Why Are 7 Woods and 9 Woods Having a Moment?
The trend started on tour. MyGolfSpy documented the rise of the 7 wood and found it had moved from a novelty to a genuine strategic choice at the professional level. Masters and Open Champion Xander Schauffele carries one. Ludvig Åberg hit a 7 wood to nine feet from 290 yards at Pinehurst to set up eagle. The shift at tour level is meaningful because those players aren't choosing forgiveness over performance — they're choosing it because the performance is genuinely superior.
For recreational golfers, Golf Digest reported that roughly 20% of players at the US Women's Open started their iron set at the 6 or 7 iron — replacing their longer clubs entirely with fairway woods. The reasoning is straightforward: most amateur golfers simply do not hit long irons and hybrids consistently well. Higher-lofted fairway woods are easier to launch, more forgiving on mishits, and land softer on greens. For the vast majority of golfers, the 7 and 9 wood produce better outcomes more often.
What Loft Is a 7 Wood? What About a 9 Wood?
Understanding where these clubs fit in your bag comes down to loft. Here's how they stack up against the clubs they typically replace:
| Club | Typical Loft | Equivalent Replacement For | Avg. Carry (Men) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Wood | 18–19° | 2 iron / 2 hybrid | 210–230m |
| 7 Wood | 20–22° | 3–4 iron / 3 hybrid | 190–210m |
| 9 Wood | 23–26° | 4–5 iron / 4 hybrid | 170–190m |
| 4 Hybrid | 22–24° | 4 iron | 175–195m |
| 4 Iron | 22–24° | — | 175–195m |
The key insight from the table: the 7 wood and 4 hybrid share almost identical lofts, yet produce very different results for most golfers. GOLF.com's RoboTest found that at 92 mph swing speed, the 7 wood produced a 19° launch angle vs 15° for the 3 hybrid — higher launch, more carry, softer landing. The 7 wood is simply easier to launch for the majority of players.
7 Wood vs 9 Wood: Which One Do You Need?
The 7 Wood
- Loft: typically 21°
- Replaces your 3–4 iron or 3 hybrid
- Carry: 190–210m depending on swing speed
- Best from the fairway and tee on long par 3s
- Higher, softer landing — great for holding greens
- Most versatile option for the long game gap
The 9 Wood
- Loft: typically 24°
- Replaces your 4–5 iron or 4 hybrid
- Carry: 170–190m depending on swing speed
- Extremely high launch — ideal for slower swing speeds
- Lands very softly — excellent for approach shots
- The best long club for seniors and moderate swing speeds
Many golfers are choosing to carry both — replacing the 3 and 4 iron entirely with a 7 and 9 wood combination. If your iron set starts at the 5 iron, a 7 and 9 wood covers everything above it cleanly with consistent, easy-to-launch clubs.
7 Wood and 9 Wood vs Hybrid: The Honest Comparison
Golf Digest's equipment analysis found that fairway woods have a lower and deeper centre of gravity than hybrids, producing a higher launch angle and steeper descent angle — meaning shots land softer and hold greens better. For golfers who sweep rather than dig, fairway woods consistently outperform hybrids.
There are two genuine advantages hybrids hold. First, they're easier to use from thick rough because the smaller head cuts through better than a large fairway wood sole. Second, golfers who hit the ball with a steep, downward swing path may find hybrids suit their ball-striking style more naturally.
Everything else — distance, launch, forgiveness, landing angle — tends to favour the higher-lofted fairway wood for the average Australian golfer. Independent testing consistently shows the 7 wood carries 10–15 metres further than a 4 iron of the same loft, largely because the longer shaft generates more clubhead speed and the larger face produces more ball speed even on mishits.
Who Should Be Using a 7 Wood or 9 Wood?
The 7 or 9 Wood is ideal for you if:
- You carry a 3 or 4 iron you barely ever hit well
- You have a moderate swing speed (65–95 mph) and struggle to get long irons airborne
- You're a senior golfer who has noticed your long iron distances dropping
- You play Australian courses with long par 3s where you need a high, soft-landing club
- You've tried hybrids and never quite felt confident with them
- You want to attack par 5s in two but need a more reliable long club than a hybrid
- You're a beginner building a first bag and want maximum playability at every distance
Used 7 Woods and 9 Woods Available at Rising Sun Clubs
We currently have four quality used fairway woods in stock — three 7 woods and a 9 wood — covering three different brands and shaft configurations. Here's everything you need to know about each one.
