7 Wood vs 4 Hybrid?

[Dl_harmsen]

 

Hard swinging High Handicap newbie here again,

 

looking to fill out my bag

Currently have AI Smoke Max Driver and 3w each with Denali Black XS

JPX923 Hot Metal Irons 5-GW

 

Looking to gap distance between 3w and 5i.

3w is consistently 230-250 and very straight when hit even sort of well

5i very consistently 195-205 and easy to hit consistently.

whats trade offs between 7w and 4H to fill the gap?

hit both and like both. 7 would seems straighter and more consistent albeit harder to hit. 4H super hot off the face and easy to hit every.single.time but a lot more R to L dispersion and movement- which is something I fight bad right now regardless

I know 7w have had a bit of a resurgence lately and hybrids have had a place in folks bags for awhile- pros and cons from our MGS experts on each? 
 

Will likely follow suit with ai smoke max versions of either

Edited June 4 by Dl_harmsen

[russtopherb]

It really depends on your goals and what you want to see from the ballflight out of that slot in your bag. A 7w will most likely launch higher and land softer, while a 4h will most likely fly a little lower and give you more runout. 

I played a Callaway Heavenwood which is roughly the equivalent of a 7w for many years and I loved it. I only pulled it from the bag for a Cleveland Hy-Wood which I found to be even more forgiving, especially in less than ideal lies. 

[DG53]

Might be worth trying a Callaway apex utility wood, the 21 degree. I use one and love it off the tee, off the fairway and as a rescue club. I found a 4 hybrid often went left but the UW, goes much straighter. Good luck

[Swood1994]

4 hours ago, Dl_harmsen said:

I know 7w have had a bit of a resurgence lately and hybrids have had a place in folks bags for awhile- pros and cons from our MGS experts on each?

I’ve always used hybrids to fill the gap between my 3W and 4 iron. It’s easier to hit and I feel I can hit any shot I want with it. You can get them to launch high you need to manipulate the shot to do it. 

With the numbers you called out any particular reason you wouldn’t consider adding a 4-iron? I guess it comes down to what club you would be most confident with hitting the 220 yard shot.

[Donn lost in San Diego]

6 hours ago, Dl_harmsen said:

 

Hard swinging High Handicap newbie here again,

 

looking to fill out my bag

Currently have AI Smoke Max Driver and 3w each with Denali Black XS

JPX923 Hot Metal Irons 5-GW

 

Looking to gap distance between 3w and 5i.

3w is consistently 230-250 and very straight when hit even sort of well

5i very consistently 195-205 and easy to hit consistently.

whats trade offs between 7w and 4H to fill the gap?

hit both and like both. 7 would seems straighter and more consistent albeit harder to hit. 4H super hot off the face and easy to hit every.single.time but a lot more R to L dispersion and movement- which is something I fight bad right now regardless

I know 7w have had a bit of a resurgence lately and hybrids have had a place in folks bags for awhile- pros and cons from our MGS experts on each? 
 

Will likely follow suit with ai smoke max versions of either

If you are swinging that fast that you are x-stiff, I suggest going lower with irons.  I am no great shakes, but I have a driving iron 3 and a rare Mizuno GFF hollow body 24 degree loft iron.  Or do a 5 wood.  I go 3w, 5w, 3 driving iron, 4 24 degree iron., then to the 6 iron. 

[Dozercv1000]

My fitter took my 4hy out of my bag and replaced with a Stealth2 7w. Same distance, but Intent was a softer landing shot for those long approaches.  Man Was he right, never going back to the hybrid. Good luck. 

[MCMSR]

Bag has changed over the years. In the past, fitted for 3w/3h/5h — Now carry 5w/7w which are straighter, higher & softer landing; tighter dispersion for marginal distance loss.

[dlygrisse]

As a general rule, 7 wood will launch higher. And fly a little longer.  It’s really a situation where you need to hit both and see what works best. Long hitters on the tour use both, some even carry 9 woods.  

