Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2020 - 11

ROSE
KLASSE
Consider the Hybrid
H
ACHARYA
* BY JOSEPH OBERLE *
Local amateurs see noticeable game improvement after putting
hybrids in their bag.
ybrids aren't for every player. MGA Amateur Van Holmgren (who fi nished second in 2019 POY points) says his height (6 feet 8
inches) creates high spin rates and he hits hybrids too high. But others have found the club's innovation integral to their game.
Jerry Rose
Jerry Rose, the 2019 MGA Senior Men's
Player of the Year (POY), says hybrids
have been a boon to his career. He
started using one in 2005 at age 45
because he found them easier for hitting
a higher lofted shot of more than
200 yards and much easier to hit out of
the rough and from tight lies. Rose says
it was the right decision: " Hybrids give
me the opportunity to hit more versatile
longer shots when needed. "
Hybrid: TaylorMade RBZ Tour 3
(18.5 degree)
Shaft: Stiff Matrix Ozik Altus (85 grams)
Club it Replaces: 2 iron
Is there anything you miss in your
long irons?
I miss not being able to hit a lower
trajectory shot into the wind . . . it's
harder to hit a " bullet " when needed.
What is your most memorable shot
with a hybrid?
During the fi nals
of the 2017 MGA
Senior Players
Championship: a
235-yard second
shot on 16 at St.
Cloud Country Club
to about 15 feet for
eagle to go 1-up and
eventually win the
championship.
Leigh Klasse
Leigh Klasse, the 2019 Seniors
Women's POY, has been playing hybrids
for about 15 years and recognizes
the benefi ts. She's used the clubs
everywhere from long rough to bunkers
(because the ball gets up so quickly). " It
has to be extremely long, wet rough to
not feel good about using them, " Klasse
says.
Hybrid: Taylormade Rocketballz 6 and
Taylormade Rocketballz 5
Shaft: Standard shaft. Regular fl ex
(65 gram)
Clubs it Replaces: 4 and 5 irons
What do you like about hybrids?
I like the higher ball fl ight and the fact
that they work well in the rough-they
do not hang up like a fairway wood does
and still get a lot of distance out of
the shot. I also use them a lot for a low
punch shot to keep it under the trees if
needed. Hybrids feel solid behind the
ball and will roll out if I play them that
way.
What is your most memorable shot
with a hybrid?
A hole in one at my home club in
Wisconsin: Cumberland Golf Club. It was
the 5-hybrid from 160 yards. Defi nitely
a keeper!
Jasi Acharya
Hybrids aren't just for older golfers, and
Jasi Acharya, the 2019 Women's POY
(and an employee at PXG), proves that
point. Acharya began using hybrids in
college and now has three in her bag.
" They are essential to my game, as I
need all the launch and spin I can get.
Long irons are less dependable for me,
and hard to stop when coming into a
green from long distances, " she says.
Hybrids: PXG 0317X Gen2 (19, 22 and
25 lofts)
Shaft: Bassara (60 gram)
Clubs they Replace: 3 iron, 4 iron and
5 iron
What is your recommendation
regarding hybrids to other golfers?
For the vast majority of golfers, hybrids
are meant to make the game easier.
They have helped my game immensely,
and I will continue to use them moving
forward.
What is your most
memorable shot
with a hybrid?
A hole in one
at LPGA Tour
Qualifying School
in Venice, Florida.
I hit my 4-hybrid
from 182. One hop
into the hole.
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