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The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid produces exceptional ball speed thanks to Ai Smart Face and the Tungsten Speed Cartridge.  Easy, mid-high launch with mid-low spin mean lots of very long shots.  Good forgiveness.

Introduction

With the booming popularity of high-lofted fairway woods, hybrids seem to have lost their shine.  But while they may not be getting headlines, hybrids remain one of the best options for recreational players aiming to find the green from long distance.  The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid, using the same AI-based technology seen in the company’s drivers and fairway woods, seeks to prove that point with great ball speed and distance.

Looks

The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid is billed as having a “larger overall profile,” but it’s at most average in size.  Comparing the Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid to last year’s Paradym hybrid, Callaway has switched to a matte crown.  The shape is more refined, removing some of the bulk in the heel.  The face height is a touch above average which instills confidence when facing tough lies in the rough.

In the bag, the Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid has a bold look, mixing several colors and textures.  The branding remains modest in size with the focus on the blue Tungsten Speed Cartridge in the center of the sole.

Sound & Feel

Striking premium balls with the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid produces a very light, quick impact sound.  The exact tone is hard to pin down.  It’s not quite a “tink,” but there’s too much metallic character for it to be a “click.”  Regardless of how you verbalize the sound, it communicates speed.

The feel of impact is similarly quick, but the face doesn’t feel too thin.  This club definitely favors a speedy feel over strength, but it’s not too extreme in that direction.

Feedback on strike quality is average both through the hands and ears.  The character of the sound changes slightly  on mishits, and you can feel the impact location if you’re paying attention.

Performance

While I didn’t test last year’s Paradym hybrid [find Matt Meeker’s review HERE], I have tested numerous Callaway hybrids over the last few years.  They’ve set a very high bar for ball speed, and the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid cleared it.  My testing notes say, “1.4+ guaranteed,” referring to smash factor.  Callaway’s Ai Smart Face continues to impress in all its applications, from drivers to fairway woods to hybrids and irons.

Callaway rates the Paradym Ai Smoke as “high” launching.  For me, this club launches easily, but mid to mid-high.  This pairs well with the mid-low spin to create a lot of distance.  While it’s not a pure bomber hybrid, I would rate this as more focused on distance than precision.  If you want to go extreme chasing distance, check out the Callaway Super Hybrid HERE.

One interesting change from the Paradym hybrid is on the sole.  The Ai Smoke hybrid ditches the Cutwave Sole in favor of “more pronounced sole camber” in the pursuit of better turf interaction.  I didn’t find the camber to be extreme, but the Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid did get through rough lies fairly easily.

Finally, the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid line is fairly expansive, including three different models.  Per Callaway, the standard version, which is what I tested for this review, is meant for players with average and above speed looking for more distance and tighter dispersion.  The Paradym Ai Smoke HL hybrid is built to create more height for players with average speed.  Last, the Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast is designed to help slower swingers create more speed and higher ball flight.  The latter two models also feature larger profiles for more forgiveness.

Conclusion

The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid makes a strong case for sticking with hybrids over fairway woods thanks to its combination of ball speed and distance.  Whether you need to replace a long iron or an unreliable wood, this is a quality option for the player with average or greater swing speed.

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Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Hybrid Price & Specs

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The Cobra DARKSPEED hybrid is a compact, all matte black club that launches balls high and far with minimal spin.  A perfect replacement for those difficult long irons.

Introduction

The biggest story coming from Cobra this year is their use of computational air movement when designing their clubs.  Cobra found that through the study of high speed cars and aviation they could reconfigure shaping to reduce drag on their woods line.  This lead to improved club head speeds and added distance across the board.  While much of these studies and designs are done on a computer or in a lab, I was able to get one of the Cobra DARKSPEED Hybrids to review to see how well it performs in real life.

Looks

Right out of the box, I noted the Cobra DARKSPEED Hybrid is compact with a small footprint.  At address, the matte black crown mirrors its DARKSPEED siblings in the driver and fairway woods with only the Cobra “C” logo as an alignment aid.  The white face lines sit nicely against the ball and act as a secondary alignment tool.

In the bag, the sole sports a single replaceable weight.  This interchangeable weight is not new, but its location has been moved forward for 2024.  Keeping up with the rest of the DARKSPEED line, the hybrid remains all black which is underrated and brings an elevated look to the hybrid.

Sound & Feel

Cobra nailed the sound for the DARKSPEED Hybrid.  Each strike elicits a solid “tick” at impact that sounds more like a perfectly struck iron than a wood.  The sound was quiet and only got louder and a bit more metallic when you miss well out on the toe or heel.

