7 wood to 5 iron gapping

[dorymcilroy]

Currently I am gaming a Rogue st max 7 wood with a tensei blue 65 regular flex, I can hit it 190-200 off fairways and about 10 yards longer off the tee. My 5 iron is a t200 with a KBS tour graphite stiff 80g, i am hitting that around 155-160 yards, and that's largely in line with the rest of my irons in terms of 10 yard gapping. I'm having a lot of trouble with 165-180 yard par 3's, and im thinking its time to try a hybrid that can hit, and keep greens on those par 3's and similar approaches. I will note, I feel like im having an easier time hitting woods than the 5 iron, ive tried a 4 iron before and really couldnt get a good quality strike with it. any suggestions for a hybrid to gap there?

 

thanks!

[Ben B]

I'd consider taking the 5 iron out and adding a couple of hybrids to fill the gap. Better distance, stopping power, and easier to hit. Fred Couples longest iron is a 7, I believe. 

Edited May 19 by Ben B

[Ger21]

A 9 wood, or a 4 hybrid.

[redshirtgolfer]

1 hour ago, Ben B said:

I'd consider taking the 5 iron out and adding a couple of hybrids to fill the gap. Better distance, stopping power, and easier to hit. Fred Couples longest iron is a 7, I believe. 

That would be my move. Throw 5i out and add two hybrids. 6/4, 6/5, 5/4 or 5/3. Just test out what suits your gapping needs. I go 6i, 5h and then 3h and I love it. 
 

The 5h is the longest club I need after a decent tee shot, the 3h helps if I‘m in trouble. I’ve (over)hit many many times from 220+ out, 

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, dorymcilroy said:

Currently I am gaming a Rogue st max 7 wood with a tensei blue 65 regular flex, I can hit it 190-200 off fairways and about 10 yards longer off the tee. My 5 iron is a t200 with a KBS tour graphite stiff 80g, i am hitting that around 155-160 yards, and that's largely in line with the rest of my irons in terms of 10 yard gapping. I'm having a lot of trouble with 165-180 yard par 3's, and im thinking its time to try a hybrid that can hit, and keep greens on those par 3's and similar approaches. I will note, I feel like im having an easier time hitting woods than the 5 iron, ive tried a 4 iron before and really couldnt get a good quality strike with it. any suggestions for a hybrid to gap there?

 

thanks!

I would give you 2 options, first would be a 9wd to match your 7wd, second would be a 4 hybrid. 

[Josh H]

I've found 5H fills the gap between 5i and 7wd nicely and I get ridiculous flight out of it also, feels like a cheat stick! 

[Streuner]

9wood, 4/5 hybrid or even 4utility (i can hit my 4utility more consistant than my 5i)

so the possibilities are huge, you should find out what type of club you can hit the most consistant

Edited May 20 by Streuner

[BallHooker]

It should be more about trajectory than gapping. A 7 or 9 wood flies high and might stay on the greens better than longer irons. 
 

I would train with a 3 iron tbh. Don’t need to use it on the course, but when you train with that club, 4 and 5 irons become easy. 

[infinii]

1 hour ago, Josh H said:

I've found 5H fills the gap between 5i and 7wd nicely and I get ridiculous flight out of it also, feels like a cheat stick! 

Isn't 5h a replacement for 5i? Wouldn't 4h be the obvious hybrid to fill OP's gap?

To OP, 9w or 4h would be my recommendation for you.

[Streuner]

23 minutes ago, infinii said:

Isn't 5h a replacement for 5i? Wouldn't 4h be the obvious hybrid to fill OP's gap?

This depends on the Loft of the 5i and the hybrid and the Carry distances. Some hybrids are longer than others, Ping calls his 26deg 5H and others are using 25deg or even 24deg. 

[bvanlieu]

Time for a hybrid fitting. Even at more traditional lofts (26-27d) a 155 5i likely lacks hight and spin to really stop.

 

Don't get too hung up on the number on the club, my 5H gaps above my 5i, and the 4H is above that since Callaway decided to go 2d stronger then they did 10y ago with the models I have 🙂

 

a 9W could work too, but the shorter shaft of the hybrids will blend better with your top iron. 

[aquapig]

I go 7w 9w 5i..7 wood i use from 215-225. 9 wood 195-205. 5i iron 185-190. 

 

9 wood works great on long par 3s or long approaches into par 5s. Flies high and lands soft, which I need on firmer greens at my club. 

[HGLucky13]

If it is mainly for tee shots on long par 3's I would be more apt to go 9w. Higher flight, softer landing.

But I like a hybrid to use as a rescue club when I need to putt out from under trees. It is also nice to have 2 different flight windows, hybrid seems to work better for me when it is windy, easier to flight down. It is nice to have both. Swap them out depending on course, unless you have room for both in your bag

 

[boggyman]

9 wood 

[animalgolfs]

5h covers gap to 7w perfectly, as does 9w - though the carry will be closer 9w to 7w

[kamaaina1]

Agree on at least a 4H.  Debating on the 9W.  

