Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2017 - 11

Hybrids are
easier to hit-
both in the
fairway and in
the rough.
in the upper Midwest). If the feel of
the club and launch of the ball don't
convince you, the stats racked up in
the fi tting computer will.
Johnson simply asks, " How well
do you hit your 3-iron? " And if you
say " pretty well " (that's what I said),
the question is, " How many times do
you hit it in a round? " (Maybe three
times.) Then: " How many times
does your shot end up on the green? "
(Umm, well ...)
After hitting a few clubs that fi t
more million dollars a week. "
Hybrids have been around for a
decade and a half, and the manufacturers
have become fairly accomplished
at producing them. They
have bulked up the profi le from the
fi rst ones on the market, lowered the
moment of inertia, added adjustable
technology and have simply made
them easier to hit. Meanwhile, the
pros and top amateurs, who in some
cases have added more than one to
their bag, have helped dispel the misconception
that hybrids are just for
the senior set.
" I see very good players that we
work with here using them, " Johnson
says. " Some of the best amateurs
in the state, professionals in town-
they just want consistency. "
I battled the misconception about
hybrids even though consistent play
with my 3-iron was waning. I have
carried one hybrid (that took the
place of a 5-wood in my bag) for
more than 10 years, but it took the
loss of my 3-iron at one of my last
rounds in 2016 to fi nally acquiesce
for another, and I went to see Johnson
to get fi t for a hybrid.
It doesn't take long to lose the
stigma about hybrids after hitting
one in 2nd Swing's high-tech fi tting
studio (complete with eight highmotion
capture cameras,
state-ofthe-art
Foresight launch monitors
and Gears Golf fi tting software-a
setup that is unique to 2nd Swing
the 3-iron distance gap in your bag,
you start noticing the higher launch
angle than you are used to with
your 3-iron, and you start
imagining landing the
ball on the green from
200 yards away instead
of luckily rolling it up the
apron. (A guy can dream.)
Johnson says hybrids are
easier to hit (both in the fairway
and in the rough, as the shorter hosel
won't get caught up in long grass as
much as an iron), easier to get airborne,
and more forgiving and
consistent. The idea is to get
it fi t to exactly what you
need, as there are so many
variables-loft, lie,
shaft
length and fl exibility, face
size,
adjustability-and
everybody's needs are different.
I
walked away with a pre-owned
Ping G Hybrid, and after a bit of
practice to get used to swinging it,
I put it to good use on a trip south
in February. I hit it often, and, even
though I still want to fi nd my 3-iron,
I couldn't be happier.
" It's a hard game. And the hybrid
is making it easier, " Johnson
says. " Hybrids were originally
designed for a player
that struggled with trajectory,
that didn't hit it very hard and
that needed help. Now, it's a matter
of: Take advantage of it! Technology
today is making the game easier and
more fun. So, why not? "
That question is becoming more
diffi cult to answer. MG
Brand New Bag
A sneak peek of the products
you'll want in your bag this
year to improve your game.
N
obody likes re-tying their shoes during
a round, but whether the laces
become too tight or too loose, it is often
required. Well, the BOA shoe tighteners
might just be what the " shoe doctor "
ordered. The BOA system uses a dial
wire attached to the shoe that is
turned to tighten or loosen the
wire through the eyelets. FootJoy
has added the tighteners to
the back of their shoes above
the heel for a uniform fi t. They
make any in-round adjustments
quicker, and you won't have to deal
with knotted, frayed laces. (theboa
system.com/category/golf)
You couldn't browse long at the PGA
Golf show without seeing another new
range fi nder or GPS golf system, as
the market is loaded with new and
different versions: handheld,
wrist versions, belt clip, etc. But
the new DistancePro GPS glove
by Zero Friction caught our eye.
Powered with Bluetooth technology,
the device attaches to the
fl ap of a glove with readout of
distances to the front, center and back
of the greens on more than 35,000 golf
courses. It weighs less than a half-ounce
and is removable once the glove wears
out. ($129; zerofriction.com)
It may not be the fi rst driver referred
to as " epic, " but the new GBB Epic Driver
may be the fi rst with that name
stamped on the sole. The company
claims " an epic shift in how
the head and face behave to
enhance power ... with Jailbreak
Technology and Exo-Cage/triaxial
carbon construction. " It promises
more club head speed, distance
and control (like many do), but we
just like the look of it. No aerospace
degree is required to manage the
adjustability of this club.
($499; callawaygolf.com)
www.mngolf.org
Summer 2017 MINNESOTAGOLFER
11
http://www.system.com/category/golf http://www.zerofriction.com http://www.callawaygolf.com http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2017

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