The feel is just as good as the sound.  Any decent strike felt like the ball bounced off the face.  This is a club that is almost hard to miss with.  Feedback was only evident in the worst swings as any decent contact had minimal effect through the hands.

Performance

The Cobra DARKSPEED hybrid is a true rescue club.  Its shape is compact enough where I could get it through any type of rough or fescue.  It is also inspiring enough where I felt confident using it off a tee or in the fairway when necessary.

While testing the 19 degree three hybrid I had no trouble holding a green.  Its high launch yielded a steep landing angle that countered the low spin.  This is exactly what I prefer in a hybrid: a massively high trajectory that was fun to watch and stopped a few feet after landing.

From left to right dispersion, I found the Cobra DARKSPEED hybrid to be fairly neutral.  It did not favor a fade or a draw.  In fact, it seemed to autocorrect my miss and deliver straight, penetrating balls almost every time.   Cobra only offers the single hybrid so if you’re looking for something with more spin and workability, I would recommend looking elsewhere.  The good news is that Cobra offers their hybrid in a two through six model that span 11 degrees in loft.  From 17 degrees in a two hybrid all the way up to 28 degrees in the six hybrid.  Each club comes in at $279 and stock with a KBS PGI shaft with weight depending on the flex stiffness of your choosing.

I also should mention that any Cobra purchase also comes with a full set of Arccos sensors [review HERE] to use to track your stats – an added value built right in.

Conclusion

The Cobra DARKSPEED hybrid blends the precision of a long iron with an easier to launch wood to fill in those awkward gaps in the bag.  Add in the variety of lofts and this low spin club can be fit for even the most tricky of bag setups.

Visit Cobra Golf HERE

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Cobra DARKSPEED Hybrid Price & Specs

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The TaylorMade P DHY takes the fear out of long approaches and tight tee shots.  Very consistent distances.  Straight, predictable ball flight.  Some workability, but it leans toward forgiveness.

Introduction

The TaylorMade P DHY – Driving Hybrid – is built for players who don’t want to give up the control of an iron but need a little more help with speed and launch.  This club bridges the gap between utility irons, which can be challenging to hit, and hybrids, which some find unpredictable.  If that sounds like the perfect Goldilocks solution to your long game, read on.

Looks

In the bag, the TaylorMade P DHY is a stunner.  The all-matte look is super clean, and TaylorMade kept the branding extremely minimal.  Though it does have a little bulk, the look still screams “This guy can play!”

At address, the P DHY is a bit more iron-like than the Stealth DHY [review HERE].  The face, though still elongated, is not as round.  Additionally, the top line looks a little thinner, and there appears to be less flange sticking out behind it.  Overall, it gives you the feel of hitting an iron with some added comfort.

The TaylorMade P DHY and P UDI (above, right), while clearly related, have some obvious differences at address.  The P DHY has a thicker top line, and its face is about 1/8″ shorter at its peak.  Both irons are the same length from heel to toe, though the shorter face makes the DHY look longer.  TaylorMade does not give offset specs, but to my eye there is slightly more offset in the P DHY.

Sound & Feel

The TaylorMade P DHY has the exact sound and feel that I hoped for.  I would describe it as a supercharged traditional iron.  The sound on center is a powerful “snap” that pairs with a solid feel.

Despite its larger size, the P DHY provides clear feedback on strike quality.  Centered shots feel sweet, and small misses feel good – less soft but not hard.  When you explore the edges of the face, the feel becomes quite firm.  Similarly, the volume of impact climbs as you get farther from the sweet spot.

Performance

The TaylorMade P DHY is built to take the fear out of tight tee shots and long approaches.  With a long iron, mishits can be very ugly.  With the P DHY, almost every shot is going to end up in a good place.  The combination of the Speed Pocket and internal weighting with up to 26 grams of tungsten make this club very forgiving and stable.

Testing the TaylorMade P DHY on a launch monitor, I was impressed with the consistency of the numbers.  On shots ranging from pure to fairly poor, ball speed stayed in a range of about 5 MPH.  That and the robust spin numbers kept the distances predictable whether I hit it flush or off center.  The dispersion also stood out as a real positive.  While I was able to shape shots when I wanted to, this club defaults to a straight flight.

Compared to the P UDI [review HERE], the TaylorMade P DHY is the friendlier option.  It launches and spins slightly more which helps to get more shots on a playable trajectory.  Additionally, the P DHY is slightly better a preserving ball speed.  All this means that your mishits are going to end up closer to your best strikes.

