I know they are hard to find nowadays, but have you thought about getting irons 1,2,4,5 or something? If you're hitting your short irons well and your hybrids suck, be like the pros and amaze your friends with the ability to hit a 2 iron. I wouldn't recommend anyone hitting a 2 or 3 iron and maybe even a 4 iron depending on their swing speed. If you're not swinging 110-115+ with your driver, you're going to have a hell of a time trying to get the ball in the air with the 2-3 iron and even some 4 irons nowadays (the loft on some of these new/recent 4 irons are now what 3 irons used to be). Now the utility irons are different as it's bulkier and more like a hybrid, but even then, you need to have a fast swing speed to get them in the air. There's a reason why you don't see them on tour that much unless it's a specific course or you're going to be a playing a certain shot (Tiger's stinger for example). (shrugs) 3-4 irons are my best clubs. Everyone is different. But yeah, you might have been more to the point with shaft types. He might just do much better with firmer shafts if his hybrids are really flexy.