FYbrid FY club puts accuracy into fairway shots

From Next magazine issue 3/2008. Text by Markku Rimpiläinen

It is not a pure fairway wood, nor a hybrid. The Wilson Staff FYbrid FY club merges the features of both club types in a brand new way. But how does it work in actual play?

The Wilson Staff FYbrid FY club has a loft of 19.5 degrees and a shaft of 41 inches, which is shorter than that of hybrids. Wilson says that its studies show this to be the combination that most players use for their best long-distance fairway shots. According to Wilson, the FYbrid covers the distances between traditional hybrids and the 5-wood.

I have found relatively short-shafted hybrids to work best for my own game – on most days – and have managed only an occasional long-distance fairway shot with a wood. Could the FYbrid FY club be the solution to my problem?

The first impression is promising. The big, classically-formed clubhead seems to be well balanced. The swing weight feels excellent, slightly heavier than most hybrids, and the shaft length also seems natural. My hands fall easily in place, and my spine settles naturally into the right angle for the start position.

The swing becomes automatically more controlled and the low center-of-gravity puts the clubhead instinctively on the right path.

After a few practice swings comes the moment of truth. The first shot takes off nicely. The ball rises beautifully, accompanied by a sonorous clink. And yes – the shot is both long and straight.

My next shots confirm the positive first impression: the number of good hits and successful shots is exceptionally high. I have an occasional slice, but that is something I can live with. It is the best shots that take my breath away, with the ball flying incredibly far.

After a week, I carry the FYbrid FY club along on every full round of golf. The club works well on opening shots for a narrow par 4 and the fairway shots give a boost to my self-confidence.

The most pleasant surprise, however, comes on a 440-meter par 5. The fairway shot following the tee shot carries around 180–190 meters. Not only that, but the ball also lands exactly where I want it to: on the left hand side of the fairway. My golf partner stops in his tracks to follow the shot and comment on how excellent it was – not something that happens on every round.

The flag is at chipping distance. Enthusiastic as I am, I hit the chip shot way too long, but it really doesn’t matter. I have found a perfect tool for my fairway shots.

The author is a club player with a handicap of 22, who is trying to stabilize his game according to the principle that ”all’s fair in love and war.”