The tradeoff that you make with the P DHY is a small loss in versatility.  TaylorMade rates the P DHY slightly lower than the P UDI off the fairway and out of the rough because of the wider sole.  I don’t agree that the P DHY is universally harder to hit from these situations – some players benefit from that wider sole – but I understand the idea behind the rating.  Additionally, while the P DHY can certainly shape shots, it’s more “point and shoot” than the UDI.

As with the P UDI, getting fit for the TaylorMade P DHY is key.  I know a lot of players treat utility irons like hybrids – buying one off the rack and hoping it works – but that’s not going to help you get the most out of this club.  Long approaches are some of the most challenging shots in the game, and getting the perfect shaft and loft on your club can make them much more manageable.

Conclusion

For many golfers, the TaylorMade P DHY is going to be the “just right” option for their long game.  This club offers the looks and control of an iron with the forgiveness that we normally associate with hybrids.  If you’re ready to take on those long shots with more confidence, check one out the next time you visit your club fitter.

Buy the TaylorMade P DHY HERE

TaylorMade P DHY Price & Specs

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The TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue hybrid is a larger, more forgiving version of the standard Qi10 Rescue.  Stronger draw bias.  Extremely easy to hit.

Introduction

Not long ago, I posted a rave review of the Qi10 Rescue [find it HERE].  After testing the TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue, I found that this club is perfectly named.  It takes almost everything that’s great about the standard model and takes it to the Max.  Read on to find out if it deserves a spot in your bag.

Looks

The TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue is built for the players who find comfort in seeing a larger club head at address.  This is clearly the biggest of the Qi10 Rescue clubs, over 1/8″ longer from front-to-back than the Qi10 Rescue.  Interestingly, this extra bulk gives the Qi10 Max Rescue a little more of a pear shape than its smaller brother.  Also, it sits square at address.

In the bag, the Max looks nearly identical to the standard Qi10 Rescue.  The one obvious difference is the additional gold paintfill on the “Max” under the Qi10 branding.

Before moving on, I want to give credit to TaylorMade for giving this series an elevated head cover.  The embossed “Qi10” logos across the white section make it stand out without screaming for attention.

Sound & Feel

This is the one category where “Max” doesn’t seem to fit this club.

The first thing that isn’t “Max” about the TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue is the volume.  At impact, this club emits the same pleasing sound as the standard Qi10 Rescue.  It’s crisp and quiet with just enough oomph to let you know that you hit a powerful shot.  This sound pairs with a light, quick feel off the face.

Additionally, the feedback is not “Max.”  The sound of impact barely changes even when you’re striking it poorly.  Similarly, the stability of the Qi10 Max covers up the feel of most mishits.  So while the feedback is more minimum than maximum, this club does “Max” out on keeping your ego boosted.

Performance

With truly maximum forgiveness, the TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue is like a get out of jail free card.  Duffed your tee shot?  Pound this down by the green.  Stuck in the tall stuff?  Swing hard and this will send the ball flying.  Lost confidence in your driver?  Hit this instead.

While the consistency and forgiveness are definitely the A1 quality of this club, it’s not short on ball speed.  Players will be very happy when they discover how far they can hit the Qi10 Max Rescue.  Make sure to get fit for yours because you may not need as much loft as you think.

In terms of launch and spin, both register mid-high.  I did not see any shots balloon, but you will have to put in some effort to flight the ball down.  Thanks to the Speed Pocket, my thin shots were all playable.  This club is definitely more focused on consistency than workability.

Finally, another thing that is turned closer to the max is the draw bias.  While it doesn’t have the strongest draw bias I’ve ever seen, the Max is noticeably more left-biased than the standard Qi10 Rescue.  This is likely a combination of the head design and the stock shaft.  The Speeder NX in the Max is about 10 grams lighter than the Ventus used in the standard.  If you want max forgiveness with less draw bias, work with your fitter to make a shaft change.

Conclusion

For players that want maximum forgiveness in their long game and some help turning the ball over, the TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue is a great choice.  Offered at five different lofts, you can use this to replace much of your iron set and hit higher, more consistent shots into the greens, or just dump your long irons to set up more eagle opportunities.

Visit TaylorMade Golf HERE

TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue Price & Specs

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The Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 hybrid is easy to hit and versatile.  Mid launch and spin.  The Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 hybrid has higher launch and spin with a very strong draw bias.

