7w as 3h Replacement

[phillyspecial]

For years I have played 3w/3h/4h/5i-PW setup.  It long bothered me that my 3h/4h felt like duplicate clubs.  

 

I went for a fitting this winter and was fit into a new 4h and 7w as the 3h replacement.  

 

Ive done a lot of TM testing since, and Im still duplicating the 4h but now it just carries longer but rolls less with very similar totals.  I get the chs and ball speed progression I expect from the 4h to 7w, but the 4h spins 3500 and the 7w 4000+.  Perfect strikes I might get 5-8 yds more total out of the 7w, but avg diffs are 2-5 yds.  Carry about 5-7 yds more in the 7w.  I need the 4h the be a 215-220 club for me (check) but with my 3w as a 240-250 club, the 7w is just not giving me the 230ish club I need.  Feels more like a 4h replacement for specific courses.  

 

5w seems like obvious answer to test next , but curious if Im missing anything from others who struggled w this.  I absolutely love hitting the 7w thats the problem.  Have tried turning down the loft but not making enough impact to make the difference Im looking for.  

[iknowbagu]

I've kicked the tires on 7 woods a couple times over the years.  There is no setup that I've tried that prevents it from being a total rain maker for me, which ultimately ends up costing me distance and creating a redundant club.  Just seems destined to be one of those things that looks really great on paper but not in practice.  5 wood checked all my boxes (even though I do tend to hit that pretty high too, at least it fills the right gap).

[RogerinNewZealand]

7 wood is a high spin high launch club.4000 IS low spin for a 7 in my mind anyway.Gapping is hard.Thats reality and why some bag less options...

[dalillama47]

Agree with the other couple posts.  I had one last year.  Biggest issue is I could not control the height.  Great on calm days, any wind, the 3h went back in the bag

[CasualLie]

Used to have the same issues with 7W, but just kept experimenting until I found the right shaft.  Currently going back and forth between Fuji EVO 757 and Ventus Blue TR.  I think the TR is going to win out, it's been keeping the ball flight where I want it, not too high and spinny.  

 

I don't use 7W much from FW, where it works best is when I need 200+ out of the rough where the 7W cuts through and launches a bit better than a hybrid.  

[Billfitz]

I replaced my TM 7 wood with a 22 degree 4H. Distance is the same, the 4H is better off the deck. Based on my experience with that, and the 19 degree 3H that replaced my 5W, I wouldn't say that 3H and 7W are equivalent, but of course it will vary depending on the specific clubs in question.

[llewol007]

I’m in the same exact predicament and what I did was drop my 23 degree hybrid. Used it very sparingly and like you said I can probably use my 18 degree hybrid to get the same yardages with choking down and putting 3/4 swing. Leaves me with 13 clubs and a lot more options with how I set up my wedges 

Edited March 29, 2022 by llewol007

[bomberman]

In theory for use old timers (those who played pre hybrids) a 3 wood was a 1 iron replacement, 5 wood a 2 iron, 7 wood 3iron and 9 wood 4 iron replacement. 

 

Hybrids are supposed to replace iron equivalent though the lofts and launch are weird where most hybrids go further especially for non high speed players.

 

For me I play a 5 wood lofted down to 16* then a 20* hybrid (3) then a 23* hybrid (4) followed by 5 iron, with good gapping around 12-15 yards carry between them.

 

Others have varying results. If you have less gapping at that end of your bag you may benefit from a 7 wood, you may want to loft it up or get a 5 wood and loft it down ( depending if you fight a hook or a slice), as this can help with your gaps. You ideally don't want big differences in your peak height of your clubs.

 

I looked at some 7 woods but I couldn't find one that flew as good as my 3 hybrid, hence why I still have 15 year old clubs in my bag.

 

 

[R5Two]

I would put a different shaft in the 7w to lower the flight a touch. I am playing 7w, 3HL and I will never go back. 4i I hit about 205 and 7w jumps to 230~ my course is pretty guarded from wind and to hit a ball 230 and have it come down so steep it just sits is incredible. Nothing wrong w/ 4H, 7W, 5w either. Even add a 3w if you have space. Shoot DJ has 5 headcovers in the bag some rounds. Gotta play what the number say. 

