More and more tour players are putting a 7-wood (or even higher-lofted fairway woods) into their golf bag, but is this the right decision for your game? And which manufacturers should you consider?
When we go and test new fairway woods, we typically focus on 3-woods, or occasionally 5-woods, in the hitting bay but should we actually consider 7-woods, or even more loft in our bags?
2024 USPGA Champion Xander Schauffele and two-time Major champion Dustin Johnson both have 7-woods in their bags. DJ even has a 9-wood, which he used in his 2020 Masters triumph to great effect.
Tour professionals to also add a higher lofted fairway wood include Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala, Ludwig Aberg, and Joaquin Niemann; with so many now taking an additional fairway into their weekly setup, what can you look for to find the right product for you?
It’s not easy to know what to consider with a club you may never have used, or even seen, before. As with fairway woods in general, knowing which model offers the best forgiveness, the most distance, which is the easiest to launch off the ground, even down to the size of each model’s head, is a real difference-maker in deciding on the correct product for you.
So let’s explore our options, and provide some information on why choosing to play a more lofted wood will benefit your golf game.
We used our normal test professional, Neil Wain, to demo and decide on the best 7-woods on the market for all different kinds of golfers. We took our woods down to a fitting studio and compared the flights, launch monitor data, and styles of each club to see what models we think are the best to recommend.
7-wood vs. hybrids
This story isn’t just about tour players using 7-woods. It’s about helping you identify the equipment that best benefits your game and shaves shots from your scores.
Let’s start by highlighting data from the shot trackers at Arccos, who say high-lofted fairway woods win hands down in comparison to the best hybrids.
They’ve analyzed loads of data for 0-25 handicappers and found that the greens in regulation stats with a 7-wood are 70% higher than that of a 3-hybrid; astonishing numbers when we’ve been told hybrids are the more forgiving option.
On tour, of course, the intention isn’t to just hit a green in regulation; those guys want to have the ball stopping closer to the flag on hard, fast greens, on the right tier, and below the hole. Today’s tour greens are more undulating and slicker than ever, and there are also often hazards short of the green to carry, which eliminates running shots up with a long iron.
So for the best players on the planet, 7-woods are opening up flag positions that many felt previously inaccessible. And if you’re Dustin Johnson, who says 5-woods go too far, the extra spin, height, and descent angle of a 7-wood will cover off the perfect yardage and hold faster greens.
Why 7-woods are more forgiving than hybrids
Many golfers think hybrids are easier to use than 7-woods, based mainly on the fact that the shorter shaft allows them to stand closer to the ball, which breeds confidence.
But in reality that isn’t true. Ken Oates, PGA Tour rep for Ping, told us: “The 7-wood is easier to spin, it has a higher peak height than a hybrid and it’s more consistent for right-to-left ball flights.”
The benefits don’t stop there, either. A 7-wood also has a bigger head (TaylorMade’s Qi10 7-wood is 175cc whereas the Cleveland Launcher Halo XL, a big hybrid, is 140cc), so MOI forgiveness is significantly higher. As a result, golfers get more stability and less ball speed drop-off from off-center hits.
How the team here at Today’s golfer test golf equipment.
The numbers that show why you should consider a 7-wood
To highlight how a 7-wood, hybrid, and 3-wood compare we asked TG Test pro, Neil Wain, to hit all three (Ping G425 models). We had a launch monitor watch on, and his data shows brilliantly how each club performs in the hands of a higher-speed player.
The numbers at this speed show a decent carry difference between the 3 and 7-wood (32 yards), and once shots hit the deck there’s a 35% reduction in stopping distance with the higher loft.
At more average speeds, distances are likely to be more closely matched.
The interesting stuff shows up when comparing the 7-wood to a 4-hybrid. The 7-wood has 1.5º less loft, yet shots launched higher (1.4º), span more (1,000rpm), and peaked out three yards higher. And the ball descended onto the green at a 3.7º steeper landing angle.
Remember, this is versus a hybrid – the very club golfers have come to love for its ease of use and forgiving nature (over long irons).
The numbers spell out how a high, soft-landing ball flight has led to a spike in 7-wood adoption.
Our data shows why tour pros and higher-speed players are switching to 7-woods, but what’s the takeaway for moderate and average-speed players?
Well, the next time we’re looking at filling gaps at the top end of our bag, we’ll be exploring how high-lofted fairway woods (7, 9, and 11-woods) can fill gaps from our driver to the longest iron we hit with confidence (a 6-iron), which means considering doing away with hybrids.
If high-lofted fairways are more forgiving, higher launching, softer landing, and the data shows that we hit more greens in regulation with them, why wouldn’t we?
Which lofted woods do tour pros use?
