How to Aim Hybrids and Instantly Lower Your Scores

How to Aim Hybrids and Instantly Lower Your Scores

So you want to learn how to aim hybrids.

I know what that means. 

It means you know the maddening frustration of hitting what feels like a solid hybrid shot only to watch your ball land thirty yards to the right of the green.

And considering how many times the average golfer hits their hybrid in a round, your score truly does depend on your ability to aim this club.

Don’t let that stress you out. The solution to this all-too-familiar struggle is easier than you think. You’re about to learn how to aim hybrids, and I’ll give you an easy pre-shot routine that will set you up for success.

But first, let’s talk about why it’s so hard to aim this club in the first place. 

What No One is Telling You About How to Aim Hybrids

Odds are, those wayward hybrid shots have nothing to do with your actual swing. More likely, the problem is caused by something that happened before you even initiated the takeaway. 

And honestly, that error is as much your club’s fault as it is your own.

Don’t get me wrong. I love hybrids. This club is one of the best inventions in the last fifty years of the game, and it’s a lifesaver for casual golfers…

…provided you know how to navigate the quirks of the hybrid’s design. Because there are quirks. Aim-killing quirks.

For one thing, the hybrid is one of the longest clubs in your bag, which means it forces you to stand farther from the ball. This makes it much harder to accurately perceive your clubface orientation and visualize target lines.

The second challenge comes from the shaft’s flat lie. Your hybrid’s shaft connects to the clubhead at a flatter angle than some of your other clubs. 

And what’s wrong with that?

Well, this design causes the clubface to naturally rotate open when you rest the clubhead on the ground. Most of the time, you won’t even realize it’s happening.

So what’s the fix?

Well, the easiest fix is to replace your hybrid. Traditional hybrids are all designed with these problem features because they’re made to serve the skill set of professional golfers. 

The features that are “quirks” for you and me are actually assets for elite players, but only because those top athletes have a lot of swing speed, flexibility, and time to practice.

The rest of us can’t hope to match their ability, which means we’re better off with a hybrid designed for our skill set. There’s only one hybrid like that (at least that I know about), and I know it works because I designed it.

It’s called the VLS Maxvert 1 hybrid and you can learn more about it here.

But if you’re not looking to replace your hybrid, don’t worry. You’re about to learn how to aim hybrids no matter which hybrid you use.

How to Aim Hybrids Correctly

It all comes down to clubface orientation. You’ve got to make sure you get the clubface square at address. Do that, and you’ll start seeing those solid hybrid shots travel several beautiful yards in the right direction.

I teach all my students how to aim hybrids using this simple routine:

  1. Stand with your feet together.
  2. Grip the hybrid with your trail hand only.
  3. If you don’t have a Maxvert, raise the shaft angle slightly. (The Maxvert is designed with a more vertical lie, so no adjustments are necessary.)
  4. If you own a Maxvert, aim the red line on the Fairway Finder Guide down the target line. (The Fairway Finder Guide is a aiming guide on the crown of the clubhead that helps you visualize your target line even from a distance. If you don’t have a Maxvert, it might be worth creating your own guide with a Sharpie or piece of tape.)
  5. Without coming out of your stance, rotate your head to look down the target line. Is everything lined up? Great. Now you can:
  6. Separate your feet to get into your stance.
  7. Take your swing.

This routine will help you visualize your lines more accurately and help you prevent the clubhead from flopping open.

More to the point: it’ll put an end to those heartbreaking hybrid shots that feel amazing but end up ricocheting off trees or landing in the rough.

Learn More

Want to learn more about the differences between the new VLS Maxvert 1 hybrid and traditional drivers? This article will help you understand what it means to have a club designed for your swing.

Just want to dive right in and try the Maxvert for yourself? Click here to see other golfers’ results with this club and snag your own.
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