Most Forgiving Hybrids 2024

We take a look at the most forgiving hybrids currently available on the market

Most forgiving Hybrids Buying Guide
(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to a round of golf, players are always looking for ways to make the sport as easy as possible. Let's be honest, it's a hard enough game already and, if you can find ways to lower your score, then you're going to do it, aren't you? 

You may be thinking then, how do I make the game easier? Well, one way is to invest in a hybrid, a club which is designed to provide the workability of a long iron, but with the added forgiveness for those who struggle to find the centre of the club face.

Currently, manufacturers produce a wide range of hybrid models, with the majority of the best golf hybrid clubs giving users a larger target and sweet spot than a three or four-iron, for example.

However, it doesn't stop there because not all hybrids are designed to perform exactly the same way. Some golfers prefer a compact head, some want a hybrid that performs like a long iron, and others would rather it felt more like a wood. 

One thing that all golfers want from their clubs though is forgiveness. These clubs aren't magic wands, you're still going to play your bad shots and no new technology can save that from happening. However, if your mis-hits travel further and straighter, then you're onto a good thing. 

So then, which hybrids are best for forgiveness? Well, if the sheer number of options on the market is a bit daunting then fear not, because we've narrowed it down by identifying the most forgiving hybrids currently available. However, if forgiveness isn't your thing, then perhaps take a look at some of our in-depth guides on the best hybrid golf clubs for seniors and best hybrid golf clubs for high handicappers.

WATCH: We test and compare all the latest golf hybrids in 2024

The Quick List

Most Forgiving Hybrids

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Top pick

Cleveland Launcher XL Halo hybridEditors Choice 2022

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 19°, 21°, 24°, 27°

Reasons to buy

+
Easy to hit from any type of lie
+
Provides naturally high launch conditions
+
Forgiving on off-centre strikes

Reasons to avoid

-
Impact sound is on the louder side

Designed for maximum forgiveness, the Cleveland Launcher XL Halo hybrid features some impressive technology which can save you from disaster in various on-course predicaments.

The specific focus in the design process was to help golfers escape poor lies with power and accuracy, with the Halo featuring Cleveland's XL head design which is larger than most hybrids. It also features an MOI of 2,961 - the most ever in a Cleveland Golf hybrid.

All of this combines to provide great stability and resistance at the moment of impact, with three Glide Rails on the sole helping keep the clubface straight for better strikes, regardless of lie quality. It performed so well that we included it in our Editor's Choice awards for 2022.

Best for any lie

Cobra Darkspeed Hybrid Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 17º, 19º, 21º, 24º, 28º

Reasons to buy

+
Very fast ball speed
+
High launch produces long carry distances
+
modern , sleek club design

Reasons to avoid

-
Long blade length from heel to toe may not suit all

Straight out of the box, the Darkspeed hybrid has a look synonymous with Cobra hybrids - a slightly longer blade length with a compact footprint and slightly more toe-heavy look to it from the top. The same stealth-like finish has been applied to the Darkspeed hybrid as seen on the rest of the Darkspeed family and provides a modern and premium aesthetic. The combination of black and grey tones alongside a matte dark grey crown make this one of the best looking hybrids at address.

Some of the same technology found in the fairway wood range has been installed in the Darkspeed hybrid and serves a really good purpose. The PWR-bridge technology and H.O.T face technology once again provide outstanding ball speed numbers and straight away made this hybrid one of the longest hybrids I have tested this year so far.

Upon testing indoors on a Trackman 4 launch monitor and using Titleist Pro V1 golf balls, we saw carry distances of 243 yards on average and ball speeds pushing just north of the 150mph number. For a 19° head, these numbers are pretty unbelievable considering my club speed was around the 103mph mark. 

Best high launch

Photo of Taylormade Qi10 max rescue

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 20º, 23º, 27º, 31º, 35º

Reasons to buy

+
Those seeking confidence through a larger sized head
+
Provides a high towering ball flight
+
Perimeter weighting creates maximum forgiveness

Reasons to avoid

-
Bonded head lacks ability to make adjustments to set-up

One of the main features of the Qi10 Max hybrid is the low CG combined with perimeter weighting, which promotes a high launch to maximize carry distance, particularly when struck from the deck. 

