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Smooth vs. Grooved wood face

brassdoss

By brassdoss,
in Clubs, Grips, Shafts, Fitting

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brassdoss Member

brassdoss

I've read and heard that a smooth striking area helps to reduce spin on the ball, inturn producing straigher shots. I haven't been golfing that long, so my shots aren't consistant enough to see for myself. Is the effect really THAT noticable?

I usually look for the smooth faced woods and hybrids so that they can help me out in that respect. Today, however, I hesitantly bought the Cleveland XLS 3w (with grooves), to match my driver. - My old cheapie 3w lost it's head.

I really wanted to find a good, smooth faced 3w, but all of the ones I found were in the same price range as my broken cheapie. Most high-end woods are grooved... so I figured that if I wanted a good one, I'd better just suck it up and learn how to golf and not rely on the smooth face.

Thoughts?

Driver - '07 Burner - 10.5* R-flex
Wood - Hibore XLS - 15* 3w
Hybrids - Walter Hagen T3 - 18* 3i, 21* 4i
Irons - RPM - 4-SW
Wedge - Classics 691 - 58*Putter - Classics #1 - 34"Balls - DT So/Lo

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aca247 Dedicated Member

aca247

i thought smooth faced drivers were illegal and non-conforming
DriverMonster Hi-Bore XLS/w Mintsubishi Diamana Fit-On M Gold Stiff 55g
Woods906F4 3 Wood/w Aldila VS Proto Fairway Stiff 80g
Hybrid3dx red 20 and 23 degree
Irons3dx red 5-pw
Wedgesharmonized sand wedge 56 degree loft and harmonize lob wedge 60 degree loftPutterWhite Hot XG SabertoothBallNoddle or ...
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Cussin hacker Great Member

Cussin hacker

Most all drivers today have a smooth face in the sweet spot. As far as 3 woods I can't think of one that doesn't have grooves. Not that there aren't. Grooves on fwy woods and hybrids help get the ball airborn off the turf.

Driver.... Nickent DX Evolver V2 65 stiff /07 Burner YS6+ stiff .
4 wood..... Nickent 4DX
Hybrids.....Tour Edge Geomax 22* 25* 28*
Irons.....TM R7 6-P + AW,SW,LW
Putter.....Odyssey White Hot XG 2 BallBag.......Callaway ORG 14 A.L.I.C.E. Ball........Bridgestone e6 / Srixon Soft Feel...

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brassdoss Member

brassdoss

  • Author
Yeah, almost all drivers I've seen have a smooth sweet spot.

Hm, never thought about the help getting the ball airborne. It would make sense with the hybrids, hitting on the downstroke like an iron... I pretty much exclusively use irons/hybrids off turf and reserve driver/3w for par 4 and 5 tees.

I'm mainly wondering if I'm gonna end up with too much sidespin with the grooved 3w off the tee.

Driver - '07 Burner - 10.5* R-flex
Wood - Hibore XLS - 15* 3w
Hybrids - Walter Hagen T3 - 18* 3i, 21* 4i
Irons - RPM - 4-SW
Wedge - Classics 691 - 58*Putter - Classics #1 - 34"Balls - DT So/Lo

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LBlack14 Great Member

LBlack14

i thought smooth faced drivers were illegal and non-conforming

Not true.

:tmade: R15 14* Matrix Black Tie 7m3

:adams: Speedline Super S 3w & 5w Matrix Radix HD S VI

:callaway: X-12 4-PW Memphis 10

IONNOVEX  Type S GDT 50*, 54* & 62* Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Black 80ir

:odyssey: Tri-Ball SRT

-Landon

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WUTiger Incredible Member

WUTiger

If you want some details on what grooves do, check out the web site of golf club designer and historian Ralph Maltby.
http://www.ralphmaltby.com/

He had a segment on the role of grooves in helping spin the ball from wet grass, or from in the rough.

He keeps a set of smooth faced irons on hand to show people that you can get a little backspin from short grass, even with smooth irons. And, a certain amount of backspin helps stabilize the ball in flight.

Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
  • GolfWorks Clubmaking Academy: Fitting, Assembly & Repair School (2012)

Driver:  :touredge: EXS 10.5°, weights neutral   ||  FWs:  :callaway: Rogue 4W + 7W
Hybrid:  :callaway: Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  :callaway: Mavrik MAX 5i-PW
Wedges:  :callaway: MD3: 48°, 54°... MD4: 58° ||  Putter:image.png.b6c3447dddf0df25e482bf21abf775ae.pngInertial NM SL-583F, 34"  
Ball:  image.png.f0ca9194546a61407ba38502672e5ecf.png QStar Tour - Divide  ||  Bag: :sunmountain: Three 5 stand bag

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Dub Great Member

Dub

I've never seen a 3 wood with a smooth face....and don't know that I'd ever want one.

I want grooves on every club that I use for approach shots into a green.
909D Comp 9.5* (house MATRIX OZIK XCON-6)
Burner Superfast 3 & 5 woods (house MATRIX OZIK XCON-4.8)
G15 Hybrid 23* (AWT shaft)
G5 5 iron-PW-46*, UW-50*, SW-54 & LW-58 (AWT shaft)
Studio Select Newport 2 Mid SlantGrips: PING cords & Golf Pride New Decade Multi-Coumpound Bag: C-130...
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Fourputt Incredible Member

Fourputt

im pretty sure that grooves on a driver make no difference on ball flight or spin. at least thats what ive read.

This is the truth. Grooves on a driver are just put there for aesthetics. They have no functional value. This is true for fairway woods too, as the grooves are not deep enough to function as they do in irons by channeling away water and mashed grass.

Rick

"He who has the fastest cart will never have a bad lie."

