7-woods have been surging in popularity in recent years, with many top professionals choosing to carry one during major games.
Once considered a ‘niche’ club by many, the humble 7-wood began to appear more frequently in the early 2020s, with top golf stars like Dustin Johnson, Tommy Fleetwood and Cam Smith adding it to their already impressive collection of fairway woods.
But why is it so popular on the golf course? And is it designed to replace a specific club in your bag?
At Clarkes Golf, we’re home to many 7-wood options from some of the sport’s biggest manufacturers. So if you’re looking to make the leap to a 7-wood, we’ve got you covered.
With this in mind, let’s dig a little deeper into the benefits of this club and why so many of the top pros are regularly using it.
Understanding the role of a 7-wood
The 7-wood features a much higher loft than its 5-wood and 3-wood cousins, typically between 20 and 22 degrees - 21-degree 7-woods are very common.
So, what does this mean? A high-lofted wood like the 7-wood is a great club for launching the golf ball higher off the deck, out of the light rough, out of fairway bunkers or off the tee. This increased loft and improved ball flight can be useful in getting the ball out of sticky situations, while also helping the ball sit down quickly when it finally lands, reducing roll.
Low handicappers can often reach upwards of 190 yards with a 7-wood, making it a great choice if you’ve still got a long way to go to the green, but want to avoid the ball rolling off the back of the green if you manage to make it.
7-woods built with impressive tech from brands like Ping and TaylorMade are also known for being highly forgiving; ideal if you’re used to shooting these distances with a different club that’s harder to handle. Speaking of which…
Which clubs can a 7-wood replace?
The long irons are notoriously hard to hit, with many players reaching for a wood or a hybrid as a substitute.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the 4-iron (and irons in this range) are often substituted with the 7-wood.
Why? Because the 7-wood has a similar loft, meaning players can expect similar results distance and height-wise, without getting the ball off the deck becoming a chore. You could use a 5-wood, which may have been the club of choice for most golfers in these scenarios for a long time, but they have a slightly lower loft than 7-woods.
Plus, because the 7-wood has a larger head than a 4-iron, it’s much more forgiving on slightly mishit strikes. The result should be impressive distance and direction, even if the strike isn’t as smooth as you’d planned. Despite this larger clubhead, 7-woods can also produce higher swing speeds.
Some players also prefer the 7-wood over their long-used hybrid clubs, as there’s plenty of overlap between the two types of clubs in terms of benefits and the quality of shots produced.
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7-wood vs long irons: Which club to use when?
Of course, the decision to switch from a long iron to a 7-wood - and vice versa - should be a measured one. So, if you’re ever on the fence, here are a few things to remember:
Advantages of using long irons:
- Easier to produce draws/fades (shaping your shot how you wish)
- Easier to hit lower launch shots (good to use in strong winds)
- Better feedback (more skilled players can learn from the advanced feel)
Disadvantages of using long irons
- Difficult to hit consistently
- Very little forgiveness
- Difficult to achieve high launches, often producing a flatter ball flight
Advantages of using 7-woods
- Easier to hit off the deck (the club’s mechanics make it easier to get under the ball)
- Higher launch and increased ball speed (produces a softer landing when it returns to the ground)
- Far more forgiving (for shots you catch off-centre)
Disadvantages of using 7-woods
- Players can become overly reliant and neglect the long irons
- The ability to shape your shots, compared to a long iron, is limited
- Less roll on landing can be a disadvantage if you fall short of the green
When to switch to a 7 wood?
If you’re still struggling with your long irons after some time, or you feel as though you’d rather step away from the course and practice with them on the driving range to fine-tune your skills, there’s no shame in reaching for high-lofted fairway woods, like the 7-wood, if it’ll help you achieve the shot you need.
7-woods can also be handy for senior players, high handicappers, and those with slower swing speeds, who struggle to produce the combination of carry distance, lift and accuracy they need to reach the green in the shortest time possible.
Explore 7-woods at Clarkes Golf today
If a 7-wood sounds like it’ll make a handy addition to your golf bag, you’ll find everything you need and more at Clarkes Golf.
With a great selection of fairway woods - including 7-woods - from all the biggest golf brands, we’ll always have the right 7-wood to meet your needs.
Perfect for those with slower-than-average swing speeds who struggle with the long irons, and for those seeking more distance than a 4 hybrid but with plenty of stopping power, you'll wonder how you ever survived without this one club! Inspire more confidence in your own game, and you'll soon see why the 7-wood is set to become one of your favourite clubs.
Take a look at our selection of woods in the link above and refine your search to seek out 7-woods. Or get in touch with Clarkes Golf today if you need assistance with your order.