[tobiasjd]

Watch the lofts and shaft lengths on hybrids.  Some models are designed to maximize distance, which might be just what you want, but just something to keep in mind.

 

I bought a mavrik pro 4 hybrid a while back I still really like.  It's a smaller head with a flatter lie angle and has a more traditional loft and shaft length, so it fits much nicer between my 5 iron and 7 wood, but still longer than I can hit a traditional 4 iron and so much easier to hit.  Never going back.  If anything I'll add more hybrids.  

 

Newer models are a lot more adjustable now too.  Ping's allow changes to loft and lie.  The new Callaway Elyte has loft, lie, and adjustable weights.  kinda cool.

[aoo]

With a 30 to 35 yard gap, you might need 2 clubs to make it up. I would go 9 wood, 5 hybrid and remove the 5 iron. 5 hybrid should be easier to hit than the 5 iron and since it should be adjustable, you would have more flexibility dialing in the distance to better fill the gap.

 

9 wood cause I love it! Recently put one in the bag.

[HGLucky13]

Make sure you try the different lofts of hybrids if that is your route. My 5h goes quite a bit further than my 5i, it is no where near a direct replacement, at least for me. Off of a tee my 5i has 200 yd carry, but my 5h carries 220. 

[Green Valley]

On 5/20/2025 at 2:23 AM, Josh H said:

I've found 5H fills the gap between 5i and 7wd nicely and I get ridiculous flight out of it also, feels like a cheat stick! 

What 5 hybrid is it? What numbers do you have?

[Thrummyfox]

On 5/20/2025 at 9:54 AM, Streuner said:

This depends on the Loft of the 5i and the hybrid and the Carry distances. Some hybrids are longer than others, Ping calls his 26deg 5H and others are using 25deg or even 24deg. 

Completely agree. Though shaft length is also key. I carry either a 21 Degree PXG Gen 2 7 wood or a G410 19 degree 3H depending on the wind. I then go to G410 4 and 5H at 22 and 26 degrees respectively. Alternate between S56 6 iron and G410 6H( both 30 degrees) depending on how I’m playing and the wind (the 6H launches like a 7 or 8i but gets out to 155-165 for me.

 

 Get a clear club gap of 10-15 yards between 7W and 4H even though only one degree difference. 

[azgreg]

My full set goes D, 4w, 7w, 4h, 5i. I've had this setup for years.

 

[alfredson10]

I'll put in my 2 cents. I made a 9 wood last Fall. Bought a 24 degree V-Steel 9 wood and then put an Atmos shaft in it. Cut it down to 4 iron length. I always struggled hitting a 3 and 4 iron. It filled in my gapping perfect. I hit my driver about 290-310, 5 wood about 260 and 9 wood about 240. 5 iron goes about 220. I love the 9 wood. It launches high and you can hit all the shots with it. 

[azgreg]

14 minutes ago, alfredson10 said:

Bought a 24 degree V-Steel

I've wanted to get one of these for a long time. Never got around to it.

[RacineBoxer]

I play 7W, 4H then 5i.

Based on your distances I do think you should consider a 9W.

Also, are you getting a good 12-15 yards between your 5i and 6i? It might be time to hang up the 5i. 

[Josh H]

12 hours ago, Green Valley said:

What 5 hybrid is it? What numbers do you have?

These are arccos figures so totals with flyers or freak wind affected yardages not taken into my manual averages. 

 

G430 5H turned down 1 click mostly to try to stop the lefts 200-210 

 

G430 7 wood 210-225 

 

P790 5i lands me typically 185-200 tops but very different flight to the above clubs 

 

I'm not at true golfwrx speeds for my distances haha! 

[Kmac]

You might need both a 9w and 5H but like others have said, depends on lofts and distance you seek for each. For me, I went 7w, 5H and then 6i. I would for sure toss the 5 iron out.

[J-Walker]

+1 on a 9-wood

[ellomdian]

Check out Ping's selection of recent (425/430/440) 5-Hybrids. A little adjustability will make a world of difference in nailing your preferred gapping, and Ping has some of the easiest hybrids to hit on the market.

 

For what it's worth, I'm inclined to agree with the comments about maybe tossing your 5i and getting 2 hybrids instead. YMMV.

[Thrummyfox]

6 hours ago, ellomdian said:

Check out Ping's selection of recent (425/430/440) 5-Hybrids. A little adjustability will make a world of difference in nailing your preferred gapping, and Ping has some of the easiest hybrids to hit on the market.

 

For what it's worth, I'm inclined to agree with the comments about maybe tossing your 5i and getting 2 hybrids instead. YMMV.

I love the G410 too. My first hybrids were second hand G15 and loved them because they literally looked like a forgiving Eye2 but the technology between them and G410 in terms of launch is phenomenal.