Last Updated on December 26, 2023 by Matt Greene
The 5 wood and the 7 wood can be key clubs in your golf bag for both tee shots and approach shots. They are both much easier to hit than the traditional 15 degree 3-wood that a lot of golfers own.
It can be confusing to understand what the differences since the pros rarely play 5 and 7 woods but let's take a look at 5 wood vs 7 wood so you know what the benefits are of both and which fairway wood you could have in the bag.
You might even take both!
5 Wood vs 7 Wood in Detail
5 Wood vs 7 Wood Loft
A 5-wood has 18 degrees of loft while a 7-wood has 21 degrees of loft.
Both the 5 wood and the 7 wood are easier to hit and get airborne than any 3 wood. With a loft of 18 to 21 degrees, the 5 wood and 7 wood are much easier to hit off the turf than a 15 degree fairway wood.
A five wood is very easy to hit from both the tee and the ground but a 7 wood will be just slightly easier. The higher loft on the 7 wood means it flies higher and lands softer than a 5 wood. This higher loft will increase spin and can help to keep the ball on target more than in a 5 wood.
The 5 wood at 18 degrees, corresponds to a 2 iron loft. The 7 wood corresponds with a modern 3 iron or 4 iron. It is much easier to hit both the 5 wood and the 7 wood instead of a long iron like a 3 or 4 iron.
I think the 5 wood is a good choice for golfers that struggle off the tee especially on shorter par 4s. The 5 wood is also a good choice if you find yourself in the 180 to 200 yard range to the green a lot on your golf course. They are very accurate and land softly to hold greens.
If you have a lot of shots in the 170 to 190 yard range, the 7 wood can be a tool to help you hit those greens easier than with a long iron. You can see that both the 5 wood and 7 wood can help you to reach par 4's and also hit accurate tee shots on short par 4s.
5 Wood vs 7 Wood Shaft Length
The shorter a club, the easier it is to control and hit in the correct direction.
The main reason that the 7 wood is easier to hit in the direction you want over the 5 wood is that it is half to 1 inch shorter than the 5 wood.
5 Wood Distance vs 7 Wood
The loft is lower in the 5 wood and the shaft is also longer. That means the 5 wood is certain to go longer than the 7 wood with the same strike.
The difference in distance will usually be between 10 and 15 yards. If you swing a bit faster, you might find the gap widen to 20 yards between the 5 and 7 wood.
Top 3 Reasons to carry a 5 wood
- Easier to hit off the tee
- May have a yardage advantage
- May be more versatile for punch shots and longer tee shots
Why You Choose a 7 Wood
Slower swingers should try a 7 wood first. The lower the loft of a club, the more difficult it is to get it airborne. That's just one of the realities of golf. A 7 wood will suit a slower swinger more than the 5 wood.
Top 3 Reasons to carry a 7 wood
- Is shorter and has additional loft for more control and soft landing
- May be better out of the rough due to gliding through the tall blades
- May be more precise because of shorter shaft and higher loft
The 7 wood is easy to launch high and hit greens with. A long iron just cannot compare to the ease of a 7 wood. The 7 wood is a great way to replace long irons or hybrids if you do not like them.
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 is Best for Beginners?
Both the 5 wood and the 7 wood are perfect for beginners. I would advice a beginner skip the 3 wood altogether and start with a 7 wood. You can add a 5 wood later in your journey to increase distance.
What is the Best for Mid Handicappers?
Mid handicappers should also scrap the 3 wood, replacing it with a 5 wood and adding a 7 wood as well. Most mid handicappers cannot control a 3 or 4 iron nearly as well as a 7 wood.
Any mid handicapper who struggles with a hook when they hit a hybrid, should replace their 3 hybrid with a 7 wood immediately. The 5 wood will give them an excellent replacement for driver on some holes on the golf course. Both the 5 wood and the 7 wood should be in every mid handicappers bag.
Which is Easier to Hit?
Comparing the 5 wood and the 7 wood to a 3 wood, they are both much easier to hit than the 3 wood. But of course with a shorter shaft and higher loft, the 7 wood is easier to hit than the 5 wood.
Conclusion
For low handicappers, I would say pick one or the other whichever is best for your bag.
For mid handicappers, get both the 5 and 7 wood.
For high handicappers, start with the 7 wood, and add the 5 wood if you find you like the 7 wood. If you do not like the 7 wood, you can try a 5 wood or replace them with hybrids.
If you are a golfer that cannot hit hybrids or long irons well, you might make room for both clubs in your bag.