PXG Lightning hybrids add speed and height for long-range shots

Gear: PXG Lightning hybrids

Price: $329 each

Specs: Stainless steel body with a variable-thickness face, carbon fiber crown, moveable weights and an adjustable hosel. Available in 2-iron through 9-iron replacement.

Who it’s for: Golfers who want more height and speed from an iron replacement, along with forgiveness and the ability to fine-tune launch and trajectory.

What you should know: The Lightning hybrids feature a thinner face and are paired with a carbon fiber crown and an adjustable hosel, along with heavier interchangeable weights in the sole to let players and fitters adjust spin and trajectory more easily.

The Deep Dive: Most weekend golfers reach for a hybrid when they need a lifeline, like on a second shot on a long par 4 or when they are desperately trying to escape from the rough. Unlike long irons, hybrids are expected to launch the ball high, bring it down softly, cut through difficult grass and produce predictable distance, which asks a lot of a relatively small clubhead.

But PXG built the Lightning hybrids with those shots in mind.

Each Lightning hybrid (17, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34 degrees) features a carbon fiber crown that saves weight high in the head and helps to lower the center of gravity (CG) location, which in turn makes it easier to hit a higher-flying shot. Like the Lightning fairway woods, they also feature a variable-thickness, stainless steel face design that is thinner around the perimeter. It’s about six percent thinner than the face of the Black Ops hybrids, so the hitting area should flex more on off-center strikes. The adjustable hosel also lets players add or subtract loft as needed, which can help tighten yardage gaps or create a more playable launch window.

The shaping of the Lightning hybrids is also meant to inspire confidence without becoming bulky. The footprint is compact enough to appeal to skilled players, but the leading edge and overall profile remain friendly to the recreational golfer who needs help getting the ball airborne. PXG also smoothed the transition between the hosel and the crown so the hybrids sit neatly behind the ball without looking closed or shut at address.

The weighting system is simple but effective. Each Lightning hybrid comes with one 12.5-gram weight and two 2.5-gram weights that can each be positioned in any of the three ports in the sole. Placing the heavier weight forward reduces spin, flattens trajectory and creates either a draw or fade bias, which can be useful for players who tend to hit hybrids too high. Moving the weight back helps raise launch and add forgiveness.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PXG Lightning hybrids speed height forgiveness