The search for a fairway wood.......

I love hitting Fairway woods off the tee. I hate hitting them off the deck. I typically make flush contact but a 3 wood just comes out low and hot off the deck. (usually around 5 degrees of launch for me in testing). I have decided that in order for the shot to be useful into a green i need the launch AT LEAST in the 10 degrees neighborhood. So i'm looking at 5 woods instead. I thought i would share my findings in testing all these clubs. I know many people struggle to launch the fairway wood so hopefully this might be useful to others.

First here are my average numbers for these clubs.

Swing speed 107-110

Launch 9 degrees

ball speed 150-154mph

Clubs tested:

Nike vapor speed:

TM aeroburner:

Callaway XR :

Ping g30:

Titleist 915f.

Nike vapor flex -

Callaway big bertha

Tour edge exotics

Taylormade jetspeed

Cobra Flyz

My favorites were the Ping g30, Callaway XR, TM aeroburner, and the NIke Speed. It is surprising that the Titleist was NOT on this list because i have always been a Titleist fan. I love my 915 driver and H. The winners for me are the aeroburner and callaway xr. Both were exceeding my expectations for carry. The aeroburner was longer but "hookier" with that shut club face. (and i dont like white). The XR was so consistent and possibly the best feel/sound of any. It also appeared to have a smaller profile compared to all the other "easy launching " FW's. More workable than the aeroburner too. I think the XR will be on order soon.

i completely agree. and it's something i'm working on but for now this helps

Just curious, what kind of fairway wood did you have originally? What did you use to measure the launch angle?

If you can find one give a Ping K15 a try.  Mine is an absolute cannon.  My driver SS is right around 92.  I launch that thing 200 off the tee and about the same from the deck.  High and soft is the name of the game.  I've loved the 5er so much I searched and got the 7 wood.  The 3 wood is on the way.  I'll have it this weekend.  Ping makes some great woods.

As an aside did you try the G25 series.  The 4 wood is money in the bank.  Before you settle give the 25's a try.  Although I do like Cally fairway woods myself.

Mark Shuman

British pros Mark Crossfield and Ray Shiels have tested some FWs on YouTube. I saw the video clips earlier today.

When hitting different 3Ws with 14* or so loft, they both got launch angles of 12* to 14*.

If you're launching at 9*, then it is a swing problem, possibly in set-up. Chad, get a quick lesson with your pro - he can tell if it's setup, or maybe too steep an iron-style downswing. I can only guess at the problem. A pro could set you straight in five minutes.

I have trouble hitting 3 woods to the point I don't bag one.  That was until I bought a "mystery box" from one of the online golf retailers.  It came with a used 3 wood and mine turned out to be a Taylormade V Steel.  The kicker is at has a steel dynamic gold lite shaft in stiff flex.  I hit it on the range the other day and it looked prettier than my drives.  The club itself looks terrible due to age but man it hits good.

Why do current woods not come in steel shaft options?  They seem so much more stable to me.

and btw, mark crossfield's reviews rock.  I suggest liking him fb as well.

On longer clubs, most players get better clubhead speed and power transfer from graphite shafts.

If you really wanted a steel shaft in a new FW, you might contact the factory to see if the OEM would do it. OEMs don't advertise this, as demand is about zero.

If you get a steel shaft... remember that the modern FW clubheads are designed to mesh up with graphite shafts. I would worry that FW heads of the the low-spin, forward COG variety (pro or tour usually)  might not launch very well with a steel shaft. Does anyone know the physics on this?

Depends on the bend point and weight of the steel shaft. A sub 100gram steel shaft with a swing weight D1-D2 could work well. Yes it will be shorter in distance by shaft weight and shaft length (perhaps 1/2' shorter to get desired SW), however the control / dispersion should be tighter than graphite. Look for some Nippon steel shafts.

Today you can probably find a graphite shaft that mimics steel pretty well. Use to be graphite was just for older people because it was softer and more flexible. Now you'd probably be able to find something similar to steel. I would say @randyfitz could find an x-stiff golf shaft with a stiff tip section and then hard step it, and shorten it up about an inch for control and probably end up with something very similar to steel.

There shouldn't be much concern with the CG and steel shafts. Again it is about getting fitted. If you are looking at a steel shaft I would look at more mid to high launching. I would be concerned with something like Dynamic Gold S300 shafts. That might be to low launching. Then you might be looking at a 5-wood that plays like a 3-wood.

KBS sells a Hybrid steel shaft that has a Mid-high launch point, but weighs 100-110 grams. Its at 43" length. That might be a great option for someone looking for a steel shaft in a 3-wood.

You do not see Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler rocking steel in fairways ...

Distance.

Distance

Distance

And since graphite quality and design has stepped up and with heavier weights, stability is not an issue.

Distance.

I too had trouble hitting 3 -5 W off the deck. Ball position a balls length back from where I had it on the tee worked magic. I recently started hitting a 3 hybrid much better than my 5 wood and gave me the similar distance for the 5 wood and 3 irons. Kind of an in between club. Highly recommend it since it is easier to hit and gives you that in between yardage, just my .02!

ever since i got the nike vapor speed 5w, it seems like i have been striking the ball so much better. It is light compared to other fairway woods ive used and it just seems to be smooth through the ball, even out of the rough. I don't know if it is just the newer technology or what but i have never felt so good hitting with a fairway. now at the price it is at now i wouldn't recommend buying it, but i found a guy who had bought it from his company with a major discount and it just wasn't right for him so i was able to pick it up for $95. steal, i know.

probably hit it about 240-250 on average.

its at least worth a hit at the golf store, you will most likely be happy with it and if you are down to spend that much money i would totally recommend it.

i bought one of the new callaway heavenwoods and its super easy to hit