| The utility golf club, or hybrid as it is sometimes | | | | like an iron but a little bulbous at the back. Some |
| known, is a relatively new addition to the golf club | | | | manufacturers have actually designed their utility |
| family. The utility club is designed to be easier to | | | | clubs to be more like fairway woods, enabling |
| hit for the weekend golfer and is becoming very | | | | them to move the weight further back again, as |
| popular because of this. In fact, it is not | | | | the club is larger. |
| uncommon now to see the utility club in the bags | | | | Another plus point of the utility golf club is that it's |
| of many touring pros. | | | | centre of gravity is lower. This makes it easier to |
| These clubs are a cross between irons and | | | | get the ball in the air. By lowering the centre of |
| woods in design ( hence their sometimes being | | | | gravity, this increases the launch angle of the ball, |
| called hybrids ) and because of this design many | | | | without actually increasing the loft of the club. If |
| golfers find them easier to hit than long irons. | | | | you have a 3 iron with 20 degrees of loft, and a |
| Most of these clubs are made to replace a 3 or 4 | | | | utility club with the same loft, but with the weight |
| iron which ordinary golfers can struggle with, so if | | | | further back and a lower centre of gravity, then |
| the utility club feels more comfortable and is | | | | the utility club will launch the ball higher. That is |
| easier to hit, it's not surprising that many golfers | | | | why you should realise when buying a utility golf |
| are acquiring them. | | | | club that the loft will not directly compare to the |
| So what advantages does the utility club have | | | | club you are replacing. |
| over regular irons? Because a normal iron doesn't | | | | If you haven't already tried a utility golf club, get |
| have much of a back to it, you can't move the | | | | down to your local pro shop and give it a go. |
| weight further back. Yes, you can have perimeter | | | | These clubs are not everyone's cup of tea, but in |
| weighting, but you can't put the weight further | | | | my experience they can be a good addition to |
| back if there is nothing there to put it. So to be | | | | your golf bag. They do get the ball in the air |
| able to put weight along the outside of the club | | | | easier, and down the fairway. Any club that does |
| and further back, the designers started to | | | | that is worth a try. |
| "fatten" the back of iron. So the utility club looks | | | | |