Best hybrids for forgiveness | ClubTest 2025

You may think you hit most shots on the screws, but truth is few of us hit the sweet spot as often as Tour pros. (Take a look at one of your club faces; you’ll see what we mean.) Luckily, golf technology is forgiving as ever these days. For GOLF’s ClubTest 2025, we tested the best new hybrids for forgiveness, and some we found are much more forgiving than others, which is good for you, meaning even your off-center strikes won’t go to waste.

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MORE CLUBTEST: BEST HYBRIDS FOR PLAYABILITY | BEST HYBRIDS FOR SHOT CORRECTION | BEST HYBRIDS FOR SLOWER SWING SPEEDS

Ping G440

*Ping’s G440 hybrid was awarded ClubTest 2025 Game Changer status for its outstanding performance in the forgiveness hybrid category.

PING G440 Custom Hybrid

$299

The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball- flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased 2 hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing 5, 6 and 7 hybrids that help optimize gapping. They all share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hit and hold the green.  FLIES HIGH LANDS SOFT Optimized launch and spin ensure distance with stopping power.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.  ROUNDED SOLE  Ensures pleasing face angle in all hosel settings  CARBONFLY WRAP  Lightweight carbon crown saves weight to increase MOI, lower CG. 

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THE BASICS: When it comes to hybrids, Ping is offering just one model, but with six lofts. But, those six lofts might as well be six unique models because Ping took a specific design approach with each one. The lofts range from 17-degree 2-hybrid to 34-degree 7-hybrid and no one expects the same player-type to carry both of those clubs. The 3- and 4-hybrids are more neutral and designed with the MAX player in mind as someone seeking forgiveness.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF PING G440 HYBRIDS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Clean, elegant, matte finish, good presentation visually. Impact was a good sensation. Friendly. Some variance on mishits. In the risk vs. benefit for yards and misses, I want yards. This club had great distance and carry numbers. It’s the club I want from the rough to win some bets. I’m willing to suffer some misses for additional distance.” — Jerry Wenker (17.1 handicap)

“Maintained ball speed and consistent ball flight. Got great trajectory and carry.” — David Carroll (7 handicap)

Callaway Elyte

Callaway Elyte Custom Hybrid

$299.99

Callaway’s Most Adjustable Hybrid With more adjustability in the new OptiFit 4 hosel system, the Elyte hybrids are Callaway’s most adjustable hybrids ever. In addition to the hosel adjustability, the Elyte hybrid features heel and toe weights that can be swapped to toggle between a neutral and draw ball flight.   Ai Advancements for Optimal Distance, Control, and Launch Our most advanced Ai face to date, the new Ai10x Face delivers 10x more control points than the Ai Smart Face. With more precise Ai, the Ai10x Face produces exceptionally fast ball speeds, tight dispersion, and optimized launch across the face. Neutral Flight & Forgiveness The Elyte model is best suited for golfers looking for a neutral flight in a mid-sized profile.

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THE BASICS: Callaway’s new Elyte hybrids are built for versatility, catering to both competitive players and weekend warriors alike. They feature the Ai10x Face for faster ball speeds and enhanced accuracy, plus an OptiFit hosel for greater customization. The standard Elyte hybrid comes with adjustable heel-toe weighting via 3-gram and 13-gram aluminum weights, allowing for a neutral or draw-biased ball flight. This hybrid offers a mid-high launch with mid-low spin.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF CALLAWAY ELYTE HYBRIDS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Feel was great, so soft I couldn’t even feel it come off the clubface. Distance was good, more spin and launch gave it time in the air. It got up quickly. Mishits were still good. Overall the best! Can I take it home?” — David Carroll (7 handicap)

“This club checks all the boxes: looks, feel, distance.” — Chris Storbeck (13.3 handicap)

Cleveland Halo XL

Cleveland Launcher Halo XL Custom Hybrid

$229.99

  Cleveland HALO XL Hybrids are designed to help you break out of tough lies, thick rough, or even fairway bunkers. Upgraded GlideRail sole technology helps players get in and out of the turf without interference, while MainFrame injects even more MOI for added forgiveness.  MAINFRAME XL FACE MainFrame XL Face Technology uses a variable thickness pattern that maximizes flex at impact to boost distance. It also repositions weight low and deep in the clubhead for added forgiveness and consistency. GLIDERAIL Proprietary GlideRail Technology gets a new, optimized design to deliver cleaner, uninterrupted swings through the turf. Three rails along the sole of the club help keep the face straight through impact.

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THE BASICS: Designed to help you break out of tough lies, thick rough or even fairway bunkers, these hybrids boast upgraded GlideRail sole technology to help players make clean strikes while the MainFrame XL Face Technology injects even more MOI for added forgiveness.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF CLEVELAND HALO XL HYBRIDS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Looked great in hands and performed very well. Nice shape with a defined head. Felt great when hit in the sweet spot. Mishits stayed on target. Distance was through the roof.” — Ronald Hinderberger (19.4 handicap)

“Accuracy and forgiveness sold me.” — Will Prue (18.4 handicap)

Cobra King Tec

Cobra 2023 KING Tec Custom Hybrid

$299.99

The new 2023 KING TEC Hybrid features a refined shape, H.O.T Face Technology, and adjustable weighting and loft to deliver ultimate versatility in a better player hybrid. H.O.T FACE TECHNOLOGY A H.O.T Face design uses artificial intelligence to create a variable thickness pattern that delivers more efficient speed and spin across the face. PWRSHELL FACE DESIGN A forged PWRSHELL face insert delivers more flexibility across a larger area of the face for faster ball speed and higher launch. LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON CROWN A carbon crown allows more discretionary weight to be positioned within the clubhead to enhance speed and forgiveness. ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTING SYSTEM Two 12g heavy weights can be positioned in the toe, heel and front to finetune trajectory and spin performance. Heavier 14g and lighter 10g weights areavailable in custom to allow for +4g and -4g in weight adjustment.

