3Hybrid or 7Wood?

[Old Tom Morris]

I hit a 7 wood entirely too high to have any consistency with it. I switch between a 21* hybrid and a 4iron depending on course conditions.

[Rapidcat]

Out of interest, why did you hate the Heavenwood?

Not a Heavenwood fanboy as such, just curious as to why, I've been experimenting with wood heads in different length shafts.

[jedc]

3 hybrid without question, as I get plenty of height and stopping power with it. My Idea Pro 3H and 4H gap nicely to my 5-iron, as they were built closer to standard iron playing lengths.

I had a 7w built a few years back at 40.5" with 80g shaft that looks reasonably pleasing to the eye, but it just doesn't work for me. I've taken it out on the course multiple times and I don't have the same confidence in it as my 3H.

[geochitown]

I find that the length of fairway woods makes it harder to hit them, and I prefer hybrids, but only when I cut down the shaft to be the same length as the iron it's replacing.

So my 3H-5H (19, 22 and 25) are in the 39.5-39.0-38.5 length range and the 7W I have, which I don't like so much (haven't given it too much of a chance to be honest), is 40.5" Rombax P95 with a TEE EX10 21* head.

I tend to play 4 or 5 wood (16.5 and 18*) fairway and then 22 and 25* hybrids.

On my shorter league course, I'll drop the fairway woods and just use 18/19* hybrid instead.

So that's Driving club, 3-5H.

I tend to only play my fairways off the tee.

So maybe my swing just doesn't lend itself to hitting off the deck with clubs longer than 40".

So, when I see a 21* club wood with a 3 wood length shaft (Cally Heavenwood, I say "no way for me").

 

 

[cardoustie]

Man the best 7 woods I ever hit were G25 and the Callaway v series heavenwood. Still have both. Both amazing with 80 gram shafts in there. Both 225 all day and HIGH !!! (both 20*)

 

[Billy__Baroo]

I have the 818 H1, and it kind of is a blend of a hybrid and a wood. Really like it so far. Launches easily and can still knock it down.

[ConstantineJr79]

I put a Titleist 21 degree 7 wood F2 head on a Diamana D+ shaft tip trimmed to 41” playing length (hybrid length). The club builder accidentally tip trimmed too much instead of butt trimming. Swing weight is really light and I had planned on adding some lead tape to it but wouldn’t you know I absolutely love it as it plays. My favorite club in the bag. Can dial it down and hit little knock down 200-210 yards or go after it for a good 240 when needed. I’ll never ever bag hybrid from here on out.

[goaliedad30]

For me, hybrids were always unpredictable. Many good shots, and the periodic (1 in 10) ugly, hard hook. I switched to a 7-wood last summer. It flies plenty long (my go-to club at 205-ish), high, and straight. My hybrids are highly effective now as hat racks in my garage .....

[Bob Pegram]

It depends on how high a player hits the ball with each. I have tried a 7 wood, but it hit the ball so high that I had trouble controlling my shots with it. I use a 3 hybrid instead which I still hit pretty high. For somebody who hits the ball lower the opposite might be true - use a 7 wood to get the ball up in the air.

[mootrail]

Maybe. But my 4 hybrid is 19° and my 5 wood is 18°; just depends on what you have.

[Jifmoli]

I always take a hybrid over a wood, much better from poor lies. But for me a 3h goes a lot further and flatter than the 7w I once had but if it works for you take the 3h

[RainShadow]

Actually, it will land behind you!

 

[chasdr]

Have played quite a few hybrids but I have consistently had to fight the tendency to go left. Switched to a TS2 7w recently and it feels like I can move the ball a bit in both directions on occasion. Agree with others that having the right shaft is critical and stiffer has been better for me....

[ChipNRun]

I own both, and in light wind conditions they overlap on distance. The 3H goes in the bag mainly in the late fall and early spring when the winds are higher and the rough thinner.

The 7W is my "go to" club in many situations. Can give me distance out of the rough, a softer landing on long approaches, and a sometimes tee-off club on those short, testy risk-reward holes.

Plus, 4W + 7w make a more reliable pair than 3w + 5W for many medium-length golfers.And, several tour players carry a 7W:

Jason Dufner carries a 21° Titleist 915FKeith Mitchell carries a 21° Titleist TS2.Scott Stallings carries a 21° Titleist 917F2.Stallings said this in a Sept 2019 Golf Digest article (p. 36):

"My 7 wood is a more versatile than a utility iron. I can hit it high or low, and the height on full shots into par 5s is so helpful, especially when you're coming in from 240 to 260 yards. I've found a utility 2- or 3-iron doesn't stop very well from that distance."

