Over the years, the makeup of the traditional golf set has changed dramatically. The classic setup of 3-SW irons paired with 1, 3 and 5 woods has largely disappeared. For many golfers who struggled with long irons, hybrids became the preferred replacement, offering greater forgiveness, improved launch, and easier playability.

More recently, there has been a significant move towards higher-lofted fairway woods. These clubs provide higher launch, improved spin control, and increased forgiveness, making them an attractive option for golfers of all skill levels. It’s now common to see PGA Tour players carrying a 7-wood, and even 9-woods have started appearing in professional bags.

Traditionally, higher-lofted fairway woods were often associated with older golfers whose declining clubhead speed made it difficult to achieve sufficient ball flight. However, advances in club design and fitting technology have completely changed that perception. Modern fairway woods, enhanced by innovative AI-driven designs and advanced engineering, can deliver outstanding performance for golfers of all ages and abilities. Don’t let your ego stop you from giving them a try.

As a coach and professional club fitter with more than 36 years of experience, I firmly believe these clubs deserve a place in many golfers’ bags. Replacing my 3 and 4 irons with a 7-wood was a significant change, but one I’ve never regretted. The ability to launch the ball higher and stop it more quickly on the green can have a huge impact on scoring and course management. The roll and bulge design of modern fairway woods also helps minimise shot dispersion on slight mishits, making them incredibly forgiving.

All of our major suppliers, including Titleist, Ping, Callaway, TaylorMade, and Srixon, have provided us with extensive demo stock for both fitting sessions and on-course testing. So before dismissing the idea of a higher-lofted fairway wood, come and give one a try. Better still, book a professional club fitting with Tim, Wendy, or myself and discover whether a 7-wood or 9-wood could help improve your game.

You might be surprised by the results.