Fully Equipped mailbag: Should I buy a hybrid or a utility iron?

Fully Equipped is an interactive GOLF.com series. This edition is sponsored by Cleveland/Srixon Golf.

Marty is looking for a golf club. He should choose between a hybrid and a utility iron. He doesn't need to carry long irons. There is no real delineation between what makes a long iron long and what is short iron, so most golfers assume any iron longer than a 5-iron is considered a longer iron and iron 5 to 7 is middle irone.

Hybrids resemble woods and utility irons look more like irONS. Hybrid iron is designed to hit the ball on near the same descending angle as you would swing with a middle iron. Utility irones work better with shallower path angles.

Cleveland Launcher XL Halo hybrids are constructed with more premium forgiveness than ever before. Gliderail Technology features three rails running along the sole of the club, keeping the face straightened through impact.

Hybrids are more forgiving than utility irons. Personal taste should play into the decision.  

The model number only matters when comparing one club to another. The loft is the best way to compare the two clubs. A 21° 4-hybrid from one manufacturer flies about as far as a 19° 3-utility club from another manufacturer. Find your way on a launch monitor to see how the club you're considering will perform.

The length of your shaft can have a major impact on how far you hit the ball. Shaft metrics matter, too. Longer shafts help you to hit longer shots without going down in loft, whereas shorter ones are easier to wield.