get a really attractive, wide-body head that’s great at protecting ball speed drop-off (our best this year) on off-centre hits.

Callaway Rogue ST Pro |

£249

TG VERDICT Our test data shows how the Pro isn’t quite the fastest or longest within the Rogue ST hybrid family, but we want to highlight the model as a lovely hybrid for decent golfers. We love the slightly narrower head and less offset hosel look, and we feel this model opens up a degree of shot shaping for players who enjoy plotting their way around the course.

PXG 0211 |

£160

TG VERDICT At launch the 0211 would have set you back £250; it’s now down to £160 and is a lot of hybrid for that. We love the matt black head and how the model protected our test pro’s ball speed (second best, 3.7mph / 2.4%). Our data has it five yards back on carry from our very longest, but in the hands of average speed players any difference would be negligible. A great all-round option.

Callaway Apex 21 |

£249

TG VERDICT The Apex 21 might be a year old now, but there’s room for them among the best hybrids of 2022. Our thinking comes down to their adjustable hosels (Callaway’s new Rogue ST models are not adjustable), as they allow golfers to dial in the exact loft, lie and shot bias they desire, which is important to lots of reasonable players when swapping long irons for more efficient hybrids.

Cobra King LTDX |

£199

TG VERDICT Cobra only make one hybrid, so it’s really important to understand who the LTDX will work best for. With the brilliant KBS Players Graphite shaft as stock, we reckon the model will be best suited to reasonable golfers and certainly not players who struggle to flight long approaches for maximum carry. If you swing consistently at a reasonable pace, the LTDX is powerful while remaining inviting to hit.