What was unimaginable a decade ago is now very much a reality. Seven-woods were once considered the outcast of all metal woods, but now they are front and centre at every tour event. Why?
Golf, like all sports, deals in trends and golf equipment is the epitome of that.
Trends come and go, as is always the case. But, one that is showing no signs of disappearing anytime soon is the use of lofted metal woods.
A lot of the best golfers in the world carry them. Whether it’s a five-wood, a seven-wood or even a nine-wood, they’re in the bags of major champions like Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele.
Even the world number one, Scottie Scheffler, has deployed a seven-wood on a number of occasions.
How times have changed from the trademark stinger strikes we got used to seeing from Tiger Woods and co.
So, what does this mean for long irons and hybrids? Why are seven-woods and high-launching fairway woods so popular? Are modern playing conditions the culprit?
Speaking on the Your Golf Podcast by NCG, PGA Professional and golf coach Jack Backhouse spoke about how the constant search for that extra bit of performance by tour pros has led us to this point.
Listen to the Your Golf Podcast by NCG
- RELATED: Has it ever been easier to become a scratch golfer?
- RELATED: Why Rory McIlroy’s return to blade irons should make you think twice
- RELATED: Can draw-biased drivers really cure your slice?
“I think tour players are searching for that marginal gain,” he said. “The course set-ups (on Tour) are getting harder, the courses are longer, the greens are firmer, the greens are faster and players just can’t stop a three iron.”
“They can’t hit three irons high enough to stop and they certainly don’t spin enough. Whereas a seven-wood, they (Tour players) can basically hit it up their nose and get it to land soft.
“It has become a par five second shot club. They are never using them off the tee!”
Advertisement
The growth of the seven-wood may also be coming at the expense of another once-popular club: the hybrid.
Backhouse also suggested there may have been a shift away from golf’s longstanding macho culture.
“The rise in seven-woods has come with the decline of hybrids,” he added.
“Basically, I think hybrids are dwindling away into nothingness. Hybrids generally don’t fly as high, they carry less spin, they’re certainly more draw-biased and sometimes they go really, really far.
“I still play a three-iron, so the macho culture still exists in the small few of us who are happy to choose looking cool over good performance.”
Podcast host Tom Irwin also believes that this trend is the product of the change in the type of golf courses most of us play today.
Historically, British golf was dominated by links and heathland courses. The surge in the number of parklands popping up over recent decades now means we are faced with a different challenge.
Lower flighted shots have become obsolete at these courses, hence the reduction in those using longer irons.
“British golfers 30 years ago, before the big boom in parkland golf courses in the mid 90s when hundreds of new golf courses opened, the golf was played at heathlands and links courses,” Irwin explained.
“You don’t want the ball to go high there. The idea of lofted metals up until the last 25 years is probably not really a thing.
“Now we have got this constant stream of content, and what’s happening in America, where in all parkland golf you do want the ball to go high.”
Listen to the Your Golf Podcast by NCG
- RELATED: Deals of the week: Grab yourself a bargain!
- RELATED: Golf giveaways: WIN golf gear for FREE!
Don’t forget to check out and like our YouTube channel – YOUR GOLF NCG – where you will find lots of hints, tips and equipment reviews.
