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HybridsBall Position by Club Hybrids Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 15 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

How to Hit a Hybrid in Golf: Espelt's Bounce Shot

Do your long irons end up in the rough or on the green? Jean-Marc Espelt, from coach-golf.com, shows how the hybrid can restore your confidence—and how to play it based on the lie: the key is a sensation of the sole bouncing off the ground.

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Jean-Marc Espelt
Jean-Marc Espelt · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

10 minSame problemSliding the hybrid along the ground: the two-tee drillSimon Camirand · Beginner / Intermediate9 minSame problemHitting Your Hybrid: Aim for a tee in front of the ballLewis Wallace · Beginner / Intermediate8 minFrom the same proSenior Golf Swing: 3 Tips from Jean-Marc EspeltJean-Marc Espelt · Intermediate / Seniors

What the lesson shows

Jean-Marc Espelt points out that many amateur golfers struggle with their long irons—especially the long ones with thin soles. Hybrids inspire greater confidence: a wider sole, a shell behind the face, an offset center of gravity, and a heavier head that makes the ball fly farther. On a poor place, you attack it like an iron, mostly on the downswing, but with the intention of letting the sole glide, without trying to dig up a big divot: that's the the sensation of a ricochet, like a pebble on the water.

Whether on a tee or with a lot of grass under the ball, it's played more like wood, with the ball positioned slightly closer to the left foot, rising only slightly. The angle of the body determines whether the club touches the ground. He suggests alternating between a ball positioned in the middle, which starts low, and ball in the left front third of the stance, which provides the correct angle of attack. Next, coordination and relaxation: You make a motion that meets the ball, without actually hitting it.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Look at the lie: if there's not much grass under the ball, play the hybrid like an iron; if there's a lot of grass or you're on a tee, play it like a wood.
  2. Divide the distance between your feet into three equal parts and place the ball in the first third, on the left side.
  3. On a shallow bottom, try to slide the sole of your shoe along the ground, as if it were skipping across the water.
  4. When standing on a tee, keep the ball below the top of the clubhead, without letting it extend beyond it.
  5. Let the angle of your body determine whether the club touches the ground.
  6. Take a relaxed swing, as if the ball weren't there.

Key Takeaways

The hybrid offers peace of mind: a wide sole, a shell, and an offset center of gravity.
On light lees, attack it like an iron, without taking a big divot.
From the tee or a generous lie, it's best played like a wood.
The key sensation is the bounce of the sole against the ground.
Place the ball in the left third of the stance for the correct angle of attack.
Stay relaxed—don't swing too hard at the ball.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Hit a big divot with the hybrid.
  • If you approach the ball at too steep an angle and with the clubface too closed, the ball won't travel as far.
  • Place the ball in the middle of your stance, which causes it to launch low.
  • Position it like a driver, on the inside of your left foot, at the risk of hitting it off the top.
  • Trying to hit the ball instead of making contact with it.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Back-and-forth play in the middle, puck in the left first zone
  2. Hybrid shots on a sparse lie, aiming for a bounce
  3. Shots from a small tee to ensure a safe tee shot
  4. Relaxed swings while feeling the weight of the clubhead

Your Questions

Why is a hybrid easier to hit than a long iron?

According to Jean-Marc Espelt, its wider sole, the shell behind the face, and its offset center of gravity provide visual reassurance, help center the ball, and make it fly farther.

Should you swing a hybrid like an iron or like wood?

Both, depending on the lie. On a poor lie—more like an iron—it will roll down with a bouncing sensation; on a tee or with a lot of grass under the ball, it will feel more like wood.

Where should you place the ball when using a hybrid club?

He divides the width of his stance into three parts and positions the ball in the leftmost third. In the middle, the ball flies low; too far to the left, like with a driver, the clubhead rises and risks hitting the ball fat.

How many hybrids should you pack in your bag?

He finds that having two clubs with different lofts allows him to adjust the distance between 165 to 195 yards depending on his skill level. He uses a 19-degree hybrid instead of his 2-iron.

Learn More

All “Hybrids” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Ball Position by Club” →Find the lesson that's right for you Forearms aligned with the fairway wood: consistent contactBefore swinging: check the lie, adjust the distance with your arms relaxed, align your forearms with the clubface, then take a smooth “one and two” swing. Sliding the hybrid along the ground: the two-tee drillShoulders at the same angle, the polo shirt’s buttons facing the ball, the clubhead slipped between two tees: you don’t need perfect contact with a hybrid. Hitting Your Hybrid: Aim for a tee in front of the ballAgainst the top and hybrid-style chicken wing: keep your chest facing the ground and the clubhead close to the ground until you reach a tee placed in front of the ball. Jean-Marc EspeltAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jean-Marc Espelt). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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