How Far You Should Be Hitting a 7 Wood (Based on Skill)

You can see that professional golf was changing in 2021 and 2023 as more golfers switched to the 7-wood. This was a rare shift, but the 7 wood was the most popular on the market and golfers wanted this technology in their game.

The 7 wood is a really helpful golf club; it’s meant to replace a long iron, but to make sure it’s a good fit for your golf game, the distances have to be right.

Let’s take a look at how far you should be hitting a 7 wood.

 

How far you should be hitting a 7 wood

The best way to determine how far you should be hitting your 7 wood is to assess your skill level. There are a variety of clubhead speeds available for each skill level. As clubhead speeds rise, so will the overall distances.

For Beginners

Beginners often hit the 7wood between 170-180 yards. The total distance for a beginner golfer who is slower may be 160 or 150 yards.

Beginner golfers don’t always have the slowest swing speeds. Many beginner golfers make great contact and get the distance. A 7-wood that is extremely forgiving is the key for beginners.

High Handicap

Higher handicap golfers are able to hit a 7wood at an average distance of 180 yards. Many high handicappers will find that the distances can be very inconsistent. Sometimes you can hit the ball 200 yards, while other times it may only be 160 yards.

For high handicap golfers, it’s smart to be careful where you take the 7 wood out. Don’t pull it out when hitting over a water hazard if you feel you are not entirely confident with it just yet.

Mid Handicap

Mid-handicap golfers typically hit a 7wood at 190 yards. The 200 mark can be reached by mid-handicap golfers who swing faster than the 180 mark. Slower swing speeds could reach around 180. Technology for 7 woods keeps changing and golfers can get more distance with the shots that they hit.

If you’re a mid-handicapper, the 7 wood will be your favorite because of its forgiveness.

Low Handicap

Low-handicap players can sometimes swing at the same speed and accuracy as professional golfers. Many lower handicap golfers are able to hit a 7wood at 210 to 220 yard.

You may not be able to see this distance if your 7 wood is older than 15 years. An older 7-wood may still be able to deliver over 200 for those golfers who have fast swing speeds.

New golf clubs use materials that help increase total launch. This allows players to see a lot more distance.

Professional

Professional golfers can hit their 7 wood for around 225 yards. Depending on their club head speed, how close they get to the ball’s center, and whether they have a higher or lower lofted 7wood, some players may be able to reach 230 yards.

A 7-wood is a tool that professional golfers use to improve their accuracy on longer approaches to greens.

Professional golfers often place more importance on control and workability than total distance.

 

When to Use Your 7 Wood

Now that you know how far the 7 Wood can travel, it is time to decide when it makes sense to hit it. The shaft of the club is slightly longer than the hybrid, so it’s important to know when and where to hit it.

From The Tee

If you have trouble with your driver, the 7 wood is a great club to use. You may also like the 7-wood’s performance if your driver is having trouble hitting a par 3 or shorter par 4, and you just need something to get you to the fairway.

The ball is very low from the tee box, almost just high enough to not touch the ground.

Many amateur golfers make the error of teeing too high. This can lead to too much ball flight and could cause you to lose power.

From The Fairway

I love my 7 wood from fairway. The 7 wood is a great club to have, whether it’s a par 5 or long par 4, and if I have a nice lie in fairway,

The 7 wood has more loft than the 6 wood, making it one of the most tolerant fairway woods. Also, the chances of hitting a straight shot down center are much higher. I recommend hitting the 7-wood from the fairway with your stance just forward or center. Also, be mindful of your tempo.

With 22 degrees loft, you can expect a high enough ball flight to make the ball stop on the green.

From The Rough

Surprisingly, it is also quite adept in the rough. I can’t tell you that it has as much forgiveness as a hybrid club, but it certainly does well enough to get you out.

I like first to take a look at the lie I have in the hole and decide if it makes sense for me to hit the 7-wood. For instance, if the ball is buried and I’m only looking at the top portion, I’m not going to take out the 7 wood.

If, however, it’s sitting up nicely and I have a chance of making solid and clean contact, the 7 wood is a great option to consider.

 

Other clubs that could replace a 7-wood

The 7-wood distances mentioned above may not be possible for you. The 7 wood may not be the best club for you.

As long irons become more versatile, we are seeing more clubs in the bags of players.

Some players will opt for a 4 or 4 hybrid instead of a 7-wood. Utility clubs with 22 degrees of loft can also be used to achieve similar performance to the 7-wood.

The 7 wood is preferred by most players as it is the longest option. It is longer and lighter, which promotes more distance. The 7 wood is still an accurate club, but it’s just a little easier to increase clubhead speed when you swing with this in your hands.

 

Tips for Hitting Your 7 Wood More

You must be aware of setup, weight transfer, and swing length if you want to improve your 7-wood. These are our favorite tips to help you improve your 7 wood.

Check Ball Position

Even though the 7-wood is a fairway, it doesn’t need to be pushed as far forward as a 3 and 5 wood. The 7 wood is shorter and has a higher loft. If you place it forward of the middle, you will have better luck getting the distance that you need.

Even when you are hitting the 7 wood off the tee, you won’t want it too far forward as it could end up costing you some distance.

Remember the Importance Of Tempo

Although tempo can go a long distance when hit correctly, it is important to have a good pace. You can practice swings so that you feel like the club is doing the work.

Don’t force something to happen with the 7 wood; this club can do a lot on its own.

A Sweeping Motion is the Best

With the 7 wood being a fairway wood, you won’t want to take a big divot or try to compress this ball too much. Instead, it’s best to try and sweep the ball and hit a high lofted shot that lands softly on the green.

Sometimes the setup can make for a better sweeping motion. I encourage golfers to keep this in mind.

Look for something that uses newer technology

Even though it may seem cheating, the 7 woods of today go a lot further than the 7 woods from five years ago. You might have to pay more for ultimate distance.

Look for something with a large sweetspot, a low center gravity and is aerodynamic. Low spin in your club head can also lead to extra distance on the fairway woods.

Lower spin increases total roll, and the ball will continue to move even when it hits ground.