Should I add a 7W?

[PilotSports]

I’m starting to gear up for the season and am contemplating a change at the top of my bag. Currently I carry Driver, 3W (13.5 degrees), 5W (18 degrees) and 4H (22 degrees). The 5W quickly became my favorite club in the bag when I added it last year which got me thinking - should I replace the 4H with a 7W? I’d appreciate everyone’s opinion particularly those that have the 3W/5W/7W setup. How do you like it? Thanks a lot!

[Ivyguy]

It’s a great thought, maybe having both available depending on conditions that day

[R5Two]

I went from 3w 5w to 3HL (4W) and 7w. 7w is a great club for me it landed right in the middle of the 3H and 5w. Closer to 3H distance but launches extremely high and comes down at a much steeper angle. On the Sim I was hitting it about 230-245. Perfect for me. 

[Fairway14]

For some players 7-wood is good, for others the club produces too high spinning high trajectory shots which make consistent distance control too much of a challenge.

[ChipNRun]

56 minutes ago, R5Two said:

I went from 3w 5w to 3HL (4W) and 7w. 7w is a great club for me it landed right in the middle of the 3H and 5w.

 

I am going into my eleventh season of 4W + 7W. Next comes 4H then 5i.

 

4W more reliable than 3W for many golfers, and sometimes goes just as far. And, you can shave a few yards off 4W if you end up with tweener shot.

 

Also, it's easier to practice two fairway woods than three.

 

A veteran fitter told me he encourages golfers to go with 3W + 5W, or 4W + 7W.

[hdb27]

7W is great, I gave it a shot lost season but its not as versatile as I thought it might be, it was replacing a ZX 3 iron that went decently high and I could use it off the tee, that's where I lost the 7W, it would get eaten up above the trees, which is a good problem if its going too high into greens but not off the tee.

[asKaasa]

From my experience, the “7w or not” route really depends on two things. Conditions and bag setup. 
 

Myself, I limited my wedges to a 3 wedge setup, and added both a 7w and a 3 iron to the bag. If it’s REALLY windy, I might remote the 7w and add a wedge.

 

Driver, 4 wood, 7 wood, 3 iron has been a game changer for me.

[bvanlieu]

To me gapping and course layouts play a role in what I put in the bag. I have a few extra clubs as needed so 16.5/18/21 in the 4/5/7 W and 20/23 for my hybrids. 

 

I am in my first year experimenting with a 7w and its been mostly positive over the 20d 3H it replaces in the bag. Your 22 4H is a degree weaker then I game with a 23H (my trusty rinky dink).  If I wanted to carry a light bag I could just have a Driver/7W too. 

 

On my home course I have a few par 5's when driven well I can have 190-230 in which puts me in the happy place for 5w/7w, along with just punting the ball 200+y from the rough a 7w can be more confident for me then a 3H.  

 

If I had a lot of loooong par 3's I can see the 3H and the shorter shaft perhaps being a bit better for my game. 

 

 

[braincramp52]

Personally I prefer Hybrids because I have more consistency with them. You won't know until you try one.

[BMC]

Only if it hits the distance you need.  I would also consider a Callaway 21* UW.  It's between a FW and Hybrid.  It fills a yardage I didn't have.

[xkilgorextroutx]

I suppose it all depends on ballflight and comfort level. I always hit fairways better than hybrids so a 7w has been in my bag for 5-6 years now. I like the softer landing it give me too, vs hybrids that always flew lower and ran out more. 

[WarEagleGolf]

I do 4w (5wd@ 16.5*)/6w (7wd @19*)but same concept...hate hybrids so I have a 3i for windy/winter golf.  

 

Just swap out when the mood suits me...7wd I think is very useful from all sorts of lies, flies high, lands soft.  

[animalgolfs]

Yes

[crazygolfnut]

I use to have a 7 wood and loved it.  Went with hybrids and I do not like them so much.  I am currently shopping for a good 7 wood.  I think you would like one. 

[gsrjc]

I like my RADspeed fairways. I go driver, 17 degrees 4 wood, 21 degrees 7 wood. 

[aenemated]

I've gone back and forth between 4H and 7W over the last couple years and, tbh, I dunno which I prefer. I do feel like the hybrid is a bit more versatile but also, I'm a little less consistent with it than 7W. Also, get a bit more carry out of the 7W. 

