For that matter, the pros didn't switch from persimmon woods to titanium overnight; there was some resistance. I remember watching golf on tv as a kid and thinking the sound made when a titanium club struck the ball wasn't nearly as cool as the sound of a "real" wood.
I started this thread not because I personally care what anyone thinks if I use hybrids. I don't. I'm just curious about why they are not yet considered fully cool.
I bought my 22* hybrid a few months back, and at first couldn't hit with it at all. I had a similarly lofted "utility" 5 wood and couldn't hit with that either, at least not off the fairway. I still have trouble with that fairway wood, but for some reason the hybrid suddenly clicked. I could hit off the fairway with it at least 50% of the time, which is better than I could do with long
irons, and about equal to my success rate with short
irons.
When I get a good clean shot with the 22* hybrid, it goes 180 yards or better. My 27* hybrid goes 170. Seems odd to me that they'd be so close.