If you can't stand normal hybrids, this one is made for you

Not every golfer wants to hit the ball higher, but we could all embrace a little more help. The Titleist GT3 hybrid has been made to be the ultimate Players’ hybrid for your bag

It’s been hard for me to not be excited by the Titleist GT3 hybrid. If I am looking for the best hybrids for me, I know I get drawn to smaller heads (which made the Titleist GT1 hybrid a real surprise!) due to their iron-like appeal, but with the success I’ve seen out of the other GT3 products that I’ve tested over the last few months, I can’t help but wonder if I’ll see the same performance benefits here.

Titleist says there’s been improvements to the MOI of the GT3 hybrid over the TSR3, though this is still the least forgiving of the series. There’s an emphasis on the ability of this hybrid to be able to move the ball in different ways, change the flight, and dial the club into more specific goals with the player instead of a catch-all.

But is something this specific still beneficial to modern golfers considering the story of maximum forgiveness being beneficial to all, that we’ve been told over the last few years?

Looks, sound, and feedback – 4.5/5

If you’re looking for something that comes off like a cannon and makes you feel like every strike and shot is screaming towards the target, turn away now. While feedback like that has its place, and it’s incredibly fitting with a club like the TaylorMade Qi35 model.

With the Titleist GT3 hybrid, everything is centered around being muted and subtle. The sound has been tuned to match impact – short and sweet; there’s no ringing bell to be heard, just a soft click that allows you to pick up on quality of contact rather than reinforcing confidence.

The looks follow on from that performance brief, with the gloss crown helping blend the head into the ground and move your eyes to the ball, without even the small framing logo found on the GT1 hybrid to take your attention away.

I think Titleist have nailed the look of a compact hybrid down to a tee. There’s nothing out of place, whether it’s the square topline or the blending of face and neck into the hosel adaptor, it all tapers in the right way to focus your eyes away from the body back to what you should be concentrating on.

My only negative thought is that if I’m not able to commit to a thought of good contact, regardless of the reason, there’s not much here to inspire positivity, but like I’ve said, that’s not really who this is aimed at anyway.

Distance and Spin – 4/5

There’s not less distance coming from the Titleist GT3 hybrid than other models I’ve tested, but I don’t want to call it distance-orientated by any stretch. The more forward CG (Center of Gravity) does produce ball speed in the regions of the faster heads, but it comes with a controllable amount of spin at the same time.

Like with a traditional iron, the GT3 isn’t one-dimensional – even after being fitted. The spin plays a major role in that, as it becomes easier to increase or decrease the RPM, and it becomes much easier to flight than both the GT1 and the GT2 heads, respectively.

Where I’ve found difficulty is with toe-side misses. As well as drops in the ball speed, I’ve also seen drops in spin, and there’s a wider miss, seemingly from the higher amounts of deflection you’ll get from the less-forgiving head.

That being said, it’s a minor complaint – the idea is, obviously, to find the center of the face more often.

The best compliment I can probably give the Titleist GT3 hybrid is that is goes as far as I expected it to. No fliers, even from light rough, and nothing that came up short that wasn’t my own fault.

Forgiveness and Control – 4.5/5

I’ve briefly touched on this category above while referencing the distance at play, but I think it’s worth using this space to talk more about the ball flight.

For me, I’ll typically see slight draws with irons and fades with my woods so I’m always trying to find a wood option that can let me hit something like my irons when it’s needed. The combination of the shape and size of GT3 gives me the option to move the ball back from left to right (I stand to the right of the ball) without feeling like I have to work too hard to do it. It’s really freeing knowing that there’s an option in the bag that does offer increased forgiveness over a long iron without sacrificing versatility.

With the larger heads I find it hard to hit down into the back of the ball, due to the frame looking like it isn’t going to perform well if it catches the ground. The Titleist GT3 hybrid has no such issues, allowing me to add height, or take it away, when I want to.

Again, this does come at a cost to forgiveness, because the shape comes with the compromise of maximized MOI, but I’m more than willing to keep on top of my ball-striking practice for this increased creativity in the top end of my bag.

Technology and Components – 4.5/5

Even though I’ve slightly bemoaned the drop in forgiveness of the Titleist GT3 hybrid over the GT2 and GT1, there’s still a marked improvement over the TSR3 hybrid from the previous gen. Titleist say they’ve gained 15% in MOI (Moment of Inertia) numbers, so you will see more help in the 2025 replacement overall.

The GT3 still offers toe and heel weight adjustability, offered in six grams of change in either direction, as well as the SureFit hosel, so you’ll have full control over the way the head looks, the direction is points in, and the feel of the club in your swing.

There’s the normal assortment of shafts, ones that are both included in the price as well as premium upcharge models like the Graphite Design Tour AD range, further emphasising the commitment of the company towards its customers’ games.

Final Verdict – 4.5/5

With the GT3 driver, I would’ve encouraged everyone to try it as it offers a far more versatile package than previous models but with the Titleist GT3 hybrid, I don’t think I can be as open with who I recommend the club to.

It’s a stunningly good-looking hybrid, that performs under a lot of different parameters that you can put on it, but there’s still just an element of hesitation when suggesting this club to golfers who are struggling with contact.

If you’re prepared to look past that, or don’t have as much of an initial need for help on mishits, there’s not much you can’t make this hybrid do, and it’s a formidable replacement for that long iron you just can’t seem to let go off for anything else.

RRP: £299.00 / $329.99

Lofts: 19º / 21° / 24º (RH/LH)

Weights: 11g Heel / 5g Toe (+6g to -6g Available)

Head Size: 108cc / 108cc / 106cc

Lie: 57º / 57.5º / 58º

Standard Shaft Length: 40.5" / 40" / 39.5"

Stock Shaft Options: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 85g / Project X HZRDUS Black 5th Gen 80g / Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 65g

Stock Grip: Titleist Universal Grip