Ping G430 Max 7 Wood — 21° | Speeder Evo VI 60S Stiff Shaft
- Loft: 21°
- Shaft: Fujikura Speeder Evolution VI 60
- Flex: Stiff
- Best for: Stronger players (90+ mph swing speed) who want the Ping G430's record forgiveness in a 7 wood with a premium aftermarket shaft
The G430 Max 7 Wood carries the same Carbonfly Wrap crown and deep CG engineering as the award-winning G430 Max driver — meaning it delivers exceptional forgiveness with a penetrating, consistent ball flight. The Fujikura Speeder Evolution VI is one of the most popular aftermarket fairway shaft upgrades available, known for its smooth tip feel and mid-high launch. This pairing suits a confident player who wants the 7 wood's ease of use without sacrificing distance control. New retail on this combination would be well over $500 — this is outstanding used value.
View This Club →Ping G430 Max 9 Wood — 24° | Ping Tour Chrome Black 75 Stiff Shaft
- Loft: 24°
- Shaft: Ping Tour Chrome Black 75
- Flex: Stiff
- Best for: Players who want to replace their 4–5 iron or 4 hybrid with a high-launching, very forgiving alternative from the fairway and on long par 3s
The G430 Max 9 Wood is one of the most requested clubs in Ping's line-up since the 7 wood trend took hold. At 24°, it fills the gap that most golfers leave uncovered between their 7 wood and their mid-irons. The Ping Tour Chrome Black 75 stiff shaft is a heavier option that keeps the ball flight controlled and consistent — this is not a club that will balloon in a breeze. If you're building a bag that runs from a 6 iron upward and need to cover the 170–185m gap cleanly, this is the club to put there.
View This Club →Honma TW747 7 Wood — 21° | Vizard 50S Stiff Shaft
- Loft: 21°
- Shaft: Honma Vizard 50
- Flex: Stiff
- Best for: Golfers who want a premium Japanese-engineered alternative to the mainstream brands, with a lighter shaft profile that promotes effortless launch
Honma is one of the most respected names in Japanese golf club manufacturing and the TW747 series was the brand's flagship performance line. The TW747 7 wood combines a classically shaped head with Honma's precision titanium face technology for exceptional feel and ball speed. The Vizard 50S is a lightweight stiff shaft — lighter than the Ping or TaylorMade options — making it a particularly good fit for golfers who want a stiff flex without the heavier shaft weight. A rare find in the Australian used market and a club that turns heads on the course.
View This Club →TaylorMade M2 7/9 Wood — 21° | TM1-217S Stiff Shaft
- Loft: 21°
- Shaft: TaylorMade TM1-217S
- Flex: Stiff
- Best for: Budget-conscious golfers who want a proven, reliable 7/9 wood from a major brand at the best price point in our range
The TaylorMade M2 range was one of the most popular and well-regarded club families TaylorMade has ever produced — beloved for its combination of distance, forgiveness and clean aesthetics. The M2 fairway wood features a Speed Pocket sole slot that flexes through impact to increase ball speed, particularly on low-face hits. This is the most affordable option in our current 7 wood range and delivers genuine performance from a globally recognised brand. If your budget is the primary consideration and you still want a quality club, this is the one.
View This Club →Which One Should You Choose?
Here's how to pick from our current range based on your priorities:
- Best overall forgiveness and technology: Ping G430 Max 7 Wood with Speeder Evo VI — the most advanced head in our range with a premium aftermarket shaft
- Need to cover the 9 wood distance gap: Ping G430 Max 9 Wood — the cleanest solution for filling the 170–185m bracket
- Want something different and premium: Honma TW747 7 Wood — exceptional Japanese engineering with a lighter shaft, rare in the Australian used market
- Best entry price: TaylorMade M2 7/9 Wood — proven technology from a trusted brand at our lowest price point
Shop All Used Fairway Woods at Rising Sun Clubs
All clubs are inspected before listing and shipped anywhere in Australia. Our range changes regularly — check back often for new arrivals.
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