3/4 hybrid or 7 wood

[P1ngputts]

Trying to decide what makes sense, having never gamed a rescue or 7 wood before

 

Currently have driver, 3 and 5, 4 iron thru wedges.

 

My 4 iron is 21* and looking to replace with either a hybrid or fairway wood. I've hit both on a simulator and was hoping to get some input of on course play when not on the tee, what would make more sense.

 

Thanks

[Itsjustagame]

Bought a 7 wood late last year so only played it for a month or so before courses closed. Still have my 3 hybrid, but my experience with the 7 wood was very positive. It may kick the 3 hybrid out of the bag. 

[drn92]

14 minutes ago, P1ngputts said:

Trying to decide what makes sense, having never gamed a rescue or 7 wood before

 

Currently have driver, 3 and 5, 4 iron thru wedges.

 

My 4 iron is 21* and looking to replace with either a hybrid or fairway wood. I've hit both on a simulator and was hoping to get some input of on course play when not on the tee, what would make more sense.

 

Thanks

My 7 wood is a lot longer than my 4 iron, so for me is not a substitute. Seems like a 4 hybrid might be a better fit. 
 

drn92

[596]

Forget the replacement aspect as it relates to a particular hybrid or wood.  They are all so different.  You can only go by how far you carry each club irrespective of the number on the club.  I have 2 different 7 woods and they each replace a different club in my bag.  One 7 wood is very close to my 5 wood, the other 7 wood replaces my 4 iron or my 3 hybrid.    

 

The 7 wood is great from the fairway or the rough.  It launches high and lands softer then the same distance iron or hybrid.  Then again the hybrid is a tad more accurate due to the shorter shaft.  I switch a lot between the corresponding 7 wood and hybrid depending on how I feel and what I am working on or want to accomplish.     I know this doesn't solve your problem but everyone and every club is different so hopefully it gives you a starting point.  The only way to find out is use them on the course.

[phil59]

try

Wood trajectory is higher than Hybrid  , for the same longer.  If iron is 21°  hybrid is 22° and wood 23°  for approximatevely the same longer   

 

if you are not a big hitter ,  W5 W7 W9 is a good combination  

 

 

[P1ngputts]

21 minutes ago, 596 said:

Forget the replacement aspect as it relates to a particular hybrid or wood.  They are all so different.  You can only go by how far you carry each club irrespective of the number on the club.  I have 2 different 7 woods and they each replace a different club in my bag.  One 7 wood is very close to my 5 wood, the other 7 wood replaces my 4 iron or my 3 hybrid.    

 

The 7 wood is great from the fairway or the rough.  It launches high and lands softer then the same distance iron or hybrid.  Then again the hybrid is a tad more accurate due to the shorter shaft.  I switch a lot between the corresponding 7 wood and hybrid depending on how I feel and what I am working on or want to accomplish.     I know this doesn't solve your problem but everyone and every club is different so hopefully it gives you a starting point.  The only way to find out is use them on the course.

The hybrid and 7 wood are both relatively the same in distance for me and will replace my 4 iron. My biggest concern is having never played either before, are there regrets on the course in gaming one verse the other if numbers are the same?

[Greenie]

I agree with 596..

 

I carry a driver, 4w, 7w and 4 hybrid. 

 

My 7w goes high and lands soft. I also hit it a bit farther than my 4h. My 4h replaces my 4i. The 7w is closer to my 5w I use to carry. 

 

It comes down to how you hit each club. Carrying both gives me options from different lies and different situations.

 

Since I'm not one to get on a par5 in two I'll hit my 4h stinger shot to move it on down the fairway. In the summer on hard fairways I get more roll out and distance than my 7w. It's perfect for moving the ball down the fairway. 

 

When I'm in distance to reach a green I'm going to use my 7w. I know I get it up and it will land soft on the green.

 

I've never been able to hit my hybrids as high as my 7w but I do hit a hybrid higher than my 4i. 

 

Carrying both fits my game.

[Greenie]

5 minutes ago, P1ngputts said:

The hybrid and 7 wood are both relatively the same in distance for me and will replace my 4 iron. My biggest concern is having never played either before, are there regrets on the course in gaming one verse the other if numbers are the same?

I think it comes down which one you are more comfortable with. 

 

I'm an older guy. The best thing I did. I started carrying a 7w in the beginning. It has always been my farvorite club.