Introduction

While many people point to drivers when talking about the rising price of clubs, I’ve noticed it most in fairway woods and hybrids.  This year, we’re seeing those two segments blast through the $300 barrier.  Tour Edge, however, is burnishing their reputation as “Golf’s Most Solid Investment” with the new Hot Launch C524 & E524 hybrids.  As with last year’s models [review HERE], they’re offering modern performance at a throwback price.

Looks

Of all the Tour Edge Hot Launch 524 clubs, the two hybrids are the most similar.  Both have similarly short faces, more like fairway woods than irons.  They also share the Ridgeback Technology on the crown which provides some alignment help.  All that said, there are still meaningful differences between the two.

The Hot Launch E524 hybrid has the larger footprint.  It’s longer from front to back with a rounded shape.  Additionally, the offset is more noticeable in the E524, and it wants to sit a bit closed at address.

Side by side, the Hot Launch C524 hybrid is noticeably shorter from front to back.  It also has a slight pear shape which is enhanced by the Ridgeback Technology.  The long, shallow face with fairway wood-like score lines gave me a lot of confidence in elevating this club off the turf.

Sound & Feel

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 hybrid has a snappy sound at impact.  The volume is a bit below average, and it’s very consistent across the face.  The one exception is the heel which is noticeably louder.

Your feedback will come mainly through your hands which get a medium quick feel if you’re near the center.  The C524 hybrid is somewhere in the middle of the bell curve, feeling neither super solid nor hollow.

Check out the new Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 and E524 Fairway Woods HERE

The Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 hybrid has a similar feel – a little quick, a little solid.  You won’t get a big change in the character of the feel when you miss one, but you’ll be able to sense the impact location through your hands.

Surprisingly, the impact sound of the E524 hybrid is a bit quieter than the C524.  It’s not a massive difference, but it’s fairly obvious when you hit them side by side.  Pure strikes have a very crisp impact sound, but the volume is dialed down.

Performance

As with the other Hot Launch 524 clubs that I’ve tested, Tour Edge has done a good job of differentiating these two hybrids while allowing them to share some key traits.  One thing I noticed immediately about both hybrids is their shaft length.  While most 19* hybrids are 40.5″ or longer, these measure 39.75″.  That may not seem like a big deal, but it’s a smart way to help golfers get a little more consistency.  While every golfer should get fit for the length that suits their body and swing, opting for a shorter shaft can be beneficial, especially for higher handicap players.

Sticking with the idea of consistency, both the E524 hybrid and C524 hybrid have very good forgiveness.  Neither has elite ball speed, but the speed numbers are consistent across the face.

While both hybrids are easy to get airborne, launch angle is one area where the two clubs separate a bit.  The Hot Launch C524 hybrid tended to launch on an mid trajectory for me.  I found that the Hot Launch E524 hybrid launched a degree or two higher.  I could also feel the E524 hybrid’s Houdini Sole offer some additional help when I get the club into the ground too early.

Another key differentiator between the two hybrids is the level of draw bias.  In the Hot Launch E524 hybrid, the draw bias is advertised with a weight in the heel.  This club is a legitimate slice killer.  I had to hit the ball all the way in the heel or make an exaggerated cut swing to get the ball the fly straight.  In contrast, the Hot Launch C524 hybrid has some draw bias, but it’s not nearly as extreme.  My “straight” swing produced a modest draw, and I could get the ball to cut with some effort.

Finally, I found the Hot Launch E524 hybrid to be higher spinning than the Hot Launch C524 hybrid.  Relative to other hybrids, the C524 hybrid has spin that’s about average, giving it a strong ball flight.  The E524 hybrid has higher than average spin which gave it more stopping power on the greens.  Higher spin is also necessary to optimize carry distance for players with slower swings.

Conclusion

The Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 hybrid is a great choice for the good or improving golfer who needs a reliable long game club.  Higher handicap players or players at any level who fight a slice will love the Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 hybrid.  Either way, adding one of these to your bag won’t empty your pockets.

Visit Tour Edge HERE

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Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 Hybrid Specs

Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 Hybrid Specs

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The TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue has a beautiful, compact look at address.  Iron-like sound and feel.  Tremendous versatility and workability.  Significantly more demanding than the standard or Max versions.  Lower launch and spin.

Introduction

TaylorMade’s Qi10 Rescue family has something for everyone.  The Qi10 Max Rescue [review coming soon] is ideal for players who put a premium on forgiveness.  The core Qi10 Rescue is one of the best do-everything hybrids available.  But for the high level ball striker, the only choice is the TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue.  This is one of the best players hybrid I’ve ever tested.

