5-hybrid — 2026-05-25

Your 5-hybrid averaged 168 yards of carry with 118 mph ball speed and 15 degree launch. The 5-yard gap up from 6-iron (163 to 168) is tighter than ideal -- you'd expect 10-12 yards between a long iron and the corresponding hybrid. Like the 6-iron, the average is dragged down by two soft strikes (shots 1 and 2 at 153/150). The top end is strong: shots 5 and 8 both produced 178+ carry with 125+ mph ball speed.

You mentioned trying a more upright setup on hybrids today. The peak ball speeds back it up: 120, 123, 125, 126 mph on shots 3, 4, 5, and 8 -- consistent with what a 5-hybrid should produce. Shots 1 and 2 came in at 107/110 mph, looking like the typical warm-up speed for a new club length. Once you settled in, the engine ran. The more upright posture may be giving you cleaner contact at the bottom of the arc.

Shot 8 was your best 5-hybrid strike: 187 yards of carry on 126 mph ball speed, 15 degree launch, and only 5 yards of curve (L5). The 27 yards left of offline came from the swing path being well left of target -- a real pull. Compare to shot 4 (176 carry, 123 mph, L6 curve, L35 offline) -- the same pattern, even larger. The pulls are the bigger misses than the right-curve shots.

Shots 4 and 8 broke the right-curve pattern with L6 and L5 curves respectively -- and both finished deep left (L35, L27). When the face closes on a 5-hybrid swing path that's also moving left, you get the snap-pull pattern. Both were high-quality strikes (123 and 126 mph) but they ended in the next fairway. The right-to-left wind made the left misses worse than they'd be in calm conditions, but the swing geometry started the problem.

Only shot 3 finished right of center (R10). Every other shot ranged from L3 to L35. The wind explains a few yards of left bias, but the magnitude (multiple L18+ finishes) is path-related. The more upright setup may also be steepening the swing plane in a way that's adding leftward bias to the start line. Worth checking with a video next session whether the upright setup is producing a steeper, more out-to-in path.

1. The upright setup gave you ball speed -- 125+ mph on good strikes is real for this club. Keep it. 2. The 7-of-8 left finishes are a setup-and-path issue. The wind is making it look worse than it is, but even in calm air this club would finish left of target. 3. The 5-yard gap from 6-iron is too tight. Either the 6-iron is over-performing or the 5-hybrid is under-performing. Worth a calm-day session to sort out true gapping. 4. 187 carry on shot 8 is your true 5-hybrid distance ceiling. Average will rise as the soft warmup balls drop out of the sample over time.