7 woods: Stealth vs. G425 Max?

[eric61]

I'm looking to put together a 4W + 7W set-up, and wanted to get some opinions on Stealth vs. G425 for my 7 wood from those who have tried both. 

 

My frustration with the G425 has been its height. I use my higher-lofted fairway wood as a utility club, and I need it when I have a long shot out of the rough. G425s are awesome when the ball is sitting down ... but my nightmare shot is one where it's propped up in lush rough, and I slide the club under the ball and pop it almost straight up with no distance. It doesn't happen often, but it's happened enough that it's in my head now and I'm spooked. I'd like to find a 7W with a slightly taller face.

 

I'm a lefty, so our options are pretty slim on 7 woods. (Otherwise I'd go with a Tsi2.) It's really just these two models in the running. TaylorMade doesn't sell Stealth 7Ws for lefties on their website, but they do exist, and one popped up on 2ndSwing, so I grabbed it with their current fairway wood discount. It hasn't arrived yet, but I'm looking forward to testing it. 

[jt2gt]

With all the pros baggin 7 woods now, Im surprised cally doesn't offer a ST LS 7 wood, looking at your witb that would have been my answer for you.  But it looks like they do not.  I am in the ST LS 5 wood and its one of my go to clubs.  

Edited July 28, 2022 by jt2gt

[eric61]

23 minutes ago, jt2gt said:

With all the pros baggin 7 woods now, Im surprised cally doesn't offer a ST LS 7 wood, looking at your witb that would have been my answer for you.  But it looks like they do not.  I am in the ST LS 5 wood and its one of my go to clubs.  

Oh for sure, 100%. Callaway doesn't do the ST LS 3HL for lefties either. If they did, I'd buy an ST LS 3HL and an ST LS 7W. I'd have a UB 7X in the 3HL/4W/whatever you wanna call it and a UB 8X in the 7W, and would be done with it for years to come. 

[ChipNRun]

1 hour ago, eric61 said:

G425s are awesome when the ball is sitting down ... but my nightmare shot is one where it's propped up in lush rough, and I slide the club under the ball and pop it almost straight up with

 

You might look at July/August Golf Digest article on 7 Woods. Author suggests interesting set-up adjustment for hitting 7W out of rough. Check p. 62.

[Rbsiedsc]

34 minutes ago, eric61 said:

Oh for sure, 100%. Callaway doesn't do the ST LS 3HL for lefties either. If they did, I'd buy an ST LS 3HL and an ST LS 7W. I'd have a UB 7X in the 3HL/4W/whatever you wanna call it and a UB 8X in the 7W, and would be done with it for years to come. 

I would totally get a LS 7w if they had it. I love my HL3 (i'm righty). Although the Max really could also work. Its just a tad shallower but spins just about the same.

[eric61]

23 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

 

You might look at July/August Golf Digest article on 7 Woods. Author suggests interesting set-up adjustment for hitting 7W out of rough. Check p. 62.

Thanks for the heads up! Sorry to ask for the spoon-feeding, but do you happen to know what the headline on that piece is? I don't have a subscription, so I'm trying to find it on their website right now. Otherwise I'll pick one up at Golf Galaxy in the next few days if I can make a run over there.

 

EDIT: Nevermind, found it! Link is a couple of posts below this.

Edited July 28, 2022 by eric61

[eric61]

8 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

I would totally get a LS 7w if they had it. I love my HL3 (i'm righty). Although the Max really could also work. Its just a tad shallower but spins just about the same.

I appreciate the suggestion, but I actually tried the Max 7W and wound up sending it back under their 30-day return-for-Callaway-credit option. The low profile was sort of the opposite of what I was looking for, and I also found it to be pretty draw-biased. Not sure if that was the weight placement or lie angle or my crappy swing or what.

[eric61]

23 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

 

You might look at July/August Golf Digest article on 7 Woods. Author suggests interesting set-up adjustment for hitting 7W out of rough. Check p. 62.

 

6 minutes ago, eric61 said:

Thanks for the heads up! Sorry to ask for the spoon-feeding, but do you happen to know what the headline on that piece is? I don't have a subscription, so I'm trying to find it on their website right now. Otherwise I'll pick one up at Golf Galaxy in the next few days if I can make a run over there.

Ah nevermind, I found it! Good stuff. Here's the link, if anyone is interested:

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-to-use-a-7-wood-like-the-pros

[BirdieBob]

When I was pondering this a couple months ago I decided the Standard Stealth 7 wood was larger than I wanted.

Ended up taking my Stealth Plus 5 wood (150cc) increasing the loft by 1.5* to 20.5 and cutting the 80g shaft down to 41.25".

This club will never leave my bag!  It is so easy to hit and it really moves and not too high.

 

I have my 15* turned up to 16.5* and along with my "7 wood" they work great.

