Best Callaway Hybrids 2024

Callaway has always been an innovator when it comes to the golf equipment they produce. Particularly when it comes to some of the best golf hybrid clubs, the brand has produced a wide variety of stunning club sets including the Big Bertha, Warbird and Steelhead ranges. Callaway was also one of the earliest brands to start producing golf hybrids, when, in the early ‘noughties’, it gave us the Heavenwood and Divine Nine; higher-lofted woods that could be swung and struck like irons.

Today, the golf hybrid is a mainstay in almost every golf bag, from weekend warriors to touring professionals. The reason is obvious. They are so much easier to hit than any long iron. The best hybrids are designed to help players hit better approach shots from longer ranges; they're easier to launch, more effective from a variety of lies and generally instill greater confidence at address.

It’s more common now to see hybrids in the bags of tour players compared to traditional 2 and 3 iron clubs. Not only do top players understand the forgiveness and flight benefits that come from playing with a hybrid, they also recognize how well hybrids fill the distance gaps at the top end of their bags. With hybrids available in lofts from 17° to 29°, there are plenty of options to replace long and mid-irons and make the long game infinitely easier.

Considering the brand's excellence in this field, it comes as no surprise that there are plenty of top clubs included in this guide to the best Callaway hybrids. The brand has clearly done their research over the years to produce a range of rescue woods that help to promote forgiveness, ease of use and style. Whether you're looking to give yourself a distance boost or find the most forgiving hybrids, Callaway has a model that will suit your preferences, and we've listed some of the best clubs below!

The Quick List

Best Callaway Hybrids

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Hybrid

When last year's Paradym hybrid was launched, we were instantly impressed with the performance on offer so we expected big things from the Paradym Ai Smoke models like the standard head above.

Starting with the aesthetics Callaway has moved away from the gloss black crown and has returned to the matte black crown that we saw on the Rogue ST hybrids. The head profile itself has been designed a little larger to inspire confidence and provide the user friendliness to compete with the most forgiving hybrids. No crushed carbon as seen on the likes of the Ai Smoke driver and fairway, but instead there is a steel finish to the sole. 

The club sat flush to the turf and even glided through the first cut of rough spectacularly when called upon. But the club really separated itself from the previous years model when it came to forgiveness though. We struck countless shots when testing both out the heel and the toe and saw remarkably consistent ball flights and spin patterns when doing so. This is testament to the new Ai Smart Face implemented into the whole Ai Smoke family.

• Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Hybrid review

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL Hybrid

Another model in the Paradym Ai Smoke range is the HL hybrid which is essentially the more user-friendly version which offers an effortlessly high launch. As forgiving as the standard head is, the HL takes things up another notch thanks to the newly constructed Ai Smart Face, which sees multiple sweet spots scattered around behind the face to ensure miss-hit shots fly relatively similar to those struck out the center.

Out of the rough in particular it produced a high, towering ball flight that landed on greens from distance extremely softly. And yet the trade-off here is the club is difficult to flight down in the wind and there is a degree of control lost as a result. The adjustable hosel can help here slightly though.

The larger footprint really inspires confidence when on the ground and the classic ‘V’ alignment aid on the matte crown made it easy to set up square to my intended target. Overall this is the perfect hybrid for those with slower swing speeds seeking easy launch as well as those who like to see the ball fly from right to left as a right handed golfer. It will no doubt become one of the best hybrids for seniors and hybrids for high handicappers over the course of the year due to how easy it is to use.

• Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL Hybrid review

Callaway Women's Paradym Ai Smoke MAX Fast Hybrid

The last AI Smoke model we wanted to mention was the Women's Fast hybrid. Using data and state-of-the-art machine learning, the club has a series of sweet spots and as our tester discovered, even mishits were good shots. In short it is one of the most forgiving hybrids out there right now.

We like the soft and tacky grip and the flat crown, which has a dark grey matte finish, sits nice and flush behind the ball. The stock shaft is a lightweight 40g model and has a women's flex to it, whilst the swingweight of the club makes it very easy to launch high with good distance. 

In terms of looks and performance, we believe it has all the ingredients for the standard of female golfer for which it is designed, to be one of the best hybrids on the market.

• Read our full Callaway Women’s Paradym Ai Smoke Fast Hybrid Review

Callaway 2024 Apex UW

It's not often we give out five-star reviews but when we do, we mean it and the Callaway Apex UW Hybrid is very deserved of that rating. An Editor's Choice pick, there is an awful lot to like about this Callaway Hybrid, with the unbelievable performance making way for a gigantic amount of technology. Sitting flush and square on the turf at address, it gives the user a lot of confidence, and looks stunning, thanks to its glossy black colorway which we really loved when resting behind the golf ball.