[ShortGolfer]

I think in terms of ball flight rather than distance.  My first swing with my 7W was out of a fairway bunker.  I needed both height to clear the lip as well as distance to reach the green.

There are times when you want the ball to roll and other times where you want it to fly high and stop quickly.

[dmeeksDC]

I play no hybrids, I like fairway woods and irons. I go driver, a 3HL/4 wood/5 wood (depends on the course — with adjustability you can get those close on distance), a 7 wood (much more reliable carry than a hybrid) and a Srixon ZX4 4 iron, which flies lower than the 7 wood and is my 195 carry club.

 

The iron is simply easier to hit accurately vs a hybrid. It blows away a hybrid in my book. Same shaft in the 4 iron as my other 5-P irons and that is another key for me. The ZX4 is far more appealing to me than the Srixon utility irons. The 4 iron and 7 wood works well together, gives me nice shot versatility. 
 

The secret to the 7 wood is a lower launch, stout shaft. It has enough loft and doesn’t need the help. I have an RIP Red Eyes Phenom 85 with 2.8 torque in mine and it gets the distance I want. It definitely goes longer than a hybrid of the same loft. If you hit a 7 wood too high or add loft at impact it loses a lot of distance. Flight it down a bit and it’s a weapon that still stops. Not that hard to do. Get a stout shaft and move it back a ball or two in your stance. 

[Bdck]

If you're going for an inefficient soft landing club, I'd opt for a 5 wood to get more ball speed.

 

Once you get it dialed it's a great club that you can really hit a ton of different shots with and not fear big misses.

[Drivingrangehero]

Seems like everyone wants to buy the newest OEM iterations, but some of the older 19* 5 woods with 85g and up shafts cut short, can work wonders for keeping the ball down. 
 

I used to have issues keeping the ball down with 3 and 5 woods. In the past, I’ve carried Driver to 18* hybrid, a 2 iron then Driver to 16* hybrid 20* hybrid to irons until I applied the same principles in the Howard DIY driver tune up. Once I found the right weight and length, I no longer had a problem with keeping the ball down as needed. 
 

My back up set has a 16* and a 19*  Adams Tight Lies (2013). I play the 19* at 41.5” with an 85g shaft. I can flight it down or up pretty well, and the tight lies is meant to go up. 
 

My gamer set I have an 18* Tour edge EXS pro with a 41.5” playing length at D3. and it’s very easy to flight and shape due to its length and weight 
 

A playing partner of mine a couple of years ago was still playing his TM V-Steel 7 wood with a steel shaft in his 3i spot, then went 4-PW, GW, SW. 

 

[ChipNRun]

High-lofted fairway and 3H/4H overlaps will vary depending on the models involved.

 

For several years I played the Tour Edge Exotics XRail 4W and 7W, plus had a Cobra FlyZ 3H and 4H. With this mix, my distance overlap came with 7W and 3H.

 

How it played out: carried 7W in summer as it launched higher and just flat blew the ball out of medium rough. Had trouble getting 3H out of warm-weather rough.

 

The lower-launching 3H replaced the 7W from November through March, when the winds were higher and the rough much thinner. With my current WITB, the 3H is gone and 7W stays in year round.

 

Finding the right yardstick at the long end can be challenging. In your case, a 3W + 5W is worth trying.

[tpscustomclubs]

In typical WRX fashion, after reading article-after-article post of “the 7 wood has changed my life!”, and seeing them more and more in some tour witb : I ended up putting together my own experiment

 

I found found an Epic speed 7W on the “clearance rack” of a local golf store, and reshafted it with an old Oban Kiyoshi purple 85x I had in my shop. I ended up having to tip and butt cut the shaft, to make it play to a more standard length and SW

 

After putting it thru the paces, I determined that I did like it…. It’s a fun club to hit …. But : there’s no room in the final 14 for it, on most rounds. The flight was high, as was the spin, as others have noted … which is good. Consistently saw carry numbers in the 220-230 range, and everything sat right down. However, for me in that “gap”, I found it wasn’t super versatile beyond that. I also find my 3h to be more accurate, and have more confidence in it to produce the shot I’m hoping to execute. Some of that could be from just being more familiar/comfortable with it

 

Regardless - I’m keeping the 7W and it will find its way into the bag for some days. If it’s not windy, or I’m playing a course that fits it’s abilities : it’ll get a go. Otherwise, I’m going to stick with the 3h this year. It just checks more boxes to me

[me05501]

Try a Callaway Heavenwood. Seven wood loft, three wood shaft. Easy to launch but has a more penetrating flight. 