Through design of a shallower face, the engineers at TaylorMade have made a club that we think will inspire confidence behind the ball at address and will banish the nerves that creep in when playing into a green from distance. When conducting our testing out on the golf course, we noticed this straight away, particularly from the rough and the V-Steel sole helped cut through the wet grass - producing a ball flight reminiscent of one had the ball been teed up!

The premium color pallet of silver and blue tones look great on the Qi10 Max hybrid and are a welcome change over the likes of the Stealth 2 HD hybrid. Despite a bonded head, the face doesn’t sit too shut at address - something that many better players don’t like.

Best for any level

Ping G430 Hybrid Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 17º, 19º, 22º, 26º, 30º, 34º

Reasons to buy

+
Plenty of forgiveness across the face
+
Clean aesthetics
+
Produced surprisingly fast ball speeds

Reasons to avoid

-
Fairly challenging to shape shots

Ping are renowned in the golfing world for producing some of the best and most visually stunning clubs in the game - and the Ping G430 hybrid embodies that. It strikes the balance between being a sleek and aesthetically pleasing golf club, whilst also providing excellent performance and forgiveness. 

Aesthetically, it is a compact-looking club head which will, arguably, appeal to the better player, but it still inspires confidence at address. What's more, the brand have also listened to feedback from the golfing world, especially around the metallic sound and feel that was found on the G425 hybrid. On impact, the G430 delivered a very satisfying feel along with a lot of power. 

There's yet more positive news, with the yardages performing strongly, as well as the ball flight which, in windy conditions, was still extremely strong. Importantly though, the forgiveness is superb, with mis-hits still delivering strong carry yardages. This comes from the tungsten back-weight on the club, which helps to deliver a lower center of gravity that offers greater forgiveness from difficult lies.

Best looking

Titleist TSR2 Hybrid Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 18°, 21°, 24°

Reasons to buy

+
Very forgiving
+
Solid, powerful feel
+
Easy to align

Reasons to avoid

-
Profile may be too large for some

Titleist has sought to continue with the design features that made its predecessor so popular, but refining them to make it even more powerful, forgiving and versatile from different lies. In testing, it's the profile we instantly noticed, with the TSR2 possessing a lot more size and, if anything, it sits closer to a compact fairway wood than it does a hybrid.

This will divide opinion but, one thing that shouldn't be ignored is the neutral ball flight. The TSR2 has a lie angle that is half a degree flatter than standard and, in our testing, it certainly helped straighten up our shots. If anything, it has a slight fade bias to it - something that can be increased or reduced via the settings on the hosel. 

What makes this one of the most forgiving hybrids on the market then? Well, it's down to the deeper CG from the more stretched back design. This makes the hybrid easy to launch and very playable, with the feel and sound more metallic and higher pitched, which for some will translate into a more powerful impact experience.

Best from rough

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL Hybrid Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 18º, 21º, 24º, 27º, 30º, 33º

Reasons to buy

+
High, towering ball flight
+
Easy to launch from the rough
+
Forgiving, large foot-print

Reasons to avoid

-
Hard to keep the flight down when playing into wind

Another model in the Paradym Ai Smoke range is the HL hybrid which is essentially the more user-friendly version which offers an effortlessly high launch. As forgiving as the standard head is, the HL takes things up another notch thanks to the newly constructed Ai Smart Face, which sees multiple sweet spots scattered around behind the face to ensure miss-hit shots fly relatively similar to those struck out the center.

Out of the rough in particular it produced a high, towering ball flight that landed on greens from distance extremely softly. And yet the trade-off here is the club is difficult to flight down in the wind and there is a degree of control lost as a result. The adjustable hosel can help here slightly though.

The larger footprint really inspires confidence when on the ground and the classic ‘V’ alignment aid on the matte crown made it easy to set up square to my intended target. Overall this is the perfect hybrid for those with slower swing speeds seeking easy launch as well as those who like to see the ball fly from right to left as a right handed golfer. It will no doubt become one of the best hybrids for seniors and hybrids for high handicappers over the course of the year due to how easy it is to use.