[Rbsiedsc]

15 minutes ago, eric61 said:

I appreciate the suggestion, but I actually tried the Max 7W and wound up sending it back under their 30-day return-for-Callaway-credit option. The low profile was sort of the opposite of what I was looking for, and I also found it to be pretty draw-biased. Not sure if that was the weight placement or lie angle or my crappy swing or what.

Otherwise you can try the sub70 949x. I think their 7w comes left handed. 150cc and has a sleeve.

[PowderedToastMan]

Check out PXG 7 woods. Everything they have is offered in lefty. 

[eric61]

18 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

Otherwise you can try the sub70 949x. I think their 7w comes left handed. 150cc and has a sleeve.

Unfortunately it doesn't come in left-handed. If it did, I'd buy it. Love Sub70.

[MelloYello]

I've been playing my 7w since before they became all the rage. I like that it's shallower than the 5w but it's still deep enough to hit down on and "trap" if/when I want to do that. I can hit it from the tee or the turf. It's really balanced. 

 

The Ping profile is great for the 3w and 4w as it increases launch angle but I don't really think you need the shallow face with 20+ degrees of loft. That seems like double-dipping. 

 

I would only pick the Ping if you're looking for a high-launching option from the short grass and you expect to use it for approaches 99% of the time. It almost strikes me a bit more as a club profile for ladies and seniors who might also have a 9w in the bag. 

 

.

Edited July 28, 2022 by MelloYello

[Fuscinator]

Oops, I dropped something...

[Baconator]

21 hours ago, eric61 said:

 

Ah nevermind, I found it! Good stuff. Here's the link, if anyone is interested:

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-to-use-a-7-wood-like-the-pros

Thanks for the link! I'll try the suggestions tomorrow. 

[platgof]

You need a Sim Max

[juddrussell]

I’m lefty as well, totally understand the battle with trying to find some to test out locally.  It gets spendy ordering models just to try out….

 

I ended up taking home the g425 max 7 wood, literally the easiest club I’ve ever hit in my life.  Gaps great for me with my 3 wood turned up to play more like a 4 wood.  I’m super happy with the head, I plan to mess with the shaft a bit on the future but happy for now.

[third-times-a-charm]

On 7/28/2022 at 12:52 PM, jt2gt said:

With all the pros baggin 7 woods now, Im surprised cally doesn't offer a ST LS 7 wood, looking at your witb that would have been my answer for you.  But it looks like they do not.  I am in the ST LS 5 wood and its one of my go to clubs.  

They havent for 2 product cycles, now. Which I agree is crazy. Xander and a few others were hanging onto their 20* Mavrik SZ heads because nothing new ever came out for them.

 

They finally got Xander into the Apex UW, instead of a new 7w.

[chch3]

I have a Stealth 7 wood and it is excellent.  I actually think it might go a little too long, so if you are trying to fill a gap be mindful of it's distance.

[echen023]

A

Edited November 14, 2022 by echen023

[echen023]

On 7/28/2022 at 11:10 AM, BirdieBob said:

When I was pondering this a couple months ago I decided the Standard Stealth 7 wood was larger than I wanted.

Ended up taking my Stealth Plus 5 wood (150cc) increasing the loft by 1.5* to 20.5 and cutting the 80g shaft down to 41.25".

This club will never leave my bag!  It is so easy to hit and it really moves and not too high.

 

I have my 15* turned up to 16.5* and along with my "7 wood" they work great.

Are you still liking this? Curious how that affects the turf interaction? How would you compare the height you’re getting compared to other 7W like the regular Stealth 7W? Spin? 

[jt2gt]

8 minutes ago, echen023 said:

 

Are you still liking this? Curious how that affects the turf interaction? How would you compare the height you’re getting compared to other 7W like the regular Stealth 7W? Spin? 

Contemplating doing the same thing...would love to hear more on this setup.  Stealth plus 5 wood was a bomber for me, but not quite what I was looking for in a 5wood.  Now thinking of picking it up again and playing at 20.5 7 wood.  

[BirdieBob]

15 minutes ago, echen023 said:

 

Are you still liking this? Curious how that affects the turf interaction? How would you compare the height you’re getting compared to other 7W like the regular Stealth 7W? Spin? 

 

No changes here...have not hit another 7 wood...no access to anything in my area.

Turf interaction is fine.

[NZ315]

Thinking of going the same route with the stealth+ 5 wood and crank the loft up. And of course get the new G430 when it drops. Also want to try it with the TSR. One of the 3 is going in the bag

Edited November 14, 2022 by NZ315

[Luke'sdad]

Might be a bit dated, but I have been gaming a Taylormade M2 HL 7 wood (23 degrees) for a few seasons now, and it fits the bill. Face is relatively tall, & the extra 2 degrees of loft from a traditional 21 degree 7 wood hasn't cost me any distance I can see. Still, even w/my average swing can push it to 195/200 yards if needed, or choke down and play anything from 175 to 185 pretty easily. Lastly, its a great option off the tee on many longer than average par 3s.