Hybrids

CLUBS LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

* Category Leader

: ADAMS IDEA A3 / A30S; STREET PRICE: $150
WEBSITE: adamsgolf.com
LOFTS
16, 19, 22, 25. Available in senior versions at 23, 26 and 29

TECH STORY
The stretched blade length and boxy shape help the club achieve a horizontal-axis moment of inertia of 3,350 grams/cm2. This means you get 28 percent more resistance to twisting on off-center hits than last year's Idea Pro, yet the head size is barely bigger.

PLAYER COMMENTS
"A good club for a wide range of players. . . . Flashy cosmetics were super easy to aim. . . . For whatever reason, it just feels easy to make a good swing with this club."

HOT
It seems every engineer and his mother are rushing toward greater MOI in everything from drivers to putters. That's why we respect these guys for maintaining attention to playability. The sole keel point and leading-edge relief encourage the head to nestle behind the ball with the neutrality of an iron. The ProLaunch shafts are a good stock offering.

NOT
Square shape mildly resembles a beetle on growth hormones.

* Category Leader

: COBRA BAFFLER DWS/PRO; STREET PRICE: $150, $180
WEBSITE: cobragolf.com
LOFTS
16, 18, 20, 23, 26, 29

TECH STORY
To maximize ball speed on mis-hits, the maraging-steel face insert has more surface area than last year's model. Extra weight has been redistributed to the corners to improve MOI, and the "fastback crown" (slightly sloped front to back) pushes the CG low and deep. The Baffler Pro's back screw accommodates custom shaft weights.

PLAYER COMMENTS
"A contender. Gray-and-black scheme has an appealing look at address. . . . Ball seems to come off fast and settle soft. . . . Head shape is nothing short of purity, and the trajectory is strong and high."

HOT
The company knows not to tinker too much with a classic. That said, the tweaks are noticeable in a good way. A reassuring club to have when the pressure's on. A nice feature on the Pro version is a longer hosel that allows lie-angle adjustability on custom orders.

NOT
Some will find the look of the rounded, protruding leading edge meddlesome.

: NICKENT 4DX IRONWOOD; STREET PRICE: $150
WEBSITE: nickentgolf.com
LOFTS
14, 15.5, 17, 18.5, 20, 21.5, 23, 24.5, 26, 27.5, 29

TECH STORY
A thin (0.4-millimeter) titanium crown is brazed to a steel body. The weight saved is used to make two tungsten inserts. The inserts lower the CG and reduce vibration. The face height has been increased by two millimeters to help lessen spin for a low, more penetrating ball flight.

PLAYER COMMENTS
"Has a nice, plain shape and straight lines. . . . Classy modified offset, a real player's hybrid. . . . I felt very confident swinging this club. . . . The impact sounds powerful, almost like a fairway wood."

HOT
The sharp, metal-wood sound pleases the ears, and the look is about as traditional as this category gets. It's a definite improvement over the 3DX DC, which was no short order. Plus, the 11 loft choices can fill any distance gap.

NOT
Some suggest the sweet spot is a little like finding your swing: It's good when it's there, but don't expect it to show up every day.

: NIKE SQ SUMO / SQ SUMO²; STREET PRICE: $150
WEBSITE: nikegolf.com
LOFTS
Sumo: 15, 18, 21, 24; Sumo2: 17, 20, 23, 26, 30, 34

TECH STORY
As with all of the company's square designs, the purpose is to increase forgiveness. The cryogenic-steel face is made thicker in the middle and thinner on the perimeter to optimize ball speed on off-center strikes. Though shaped differently on the two models, the "powerbow" system lets designers move weight low and back for stability.

PLAYER COMMENTS
"This club sits dead square and flies dead straight. . . . My mis-hits soared; definitely a 'Best in Show'. . . . The sound of the conventional model is slightly better than the square."

HOT
Maybe the geometry inherited from the driver works better in the hybrid. Notebook after notebook of positive feedback from our player testers suggests the golfing population is past the shock of unconventional shapes. Because the two models have staggered lofts, there are options for filling precise distance gaps.

NOT
Blocky shape will have to prove its merit from tight lies to traditional-minded players.