[Pworld]

I just switched out my 21-7 wood for an old 18-2H i had in the garage. Distance is a little longer but i need longer on the top end of my bag.

 

My 7 wood is now for sale. (i was money with this 7 wood for a long time. one of my favorite clubs for years)

 

I like the lower flight for my needs, and its just easier for me to hit where intended, i can focus on putting a nice iron swing on it, not a fairway swing. less adjustments during a round for me. I rarely have to use this club to land greens though. If i do, its nothing a little chip cant help me with for a par.

I might try a 3 hybrid now that this experiment worked. Problem is i only play this hybrid because it is the first hybrid i............ don't hook! small 3 yard draw or fade. no worries.

 

[BKN1964]

I know the question is 3h vs. 7w, but this video The Average Golfer posted yesterday on the 7w and 9w vs. the 3i and 4i will provide a little more info:

https://youtu.be/vNdI55jpVzw

 

 

[jjleyes]

7 wood for me all the way. Was struggling with 3h launch and accuracy. Went to a demo day and was looking for a 3h I could launch higher and work both ways. Then I demo’ed Callaway heaven wood and Ping 7 wood. Was sold after about 5 swings.

Ended up getting a good deal on a Ping G 7w with a Fuji Speeder 757 on eBay. So happy with it.

[Joe Jordan]

I saw this video as well. Great video!

[rootaford]

If we’re talking accuracy over distance then I’ll take the 3H over the 7W all day long if only for the more iron like shaft length and versatility. Personally, I feel way more confident in hitting a green with a hybrid than a wood.

 

The opposite is true if I’m trying to juice every last yard out of a club and roll balls up to greens and not really trying to hold any greens.

[orangeology]

neither. first of all, not an apple to apple. each club has different purpose. and if you have a swing that can handle a 21º club, it actually doesn't really matter whether it's an iron, hybrid or fairway wood. we already have a bag full of clubs. let's not complicate the game. most of woes are from the swing, not from the club. of course, it's just an opinion.

[Warrick]

Actually it does matter, and that is why we are having a conversation about it.

[LeoLeo99]

I hit the Apex hybrid straight. Loving it in our honeymoon phase.

Had a 7 wood a few years ago with a steel shaft. Balloon city.

In my bag now is the 4h Apex at 23° and a 917d2 5w at 18°. The 5w definitely goes higher. Much higher. The 5w might go a little longer but not by much. Maybe 10 yds. I suggest you hit your 5 and 4 irons against the clubs you're thinking of getting and really sort out your gapping. You don't want 3 clubs in your bag that all go about 200 yds.

[Warrick]

It fit everything I needed (7w), right in the 195-210 gap between 5i and 5w, and something that can actually be hit over an obstacle from distance along with being a good fairway bunker club.

[SoonerSlim]

Guys, Gals

This is an easy choice. It all depends on your clubhead speed and ability to get the ball in the air. If you have trouble hitting the ball high enough in the air, then the 7 wood is the right choice. If you don't then the hybrid is shorter, easier to control and make better contact. Most seniors would be much better off with a 7 wood than a 3 hybrid. You will probably find you can hit it as far or farther than a 5 wood or that 3 wood that you have discarded as a senior golfer.

SoonerSlim

[Vardon Grip]

I can't wait till all of you try out an 11 wood and start thinking whether the hybrid, the 5 iron or the 11 wood should be in the bag.

 

 

[nitram]

7 wood for most as it's easier (for most) to hit well.

[Hogan9]

I carry a 21* Taylormade 2017 M2 High Launch 5 metal which is really a 7 wood. I'm 70 and have arthritis so I'm not very long anymore. I carry it about 165 under normal conditions. It fits perfectly between my Mizuno 25* JPX 850 5 iron and my 18* Taylormade 2017 M2 5 metal. I've tried hybrids before, but haven't found one I can play consistently.

[orangeology]

yup. i hear you sir. and my opinion—that either club can complicate the game—is a part of conversation too, i believe. everyone has different opinion. :)

[VictorValiant]

I'm loving the new Mavrik Pro hybrid. Its head is much more fairway wood shaped (albeit smaller) than hybrid shaped. It seems to be fade biased or perhaps because it doesn't have the offset of a traditional hybrid, it simply appears that way.

I generally play a light draw, but I haven't had any issues with this hybrid. In fact, I've enjoyed it so much I put a 3h and 4h in the bag. Can get height when needed, but can also lower the trajectory.

[Sparty4202]

There were two factors...the Heavenwood head wad deeper& maybe bigger than the 5 or 7 wood and it was longer. I didn’t like the way it performed out of the rough too.