Looks

I gamed one of the original Tour Preferred Rescues for many years, and while the technology has changed a lot from then to now, TaylorMade’s ability to craft a beautiful hybrid has not.  The TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue is one of the best looking players hybrids in recent memory.  It’s compact from heel to toe and front to back with a distinct pear shape.  The toe is square, and the face is tall, though neither is taken to a cartoonish degree.

Flipping it over, the Qi10 Tour Rescue looks sharp.  The tiny amounts of blue and gold have an outsized impact, giving this a look that’s very different from TaylorMade clubs of the past.  Branding is moderately sized with most of the visual interest coming from different finishes and geometric designs.

Sound & Feel

The TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue reminds us that hybrids are meant to be part iron with a feel that’s more solid and iron-like than explosive.  There’s a lot of satisfaction in feeling the strength of this contact and knowing that you earned the distance.

This solid feel pairs well with the quiet impact sound.  Again, this club has more in common with an iron than its bigger, distance-first cousins.  The strike sounds crisp and satisfying on center.

When it comes to feedback, the Qi10 Tour speaks clearly.  There is an obvious change in the sound of impact when you go from pure strikes to mishits.  You can also feel the impact location precisely, even if you’re not fully locked in.

Performance

A players hybrid needs to walk a fine line.  It must provide more distance and forgiveness than a long iron without giving up too much control of the golf ball.  The TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue walks that line with aplomb.

It took only one swing to see that the Qi10 Tour Rescue is a different animal than its brothers.  Where the Qi10 Rescue [review HERE] is happy to put every shot on a similar, mid-high trajectory, the Qi10 Tour Rescue naturally opts for a lower route.  The launch angles this club produces are noticeably lower, as is the spin, resulting in a more piercing ball flight.  High speed and high spin players will turn this into greater distance.  It it possible to put the ball on a higher trajectory for a soft landing, but that requires skill and effort from the player.

Similarly, the Qi10 Tour Rescue allows you to move the ball in any direction you choose.  There is no built-in bias, so your swing will decide if you’re hitting it straight, drawing it, or cutting it.  The Tour model is the only Rescue with an adjustable hosel, so you do have the option of opening or closing the face to promote a particular ball flight.

All of this freedom does come at the cost of some forgiveness.  Compared to its peers, the forgiveness in the TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue is very respectable.  However, compared to its Qi10 line mates, it is substantially more demanding.  If you’re not swinging well, even your best efforts may not generate the ball speed produced by the standard or Max Qi10 Rescues.  As always, the answer is in getting fit so you can make an educated decision about the tradeoffs between these three excellent hybrids.

Conclusion

If you want to take your long game fully into your own hands, the TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue won’t disappoint.  This club is much easier to hit than a long iron, but it retains the ability to flight the ball up or down, left or right.

Visit TaylorMade Golf HERE

TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue Price & Specs

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The Cleveland HALO XL Hybrid is a big, forgiving hybrid with surprising versatility.  Strong distance.  GlideRail sole helps it deal with all types of lies.

Introduction

If you’ve read my reviews of the other HALO XL clubs, you’ve no doubt noticed a theme.  These are some of the most reliable, easy to hit, consistent long game clubs available.  But for as good as the Hy-Wood and fairway wood are, the Cleveland HALO XL hybrid is my favorite.  Read on to find out why.

Looks

The Cleveland HALO XL hybrid earns its name with a larger than average footprint.  It has a symmetrical, oval shape, and a gloss black crown with a subtle sparkle to the finish.  At address, the most standout feature is the HiBore Crown Step just behind the silver alignment aid.

Cleveland highlights their GlideRails with a silver finish on each rail.  The rest of the sole is dark grey, making the white paintfill for “Cleveland” and “HALO XL” pop. This classic black/white/silver color scheme carries over to the headcover, too.

Sound & Feel

On center, the Cleveland HALO XL hybrid produces a snappy, mid-volume sound that blends speed and power.  The sound gets higher pitched and more metallic – a fairway wood “tink” – when you get off center.  This provides clear, almost binary feedback about whether or not you hit the ball well.

Through the hands, the sensation blends solid and quick just like the sound does.  Also like the sound, it gives you good feedback, which is surprising for a larger-than-average club.  If you’re paying attention, you can easily determine where on the face you struck the ball.

Performance

In my reviews of the HALO XL fairway wood [find it HERE] and Hy-Wood, I hammered one theme: consistency.  For players seeking more predictability in their long game – and that’s almost all of us – you can hardly do better.  The Cleveland HALO XL hybrid is no different, but it adds something more.

