5 Wood vs. 7 Wood – Which Club To Use & When – Breakdown

5 Wood vs. 7 Wood – Which Club To Use & When – Breakdown

With the limited number of golf clubs that we get to keep in our bag, you will sometimes have to choose between carrying a 5 wood and 7 wood.

If you are in a situation where this is the case, we have some really helpful information to help you sort this out. There are players who will benefit from the 5 wood and others that will find the 7 wood to be a better fit for their game.

The main differences between the 5 and the 7 wood are in the length and the loft of the club. The 5 wood is a longer club that will hitter lower, longer shots and the 7 wood is shorter and will hit higher, shorter shots.

Regardless of your handicap or your personal preferences, it is smart to understand the differences between these two clubs.

Why Fairway Woods Are So Important

Fairway woods are essential to have in your golf bag. The biggest role they play is going to be getting your ball back on track after a poor drive or if you want to go for a golf green in two.

The 5 wood and the 7 wood will play an important part in keeping your long game strong.

5 Wood vs. 7 Wood

A 5 wood is going to have a few less degrees of loft than the 7 wood. It is built for slightly longer distances and lower ball flight.

• 5 Wood: 18 Degrees Of Loft

• 7 Wood: 21 Degrees of Loft

• 3 Wood: 15 Degrees Of Loft

If you struggle with distance on longer par fours, the 5 wood is going to be a great choice. It is easier to hit than a 3 wood and makes getting the proper ball flight a breeze.

A 7 wood has a bit more loft and therefore can get out of the rough more effectively. A 7 wood is a perfect replacement for a long iron or a good choice for a golfer that does not enjoy playing with a hybrid golf club.

Overall both the 5 wood and the 7 wood are also alternatives to the driver or 3 wood off the tee.

Why You Would Choose A 5 Wood Over A 7 Wood

A golfer that needs pure distance is going to want to choose the 5 wood. It is much easier to hit your 5 wood a long distance than your 7 wood.

We love the 5 wood choice for those golfers that happen to struggle off the tee and use an alternative from time to time. The 5 wood is also an excellent choice for golf courses that have long par 4’s.

Chances are you are going to have an approach or two that will need a fairway wood to get into the green at some point.

If you have trouble getting a three wood in the air or get more performance from a 5 wood, it is the club for you!

Why Would Choose A 7 Wood

Players with slightly slower swing speeds that are looking for a go to club from the fairway to approach a green should choose the 7 wood.

The 7 wood is very easy to launch and will make attacking a green a much easier job. Overall the 7 wood is a choice that should be highly considered if you don’t like hybrids or long irons.

This club will help you hit higher and longer shots than a long iron, especially if you are a slower swing speed player.

If you have trouble getting the ball in the air, the 7 wood is for you!

What’s The Difference Is Shaft Length

One of the reasons that the 7 wood is usually a bit easier to hit than the 5 wood is that it is about a ½ inch shorter.

Slightly shorter clubs are usually easier to control and make it easier to send the ball in the proper direction.

What’s Better For Beginners

Luckily for beginners, both the 5 wood and the 7 wood are a good choice. In fact, most beginners should take their 3 wood out of the bag and put in both a 5 wood and a 7 wood.

These clubs will help beginners that are learning how to hit proper iron shots.

What’s Better For Mid Handicappers

Mid handicappers are golfers that are doing everything they can to take their golf game to the next level.

Being a mid handicapper can be frustrating because you can almost taste the low handicap range but it still manages to remain illusive for now.

Mid handicappers will do best with a 5 wood. This club will give them a great alternative to a driver and plenty of distance to get on the green in two on a par 5 hole.

Which Is Easier To Hit?

The 7 wood is a bit easier to hit than the 5 wood. Luckily, both golf clubs still have lots of forgiveness, and you won’t need to choose based on forgiveness alone.

If you compare the 5 wood or the 7 wood to a 3 wood, then you will notice they are both much easier to hit than the 3 wood.

5 Wood Distance Vs 7 Wood

Since the loft is a bit lower and the club’s physical length is longer, the 5 wood is going to go further than the 7 wood.

The difference in distance will probably end up being about 10 to 15 yards.

Should I Use Woods Or Hybrids?

Many golfers will choose to use hybrids instead of the 5 wood or the 7 wood.

Hybrids are much easier to hit out of the rough, and they are generally easier to control.

However, a hybrid with the same loft as a fairway wood will not go quite as far.

When choosing between fairway woods and hybrids, try to consider how far you hit the ball and whether or not you normally end up in the rough.

Overall Conclusion

  

It is hard to say that the 5 wood or the 7 wood is better than the other. However, it is worth mentioning that the 5 wood is going to be a more well-rounded choice for most golfers.

Having the ability to get plenty of distance but still have the ease of use that the 7 wood provides will make the 5 wood a very well rounded club.

If you are a golfer that does not enjoy hybrids or long irons, you may end up with room in the bag for both clubs.