7 Wood vs Hybrid vs 4 Iron: Which One Should You Play?

With more and more options for players to choose from, which one should you play, I hear you ask. The answer may come down to a few honest reasons.

The price you're willing to pay for the club, what you're going to use it for, and how often you're going to use it. Essentially, is the juice worth the squeeze for how often that club will actually come out of the bag.

The 4 iron

For faster players, an iron could be the play, arguably less forgiving, yes, but that may come down to which iron you're playing rather than the category itself. A genuinely forgiving iron closes that gap considerably.

The hybrid

A hybrid with the right shaft could be the better option for players who don't have as much speed, or who struggle finding the centre of the face consistently. If you want something to help you off the tee on longer shots too, this may be exactly what gets you in play. As long as you're in the correct shaft for what you actually need, this is a genuinely strong option.

The 7 wood

Then there's the 7 wood, becoming a more and more popular option. PGA players like Tommy Fleetwood and Scottie Scheffler have used one with real success, Scheffler swapped his 3 iron for a 7 wood ahead of the PGA Championship specifically to get a more consistent 240 yard carry.

But just because they've used one, does that mean you need one too? A premium fairway wood head can run up to around £370, and the right premium shaft on top can add another £200 to £300 depending on what you go for. That's potentially £570 to £670 for a club you might use two or three times a round. Does that make sense for you? The choice is genuinely yours.

My honest preference

Personally, I'd lean toward a forgiving iron. There are plenty out there, and with the second hand market too, it's not particularly hard to find one that genuinely fits your needs, compared to a 7 wood that might need real adjustment before it's right for how you play.

Again, it's your choice. You might find a 7 wood or a hybrid suits you far better than an iron ever would. The best thing to do is test all three properly, head to a fitting location and try them side by side, that's genuinely what will help you decide what's best for you.