ClubTest 2024: 13 high-tech hybrids tested and reviewed
Read full reviews of 13 new hybrids below.
CLUB PHOTOS: COURTESY; DESIGN: TANYA DESELM
For the latest edition of GOLF magazine’s 2024 ClubTest, we crafted a two-pronged approach to deliver valuable insights into the new crop of drivers, fairway woods and hybrids so that you can make better informed purchasing decisions. GOLF staffers tested the clubs ourselves to provide feedback and performance thoughts on gear from manufacturers big and small, while we also relied on the help of a swing robot and Golf Laboratories founder Gene Parente.
Below you will find our full reviews and test results for 13 new hybrids from top manufacturers: Callaway, Cleveland, Cobra, Mizuno, PXG, TaylorMade and XXIO. See something you like? Click through and buy your new hybrid from Fairway Jockey today.
MORE CLUBTEST: 18 NEW DRIVERS REVIEWED | 22 NEW IRONS TESTED | 18 FAIRWAY WOODS REVIEWED
Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.
BEST NEW HYBRIDS OF 2024
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Hybrids
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Hybrids
MODELS: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke, Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast and Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL
NEED TO KNOW: With a slightly larger profile than last year’s Paradym, the Ai Smart Face architecture on the standard Paradym Ai Smoke is designed to benefit moderate to higher swing speeds. To keep launch and spin on the lower side, a tungsten speed cartridge is situated in the sole — towards the face — to drive the center of gravity forward.
While the adjustable Ai Smoke HL hybrid also features a tungsten cartridge in the sole, the lower face profile makes it easier to get the ball airborne with more spin. With AI continuing to shape the face designs, it’s important to note that the HL hybrids are designed to pair with the HL irons. The Ai Smoke Max Fast has a lower, flatter profile for those who fall on the slower end of the speed spectrum. To maintain a lighter overall weight than the standard and HL hybrids, the adjustable hosel was replaced with a bonded, non-adjustable version.
Club Comparison
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF CALLAWAY’S PARADYM AI SMOKE HYBRIDS
Cleveland Halo XL Hybrids
Cleveland Halo XL Hybrids
MODELS: Cleveland Halo XL and Cleveland Halo XL Hy-Wood
NEED TO KNOW: A key attribute of the Halo XL woods line is the Glide Rails on the sole of the clubs to help lower the center of gravity by positioning extra mass on the sole and to help deliver more effective turf interaction to better maintain a square face through the impact zone. In essence, they act as rudders to help the club glide through the grass without digging and are especially effective from the rough.
On the inside, the Halo XL woods utilize the same AI-designed MainFrame XL technology as the Launcher XL2 drivers to expand the effective size of the sweet spot to boost distance and forgiveness, but with evolving variable face thickness through the entire Halo XL series woods to best match how each club is most often missed based on player testing data.
Club Comparison
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF CLEVELAND’S HALO XL HYBRIDS
Cobra Darkspeed Hybrids
Cobra Darkspeed Hybrids
MODELS: Cobra Darkspeed and Cobra Darkspeed One Length
NEED TO KNOW: Cobra has streamlined their hybrid design down to two options: either the traditional variable-length design, or the one-length (built to 37.25 inches) to help complement the Darkspeed One-Length iron set.
The hybrids feature all of the technology as the rest of the Darkspeed line, including PWR-Bridge weighting and PWRSHELL H.O.T. FACE insert technology for added speed and forgiveness. The classically-shaped hybrids come in loft options of 17, 19, 21, 24 and 28 degrees to help golfers build their perfect combo set. They come with KBS PGI graphite shafts.
Club Comparison
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF COBRA’S DARKSPEED HYBRIDS
Mizuno ST-Max 230 Hybrids
Mizuno ST-Max 230 Hybrids
MODELS: Mizuno ST-Max 230
NEED TO KNOW: The max forgiveness and geometry of the driver continue with the new ST-Max 230 hybrids by offering a larger footprint to help add MOI and stability around the entire head. Both the fairway woods and hybrids utilize a high-strength MAS1C steel face for ball speed that matches up with the larger Cortech chamber on the sole. A composite-wrap crown covers the toe section of the fairway wood heads to reduce overall mass higher in the head.
The new hybrids also use a waffle pattern on the inside of the steel crown to increase strength and help position more weight in the sole, increasing launch and creating a more stable ball flight. The ST-Max hybrids will be available in lofts of 19, 22, 25 and 28 degrees for right-handers, with the 22- and 25-degree heads also available for left-handed golfers. Mizuno’s quick-switch hosel with four degrees of adjustability is available on all hybrid lofts.
Club Comparison
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF MIZUNO’S ST-MAX HYBRIDS
PXG 0311 Black Ops Hybrids
PXG 0311 Black Ops Hybrids
MODELS: PXG 0311 Black Ops
NEED TO KNOW: When it comes to the Black Ops fairway woods and hybrids, the story remains much the same as the drivers thanks to a new proprietary high-strength steel face material that allows for a 12.5 percent thinner face construction to help boost ball speeds, increase launch, lower spin and save precious grams to help increase forgiveness.
PXG engineers got creative with the Black Ops hybrid design since hybrids have to fit such a wide variety of golfers and the Black Ops goes from a 17-degree 2-iron replacement down to a 31-degree. The profile shifts through the lofts to help blend through the bag and can be custom-built to fit any player.
Club Comparison
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF PXG’S 0311 BLACK OPS HYBRIDS
TaylorMade Qi10 Hybrids
TaylorMade Qi10 Hybrids
MODELS: TaylorMade Qi10, TaylorMade Qi10 Max and TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
NEED TO KNOW: Just like the Qi10 drivers, the Qi10 hybrids have been refined and tuned to better fit the intended player for each model. The standard model remains, but there has also been a change in vocabulary. The plus or + model is now called the Qi10 Tour, and the HD is now called the Qi10 Max.
Although the new Qi10 hybrids don’t have a full infinity crown like the fairway woods, the new crown design covers more surface area to save weight and boost forgiveness. The Qi10 Tour hybrid is the only hybrid in the line that offers up adjustability in the form of the (4-degree) loft sleeve, and like the tour fairway wood, the Qi10 hybrid offers a more boring and lower spinning ball flight to help faster players control the ball in all conditions.
Club Comparison
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF TAYLORMADE’S Qi10 HYBRIDS
XXIO 13 Hybrids
XXIO 13 Hybrids
MODELS: XXIO 13
NEED TO KNOW: When it comes to XXIO’s new 13 lineup, the goal is quite simple: Create a set of game-changing tools that add speed and consistency for someone who swings under 90 miles per hour. As one of the leaders in the lightweight club space, XXIO has become a go-to option thanks, in large part, to specialized technologies designed solely for the set.
The XXIO 13 fairways and hybrids offer a similar BiFlex face design to the new drivers and new cannon sole design that places mass lower in the head for a deeper center of gravity. An elevated weight pad located behind the face creates space for a thin sole portion to optimize ball speeds for shots hit low on the face, a common mishit location for many golfers. Similar to the driver, the goal behind the technologies is to increase the overall sweet spot while inducing a higher launch angle at the same time.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF XXIO’S 13 HYBRIDS
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