- Tommy Fleetwood, Taylormade Qi10 – 9-Wood
- Xander Schauffele, Callaway Apex UW – 7-Wood
- Sahith Theegala, Ping G430 Max – 9-Wood
- Tyrrell Hatton, Ping G430 Max – 7-Wood
- Ludwig Aberg, Stealth 2 – 7-Wood
- Adam Scott, Taylormade Stealth – 7-Wood
- Dustin Johnson, TaylorMade Stealth – 7-Wood + 9-Wood
- Joaquin Niemann, Ping G425 Max – 7-Wood
Now we’ve established why you might want to consider adding a 7-wood to your golf bag, let’s look at the best 7-woods available to buy.
Best 7-woods
If speed and distance are your top requirements from a new 7-wood in 2024 and you have decent levels of speed, we think you should stick with the Qi10, it’s seriously impressive. However, if you’ve found fairway woods have become harder to launch from the deck, the Qi10 Max would be my preferred option. Read our full Taylormade Qi10 Fairway Wood Review
With its shallower more lofted head (16° instead of 15° in the 3W), the Max for our test pro launched and flighted shots higher with more spin, and hit the ground at a steeper angle. While for our pro that meant giving up 7 yards of carry distance, at more average club-golfer speeds it would add more yardage thanks to flighting shots optimally with increased levels of forgiveness which virtually no golfer doesn’t want.
You really can’t make a bad choice between the two but any good fitter will ensure whatever direction you go in is optimal for your game.
Pros
- Offers plenty of forgiveness for a smaller head
- Ball speed across the face is high
- Available in 7-wood and 9-wood
Cons
- Deeper face may not suit every golfer
| Lofts | 3W-15º/3HL-16.5º/5W-18º/7W-21º/9W-24º |
| Stock Shafts | Mid 60g - Mitsubishi Tensei AV Ltd Blue FW (65 R), Mid 70g -Mitsubishi Tensei AV Ltd Blue (75 X/S) |
| Stock Grip | Golf Pride Z-Grip Plus 2 (52g) |
The entire Callaway Ai Smoke family has taken us by surprise this year as time and again it has performed brilliantly in our 2024 tests. The Max fairway wood hasn’t let the side down either. Both myself and our test pro love the really shallow profile, and found it incredibly easy to launch high from the turf. A trait that our test data totally supports as shots launched and flew higher than average while spinning just below it - numbers that will add distance even without excessive swing speed. It's well worth pointing out that Ai Smoke is the only fairway wood we’ve tested this year that comes with a full-on carbon fiber sole, very much like the brand's latest drivers (Callaway introduced the idea on the standard Paradym fairway wood last year). My gut feeling though is this carbon fiber chassis frees up just a bit more weight to squeeze out a fraction more performance than some of the leading competition. Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Review
Pros
- The Max loft options are best in class
- Easy to launch profile
- Great for forgiveness
Cons
- A costly investment
| Lofts | 3W-15º / 3HL-16.5º / 5W-18º / Heavenwood-20º / 7W-21º / 9W-24º / 11W-27º |
| Stock Shafts | Project X Denali Black, Mitsubishi Tensei AV Series Blue, Project X Cypher 2.0 |
| Stock Grip | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 |
It would be easy to question why Ping’s one-year-old and still very costly G430 Max fairway justifies a place among our list of the best 7-woods in 2024, especially when the competition is so hot this year. But unlike theTitleist fairways, the G430 isn't scheduled to be replaced this year. In anyone’s book the G430 Max is still a cracking option, I say that as the model comes with some very strong stock shaft offerings and an adjustable hosel that lets golfers tailor the loft, lie, and face angle of every head to their own desired setup. Ping has a massive reputation for making forgiving products and once again our data highlights how this model flies incredibly high in the forgiveness stakes. We feel you can't go wrong with a model that offers this level of help at any level of the game. Read our full Ping G430 Max Review
Pros
- Impressive all-round performance
- Shaft range is excellent
- Incredibly easy to hit from varied lies
Cons
- Replacement due in 2025
| Lofts | 3W – 15° / 5W – 18° / 7W – 21° / 9W - 24° |
| Stock Shafts | Ping Alta CB Black, Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome, Ping Tour 2.0 Black |
| Stock Grip | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 |
If there’s one completely unoffensive fairway wood out there for decent swing speed players it has to be the super simple Cobra Darkspeed X. To say our test pro loved this completely plain unfussy head is a massive understatement, and because he was a fan of the shape and appearance of course he hit it really well too. Read our full Cobra Darkspeed X Review
I’d love to say the Darkspeed X tore up trees in terms of performance, but where it produced a faster-than-average ball speed, carry distance, and tighter shot area, it also launched, flew, and span less than our test averages. All traits that we think make this model a great alternative to theTaylorMade Qi10for decent speed players, and for those who really want to specifically target a penetrating ball flight, even with their high loft woods.