 

Some where a long the line hybrids hit the scene. I tried to like them. It took me years before I found one I didn't hook. 

 

I will always be in favor of a 7w. I hit it better from all l lies. I hit it higher and farther than the same loft hybrid.

 

 

[stormin70]

About 2 seasons ago I was playing 4W, 7W, 23 deg hybrid and then 5i.  What I found was that about 80% of the time from the fairway I was using the 4W and 80% of the time from the rough I was using the hybrid.  The 7W, while a great club, only saw sporadic use.

 

i changed it up last season so I had 4W, 4H (21) and then 4 utility (23).  This gives me much more flexibility (although I only use the utility on some tight tee shots).

[SwingMan]

4 hours ago, P1ngputts said:

Trying to decide what makes sense, having never gamed a rescue or 7 wood before

 

Currently have driver, 3 and 5, 4 iron thru wedges.

 

My 4 iron is 21* and looking to replace with either a hybrid or fairway wood. I've hit both on a simulator and was hoping to get some input of on course play when not on the tee, what would make more sense.

 

Thanks

 

Do you play in the wind a lot?

 

If so, probably the 4H - more urgent, lower flight. If adjustable, you could knock down the loft to 21 or lengthen the shaft although the 40.25 some OEMs use seems more like a tweener 3-4H. I prefer 39.5-39.75 for a 4H. But it depends on your speed and what you want out of the club.

 

7 wd? I played one for several years - current shaft lengths are too long and weight too light even for an average speed guy like me - 41 inches is plenty of shaft and for me, 75-85g would offer more consistency. But that's up to you. 7 woods go high and I think a 4H is more playable off weird lies and the rough. BUT your decision also depends on whether you like a hybrid or fairway in general.

 

The 4H probably fits better in the bag to go to the 5i. Hybrids are shaft dependent for me. I always wind up changing the shaft in my fwys or hybrids anyway. Depends on what you want - seems like the shaft selection is better for higher speed players.

Edited February 13, 2021 by SwingMan

[P1ngputts]

Loving the comments, thanks! If I could add both, I would based on lie/situation but this is strictly to replace 4 iron. Not very windy where I live and most of the courses are relatively flat. 

 

How do they compare in the rough? Or a fairway bunker?

[animalgolfs]

Don't stop at the 7 wood 

 

9 wood is where the fun begins

 

Just ask @9woodfan

Edited February 13, 2021 by animalgolfs

[theothertwo]

Although I never played a 7 wood, I am very happy with my 22* hybrid.  IMO, easier to control with the shorter shaft and easier to hit out of uneven lies and rough.

[Greenie]

I googled this.

 

Hazards

Off the fairway, both woods and hybrids have their places. In very light rough, a fairway wood, such as a 3-wood, may be a better choice, as its flat bottom skims the low grass easily. In thicker rough, however, the heavier but more compact hybrid clubhead can better cut through the longer grass while maintaining its stability. The hybrid is also more likely to lift the ball into the air. Additionally, the hybrid’s lofting ability makes it a better selection than a wood if you land in a fairway bunker.

[JohnKHawk]

I have tried both in the past. I ended up settling on the lesser known Cobra OS 3-4 hybrid set at 20.5 degrees. It's kind of like a tweener club. Fits nicely in between 5 wood & smaller 5 hybrid. I just like the progression of the size of the clubs as well as it working great for gaps.

 

When I want to change it up I throw the Callaway 20 degree super hybrid in the bag.

[SwingMan]

3 hours ago, P1ngputts said:

Loving the comments, thanks! If I could add both, I would based on lie/situation but this is strictly to replace 4 iron. Not very windy where I live and most of the courses are relatively flat. 

 

How do they compare in the rough? Or a fairway bunker?

 

Since you asked,😀 out of the rough, a hybrid generally gives you better height - it has less mass. But either way, go for one with a more rounded sole (less mass is wanted in the rough). They require different swings - out of the rough you want to go steeper, out of the sand, generally you want to sweep (don't want to dig and miss).

 

Or you could do what any good WRXer does, get both.

 

If you have no wind and need to go over lots of high trees, then a 7 wood with a rounded sole.

Edited February 13, 2021 by SwingMan

[j.a.]

I got rid of all hybrids and got 5 (Xhot) and 7 (Rogue) woods but in these days I’m trying Srixon Utility clubs that are performing well. I may put back in the bag the 7W as it goes better than the 3U. 
 

