What fairway woods to get?

**Addicted2Golf** · January 6, 2010

I've always had a huge gap between my driver and the next longest club in my bag. Until this year the longest club in my bag other than the driver was my 4 iron. The reason is, I couldn't hit fairway woods off the deck and didn't practice enough to improve that. Well, that has changed. I added a 5 wood at the beginning of this season to see how it went before making the financial commitment of having a good set in my bag. Well, I'm ready now.

I recently lost my 5 wood in a bet with my wife. That is her favorite club in my bag and I thought I was making a pretty safe bet, but turns out I wasn't. That is bad and good at the same time. I want 3 and 5 woods that match, and was having a hard time finding an R7 in decent condition to match my 5 wood, so I guess this gives me the opportunity to start over.

So after that long preface comes my question...what fairway woods would you recommend that are good, but affordable? I switch between a Taylormade Burner driver and a Cleveland Hibore XLS depending on how I'm hitting the driver any given day. Has anybody played the Cleveland fairway woods? Is it advantageous to have fairway woods that "match" your driver, or is that a non-issue?

Thanks in advance

**Shindig** · January 6, 2010

I'm going to suggest not getting a 3-wood yet, period. I would suggest adding a 3H and (4 or 5)W - matching or not - to your bag. If you aren't good at hitting fairway woods off the deck, and don't need it as a backup driver, there's no real sense having it in the bag. It's up there with the Lob Wedge, in my mind, as a specialty club that requires plenty of practice and the exact right circumstances to use.

As for brands, I'm very happy with my Nike hybrids, and if I were picking up fresh woods, I would certainly be looking at theirs. If you like your drivers, you should certainly check out what their manufacturers make for fairway woods. I got my Cobra fairway woods back when I was happy with a similar driver; I'm currently very happy about the 5-Wood, which I hit far more accurately than the 3-Wood.

**etlreams** · January 6, 2010

When it comes to fairway woods I've found the design of the sole is important in allowing you to hit it out of the rough or fairway. I'm a Callaway guy when it comes to woods/metals. One of favorite clubs in my bag is my 2007 Big Bertha 3 wood. It has a very flat sole, which allows me to use it effectively off of the short grass. It glides across it, allowing solid contact. Out of the rough, the flat sole doesn't dig in, so it's hard to make good contact.

My other fairway wood is the Callaway X series 5 wood. This is the opposite as the 3 wood. The design of the sole makes the club "dig in" a little better and it hits out of the rough beautifully. Off of the fairway it is so so.

Both clubs are very forgiving and have great distance. But the design of the sole is what dictates where I will hit it on the course.

**mrt10x** · January 6, 2010

I am a pretty dedicated Taylor Made man when it comes to Woods/Rescues, but if I was looking to replace my fairway woods and rescues, i woul be looking pretty hard at the Ping G15 stuff.. .looks real nice and the G10s got rave reviews.

**Addicted2Golf** · January 6, 2010

I'm going to suggest not getting a 3-wood yet, period. I would suggest adding a 3H and (4 or 5)W - matching or not - to your bag. If you aren't good at hitting fairway woods off the deck, and don't need it as a backup driver, there's no real sense having it in the bag. It's up there with the Lob Wedge, in my mind, as a specialty club that requires plenty of practice and the exact right circumstances to use.

Hitting my woods off the deck is no longer a major problem. That being said, having that extra distance on long par 5's is probably the secondary reason I would like one. Shorter par 4's where hitting the driver is risky, or par 4's that require a little more accuracy is the primary reason. I wouldn't necessarily call that a backup driver though.

**murphmjm** · January 6, 2010

I love my callaway steelhead plus 3wood, the clubhead is small enough to give you some good confidence off the deck. It's probally an early 2001/2ish model, i know its an older club but i have no thoughts of replacing it after all these years when the rest of my bag got a big upgrade this winter.

**etlreams** · January 6, 2010

I love my callaway steelhead plus 3wood, the clubhead is small enough to give you some good confidence off the deck. It's probally an early 2001/2ish model, i know its an older club but i have no thoughts of replacing it after all these years when the rest of my bag got a big upgrade this winter.

I'd second that. If you're considering used woods, the Callaway Steelhead Plus is fantastic. I hit the Steelhead Plus 5 Wood for a few years. Great club! Looks good, feels great, sounds fantastic, and I found it to be pretty forgiving.