 

Agreed with others; best to give it a go and see how you feel about it. 

[gsrjc]

2 minutes ago, aenemated said:

I've gone back and forth between 4H and 7W over the last couple years and, tbh, I dunno which I prefer. I do feel like the hybrid is a bit more versatile but also, I'm a little less consistent with it than 7W. Also, get a bit more carry out of the 7W. 

 

Agreed with others; best to give it a go and see how you feel about it. 

The reason I changed was less miss hits using 7 wood and my ball height was 20 feet higher with no loss of distance. 

[WipeyFade]

I’ve played a couple of rounds with my 7 wood. I play a half set and I use it for a long iron replacement. Initially, it felt like magic. For me it’s such a versatile club, I can hit it really high, punch it out from under trees, hit a running half shot for the heck of it, and even chip with it. The only issue I have really had is when I over swing, which I do way too much, it starts to hook a little. I think the shaft may be a little soft for my swing. 

[puttingmatt]

Been undecided for sometime on dropping the hybrid for a 7 wood .

Looked at from time to time, but have not tried any.  Club Versatility and gapping  is still a concern. As for now,

still swap out a 4 iron to hybrid depending on course and weather.

Possible Callaway uw in future, but 

looking at all 7 woods.

[cmatthews77]

3 hours ago, BMC said:

Only if it hits the distance you need.  I would also consider a Callaway 21* UW.  It's between a FW and Hybrid.  It fills a yardage I didn't have.

I ended up with this. Had a 20 degree 3hy then tried a 7w which if my course setup was different could see being a great club but wasn’t what I needed. The UW has just been the slight tweak I needed. 

[Vater]

Are you concerned about hitting from different spots? I play a 5W and a 3H, keeping the 3H for tougher lies where I need to dig in more than with a FW. 
 

The head size and length of a 7W are super attractive, but do you need a different type of club for certain lies or are you ok with going to your irons in those situations?

[PilotSports]

27 minutes ago, Vater said:

Are you concerned about hitting from different spots? I play a 5W and a 3H, keeping the 3H for tougher lies where I need to dig in more than with a FW. 
 

The head size and length of a 7W are super attractive, but do you need a different type of club for certain lies or are you ok with going to your irons in those situations?

I’m okay going to my irons. There are 2 Par 5’s at my home course that I’m consistently ~210 yds out from off the tee. I also have 2 par 4s where ~210 yds off the tee is the perfect position play. That’s what has gotten me to think about the 7W. 

[hammergolf]

16 hours ago, PilotSports said:

I’m starting to gear up for the season and am contemplating a change at the top of my bag. Currently I carry Driver, 3W (13.5 degrees), 5W (18 degrees) and 4H (22 degrees). The 5W quickly became my favorite club in the bag when I added it last year which got me thinking - should I replace the 4H with a 7W? I’d appreciate everyone’s opinion particularly those that have the 3W/5W/7W setup. How do you like it? Thanks a lot!

Best decision I’ve ever made equipment wise was swapping my 3 hybrid for a 7wd. I simply hit shots with the 7wd that I can’t with a 3 hybrid. Going to it has made the 185-200yd yardages a scoring area. And it’s AWESOME digging it out of bad lies. I’ve made soooo many more birdies with my 7wd than I ever did with my 3 hybrid.

Edited March 12, 2022 by hammergolf

[NZ315]

Love my 7 wood ping425. 

[bogeyman71]

I love my g425 7 wood also.  One of my favorite clubs to manipulate shots with. I can hit it both high and low and work shots both left and right.

[NZ315]

46 minutes ago, bogeyman71 said:

I love my g425 7 wood also.  One of my favorite clubs to manipulate shots with. I can hit it both high and low and work shots both left and right.

Copy that 

[Ripken08]

7W will go considerably farther than a 4H.  Not a direct replacement as it is a 3 iron replacement.  I did the 3/5/7 thing for a while and rarely used my 3W.  4W/7W is the perfect combo.  Then you could go into a 4H next.

[R.Patrick]

What type shafts is everyone playing in their 7W?  Low launch?  I assume you don't really want any help getting the ball up with 21* of loft on the head....

[gsrjc]

I’m using an oban devotion 7

[AdExec]

I’ve got an old school Fuji Pro 95 Im debating tossing into a stealth 7 wood. Might be a fun little project.