 

[hypergolf]

7 hours ago, P1ngputts said:

Trying to decide what makes sense, having never gamed a rescue or 7 wood before

 

Currently have driver, 3 and 5, 4 iron thru wedges.

 

My 4 iron is 21* and looking to replace with either a hybrid or fairway wood. I've hit both on a simulator and was hoping to get some input of on course play when not on the tee, what would make more sense.

 

Thanks

 

Depends on your needs and the type of course you play but below are some general thoughts.

 

7 wood

• More distance compared to hybrid. Hence better for longer courses as well
• Higher launch compared to hybrid which lands softer on the green
• More forgiving head in general but longer shaft makes it more difficult for some. Depends on your swing
• Not ideal for thick rough
• Less ideal for windy/links style course

Hybrid

• Less distance compared to 7 wood
• Lower launch compared to 7 wood but higher launch than driving iron
• More forgiving than irons
• Versatile in terms of usage out of the rough etc
• Average for windy/links style course. Would prefer iron or driving iron for this type of course
• If you already have 3 and 5 wood, it might be better to place a hybrid to have different head options

 

[Feelingofgreatness]

Generally speaking, the 7W will generate more peak height because the lower and back CG and longer shaft. If you play in wind, that may not be desirable. If you play in no wind, you may like the high flight and softer landing. For me, hybrids are more iron replacements, especially if you get them built to lengths closer to your long irons. I game a 4W and 3H at 20*. Then, my longest iron is 23*. It important to make sure you get the gapping right. If your longest iron flied 195, you don't want a 7W going 220... that's too large of a gap. My 5i goes about 190-195, my 3H about 205-210 and my 4W about 225-230.

[596]

8 hours ago, P1ngputts said:

The hybrid and 7 wood are both relatively the same in distance for me and will replace my 4 iron. My biggest concern is having never played either before, are there regrets on the course in gaming one verse the other if numbers are the same?

The only real time I'd rather hit the hybrid rather then the 7 wood is into a par 3.  Much more control and smaller miss.  We have a par 3 that is perfect distance for the 7 wood unless I miss it to the right or it  gets caught in the wind and then there's a chance its in the parking lot or left into the first tee.  Here I'd rather hit the hybrid, smaller miss.  Most other times I'd much rather hit the 7 wood from any place or any lie.    

[ChipNRun]

8 hours ago, Greenie said:

I carry a driver, 4w, 7w and 4 hybrid. 

 

My 7w goes high and lands soft. I also hit it a bit farther than my 4h. My 4h replaces my 4i. The 7w is closer to my 5w I use to carry.

 

Part of your decision would depend on how far each club flew for you. For me, the 7W and 3H seem to duplicate each in yardage. When I still had a 3H, it replaced the 7W in November through February. Otherwise, I carried the 7W.

 

For me, a 7W will blow the ball out of medium summer rough better than a 3H

 

As compared to Greenie, I carry a 4H and a 4i. The 4i is my set 4i refitted with a graphite shaft to improve launch. It is a driving iron to hit tight fairways, or longish Par 3 where a 4H might be too much club.

 

If I went back to four wedges, I would probably pick either 4H or 4i depending on what course I was playing.

[Greenie]

47 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

 

Part of your decision would depend on how far each club flew for you. For me, the 7W and 3H seem to duplicate each in yardage. When I still had a 3H, it replaced the 7W in November through February. Otherwise, I carried the 7W.

 

For me, a 7W will blow the ball out of medium summer rough better than a 3H

 

 

 I agree with you. I have a 3h that duplicates my 7w yardage. The 3h stays in the basement for the most part because as you say..... I can also hit my 7w better than the 3hybrid out of summer rough.

 

The only time my 3h goes in the bag is when I play a very tight course. I'll agree with the shorter shaft I have a little better control with the hybrid but I still dont hit it as high and get it to land soft as I do with my 7w. The course dictates which club goes in my bag.

 

My 7w and 4h are both the same loft but I don't hit them the same. My 7w is an Exotics fairway and I have always hit an Exotics fairway a little farther than any other OEM 7w so that might be the difference for me. I carry Cobra hybrids. I had the hooks with the Exotics hybrids.

Edited February 14, 2021 by Greenie

[P1ngputts]

5 minutes ago, Greenie said:

 I agree with you. I have a 3h that duplicates my 7w yardage. The 3h stays in the basement for the most part because as you say..... I can also hit my 7w better than the 3hybrid out of summer rough.