But let’s start with the reliability.  Thanks to the XL Head Design, MainFrame XL, and Rebound Frame, the HALO XL hybrid keeps the ball speed high regardless of where on the face you strike it.  It also delivers tremendous stability, even when you’re peppering the edges of the face.  All that means your worst shots are going to look a lot more like your best shots.

Another key to the consistency of the HALO XL hybrid is the GlideRail sole.  These big, pronounced rails help the club slide through the turf rather than getting tangled in rough.  They also provide insurance against fat shots like bounce on a wedge.

For me, what elevates the HALO XL hybrid is that its top end is a bit higher than its brothers.  I found it easier to work both ways – there was less draw bias than in the FW or Hy-Wood.  Additionally, it has average spin, so it has more distance potential.  Comparing it to the HALO XL Hy-Wood [review HERE], the hybrid launches higher on stock shots, but I was able to flight it down more easily.  Some of that may be related to my preference for hybrids, but I do think some of that is inherent to the club.

Conclusion

All of the Cleveland HALO XL woods are consistent and easy to hit.  That gives them all wide appeal, but the HALO XL hybrid also ropes in the high end player with its versatility.  This is a club that really doesn’t sacrifice much of anything, offering very solid distance and shot control along with forgiveness.

Visit Cleveland Golf HERE

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Cleveland HALO XL Hybrid Price & Specs

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The TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue has a little bit of everything you could want in a hybrid.  Plenty of distance and very forgiving.  Enough versatility to be used in a variety of ways.

Introduction

It is becoming more common for golfers to get fit for their clubs.  Many – perhaps most – players recognize that not being fit for your driver means leaving yards and fairways on the table.  The hybrid, however, is still neglected when it comes to fitting.  Most golfers are content to pick one up on a whim and throw it in the bag.

Thankfully, the OEMs are better than ever at making do-it-all hybrids that can work for a wide range of players.  The TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue is in the first tier of such clubs, providing distance, versatility, and plenty of forgiveness.

Looks

The TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue sits in the middle of the line up, a happy medium to suit most golfers.  At address, it’s clearly larger than the Qi10 Tour Rescue but also a step down in size from the Qi10 Max Rescue.  The face isn’t as tall as the Tour, but it’s much longer from heel to toe – a comfort to those that use the entire face.  Zooming out, the Qi10 Rescue is about average in size with a nearly symmetrical, oval shape.  It’s not a radical departure from the address look of the Stealth 2 Rescue [review HERE].

In the bag, the Qi10 branding takes center stage.  TaylorMade demonstrates the power of restraint, using just a few dashes of gold and blue to give this club a distinct character.  My favorite part of the sole is the “T” logo that’s somewhat hidden in the zebra stripes near the toe.

Sound & Feel

Many players assume that bigger long game clubs will have a loud, ugly sound.  The TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue teaches them not to judge so quickly.

At impact, the Qi10 Rescue creates a quiet, crisp impact sound that I described in my testing notes as “beautiful.”  It’s understated – especially given the ball speed this can produce – but there’s enough there to let you know that the shot has some power.  The sound is complemented by a light, quick feel off the face.

In terms of feedback, the TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue does fit the stereotype of forgiving clubs in that it makes almost every shot feel good.  There is very minimal audio feedback unless you pelt the very edge of the face.  Similarly, you can sense impact location through your hands, but you need to be paying close attention.

Performance

When the testing notes lead with “insanely good,” I wonder if I should just copy that and call it a day.  But that would be a disservice to the TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue.  Let’s get into the details of what makes this such an excellent club.

Since many players use their hybrids as an “in case of emergency” club, let’s start with forgiveness.  The Qi10 Rescue has it in spades.  Thanks to the weight being pushed to the perimeter, this club is stable through impact and retains great ball speed on the toe and heel.  The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket gets thin shots airborne and gives them plenty of juice.  You can almost fall asleep mid-swing and still get a solid result of out this club.  

Get more forgiveness with the Qi10 MAX Rescue HERE

Often, getting a lot of forgiveness means sacrificing top end performance, but that’s not the case here.  On center, the ball absolutely flies off the face of the Qi10 Rescue.  And with mid launch and spin, it does a lot with that speed.  For many players, this will be one of the longer hybrids on the market.

Finally, the TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue is versatile.  This should be a given with a hybrid, but in our current environment of specialized hybrids, it’s not.  For higher handicap players, they can be content letting the Qi10 Rescue knock shot after shot into a tight circle.  For more skilled ball strikers, the Qi10 Rescue can be flighted higher or lower, hit for miles or land soft.  There is a modest draw bias to this club, but it doesn’t require great effort to hit it straight.

