7 Reasons Why A 7-Wood Might Be Right For Your Game

When World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, showed up at Torrey Pines for this week’s Genesis Invitational, he was met with a golf course measuring 7,700 yards at sea level, narrow fairways, thick rough, cold, wet conditions, and one of the toughest collections of par 3’s on the PGA TOUR.

So, what did he do? He got on the range with TaylorMade Tour Reps and devised a Qi35 7-wood to help him advance the ball out of the rough, use off the tee on long par 3’s, and even into long par 4’s and 5’s.

So, if the best player in the world has a Qi35 7-wood in his bag, there’s a pretty good chance your game stands to benefit from one as well. Within the new Qi35 fairway lineup, 7-wood's are offered with an adjustable model in Qi35 Tour and bonded models in Qi35 and Qi35 Max.

Here are the top seven reasons why from our TaylorMade Tour Representative Sam Day.

No matter how hard you try, it's inevitable. Sometimes the ball ends up in the thick stuff. Most of the time it’s a big ask to hit a 3-iron out of these lies and get the launch, spin and distance you need to reach the green, let alone hold it. The Qi35’s multi-material construction of chromium carbon, steel and aluminum work seamlessly to deliver consistent performance out of any lie.

Hole 16 at Torrey Pines South Course is the perfect example of how Scottie’s Qi35 7-wood will be put to use this week. The hole can play more than 230 yards, uphill and into a stiff breeze that comes right off the Pacific Ocean. Instead of reaching back for everything he has with a 3-iron, he’s able to swing within himself with his 7-wood and hit a shot that’s high and lands softly on the green.

The truth of the matter is that there’s a massive difference in how far you carry your 3-iron compared to a Qi35 7-wood; the latter flies a lot farther, higher and comes down softer. On those long, demanding par 3’s, a Qi35 7-wood can be your best friend.

One of the biggest mistakes we see amateurs make with their bag setup is having too many clubs that do the same thing or go the same distance. The great thing about a Qi35 7-wood is that it can be hit any number of different distances from virtually any lie because of its loft and shorter length shaft.

The Qi35 7-wood has a modified CG location that creates efficient energy transfer between the face and the ball at impact. This allows for a ton of versatility and playability from tee the and off the deck. For Scottie, the 7-wood is even an option out of a fairway bunker!

The last thing you want is to hit a great drive center cut and be left with a long demanding second shot. Whether it’s a Tour professional or an amateur, taking a club which is more playable, easier to hit and with a smaller margin for error is a no brainer! The last thing we want as players is to stand over a 3-iron needing the perfect strike and the perfect line to end up with an average result. The Qi35’s forgiveness, high-launch capabilities and versatility make par (or birdie) a much more realistic score on those long par 4’s that give most golfers fits.

Whether it’s the wet season or hard and fast summer conditions, the Qi35 7-wood still wins. Soft fairways and greenside areas require maximum carry. Ever wondered why your long clubs all seem to go the same distance in the winter? Well, here’s why. 

The lower loft of long irons causes the ball to launch lower. With the cold air and soft course conditions, the ball doesn’t fly as far and stops a lot quicker. You need more carry in these conditions and the Qi35 7-wood delivers just that.

When summer hits, you need the high launch and spin of a Qi35 7-wood to increase descent angle and help the ball stop faster. The higher the launch, the more spin remains on that first bounce. Low launch and high spin will lose a lot more stopping power on long irons. 

This is highly relatable for me. With my strong left-hand grip, my actual loft returned to the ball is a lot lower than what it says on the head. When I set my bag up, I have to make sure I have a lot of loft on my clubs so that my launch, spin and yardage gaps are where I want them.

I play a HL 3-wood but at impact I have 15° of loft due to my angle of attack and dynamic loft. If you’re like me and take loft off the club, a Qi35 7-wood might be your missing link. Not to mention, its nice to say to your playing partners that you can hit a 7-wood past their 5- or 3-wood!

You may have seen this on the television. A lot of TOUR players will use a fairway wood when nestled up against a collar by the green. In some cases, they'll use it to help the ball leap a little indentation in the fringe and get it rolling quickly. And the best thing about this shot is it’s incredibly easy to execute; all you have to do is use your Qi35 7-wood like a putter. Consider that percentage play!

What is the easiest shot for me to hit here? Do I need to hit a high-end flop shot two yards from the green? Get the ball running on that putting surface and running out like a putt as soon as possible! Not only will you get an idea of the putt you face coming back, but your chances of holing this shot are much higher. Think of the future rounds at your golf club, the more you practice the fairway bump and run the better your up and down percentages will become. If the best in the world do it, why shouldn’t you?