 

The only time my 3h goes in the bag is when I play a very tight course. I'll agree with the shorter shaft I have a little better control with the hybrid but I still dont hit it as high and get it to land soft as I do with my 7w. The course dictates which club goes in my bag.

 

My 7w and 4h are both the same loft but I don't hit them the same. My 7w is an Exotics fairway and I have always hit an Exotics fairway a little farther than any other OEM 7w so that might be the difference for me. I carry Cobra hybrids. I had the hooks with the Exotics hybrids.

Height wise, what iron would be closest in terms of ball height? Is a 7 wood like hitting a wedge? I've only demod on a simulator but my 5 wood goes high and can't imagine higher.

[Greenie]

My 7w goes slightly higher than my 5w. I leave the 3w and 5w at home and go with  4w-7w. I have never hit any long irons or hybrids that high. That is probably due to my SS and swing more than anything. 

 

The only way you are going to know which works best for you is to compare. We all have different swings.

You mentioned you hit both of them the same earlier in your thread. 

 

IMO I think you are going to find younger people or newer people to the game are going to like a hybrid better and older people may prefer a wood. 

[ChipNRun]

2 hours ago, P1ngputts said:

Is a 7 wood like hitting a wedge? I've only demod on a simulator but my 5 wood goes high and can't imagine higher.

 

7W height will vary by the head design and the type of shaft you play. From the Mavrik family, consider these two:

• Mavrik (standard) 21* 7W mid-depth head
  • Shaft = PX Evenflow Riptide 60 | 61 gr. S| midkick | mid-torque
• Mavrik MAX 21* 7W shallow-depth head
  • Shaft = UST Mamiya Helium Black 4 | 45 gr. R | low-mid kick | hi-torque

The std Mavrik with mid-depth head + Riptide 60 shaft encourages mid-launch from head, retweaked to mid launch by Stiff shaft

 

The MAX's shallow head causes the higher launch of two 21* heads, and get juiced even higher by the lighter Regular shaft.

 

In Callaway Preowned, I have seen custom-order Rogue 7Ws with really robust shafts such as PX Evenflow 75 Graphite, with a 78-gram Stiff shaft | low-torque.

 

So, a 21* 7W will launch the ball fairly high, but head design and shaft type influence total height. Rest assured, the PGA pros who carry 7Ws don't have them shafted in 45-gr. Helium Black 4.

[bladehunter]

For me it’s 3h.   Everytime i try 7 wood I just hit it farther than I want and it leaves  a hole.  Which then leads to me never hitting it. Really same with 5 wood.     For instance , last one i tried I had a 30 yard gap from 4 iron to 7 wood.  But I only have a 12 yard gap 4 iron to 3h.  That’s useable to me . 

[SwingMan]

I have a 3, 5 wood, 4H then 5i-PW.

 

I also have a 3H and will use it depending on the par 3's on the course.

 

It's good to have at least one hybrid and fairway in the bag for variety.

 

If you want more height in a hybrid, order a high launch, mid spin shaft like the Tensei CK Pro Red 70. Slightly lower is a GD AD HY 65.

[third-times-a-charm]

I'm officially on the 7 wood train. Works best for me. The versatility isnt there, but I'm gonna hit a 4i/5i/7i out of the rough or tough lies instead of the hybrid or the 7w.

[SwingMan]

6 hours ago, third-times-a-charm said:

I'm officially on the 7 wood train. Works best for me. The versatility isnt there, but I'm gonna hit a 4i/5i/7i out of the rough or tough lies instead of the hybrid or the 7w.

Depends on the rough - had a lot of good fortune hitting 4H out of snaggy rough.

[bvanlieu]

Been gaming a smaller 4H for years now mostly because of rough and confidence. I prefer the 4H to be angular, and I cut them down a bit so its a shorter stick with more control (I toss in a shaft that is similar to my irons as its a 4i replacement for me). 

 

When hacking, I mean swinging, hard from grass control is key for me. A 7W may have a bigger head but the shaft length goes against my theme of control. Same thing for when I determine do I want to grab my 4W or 3H from a rough lie. But that's me: someone else may control length better and really enjoy a 7W out of the thick stuff as some pro's do. 

 

As already mentioned, in true WRX spirit its best to snag a few off BST or CPO, try them and dump what doesn't win your hear back to the community 🙂 

 

- b