Check out the new TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue HERE

Conclusion

Custom fitting is always better than buying off the rack, and I would encourage you to get fit for the TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue to unlock its full potential.  But if you absolutely have to buy a hybrid off the rack, picking this one won’t be a mistake.  There is nothing you can reasonably ask of a hybrid that this club doesn’t do.

Visit TaylorMade Golf HERE

TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue Price & Specs

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The Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood blends a fairway wood and hybrid together to make an extremely reliable long game club.  Mid-high spin and launch.  Easy to hit.  Very consistent.

Introduction

In 2021, Cleveland introduced their version of the fairway/hybrid combo, the Launcher XL Halo Hy-Wood.  Drew wrote about it [review HERE], and I got a front row seat to many of the excellent shots he hit with it.  While we toured the upper peninsula of Michigan, it seemed that the Hy-Wood was in his hands at least once a round, saving him from trouble or setting up a great scoring opportunity.

New for 2024 is the Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood.  I snatched up this review opportunity to see if this could become my personal get out of jail free card.

Looks

The new Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood dumps the blue found on the previous Hy-Wood for an all-business black/white/silver color scheme.  It sports a very sharp sole with prominent branding divided by the middle GlideRail.

In the address position, the reason for the name Hy-Wood becomes obvious.  This is far too big to be a “true” hybrid, but it’s significantly smaller than most fairway woods.  Per Cleveland, the HALO XL Hy-Wood is 162cc which is 28cc smaller than the HALO XL 3W (above, Hy-Wood right).  The Hy-Wood is 55cc bigger than the standard 3H (below, Hy-Wood left).  Full review of the HALO XL hybrid HERE

The shape of the Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood is round and nearly symmetrical, favoring the heel just slightly.  There is a subtle sparkle in the gloss black crown as well as a nearly invisible graphic at the back of the head.  The face is fairly tall and sits just a bit shut.

Finally, I want to tip my hat to Cleveland for giving this club a strong head cover.  The black/white/silver color scheme is used to great effect here.  Functionally, I like the fur-lined “pocket” that makes it easy to pull the cover off.

Sound & Feel

My first few swings with the Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood produced the prototypical fairway wood sound – a fairly quiet, high pitched “tink.”  When I caught one perfectly flush, the sound shifted to something a bit more robust, closer to a mid-pitch “snap.”  I appreciated this clear feedback and the fact that the sound, even on mishits, was never ugly.

The feel of the Hy-Wood doesn’t stand out, and is overshadowed by the sound.  It’s right in the middle of the bell curve – a mix of solid and quick.  What your hands will deliver is strong feedback on impact location.

Performance

The first time I set up to hit the Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood, I was a bit confused.  My brain has an idea about how to stand to a fairway wood and a hybrid, but the Hy-Wood is a tweener.  It’s 0.5″ shorter than Cleveland’s like-lofted HALO XL fairway wood [review HERE] and 1 degree more upright.  Compared to the HALO XL hybrid, the Hy-Wood is 1.5″ longer and 1.5 degrees flatter.  Combine this with the in-between head size, and it will likely take a couple swings before you settle in over this club.

As you would expect based on the preceding paragraph, my first few tries were not very successful, but that actually gave the Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood a chance to show off.  Despite poor contact, the ball was carrying over 190 yards.  This club has very impressive consistency.  Ball speed, spin, launch angle, and carry distance all stay within tight windows, even when you’re swinging poorly.

Adding to that forgiveness are the GlideRails on the sole.  I’ve been hesitant to give sole rails too much credit in the past, but the impact here feels undeniable to me.  I hit a few substantially fat shots that still carried 200 yards.  If you tend to take deep divots or struggle with poor contact, this sole design can be a real help.

Shifting away from the mishits to better strikes, the HALO XL Hy-Wood launches easily on a medium trajectory.  The spin is medium-high which caps its distance potential but is also a major reason why it’s so consistent.  My best shots carried around 215 yards which is only 20 yards past some of my worst.  This is a very playable dispersion.  There are certainly clubs with a higher ceiling, but they won’t treat your mishits nearly as well.

Finally, the HALO XL Hy-Wood does have a moderate draw bias.  The stock shaft is very light – 40 grams – and it sits a little shut at address.  When I was swinging this club well, I was hitting controlled push-draws.  If you tend to leave your long game shots out to the right, the Hy-Wood can help rein them in.

Conclusion

Virtually every golfer is searching for more consistency.  You won’t find many long game clubs with more of that than the Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood.  From pure contact to mishits, this club just wants to produce long, high draws.

