9 Wood vs 7 Wood – What’s the Better Club and When To Use?

9 wood and 7 wood differ in shaft length, loft, and weight and can be used in different circumstances. They can save you shots on your round if you choose to use them in the right situation.

In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about both clubs, when you need to use them and which one is our recommended choice.

9 Wood Overview

A 9 wood has a graphite shaft of 39-40 inches with an optimal clubhead and sweet spot. Its shot has a mid-high trajectory. Due to its loft of 28°-29°, 9 wood offers a more spin on the ball.

This unpopular club has an average distance of 130-150 yards and it is considered a short-range club and performs well around the green.

7 Wood Overview

A 7 wood has a graphite shaft of 40-42 inches. Its club head and the sweet spot are slightly bigger than the 9 wood. Its loft is between 21°-25° with most clubs lofted at 22°. Therefore, it offers a lesser spin and more roll.

It covers an average distance of 170-200 yards. It has good performance around semi-rough. The shot trajectory of this club is medium and the club is considered to be a mid-long range.

When Should You Use Each Club?

Shorter shaft lengths and higher lofts are always easier to hit. Among the two fairway wood, 9 wood offers better accuracy and a high spin on the ball on the greens. It is also useful around mild and wet rough. Feel wise both are charted on the same level.

9 Wood

9 wood is used to attack the pin from a shorter distance. It gives a reasonable distance of up to 150 yards with a good ball trajectory for approach shots.

It offers good backspin and reduced sidespin on the ball. This minimizes the chances of slices and hooks. It is also useful in the semi-rough.

7 Wood

7 wood has a lower center of gravity making it a forgiving club. This club is used for medium long-range shots. Due to its low loft, it performs well on the first cut and semi-rough.

Senior golfers tend to carry this club for optimal distance coverage.

Swing Speed vs Distance – Who Should Use Them?

Swing Speed

Long-range clubs tend to require higher swing speed as compared to mid and short-range clubs. Shorter clubs require medium swing speed. Thus, a 7 wood would require a higher swing speed than a 9 wood. A 7 wood can also be hit with a medium swing speed but the performance will be compromised.

Distance

A 9-wood will cover an average distance of 130-150 yards for men and 100-130 yards for women. 7 wood, being a low lofted club will cover an average distance of 170-200 yards for men and 130-160 yards for women.

Lofts of Each Club

Among the two fairway wood, 9 wood offers better accuracy and a high spin on the ball on the greens because of its high loft of 28°-29°. However, a 7-wood offers better distance coverage and ball roll with a lower loft of 21°-25°.

9 Wood Pros & Cons

9 Wood

A 9-wood offers a good spin on the ball. Its shot has a mid-high trajectory with an average distance of 130-150 yards.

Pros

• Easier to hit
• Shot accuracy
• Forgiving nature
• Optimal spin
• Consistent approach shots around the greens.
• Compatible with a lower and medium swing speed
• Replacement of a 4 iron

Cons

• Beginner’s club
• Not a recommended club to carry

7 Wood Pros & Cons

A 7 wood covers a farther distance than a 9 wood. It has good performance around semi-rough. Its loft is between 21°-25°. It covers an average distance of 170-200 yards.

Pros

• Forgiving nature
• Better distance coverage
• Easier to hit long shots
• Compatible with a medium-high swing speed
• Medium trajectory
• Replacement of a 3 iron

Cons

• Less spin if compared with 9 wood
• Might cause problems with swing curvature

Who Should Use a 7 Wood

A 7-wood offers mid-long range shots. Its trajectory is also medium-high. This club generates optimum topspin. Any golfer who is struggling with middling the comparable iron should use 7 wood. It creates more velocity and ball speed because of its graphite shaft and covers more yardage.

Who Should Use a 9 Wood

A 9 wood is easier to hit because it has a shorter shaft length. Beginners and senior golfers may carry this club. It has a mid-high trajectory with an average distance of 130-150 yards. 9 wood is a good choice around the green but seldom do professional golfers carry this club.

Which Iron Is Comparable With a 7 Wood – Should You Use an Iron?

A 7-wood has a loft that varies between 21°-25°. In this range, a 3-iron is comparable to this club. The average distance of a 3-iron is 180-200 yards for men and 150-170 yards for women.

However, it is always difficult to hit long irons if you are not a pro or more experienced.

Which Iron Is Comparable With a 9 Wood – Should You Use an Iron?

A 9-wood has a loft that varies between 28°-29°. In this range, a 4-iron is comparable to this club. The average distance of a 4-iron is between 170-190 yards for men and 130-150 yards for women.

The comparable fairway wood is always easier to hit because of its high velocity, bigger club head, and forgiving nature than an iron club.

Conclusion

In this article, we have drawn a comparison between 9 wood and 7 wood. We have tried to explain all aspects of the clubs.

Both clubs have their positives and negatives regarding their usability. Nevertheless, If you are to carry either of these clubs or both we suggest the following.

The 9 wood is a good option for shots around the green that require higher trajectories and softer landings. On the other hand, 7 wood is a good option if you struggle with long irons and want to cover more distance with ease and a forgiving club.

Our top choice would be to carry a 7 wood as this has the best balance between long and short shot distances. You can choose to hit this club with a full shot, or it can also be used for shorter distances if you grip down on the club and perform a shorter backswing.

If our view the 7 wood is more versatile.

What do you think, do you already use either of these clubs? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section!