[N.O.Hustle54]

I play Driver, 5w, 4h. I’ve tried the 7w and did like distance and ability to land it soft. I prefer the 4 hybrid instead, in my opinion, it’s better for me because I tend to find myself in rough or in an undesirable lie. I use a 2014 TM Rescue 4h 22 degree. That thing has a steel sole and can take a beating when the going gets rough. Pun intended.

[Dave Hamilton]

Seems you have a similar gap problem to me. I was looking for something in between my 6 iron (struggling with it) and 5 wood ( hit it 200 to 210). I bought a 4 hybrid and found I could hit it 190 to 205. So now have a 7 wood (Cobra Dark Speed) adjusted to 22.5 degree and that seems to be doing the job in the 180 range. I have taken the 5 wood out of the bag for now.

[Middler]

After years carrying a 3h or 4h, last year the Titleist demo day fitter talked me into a 7w instead. I never liked hybrids, so I am not finding the 7w any harder to hit. I prefer the 7w trajectory, higher and lands softer - since I use the 7w for long approaches more often than otherwise, landing soft is a plus. And on a windy day I use my 4i if the 7w is just too high. I have zero interest in going back to a hybrid. FWIW

Edited June 5 by Middler

[RetiredBoomer]

I also prefer lofted fairway woods to hybrids, but because of that, an extra long club takes a space in my bag.

If I had a driver, a fairway wood, and two hybrids like a lot of players today, I could use the longer hybrid as a safety driving iron. It would have a short enough shaft to keep me in a comfort zone.

With a driver and three fairways woods, I have to sacrifice a wedge to make room for a driving iron.   

Well, I suppose I wouldn't HAVE to.
I just like to hit a driving iron into tight landing areas.
It's worth it to me. 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Jerabek]

I use both my 21* 7 wood is turned down to 20* and my 21* 4 hybrid is set at 22* I get a perfect 10 yard gap this way.  Fits right in with the irons gapping.

[Beakbryce]

38 minutes ago, Bob Jerabek said:

I use both my 21* 7 wood is turned down to 20* and my 21* 4 hybrid is set at 22* I get a perfect 10 yard gap this way.  Fits right in with the irons gapping.

I also do a heavenwood and a 4 H with similar adjustment to lofts. 

[Wedge60]

All depends on how you want the ball to fly. 7 wood - lots of loft and lands softly.  hybrid- lower flight and roll ( shorter air carry) so are you trying to carry water and traps or hitting to open fairways?

[alexchung]

Following this. I too will likely to have a similar gap in my bag and will be looking for ideas. Currently using a 4 Hybrid pretty well so will be looking to plug the gap between that and the 3 wood (currently replenishing funds after ordering a new driver) 

I hit my 5 iron about 200-210 and my 4 Hybrid about 220-230 so it would be good to get more information and ideas.

Alex

Edited June 6 by alexchung

[Philpug]

@TriciaPug to the courtesy phone. 

[TriciaPug]

I spent some time on the driving range last week, going through my bag and found a similar situation. 

My 7W and 4H were too similar in distances but the 4H was not as consistent left to right. 

I ended up keeping the 7W in the bag. 

Since I tend to walk a majority of the time I didn't want to keep everything in the bag, trying to keep the weight down. 

 

I pulled my 4H, 3W and 5H out of the bag. 

Kept the 5W, 7W and 7H. 

There was a bigger difference between my 7W and 7H in distance. 

I've only been playing golf for a year (this is my second season. 

[RetiredBoomer]

On 6/5/2024 at 10:43 AM, Bob Jerabek said:

I use both my 21* 7 wood is turned down to 20* and my 21* 4 hybrid is set at 22* I get a perfect 10 yard gap this way.  Fits right in with the irons gapping.

I can see how that would work out.

I WISH that I could hit hybrids better.  I think that maybe I didn't work at it enough and got discouraged too fast.  Not playing hybrids costs me a wedge spot in my bag.

Consider.