Visit Cleveland Golf HERE

Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood Price & Specs

The post Cleveland HALO XL Hy-Wood Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

The PXG hybrid packs a lot of forgiveness into a more compact footprint.  Limitless customization with Precision Weighting Technology.  Faster and longer than the excellent GEN6 hybrids.

Introduction

The PXG Black Ops line has set an extremely high bar.  The driver [review HERE] is more forgiving and longer than GEN6.  The fairway wood merges the best parts of 0311 and 0311 XF into one stellar club.  Can the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid keep up with its brothers?  I went down to Scottsdale to find out.

Looks

Just like the other Blacks Ops woods, the biggest change to the look of the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid is the gloss black crown.  Black Ops still uses a composite crown like GEN6, but the contrast between the composite and the black “top line” is greater, which makes the club appear smaller, to my eye.

Putting the Black Ops hybrid next to my gamer, the 0311 XF GEN6 hybrid [review HERE], the biggest change is the heel-to-toe length.  The Black Ops is decidedly more compact.  From front-to-back, they’re almost identical.  There is just a touch of assymmetry to the shape of the Black Ops hybrid.  Overall, this club is slightly smaller than average with a great shape and versatile face height.  

Sound & Feel

Throughout the Black Ops line, PXG has put a focus on dialing in the sound and feel.  I thought the GEN6 hybrids sounded great, but PXG worked to make the sound more staccato – no high-pitched, ringing tone – and more explosive.  If you want to get nerdy about it, they’ve increased the first four primary natural frequencies by an average of 300 hz.

I think most golfers will find the sound of the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid to be quite similar to GEN6.  My description of a mid-pitched “snap” remains the best I can find.  The volume is average.  Especially indoors, I do find that the Black Ops hybrid gets quiet faster than GEN6; the sound has a shorter duration.

Through the hands, the 0311 Black Ops hybrid feels very solid.  Though the face is quite thin, it doesn’t feel that way.  The ball comes off the face with a lot of speed, but there’s still a sense of control and purpose.  Feedback is strong – mishits won’t sting, but you can easily locate impact.

Performance

I’ll start with the tech behind the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid, then move to my fitting and testing experience.  Like the fairway wood and drivers, the Black Ops hybrid is powered by a new face material.  This high strength stainless steel is 10.5% thinner than GEN6, allowing for more flexing, higher ball speed, higher launch, and less spin.  PXG also shifted the internal weighting to give the Black Ops higher MOI than the 0311 GEN6 hybrid [review HERE] in a similar footprint. Overall, the Black Ops is 4.6 and 8.2 yards longer than 0311 GEN6 and 0311 XF GEN6, respectively, with an overall dispersion that falls between those two.

If you read my review of the PXG 0311 Black Ops fairway wood [find it HERE], you know that I left Scottsdale with one in my bag.  It took over the role of “non-driver that goes as far as possible,” a spot that used to be reserved for a 19* hybrid.  My fitter had me hit the 19* Black Ops hybrid, but we found that it was a little too close to the 4W.  No problem, we just lofted up to the 22* (PXG offers the Black Ops hybrid all the way to 31*).  With that change, we created a sensible 15 yard gap to the 4W, added launch angle and spin for a steeper landing angle, and shortened the shaft for more consistency.

In my subsequent testing, I’ve loved having the added loft in the bag.  The Black Ops hybrids – with stock weighting – launch lower (0.8*) and spin less (~500 RPM) than 0311 XF GEN6.  For me, that means the 22* still has a strong, controlled ball flight, but it lands softer than my old 19*.  I’m also a bit straighter and more consistent with the shorter shaft and added loft.  The forgiveness comes through on mishits, keeping every shot playable and moving forward.

Finally, I need to mention Precision Weighting Technology.  The PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid gives players three weight ports to tune this club to fit their needs.  With weights ranging from 2.5 to 20 grams, this is the most customizable hybrid on the market.  If you tend to hook your hybrids, load the toe with weight.  Fighting a slice?  Load up the heel.  Or you can balance the weight for higher MOI.  This is truly one hybrid that can be all things to all players.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a bomber or a mid-iron replacement, the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid is a great choice with nearly infinite customization options.  This club packs a lot of forgiveness into a more compact footprint, and also delivers more distance than its predecessors.  Visit your local PXG fitter to get one dialed in for your long game needs.

Visit PXG HERE

PXG 0311 Black Ops Hybrid Price & Specs

The post PXG 0311 Black Ops Hybrid Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.