Best for simplicity

Wilson Dynapwr Hybrid Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 19º, 22º, 25º, 28º

Reasons to buy

+
Extremely easy to launch
+
Superb from the rough
+
Powerful impact sensation

Reasons to avoid

-
Large footprint won’t suit the eye of the better player
-
Not adjustable for loft

The Wilson Dynapower hybrid boasts a refined shape and lots of new technology that will cater for a range of golfers. The matte black look makes this club very cool and streamlined at address, with the head looking extremely inviting to hit. There's also lots of of red detailing, akin to the TaylorMade Stealth 2 hybrids, which gives this club a very premium appearance and, when testing on the course, it really surpassed our expectations. 

While it didn't necessarily outperform other models on the market, it definitely held its own, offering soaring ball flights that came into greens at a steep and pleasing descent angle. The slight draw bias on the club was also very handy and will endeavour to help correct a slice pretty effectively. 

Wilson have also added a lot of new technology to this hybrid, with a PKR2 face, that is designed through A.I., helping off-center hits fly consistently during testing and ensuring ball speeds remain normal when you don't catch the middle of the club quite right. We had no issues striking it out of the first cut, due to the high launch on this club, and even hit one out of a fairway bunker on a par 5, perhaps a shot we wouldn't have tried with our regular 4-iron. 

Best value

Yonex Ezone Elite 4 Hybrid Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Lofts: 18º, 21º, 24º, 27º

Reasons to buy

+
High consistent ball flight
+
Diagonal grooves inspire confidence
+
Performed very well from tricky lies

Reasons to avoid

-
The blue colorway may be too loud for some

An excellent golf club for beginners and high-handicap players, the Yonex Ezone Elite 4 is a well-designed and aesthetically pleasing club that does exactly what it was built to do. It is specifically designed for those who may not have the fastest club head speeds, as it is built to help get more height than the longer clubs in the bag.

What will appeal also, is how much club you get for your money, as it's a great choice for those on a budget. The gloss dual-tone blue crown may not be to everyone's liking, but it definitely stands out in the bag, with its sole plate boasting some very cool blue and silver detailing. 

From a performance standpoint, the Ezone Elite 4 hybrid held its own and felt soft yet powerful off the face, which is in part due to its In-Core groove technology. This technology is placed around the perimeter of the face to allow for greater flexibility and faster ball speeds.  

Most fairway wood like

Photo of the Callaway Apex UW sole

The sole of the Callaway 2024 Apex UW

(Image credit: Future/Joe Ferguson)

Specifications

Lofts: 17°, 19°, 21°
Lie angle: 57-57.5º

Reasons to buy

+
Clean minimalist aesthetic
+
High launch
+
Surprisingly forgiving

Reasons to avoid

-
The new sole design cheapens the look

In 2014, Callaway opened up a whole new market by introducing a long and forgiving forged iron for better players. Then recently Callaway is attempted to create a new gear niche with the launch of its Apex UW (Utility Wood), a club that looks and flies like a fairway wood but offers the versatility and precision of the best hybrids.

Now onto its second iteration, the Callaway Apex UW sits almost in a category of its own. When assessing the looks of the new Apex UW, the club retains a clean, unfussy profile with a gloss black finish and no markings on the crown. The clubhead sits extremely squarely behind the ball and there is no noticeable change in head shape from the original when looking down at address.

Well-struck shots have an impressively high launch angle but still flew powerfully through a fairly stiff headwind without the excessive backspin that a fairway wood may produce for a higher swing speed player. It also performed excellently, and dare we say better than the previous UW, out of the rough, thanks to the new sole technology. Finally no matter the wind conditions, the Apex UW could even rival the best fairway woods on the market.

How we test hybrids

When it comes to Golf Monthly's testing procedure, we use the same ethos and methodology for all golf products to make sure they are as insightful, honest and comprehensive as possible. When it comes to golf clubs, we usually attend product launches so we can meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts to understand the new technology.

After we have an understanding here, our first port of call when hitting clubs is usually the indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, where the team can test in a controlled environment using premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. We also use TrackMan at golf facilities across the UK.

