Wanted "hot" 3 wood...

[cape cod beachfront golfer]

It has been about 5 years since I updated my 3 wood...
What would be an excellent 3 wood for distance???
Driver is a Launcher 330...
I've heard Cleveland makes strong 3 woods...
From the postings here I might consider an Aldila NV shaft...
anyone make that combination????
Current 3 wood is a Nicklaus strong 13 degree.

[sungho_kr]

If you want a player's 3 wood, get a titleist, if you want a consistent but techy and $$$ 3 wood, get a sonartec, if you want an easy 3 wood with a unique feel, get a callaway. If you want to hit your 3 wood like your driver then get a cleveland.

[pine2palm]

I play a Taylor Made V-steel 3-wood and I love it. If you have a little fade off the tee, this club corrects it completely. I hit the club dead straight. It sets up so nice off the fairway and tee. I played in a tournament in MN last fall on a tight course and this club saved me so many times. It is very easy to hit. Just try it out on the range and see for yourself.

[Rafcin]

if you really want "hot" - try the Exotics by Tour Edge... very nice. other choice would be Sonartec, which is very popular among "better" players.
Of course you can't go wrong with V-Steel, if you don't have the "little fade" problem that pine2palm described (and I call "occasional slice" ) - try to get a tour-only model, which is square to slightly open at setup.

[Shigeki]

After all the other brands mentioned by the folks here, you might also want to try the Mizuno F50 3 wood. You mentioned Sonartec earlier and they do make a great 3 wood. However, at the risk of sounding repetitive, if you can try Kasco's line, give them a shot as well...lots of luck with your search! Cheers!!!

[NCGolfer]

I recently switched to the new TaylorMade r7 steel 3 wood and love it. It has a nice ball flight and added a bit of distance over my old Steelhead plus. I've never hit the TM V-Steel, so I don't know how it compares...

[iacas]

I recently switched to the new TaylorMade r7 steel 3 wood and love it. It has a nice ball flight and added a bit of distance over my old Steelhead plus. I've never hit the TM V-Steel, so I don't know how it compares...

I find that the same 3W balloons a bit when it is hit into a headwind. Downwind it really coasts, but the inconsistency in distance is as much as 60 yards or so (200 versus 260 headwind versus downwin). Moderate breezes, too, not a gale or anything.

[Lefty2380]

i have a Taylor Made 300 series 15 degree 3 wood and i love it. it alwasy feels like you hit it better than the last time, and i can hit it about 230 with a nice trajectory. i have the Aldila NV shaft in extra stiff and its perfect for me, plus i like the color haha...

I have a callaway 3 wood as well, won it with a bunch of stuff in a tournement, and i hit it about 240-245 but i seem to draw it a little. i also cant control the spin as much as i can with my taylor made...but callaway is a very dependable product...

[ragontona]

On the cheap, and if you can find 'em, a buddy of mine just picked up the Taylor Made R580XD fairway woods (3/5). He just absolutely crushes that 3 wood with zero effort.

Personally, I hit the Callaway Steelhead III still, so I can't speak about new technology in fairway woods from my own perspective...

[Donald MacKenzie]

The hottest 3-woods I've hit in the last couple years are the Tour Edge Exotics and the MacGregor MACTEC. Both have pretty similar design, with titanium faces and steel bodies. Both are close to driver distance for most people (you don't have to have tour-player swing speed to hit them a long way).

The MACTEC is a little too shallow-faced for me, especially since I like to use my 3-wood off the tee on shorter par-4s. But off the deck, the MACTEC really goes. The Tour Edge has a bit deeper face and is better for hitting off the tee.

That said, I'm still partial to Callaway 3-woods. I have the new X 3-wood and really like it so far. In my first round with it, I almost drove a downhill par-4 with it (325-yard hole, hit it to the front fringe, easy birdie). That was atypical for distance, but it's good for 250-260 off the tee and 235 off the deck. And if you can find an old Steelhead Plus 3-wood or Strong 4-wood in good shape, they're still my all-time favorites. Put the shaft of your choice in one and you're got a fairway wood that will hang with just about anything.