**-BAMA-** · January 6, 2010

x3 on the steelhead. ive had my original steelhead 4 wood since around 2001 and i just recently replaced it with a ping rapture 17*. (it's stamped as a 5 wood but it carries a 4 wood loft)

the steelhead was great, very versitale and went a long way... but the face was so worn out from repetitive use over the years that i decided to replace it...

the ping rapture was the only FW besides the g10 and TM burner that i liked... it has a deeper face than most fairway woods, but ive gotten used to it..... its very forgiving and i hit it as far as my buddy hits his driver....

ive never carried a 3 wood. never been able to hit one consistently off the deck and the 4 wood was just 10 yards shorter than the 3 wood (for me) and ive never had any trouble getting the ball airborne, so ive just been using them ever since...

hope this helps

**sherwoodnatl** · January 7, 2010

The Nike DyMo is a fantastic fairway wood if you are a fairly consistent ball-striker as it isnt the most forgiving. But i LOVE the feel and workabiliy.
Otherwise the Ping G15's and Cleveland Launchers DSTs look awesome. Or the Burner (You can never go wrong with an 07 burner club)

**wolverine_man** · January 7, 2010

I will be getting either a strong 4 wood or a 2 hybrid and I am looking real hard at Bobby Jones. In fact, I am almost positive that's what I'm getting.

**WUTiger** · January 7, 2010

Is it advantageous to have fairway woods that "match" your driver, or is that a non-issue?

I got a driver and 3W that matched; similarities in look a set-up.

At 15 HDCP, you're right on the line. Depends if you want "same look" at set up, and same shaft... OR, custom pick Driver for what it does, and FW wood separately for what it does. Also... You might consider a 4W rather than 3W. Lots of people find the extra couple degrees of loft makes 4W a lot easier to hit.

**Addicted2Golf** · January 7, 2010

I got a driver and 3W that matched; similarities in look a set-up.

For those who play, or have suggested the 4 wood, is that your one fairway wood rather than having the 3 and 5? I would assume that is the case. What is the yardage gap between a 3 and 4 wood generally speaking? How about between 4 and 5?

**doof_dizzler** · January 7, 2010

What was the bet?

**chilly** · January 7, 2010

As far as brand/model, I think the G10s are the best thing going. They're very easy to hit off the deck due to the rounded/smooth sole, shallow face, and relatively small size compared to other modern fairway woods. I personally think they're very long as well, although I don't get the impression that's their reputation. If there is a club that has better feel out there, I haven't felt it....that's the thing that keeps me coming back. You can feel the ball compress off the face, it feels pure as can be. Ball flight with the Proforce V2 HL is awesome for a FW wood, gets up, flattens out, and just keeps going. I've stuck 5wd from 250 (lucky shot to actually hit a green) with three yds of rollout, awesome performance. I will concede that something like a '09 Launcher is a little more forgiving on bad swings, but I don't consider the G10 to be "bad", it's just not going to help you out as much as the bigger fairway designs.

As far as setup, really have to know more about your game. Are you consistent with driver, what are your distances, what are local courses like? Guys that don't like to hit driver may like to carry a 3wd more often for consistency. Or, if you have a lot of doglegs and CAN'T hit driver, may help to carry a 3wd. Or, if you're a shorter player, the 20yds you'll get out of a 3 vs 5wd may be important whereas a longer hitter doesn't need the length...lots of variables. Of course, that brings the 4wd into question (something I'm definitely considering). I'm feeling better with my driver as of late so I'm less inclined to hit a 3wd. I miss a lot of greens, so being able to use a 4wd and pull a fairway to replace with a Lob may help my game.

**Addicted2Golf** · January 10, 2010

I appreciate all of those of you who replied. Your input was helpful in my decision. As my signature indicates, I decided on the Cleveland Hibore XLS 3 & 5 woods. After spending a fair amount of time in front of the launch monitor at a local golf shop the choice was fairly easy. I hit a bunch of clubs and the Hibore's felt good, and had the numbers to convince me that I was making a pretty safe purchase. It was interesting to see the difference in ball speed and spin rate between all of the clubs. I think any of the clubs suggested could have worked well, but I liked the feel of the Hibore's, and beleive it or not, I like the look. Here's to hoping that they help me with my 2010 goals!

**keb** · January 10, 2010

What is it you like about the Bobby Jones fairway woods or hybrids.

I will be getting either a strong 4 wood or a 2 hybrid and I am looking real hard at Bobby Jones. In fact, I am almost positive that's what I'm getting.

**Three Putt** · January 10, 2010

Nickent fairway woods have a very shallow face (not tall) and a wide sole. I like them.

**wolverine_man** · January 10, 2010

What is it you like about the Bobby Jones fairway woods or hybrids.

well, the hybrids have more of a traditional fw shape which I like. Both the hybrids and fairway woods have a shape that allows them to be hit off the deck with ease much like the aforementioned steelhead. I'm a traditionalist and I'm a bit put off by the standard hybrid look. I was killing the Idea Pro tonight though.

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What fairway woods to get?

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