[BagofToast]

The amount of people who hit 4h and 7w the same distance is throwing me through a loop lol

 

[JDennis]

I play a high launch 3w (4w) that is 16 degrees, then a 3H @ 19 degrees and a 7w @ 22.5 degrees.  I do play a very stiff shaft in my 7w which helped knock a few yards off it and it is easier to play all kinds of shots from 185 to 215.  My 3H is 225-235 but much more difficult to play short if I need to. 

[Lobber]

Recently began gaming a 7 wood instead of my 19 degree Hybrid.  The 7 wood was built to my specs with a Ventus Red (real deal) +1/2 long.  All I can say is I am blown away by how well the 7 wood is performing for me off the deck and even off the tee on tight par 4s.  Can't elevate an 3 wood off the deck to save my life but can get anywhere from 200-225 with the 7 wood no problem.  I'm sold

[m3fuz]

I just did this.  Too early to tell, but it’s working so far.  My 3H was too spotty and unreliable, but I do want to make time to practice more with it.  

[phillyspecial]

On 3/29/2022 at 6:23 PM, ShortGolfer said:

I think in terms of ball flight rather than distance.  My first swing with my 7W was out of a fairway bunker.  I needed both height to clear the lip as well as distance to reach the green.

There are times when you want the ball to roll and other times where you want it to fly high and stop quickly.

 

My error here I think (well really my fitter who put me into it when I had 0 intention of a 7w) is simply expecting this club to fill a gap.   I want the gaps filled first, and this is a really fun specialty club to have on the side (the goomah).  I lifted a used  sim 5w off the bay this week with my preferred shaft (ventus blue 6-s vcore) to see how that works.  I still think 3h and 4h is overkill, so sticking with the 4H which gives me really consistent yardage and flight (pxg gen4).  Will see how the 5w does.  

[ericschlukebir]

This thread is not making me feel better about recent decisions.   I just picked up a 3h hoping to do the thing, that most of you are saying it won't do.   I'm hoping it fills a gap in 230 range.   Hopefully the weather turns soon and I can get some better numbers on the two.  

[eric61]

I had both a Ping G425 7 wood and 4 hybrid in the bag last year and found the same thing you did: They go basically the same distance. I could squeeze a *little* more out of the 7 wood, but not enough, and the 7 wood was causing problems on windy days. The 4 hybrid is my get-out-of-jail-free card — one I’m confident in from the rough, from a fairway bunker, from the tee, or pretty much any scenario. So it stayed and the 7 wood had to go.

 

I found two options work pretty well for my gapping between driver and 5 iron:

 

1. 4 wood, 4 hybrid, 4 iron
 

2. 3 wood, 5 wood, 4 hybrid

Edited March 31, 2022 by eric61

[Tommyboi95]

So for my higher spin guys, what shafts are y’all playing in the 7 wood? I’m assuming Ventus black and tr 9x/tx? 
 

any other suggestions that wouldn’t break the bank just on this experiment?

[SC-TX 88]

16 minutes ago, Tommyboi95 said:

So for my higher spin guys, what shafts are y’all playing in the 7 wood? I’m assuming Ventus black and tr 9x/tx? 
 

any other suggestions that wouldn’t break the bank just on this experiment?

If you order from titleist the Tensei AV Raw White 2.0  85TX is a no up charge option.  I ordered mine ripped 1.5”, keeps the flight flatter for me. 

[Tommyboi95]

30 minutes ago, SC-TX 88 said:

If you order from titleist the Tensei AV Raw White 2.0  85TX is a no up charge option.  I ordered mine ripped 1.5”, keeps the flight flatter for me. 

Just looked on TM you can get the rdx black 80x that weighs in at 90 and can tip it an inch 

 

that might be worth looking into

[hoganben]

Phillynotsospecial....eagles won that game by hitting bradys top receiver in the head to knock him out of the game..

Edited February 26 by hoganben