A 3 hybrid is usually 19-21 degrees, a 4 hybrid 22-23 degrees, and a 5 hybrid 25-26 degrees. Each hybrid number is built to replace the iron with the same number, and lofts step up about 3 degrees per club. Exact lofts vary by brand, so use the chart below as a guide and check the spec sheet for your model.
| Hybrid | Typical Loft | Replaces | Similar Fairway Wood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Hybrid | 16-18 degrees | 2 iron | 5 wood |
| 3 Hybrid | 19-21 degrees | 3 iron | 7 wood |
| 4 Hybrid | 22-23 degrees | 4 iron | 9 wood |
| 5 Hybrid | 25-26 degrees | 5 iron | None |
| 6 Hybrid | 28-31 degrees | 6 iron | None |
| 7 Hybrid | 31-34 degrees | 7 iron | None |
Typical ranges are drawn from current manufacturer loft charts. The iron and fairway wood equivalents come from Ping's G440 hybrid spec sheet, which lists lofts of 17, 20, 23, 26, 30, and 34 degrees for the 2 through 7 hybrid.
How to Choose Hybrid Lofts
Start with the longest iron you hit consistently. Your first hybrid should be about 3-4 degrees stronger than that iron, and the next one another 3-4 degrees stronger than that. Then check the top end: your strongest hybrid should not overlap your shortest fairway wood. A player with a 5 iron at 22 degrees and a 5 wood at 18-19 degrees has room for one hybrid, and a 4 hybrid is usually the most useful.
Check the actual lofts, not the numbers on the sole. Current game-improvement irons are much stronger than older sets (see our iron loft chart), so a 5 hybrid can overlap a modern 5 iron almost exactly. Many hybrids have adjustable hosels that add or subtract 1-2 degrees, which helps fine-tune the gaps.
Hybrid vs Iron vs Fairway Wood at the Same Loft
A hybrid launches higher and usually flies a bit farther than an iron with the same loft, because its wider head moves the center of gravity lower and farther back. It flies shorter than a fairway wood with the same loft, because its shaft is 1-2 inches shorter. That is why a 17 degree 2 hybrid covers about the same distance as a 19 degree 5 wood. Our fairway wood loft chart has the matching wood lofts, and hybrids vs fairway woods covers when to pick each.