Help - 906f 3W or 5W, which should I get?

[PhilsRHman]

OK, so the quick background. Couple years ago (ok, 8-10 years ago) I was down to a 6 handicap and playing even better than that, but got away from the game for several years. I can still put together a round in the low 80s, but I'm super inconsistant and will go 85-102-86-96 on a given stretch. I'm playing a lot again, and I'm hitting my driver so much longer and more consistently than I ever did a decade ago, which reminds me that I used to rely on a 2-iron that I could practically walk out to where I wanted it, 250 yards, straight, draw, cut, whatever. I'm not playing to the point I can hit that 2-iron anymore, and I've tried a 2 hybrid TM Rescue, but it sucks and I've officially taken out of my bag since having a "safe" club to hit of the tee is pointless if I don't know if I'll hook it 60 yards left, or overcompensate and cut it 30 yards right. I have a feeling it's got a closed face and too weak a shaft (whatever the stock steel TM stiff shaft is) and with my tendency to draw/hook, it just exaggerates it. Plus, I've never gotten used to the hybrid face, so after two seasons fighting it, it's banished.

OK, so that leads me to my actual question. I want to supplement my driver with a 3 or 5 wood. Distance isn't much of an issue for me at this point, as I can pound this TM 320 out there 290-310, sometimes longer when I'm playing the draw and not playing in the soggy NJ fairways (I can only imagine if I updated and at some point if I start playing better and have the money will look to pair up something more modern to my swing speed).

I went to Dick's a couple weeks ago, and the 3 woods they have all seem to fall under the "game improvement" category, which includes weak shafts and draw biases. They measured my 3W swing speed at 105, and while I don't really trust their simulator (skeptic in me says they lower teh spin variables to increase distance and straighten your shots so you buy their clubs) it had be banging their 3Ws 280-290 yards. Figuring it was probably closer to 265-270, and trimming off a bit more distance when I go from their stiff shafts to something like an Aldila NV-75S, I'll lose a bit more distance, I'm not sure if I should be looking for a 3W or 5W. I really want something I can hit 240-250, work it when I need to, and be able to hit it off the fairway on long par 5s since I really can't hit my driver at all off the deck.

The absolute most important thing is I want a club I can hit consistently. I've read a lot of great things about the Titleist 906f2 and 906f4, and there have been a lot lately on eBay, and since I'm trying to add this club for $100 or less, I obviously can't jump at something newer. I was looking at the f4 in a 3W since the reviews say it's more forgiving, but then was thinking if I drop to a 5W, then the f4 might be too shallow for me to hit off the tee, and that I might be able to go to the f2 and trade some distance for some workability. The biggest problem is I can't find either of these clubs anywhere to hit, which is driving me nuts.

Even when I was playing well, I wasn never a real equipment buff, especially shafts. If anyone can point me in the right direction here, in terms of different fairway woods, thoughts on the 906f series, and especially thoughts on shafts, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks a ton in advance.

[Hokie2k5]

I have trouble hitting the shallower faced F4 off a tee, so I would recommend an F2 if off the tee is primairly what you're looking for. If you're hitting it 290+, you're swinging faster than 105 mph and you should probably look for an X-stiff shaft to help with control, especially in a fairway wood.

I would say a 5W would get you closer to the 240-250 range if you're hitting your driver close to 300 yds.

The 906's have a good offereing of stock shaft so you should be able to find something good on ebay for pretty cheap.

[enis750]

read THIS and THIS

amazing article on both

i am in the EXACT same boat as you dude
i have been looking at these same clubs
I too went to Golf Town yesterday and the simulator had me hitting the 909F2 like 270 +...ooookkkkkk
anyways..

i like the shallower face of the 906F4 and the 909F2 better
i am not too concerned about off the T as i am off the deck
to me the above two clubs felt great!

I have a similar swing speed as you
w Driver i average about 109-112, the 3 wood i was swinging about 102-106

i am also caught on which club to select and i have the same budget as you, the $100 range
there are some good deals on the new 909's for about $130 USD or so...really nice club
it is suppose to create a little less spin than the 906

i HAD the 585H, but i HATE hybrids....just cant hit them
i need something in that 240-255 range, to challenge the par 5's in 2 and long par 3's into the wind

shaft...i have the Diamana 65 S in my 907D2 and it works well..little higher launch than i like, but its ok
i was looking at the Diamana 75 S FW in the 3 wood if i get that club...like to keep shafts similar if i can

let me know what you come up w bro...in the same boat as you!

[PhilsRHman]

Well, maybe today is my lucky day. I just won an ebay auction for a Titleist 906F2 18 degree 5 wood Fairway Wood. The shaft is the ALDILA NV 75-s Stiff Flex. The seller says it's a 9 out of 10 condition and the pictures seem to back that up. Got it for $49, plus $15 shipping. I think that's a real steal since most of these have finished at 100 or more, before shipping.

I'm playing Friday, and hope to have it in time for that round. If not, I'll get to the range over the weekend and report back. I figure worst case, I can resell it on ebay and get most of my money back and try something else.

I don't know much about the shaft, but what I found online ranged from wildly overrated to a great shaft that's heavier than you'd normally find, but I figure that should help cut down on those nasty snap hooks I'm prone to.

[enis750]

Well, maybe today is my lucky day. I just won an ebay auction for a Titleist 906F2 18 degree 5 wood Fairway Wood. The shaft is the ALDILA NV 75-s Stiff Flex. The seller says it's a 9 out of 10 condition and the pictures seem to back that up. Got it for $49, plus $15 shipping. I think that's a real steal since most of these have finished at 100 or more, before shipping.

that is a wicked price man

cheapest i have seen one end was $89 + shipping..u did well report back how it works still cant decide which was i am going yet...arrgghhhhh!!! so why the 5w over the 3w..just curiuos???

[PhilsRHman]

that is a wicked price man

Figured that I'm really not looking for a lot of distance out of this club, I just want something less than driver, and like a 2 iron. There honestly aren't a lot of holes that straddle the line between driver/3W, so if I'm trying to play safe off a tee on either a dogleg or mid-300 yard par 4, or even unreachable par 5, a 5W I can hit 240-255ish would be more versatile than a 3W in the 270ish range. Same goes for hitting into greens, it seems I've got 240 into a green far more often than I've got 275.

Add in the fact that I can take a fair amount off my driver by hitting a cut rather than a draw, and I figured the gap that needed filling was closer to 2-3 iron, rather than up near driver, and 5W seems like it would serve that purpose and hopefully be easier to hit and control.

[enis750]

Figured that I'm really not looking for a lot of distance out of this club, I just want something less than driver, and like a 2 iron. There honestly aren't a lot of holes that straddle the line between driver/3W, so if I'm trying to play safe off a tee on either a dogleg or mid-300 yard par 4, or even unreachable par 5, a 5W I can hit 240-255ish would be more versatile than a 3W in the 270ish range. Same goes for hitting into greens, it seems I've got 240 into a green far more often than I've got 275.

u may have just sold me on a 5w thanks for ur input dude now i need to find a deal like you did trouble is, all the good deals...they wont ship to me in Canada..WTF!!??? haha! thanks again bro

[PhilsRHman]

Man, what a kick in the teeth. Been dying all week for this 5W to show up because I'm playing tomorrow morning. eBay seller had it in the mail on Monday from Illinois. Got home tonight and still nothing here. Really sucks. Hopefully it at least shows up tomorrow while I'm playing and didn't get stolen out of the mail or anything. USPS tracker hasn't updated anything since he dropped it off though, so who knows.