This months tip is how to get the best results from your hybrid. The caddies in Thailand will call this club “Mei Khatoey” meaning half wood half iron, or “ladyboy” as they so passionately call it. Hybrid clubs are incredibly useful from the close cut fairways and long grass that the courses in Thailand have, as long as you know how to swing one. You’d be surprised at how many golfers often with no clue of how-or of what the hybrid was designed to do in the first place. To clear up misconceptions about hybrids, as well as how to swing one, let’s look at what hybrids are designed to do. In most cases, hybrids are designed not as fairway-wood replacements but as long-iron replacements. This isn’t the case across the board, but to know for certain, check out the design of your hybrid. If it looks more like a wood, then it’s better suited for a wood-like swing. There aren’t many hybrids like that; most hybrids on the market have iron-like features, meaning these babies are better suited to swing like an iron. That’s what this article is about. Hybrid Iron Or Wood? What is a hybrid, exactly? Most hybrids are designed to be replacement clubs for those hard-to-hit long irons, but that’s not true with all models. The easiest way to determine if your hybrids require more of a wood-like swing or an iron-like swing is to check the design of the face. If the face looks like an iron, then it’s meant to be swung more like an iron. If it has a more rounded profile and looks more like a wood, the club might perform better for you if you have a slightly shallower angle of attack. Now be careful, no matter what, a hybrid is not a fairway wood, and in most cases, your steeper iron swing will prevail. But if you have hybrids that look more like woods, don’t be afraid to make a lower and longer golf swing. BALL Position: Use your 3- or 4-iron as a guide SETUP For starters, let’s get your address position correct. The right ball position for your hybrid is just a smidge back towards the middle of your stance of where you would play of your 3- or 4-iron. The goal is to position the ball so you want to hit down on the ball with your hybrid. It’s not made to scoop! Second, the distance from you and the golf ball should change. This means moving away from the ball, about an inch or so. To get more specific, check your hybrid’s length with your long iron. If it’s an inch longer, then stand an inch farther from the ball. DON’T LIFT AT IMPACT Just as you would with a long iron, hitting a hybrid effectively means hitting down onto the golf ball, and making a full extension through the hit. In case you were also wondering, it’s perfectly acceptable (in fact, it’s encouraged) to make a divot with your hybrid shots. Follow these steps-hit your hybrids like a long iron, and you’ll be on your way to making the most out of them and having some great scores while your in Thailand.