We then do outdoor testing, usually on ranges at West Hill Golf Club, Surrey, The Wynyard Club in Teesside and at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club in Durham. We then put the clubs into play out on these golf courses.

Specifically for hybrids, product testing is headed up by Matthew Moore, supported by technical editor Joel Tadman. Both are competitive low handicap golfers, able to efficiently test the biggest product releases and successfully communicate equipment technology and product features to a wide golfing audience.

How to choose the right hybrid

It's one thing knowing what the best golf hybrid clubs on the market are, and something else entirely choosing which model to add to your bag. So, how do you make such a decision?

In an ideal world, a properly executed club fitting will provide the answers - the amount of data available covering things like swing speed, club path, ball speed, angle of attack, and distance is quite staggering. One of these will definitely get the right make and model in your hands.

However, if this isn't possible for whatever reason, we have a few tips.

Performance -  How a hybrid performs is the most important factor. You are looking for versatility that will improve your scores and help you out of trouble in a range of on-course situations. We would recommend trying out hybrids off the tee, from the rough, fairway, around the green and even from the middle of low-lipped fairway bunkers. You need to gauge how well they perform for you and a demo day is an ideal opportunity to do the kind of testing you need to be sure a hybrid is right for you. 

Feel -  A thorough test can inform how some clubs feel during the golf swing and most importantly at impact. Some models sound loud at impact, others are more muted. Some will feel like the contact is a dense thud, others will feel hot and energetic off the face. Feel is entirely subjective and personal to the player. Again, we recommend hitting some models indoors and outdoors, so you can have an idea of what you like and dislike.

Looks - With all golf clubs you need to like how they look, especially at address, because you don't want to be distracted by a club you really don't enjoy looking at. Take some time to shop around, feel the club in your hands and see if you like the way it looks and feels at address. Does it match the rest of your set-up, will you feel completely comfortable putting it in the bag? As much as it may seem vain to judge a club on looks, it can increase your confidence on-course if you love the look of your hybrid when you pull the headcover.

Not every hybrid is the same. Some are more wood-like in appearance, whilst others have a higher toe and are designed to look more like an iron.

Budget - The penultimate factor you should consider is budget. Given the number of hybrids available on the market, you can find a quality club at most price points and to suit almost any budget. If you want a premium brand model then you can get one, or if you want to save money, there is usually value for money to be found if you are happy not to own a club by a marquee manufacturer.

Testing - We hate to sound like a broken record but go to a range and try some out. Most places still tape clubs up and let you conduct your own range test. It won't be as thorough as a custom fit but you can draw some conclusions.

For example, you'll be able to get a sense for the weight and looks of the club and whether the shaft suits the way you swing it. 

Hitting some shots, even with tape on the face, will also give you an idea of how easy each hybrid is to hit and get airborne. For higher handicappers, this will likely be very helpful.

Better golfers may be in the market for something that's more workable and therefore would be suited to something with plenty of hosel adjustability.

Ultimately, it depends on what aspect(s) of performance you value above all else and which hybrid is able to tick the most boxes for your game.

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Sam De'Ath
Staff Writer

Sam has worked in the golf industry for 12 years, offering advice on equipment to all levels of golfers and as Staff Writer, he tests and reviews equipment throughout the bag. Sam graduated from Webber International University in 2017 with a BSc Marketing Management degree while playing collegiate golf. His experience of playing professionally on both the EuroPro Tour and Clutch Pro Tour, alongside his golf retail history, means Sam has extensive knowledge of golf equipment and what works for different types of golfer.

Sam is a member of North Hants Golf Club in Fleet, Hampshire, where he won the club championship 3 times in succession from 2015-2017. His golfing highlight to date is shooting a round of 10-under 60 at his home club, narrowly missing a wedge shot for a magical 59.


Sam’s current What’s In The Bag?


Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2, 9°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus, 15°

Hybrid: Ping G430 19°

Irons: Titleist T-100 4 iron, Titleist 620MB, 5-PW

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8, 50°, 54°, 62°

Putter: Scotty Cameron Select GoLo

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x 2021 


With contributions from