Pros
- Sound and feel are fantastic
- Looks are classy and refined
- Power is in line with best-in-class models
Cons
- Darkspeed X doesn't come in lofts higher than 7w
| Lofts | 3W - 15° / 3HF - 16.5º / 5W - 18° / 7W - 21° |
| Stock Shafts | Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue, UST Mamiya Lin-Q Blue, UST Mamiya Lin-Q Red |
| Stock Grip | Lamkin Crossline Black |
In 2024, in a way we’ve never seen before, brands are talking up forgiveness to levels so high that MOI has now become a major battleground. If forgiveness and playability are high on your list of 7-wood wants in 2024 I’d back the PXG 0311 XF GEN6 to put a seriously wide smile on your face. The XF 3-wood comes with 1° weaker loft (16°) than our test spec, yet it didn’t hold the head back from posting a ball speed just over, and a carry distance spot on with our test average. That’s some seriously impressive performance against stronger lofted models. Ultimately, we believe this offering from PXG to be a fantastic all-rounder with benefits in both distance and easy of use.
However, if I were looking for friendly new fairway woods in 2024 my eyes would be drawn to the launch angle (1.3°), backspin (592.6 RPM), and shot height (6.3 yds) all being higher than our test average which along with a significantly steeper landing angle (5.8°) will make a huge difference to enjoying the game and helping nestle long approaches on to a green.
Pros
- One of the highest launching fairways we tested
- A great choice of stock shafts as well as upgrades available
- The external weight fitting options are second to none
Cons
- Certainly higher ball speed options available
- No option for 9-wood if needed
| Lofts | 3W - 16° / 4W - 17° / 5W - 19°, 7W - 22° |
| Stock Shafts | Multiple custom-fit options are available |
| Stock Grip | PXG Z5 Black Standard |
Price: £189
Price: £189
The Cobra Air-X 2 fairway wood offers forgiveness for days, in a lightweight package we think is ideally suited to slower swingers or just those who prefer an easier-to-swing feel from their clubs. With increased heel weighting and hosel offset working in tandem, the Air-X allows the head to stay square and work against an unwanted cut shot. This is doubly helpful when you consider the lighter-weight components used, designed to help push your swing speed up, which could result in less time for the face to come back to where it was pointing at address. The face has also been redesigned by Cobra to now include their H.O.T (Highly Optimized Topology) technology to help increase ball speed on off-center strikes. We believe the addition of this tech from Cobra's mainline models of the last few years has given a club, taken not-so-seriously in previous years, a real boost to its consideration in your hunt for a 7-wood this season. As a total package, we think you'll struggle to do better for the more moderate swingers than the Air-X 2 fairway.
Pros
- Super lightweight design
- Increased draw bias in the heel
- Great pricing compared to more premium options
Cons
- Lack of adjustability and shaft choice stops it working for more golfers
- Not available in 9-Wood
| Lofts | 3W-16º / 5W-19º / 7W-22º |
| Stock Shafts | Cobra Utralite 50/45 |
| Stock Grip | Lamkin EPDM REL Black STD (58R) |
Newly updated for 2024, the Cleveland Launcher carries over features from the previous year but with some subtle upgrades that we really love. Changes include improved turf interaction due to the revised GlideRail system featured on the sole of the club, a variable thickness face design for increased ball speed across the face, a large total head size, which our team believes, will help inspire courage at address, and a counter-weighted shaft for optimized feel without sacrificing in mass coming into impact. With more loft options than before, this year's Halo XL is an option we think should not be overlooked for those attempting to maximize their height from the fairway.
Pros
- Easy to get through the turf
- Additional loft options this year are very welcome
- Larger profile at address is confidence inspiring
Cons
- Only available in lightweight shaft options
| Lofts | 3W-15º / 5W-18º / 7W-21º / 9W-24º |
| Stock Shafts | Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 55, Aldila Ascent PL 40 |
| Stock Grip | Lamkin Crossline 360 |
FAQ: Buying a 7-Wood
How many PGA pros use a 7-wood?
According to a recent report from Sports Marketing Surveys, 10.3% of Tour professionals had a 7-wood, or higher lofted, fairway wood in their bag.
What is a 7-wood the same as?
A 7-wood is generally 21 degrees of loft so this puts it in line with both 4 and 5-iron or 3 and 4-hybrid, depending on the brand and model.
Who makes the easiest to hit fairway woods?
Lots of manufacturers make very forgiving fairway woods. On paper, the highest MOI (moment of inertia) model should be the easiest to hit because that would provide the most help on mish*ts, but trying them out is the best way to tell.
Is a 7-wood easier to hit than a 3-wood?
For the most part, yes. The additional loft on a 7-wood compared to a 3-wood provides more height and spin, even on mish*t shots so you can get away with less-than-perfect shots.
READ MORE: How to choose the right fairway wood for your game
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