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THE BASICS: A refined shape, H.O.T Face Technology and adjustable weighting and loft give players the ultimate versatility in a better-player hybrid. A carbon crown allows more discretionary weight to be positioned within the clubhead to enhance speed and forgiveness.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF COBRA HYBRIDS

Mizuno ST-Max

Mizuno ST-Max 230 Custom Hybrid

$160

MAX MOI. MAX STABILITY. A large footprint, lower profile hybrid – engineered to deliver absolute straight line performance from across the clubface. A high energy MAS1C steel face is enhanced by an expanded CORTECH Chamber, shifted closer to the clubface to increase both centre and off centre ball speeds. A speed bevel applied to the leading edge ensures that performance is equally impressive from tee and turf. Weight located low and deep and an ultra-lightweight waffle crown combine to deliver an impressively straight, predictable ball flight.

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THE BASICS: 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. 

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF MIZUNO HYBRIDS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Nice look, sleek, good weight and good size. Was money when well struck. Decent forgiveness and distance.” — Michael Klonsoki (9.8 handicap)

“Like the blue. Felt smooth. Missed it and could feel it, but distance remained solid.” — Will Prue (18.4 handicap)

PXG Black Ops

PXG 0311 Black Ops Custom Hybrid

$299.99

Presented in a clean, aerodynamic aesthetic, PXG 0311 GEN6 Hybrids are an easy to hit, low-spin option for golfers at any skill level. Featuring PXG’s most advanced technology engineered to work in concert with your swing, GEN6 Hybrids deliver an optimal blend of forgiveness, accuracy, and distance. PXG 0311 GEN6 Hybrids also offer an innovative head shape that helps position the center of gravity lower to produce a higher launch trajectory and optimized spin performance. ·Low Spin ·High MOI ·Extremely Fast Ball Speeds ·Optimal High Trajectory ·Tight Dispersion ·Maximum Distance ·Unmatched Sound and Feel

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THE BASICS: When it comes to the PXG 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 also got creative with the hybrids design 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF PXG BLACK OPS HYBRIDS

Srixon ZXi

Srixon ZXi Custom Hybrid

$279.99

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THE BASICS: With the goal of helping more golfers stripe more shots like touring professionals, the all-new Srixon ZXi drivers, fairway woods and hybrids promise big-time distance, added adjustability and, for some players, an option to flex their might with a maxed-out MOI for straighter and more consistent strikes. Sporting a larger head shape and — for the first time in a hybrid — an adjustable hosel, the Srixon ZXi hybrids feature the i-FLEX technology plus a Rebound Frame for more ball speed and greater forgiveness across all lofts/models. These new hybrids are also available in women’s versions.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF SRIXON ZXi HYBRIDS

Titleist GT2

Titleist GT2 Custom Hybrid

$329

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THE BASICS: With the new line of GT hybrids, Titleist is now the only OEM offering both loft sleeve and center of gravity (CG) adjustability in every hybrid in their lineup. The GT2 and GT3 hybrids come standard with the 11-gram weight in the heel, but flipping the weights to put the heavy one in the toe gives the club a fade-bias setup and aligns the CG just a little on the toe side of the face, which is where many players tend to hit the ball. The GT2 hybrid has the highest MOI in the family, an increase of 10 percent from the previous model.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF TITLEIST GT HYBRIDS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Great looking. Compact face. Best of bunch in looks. Mishits were forgiven and went the straightest of all tested. Consistent and straight overall.” — Robert Resnik (8 handicap)

Wilson Dynapwr

Wilson 2025 Dynapwr Custom Hybrid

$249.99

The DYNAPWR Hybrid delivers impressive ball speeds while maintaining the ultimate in stability and forgiveness. PKR-360 Our AI driven PKR-360 has increased number of optimizable face and body locations to create multiple sweet spots and driver higher ball speeds everywhere across the face. NEW FACE SHAPING A compact head design paired with an extended low toe area results in a larger hitting surface and provides stability on toe shots, and the confidence to approach greens from a distance. FORGIVENESS + HIGH LAUNCH A low CG placed evenly across the sole yields higher launch and more forgiveness.

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THE BASICS: Coming in a variety of lofts from a 17-degree 2-hybrid all the way to a 28-degree 6-hybrid, the Dynapwr hybrid has a new compact head design and an extended toe area to provide more stability on toe strikes. A low CG placed evenly across the sole also produces higher launch and increased forgiveness.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF WILSON DYNAPWR HYBRIDS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “The all-around feel made this club stand out, coupled with the power. Can I just buy it now? It performs in every category. I like the red accents and the finish. It’s surprisingly easy to hit. Very solid and responsive. It’s also the most forgiving I’ve tested and goes the farthest.” — Jeff Smith (12 handicap)

“This club is the whole package: looks, feel, distance. It delivered across the board. Very surprised in a good way! This club performed great.” — Michael Klonsoki (9.8 handicap)