1. driver
2. 20° driving iron.
3. 18° fairway wood
4. 21° fairway wood
5. 24° fairway wood

Now,

1. driver
2. 18° fairway wood
3. 21° hybrid
4. 24° hybrid

If I played the more modern top end of driver, one fairway wood, and two hybrids,
even the longer hybrid would be short-shafted enough to serve as a safe driving iron. 
Hybrids would preclude my need for a driving iron.

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Jerabek]

4 hours ago, RetiredBoomer said:

I can see how that would work out.

I WISH that I could hit hybrids better.  I think that maybe I didn't work at it enough and got discouraged too fast.  Not playing hybrids costs me a wedge spot in my bag.

Consider.

1. driver
2. 20° driving iron.
3. 18° fairway wood
4. 21° fairway wood
5. 24° fairway wood

Now,

1. driver
2. 18° fairway wood
3. 21° hybrid
4. 24° hybrid

If I played the more modern top end of driver, one fairway wood, and two hybrids,
even the longer hybrid would be short-shafted enough to serve as a safe driving iron. 
Hybrids would preclude my need for a driving iron.

 

I like the 7 wood a lot, consider the 7 wood instead of the 21* hybrid, it will give you more confidence .

 

 

 

 

[Hoyoymac]

Have experimented quite a bit over the last few years at the top end of my bag after Arccos data identified some issues.

Have gravitated to the following set up: 9 degree driver, 16.5 deg. 3 wood, 21 deg. 7 wood and 24 deg. 5 hybrid.  Top iron is a 26 deg. 5 iron.

The 5 hybrid took the place of my 4 iron and it is my 185-195 club.  The 7 wood took the place of my 3 iron and it is my 205-215 club.  The 7 wood flies much higher than the 5 hybrid.

As someone who naturally plays a draw I too struggle with some hybrids and higher lofted fairway woods wanting to go way left.

The problem I’ve had is finding a 7 wood set up for a stronger and faster player.  Most of the stock shafts are too light, have high torque, and are designed to help get the ball up in the air.

If you are comfortable tinkering with clubs then it won’t be an issue.

Once you get dialed in with a heavier and stiffer premium fitted shaft for the 7 wood you will likely love it.

Currently playing the Diamana Thump F 85 Stiff in my 7 wood.  Previously played a Graphite Design Tour AD TP 8S that now resides in my buddy’s 7 wood.

Good luck in your search.

[jaguar55xyz]

It depends on where I am on the fairway or rough and whether I am going for distance or height and a softer landing. If in the fairway or longer rough I will use the hybrid. I just can't seem to get much height with my hybrids. If I feelI get reach the green especially if elevated I use a 7w which gives me more height ,softer landing and less run out. I no longer use a 3w. Too hard to hit and use  a 4w, 7w and a 24 hybrid. Lose a liitle distance, but it is much easier playing from the fairway.

[MNUte]

Sorry for being late to the party, but I think you might be targeting the wrong clubs. 

Your 3W is 15 degrees and your 5iron is 22 degrees. So you might instead want to be looking at 5 woods and 3 hybrids, something that's falling into that 18-19 degree territory. 

 

From there, as others have said, it probably is going to come down to what your goals are. Do you play a bunch of courses? Or do you play one/a select few. From that answer, what are you needing the gap to do? Give you a consistent 220ish high shot? Or something where you probably need it to be lower and a bit hotter?

 

[Mtricker96]

Hybrid over 7 wood - easier to look at behind the ball 

 

[Philpug]

I am getting about the same distance with my 7W and my 5H, both are Cobra LTDx. I have my 7 set at 22.5*+1.5* is also 24* ... I might drop the loft of the 7W back to 22.5* but it might then come closer to my 5W. #stupidgame. 

[RangerGrey]

All of 2023 I went with a 7W as this year it's a 4H, shorter shaft easier to hit with more control over a 7 wood. Nothing wrong if your playing a 7W as they can definitely help your game as well as hybrids can

[slash25rc]

I have 16.5 degree 3(4) wood, 21 degree 7w turned to 19.5, 22 degree 4H and 24 degree 5H and it works for me! 7 wood and 4H were similar distances till I tinkered with lofts, but have different uses depending on what flight im looking for.