We loved the consistency on offer here with this club striking a long and noticeably punchy ball flight when struck from the tee and off the deck. Callaway states that the Apex UW delivers 17 percent tighter dispersion in testing and our launch monitor test results support that. A MIM’D Tungsten weight (18g per club) sits behind two Jailbreak A.I. Velocity Blades in a neutral forward position close to the face. Callaway says this weight creates a neutral CG (centre of gravity) configuration for higher launch, steeper landing angles and better stopping power. Ultimately, it is one of the best hybrid golf clubs we've tested in recent memory.

• Read our full Callaway 2024 Apex UW Review

Callaway Apex Hybrid

Callaway has enjoyed huge success with its hybrids of late, chief among which is the updated version of the Callaway Apex. It features many of the same technologies as its predecessors, but the jailbreak technology has been given an upgrade. Artificial intelligence was once again key to the design of the new Jailbreak Velocity Blades that are angled and more spread out than they have been in any model since it was first introduced in 2016. 

The result is more forgiveness across the face and more speed, particularly at the bottom of the club where golfers often mishit their shots. In addition, the blades also allow the Face Cup to flex more for consistent spin rates and therefore, flight, with tungsten weight being specifically placed into each loft, therefore offering lower CG, as well as creating a club that promotes high launch and forgiveness.

• Read our full Callaway Apex Hybrid Review

Callaway Apex Pro Hybrid

A hybrid which shone in our Editor's Choice list a few years ago, the Apex Pro continues to be one of our favorite models. It's more compact than the standard Apex 21 hybrid and produces a more penetrating flight. Looks wise, at address, there is definite iron-like profile to it so, if your irons stop at the 5, then there is a very easy flow to the set by adding this. This is aimed at the better player who wants a long iron-type trajectory and can generate plenty of clubhead speed, with Callaway’s Face Cup Technology designed to deliver great speed and spin consistency across the face, which tempers the powerful flight and distance in order to retain accuracy. This club packs a punch and there is the workability and control that the strong player will be looking for, rather than more forgiving models designed predominantly to launch the ball higher.

• Read our full Callaway Apex Pro Hybrid Review

How we test hybrids

When it comes to our testing procedure, we use the same ethos and methodology for all golf products to make sure they are as insightful, honest and comprehensive as possible. When it comes to golf clubs, we usually attend product launches so we can meet with the manufacturer’s R&D experts to understand the new technology. 

We start by hitting clubs in indoor environments so we can get some basic data. This will take place with launch monitors and premium golf balls usually, and then we go outdoors to see how clubs perform on the golf course and driving range. In fact this outdoor testing usually takes place over a number of rounds to gauge performance and see how clubs perform when hitting different shots and playing in different conditions. 

How to choose the right hybrid

How do you choose the best hybrid for your game? How do you decipher which Callaway model would best suit you? Well we would always recommend getting a custom fitting so you can gata on things like path, speed, angle of attack and so on. Also a custom fitting with an expert will make sure you get the right make and model of club in your hands too. 

However, if this isn't possible we've set out a few tips below to help you in your buying decision...

1. Performance

This is obviously the most important factor and therefore we think the best way of determining this is to get different hybrids in your hands and trying them out. Not only on the driving range, but playing the kind of shots you want a hybrid for - which could be off the tee, from the fairway, from bad lies in the rough, or around the green. You need to calculate how well a certain model will perform for you and a demo day is an ideal opportunity to do the kind of testing you need.

2. Feel 

Feel is another factor to consider because every single golfer is different here and hybrids will have different feel characteristics too. Some are loud at impact, some are muted, some will feel hot off the face, some more dense. So hitting the clubs themselves will allow you gauge what you like from a feel perspective, and which models fit into that.

3. Looks 

With all golf clubs you need to like how they look, especially at address, because you don't want to be distracted by a club when looking down on it. Therefore getting clubs in your hands again will allow you to see for yourself. 

Also do you want it to match the rest of your setup, have a more fairway wood appearance, or do you want it to look more like an iron? Callaway is a brand that delivers different models that fit into each of these brackets so think clearly about what you like and dislike, and then pick accordingly.

4. Budget 

You should think about budget as lots of models come at different price points. For example the latest Ai Smoke range will cost more than the Apex models above do have a think about your budget so you can then decide if you want to go down the premium, mid-price or value route.

5. Testing 

Again, we want to make very clear that you should try out clubs for yourself. Many places will let you tape up clubs and hit them to try them out and just by doing this you will immediately be able to gauge looks, feel, weight and so on. Then hitting shots will give you an idea on ball flight, workability, sound as well. 

For more advice on this kind of section of the bag, why not take a look at our guides on the best fairway woods, best irons, or best utility irons. 

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