Driver, 4, 7 vs. Driver, 3, 5

[Bullitt5339]

Has anyone made this swap, and realized that it's a much better setup for them? Recently I swapped my fairway woods from 3 and 5 to 4 and 7 just for a change in the bag. What I noticed is that one 90% of the courses I play, the 4 and 7 are much better fits on the par 5's or long par 3's. I also saw very little, almost unnoticeable distance differences between the 7 and 5 woods. It seems that the 7 wood has a much higher ball flight, but the distance difference is only 10-15 yards at most. I bought a cheap 7 wood head from Hireko golf, and absolutely love it, it has become my favorite club in the bag.

My old distances:

Driver - 240
3 Wood - 230
5 Wood - 200

New distances:

Driver - 240
4 Wood - 220ish
7 Wood - 190

[VolunteerGolfer]

I have recently started to carry only one fairway wood. Either my 4 or 5. I have added a 3 iron since I have been hitting my irons well. In my last two rounds I shot 89 and 90, and did not use my fairway wood at all. I either used driver or 3 iron off the tee, and on the par 5's I layed up to wedge distance versus going for the green. Don't know i that helps or not, but that is what I have been doing the past few rounds.

[Bullitt5339]

Yeah, I'm still not hitting 3 or 4 iron very well, so the 7 wood has been a godsend to me from those ranges. I do the same thing, except using the 7 wood instead of 3 iron.

[Chris223]

I like to take my 5 wood off the tee a lot, as well as my 3 wood. I usually hit both pretty straight and can hit both of them pretty long... much longer than my typical driver into the trees, lol. But I've been thinking about a rescue club since I don't carry a 3 or 4 iron in my bag. What does someone here think is better though... a hybrid 3 iron or 7 wood? Any advantages or disadvantages to either? I may just look into a Burner 7 wood to go along with my 3 and 5 Burners which I love.

[VolunteerGolfer]

Yeah, I have just this last month, with lots of range time, started hitting my 3 iron well and consistantly. I now hit it with a nice little fade. The past two rounds I have hit I think 55% of the fairways, so deffinatly a step in the right direction. If the 7 wood is working for you, keep it up. It's all about confidence. If you stand over the ball and are confident that you will hit the 7 wood well, you have a better chance of doing so.

[Bullitt5339]

I like to take my 5 wood off the tee a lot, as well as my 3 wood. I usually hit both pretty straight and can hit both of them pretty long... much longer than my typical driver into the trees, lol. But I've been thinking about a rescue club since I don't carry a 3 or 4 iron in my bag. What does someone here think is better though... a hybrid 3 iron or 7 wood? Any advantages or disadvantages to either? I may just look into a Burner 7 wood to go along with my 3 and 5 Burners which I love.

I carry a 4 hybrid and a 7 wood to replace my 3 and 4 irons. Both are cheap clubs, but so easy to hit after a little range work. With a 5 wood in the bag (at least for me), I wouldn't have the need for the 7 wood, and would just carry a 4 hybrid.

[Shindig]

I also saw very little, almost unnoticeable distance differences between the 7 and 5 woods.

My 3H isn't too far removed from a 7W, and I found it to be about the same distance as my 5W; part of why I made the swap.

[ghalfaire]

I like my 7 wood a lot. But you usually have to special order 4 & & woods as they are not considered standard anymore by most retailers.

[Bullitt5339]

My 3H isn't too far removed from a 7W, and I found it to be about the same distance as my 5W; part of why I made the swap.

Same here, I pulled my 3H out of the bag to put in the 7W. I just seem to hit it better, but they are very close in range.

[msd3075]

I think the setupthat works best really depends on what you are going to use those clubs for and how they fit your game. I carry Driver - 3 wood - 3 iron, and I only use the 3 wood off the tee. My 3 iron distance is usually around 215-220 yards, and if I'm faced with a shot that is longer than that I'll just lay up instead. Instead of carrying an extra fairway wood or hybrid, I have an extra wedge in my bag. With this setup, I have all my yardages from 50ish through 125 yards covered by my 50* and 54*, and I use my 58* for anything closer (3/4 swing max). I've worked on my wedge game to the point that I know I have a much better chance at birdie by laying up and sticking a wedge close than I do by going for a long approach and hoping I am close enough for a safe two putt.

At the end of the day, you bag should be full of clubs that you are going to use and that each have a specific purpose. You shouldn't just carry clubs because they fit a certain yardage gap, especially if it's a yardage gap that you aren't strong at or that leave holes in other parts of your game. You have to recognize your strengths/weaknesses and carry clubs that exploit them.