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brassdoss Member

brassdoss

  • Author
Thanks for the input, guys. More is always welcome!

I'll see if I notice any difference at the range today between my old smooth 3 wood and my new grooved one. If anything, I think it will make me focus more on correct swing mechanics.

Driver - '07 Burner - 10.5* R-flex
Wood - Hibore XLS - 15* 3w
Hybrids - Walter Hagen T3 - 18* 3i, 21* 4i
Irons - RPM - 4-SW
Wedge - Classics 691 - 58*Putter - Classics #1 - 34"Balls - DT So/Lo

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brassdoss Member

brassdoss

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Hey fourputt , tell me more about your putter!!!!

Driver - '07 Burner - 10.5* R-flex
Wood - Hibore XLS - 15* 3w
Hybrids - Walter Hagen T3 - 18* 3i, 21* 4i
Irons - RPM - 4-SW
Wedge - Classics 691 - 58*Putter - Classics #1 - 34"Balls - DT So/Lo

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pxc Dedicated Member

pxc

im pretty sure that grooves on a driver make no difference on ball flight or spin. at least thats what ive read.

There are stories of cheaters rubbing chapstick in the grooves of their drivers for straighter ball flight. I have no idea if they're true but I thought I read in a thread here recently that a few have tried it for the sake of novelty and it worked.

In the blue Colts bag:

Driver - FT-5 10°
Hybrids - 4DX 15.5°, 20°
Irons/Wedges - CI-7 4-GW, SW | "Free" Warrior 60° LWPutter - TiffanyBalls - various

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LBlack14 Great Member

LBlack14

There are stories of cheaters rubbing chapstick in the grooves of their drivers for straighter ball flight. I have no idea if they're true but I thought I read in a thread here recently that a few have tried it for the sake of novelty and it worked.

It does, but it has nothing to do with covering up the grooves. It takes off spin period, grooves or not.

:tmade: R15 14* Matrix Black Tie 7m3

:adams: Speedline Super S 3w & 5w Matrix Radix HD S VI

:callaway: X-12 4-PW Memphis 10

IONNOVEX  Type S GDT 50*, 54* & 62* Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage Black 80ir

:odyssey: Tri-Ball SRT

-Landon

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mhodar13 Well Established Member

mhodar13

My dad has an XLS, and the sweet spot isn't grooved. It looks to be, but it's just laser engraved and if you run your finger over it you can barely feel it. I think it's more for looks than spin.

In my White/Red/Yellow Monza Featherweight Stand Bag:
Driver: 07 Burner 9.5* stiff
3 Wood: 07 Burner 15* stiff
5 Wood: 07 Burner 18* stiff
Irons 4-AW: r7 steel shaft stiffWedges: RAC Satin 56*, 60*Putter: Rossa Daytona 35 InchBall: Bridgestone e7+, Titleist Pro V1Shoes: D3000Glove: ...

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Dub Great Member

Dub

There are stories of cheaters rubbing chapstick in the grooves of their drivers for straighter ball flight. I have no idea if they're true but I thought I read in a thread here recently that a few have tried it for the sake of novelty and it worked.

I've seen it done firsthand. Once in a captain's choice tournament...guy in group ahead of us greased his driver. I informed my group and they watched carefully. The team never used his drives.

There is a guy I work with who is a known greaser. He generally plays money games with others I golf with. I try to avoid him outside of work...never golfed with him. I'd have to address the issue if we were in any type of match. I'd simply walk up to him and wipe his driver off, saying something like, "Here, let me get this cleaned up for you". Liars, cheats and crooks will find anything they can to get and advantage.
909D Comp 9.5* (house MATRIX OZIK XCON-6)
Burner Superfast 3 & 5 woods (house MATRIX OZIK XCON-4.8)
G15 Hybrid 23* (AWT shaft)
G5 5 iron-PW-46*, UW-50*, SW-54 & LW-58 (AWT shaft)
Studio Select Newport 2 Mid SlantGrips: PING cords & Golf Pride New Decade Multi-Coumpound Bag: C-130...
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brassdoss Member

brassdoss

  • Author
My dad has an XLS, and the sweet spot isn't grooved. It looks to be, but it's just laser engraved and if you run your finger over it you can barely feel it. I think it's more for looks than spin.

Right, the driver is just flat and engraved, but the 3 wood is grooved. I'm just hoping to get the same lack of spin from the 3 wood.

Driver - '07 Burner - 10.5* R-flex
Wood - Hibore XLS - 15* 3w
Hybrids - Walter Hagen T3 - 18* 3i, 21* 4i
Irons - RPM - 4-SW
Wedge - Classics 691 - 58*Putter - Classics #1 - 34"Balls - DT So/Lo

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Greg Dedicated Member

Greg

I guess im still new enough to the game to not know that you could put anything on your driver to affect ball flight. I dont think ive played with anyone who has tried that yet that im aware of, if they do it isnt working by the way most of my friends hit their driver. As tempting as it is to try that sometime at the range, I really dont want to know, I've been hitting my driver better lately legitimately by teeing a little lower and trying a smoother, more controlled swing instead of always trying to kill it and slicing it badly. I've found that teeing slightly lower gives me a lower, straighter ball flight and more distance too.

In my bag
Driver-top flite cannon 460 cc 10.5 deg, reg flex
3 Wood-ACUITY GOLF RCX 14°
3h-warrior golf tcp 20°
4h-warrior golf tcp 23°5h-warrior golf tcp 26° 6-pw-AFFINITY / ORLIMAR HT2 SERIES irons steel shafts regular flex56° sw-tour seriesram puttergolf balls-intech beta ti

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Note: This thread is 5340 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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