Fairway wood rotation?

[Mitchell]

Based upon the idea that a player should never get rid of a reliable fairway wood, I have accumulated a few over the years that have worked exceptionally well for me. Was just curious if anyone here has several fairways that see considerable play based upon conditions faced or if you change based upon ball-striking or need to have a different look?

 

Generally only carry one fairway wood in bag, not opposed to more, just normally do not need more. Current rotation:

 

Taylormade 200 tour 13* w/ Fuji 660tr

Titleist 906f3 15* w/ Fuji 75c proto

Mizuno MP titanium 15* w/ Aldila DVS 80

TEE CB2 16.5* w/ UST V2 fwy 95

[Ti-Père BBQ]

For me it has work for 2 clubs actually, Ping K15 3wood and my current Bio Cell. I love those clubs forgiveness.

Depends on the grass condition as I tend to play better with the Bio Cell on wet course and K15 on firm grass.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I pretty much stick to my R9 4 wood (17*), though I do have a Titleist 910 13.5* which is more like a mini driver for me. I haven't bagged it at all this season, though. The 4-wood is great off the tee and fairway for me, and is in fact the club that has been in my bag the longest.

I did have a Titleist 910 15* degree that I got with the idea of rotating according to courses/conditions, but I just never used it. I also realised that, with limited practice and playing time, it's better to spend that time learning how to hit a few clubs well rather than lots of clubs averagely (this also led me to sell a load of wedges). Plus, there was no noticeable difference in distance between the 15* and the 17*.

[cforselius]

I try to stick with 1 fairway wood and 1 hybrid until they break or something. Hitting a fairway wood is one of the trickiest parts in golf for me so I want to be confident standing over the ball with a club I can trust

[asw7576]

I stick with RBZ stage 2 and original

[Gautama]

Boy I do have a lot I guess, but not sure if I loved any of them so I just kept buying em. Orlimar Trimetal, Titleist 980, Adams Speedline 9032, Adams Speedline Fast 10, Cobra Speed LD, think I even have an OG Big Bertha down on the basement somewhere. Playing an Aeroburner 3hl right now which I'm loving, but if I had to pick one from the rest of the scrap heap it honestly might be that Orlimar.

[Springsteennut]

I'll stick with mine as long as they keep performing like they have the last 2 years.,l had my previous ones several years before I replaced them.

[Bad9]

I realized the other day I own 6 fairway woods and have had them all since 2002
-Maltby Logic Tech 3,5,7,9
-JDM Founders Club Forged Ti 4w(I have 2 of these)

I have tried many others but these are the only ones I still have. I used Steelheads for a couple of years(and still could) as well as Ping G10 and G15 and a TM or two.

[golftech]

I still have the original 1995 Adams Tight Lies, plus a nice Kasco from 2004, both 16*. Today's fairway woods are just too big for consistency off tight fairways, at least for me. Gaming a Ping i20 15* currently. Wish I had kept my TM Steel series 3 &4 woods.

[MyShortGameSucks]

Toughest slot in the bag to fill IMHO. I have a bunch of fairway woods in the basement and love none of them. I tend not to rotate but just update, enjoy for a few weeks and then b**** and moan about them and ignore when they ultimately stop performing for me.

Favourites in recent years have been a Callaway Diablo Edge Tour, Ping Rapture and more recently the 913Fd with Kai'li 80 shaft. Right now I have a 915F in 16.5 deg and no doubt its a great club but I find myself using it less and less frequently. I'd rather hit a controlled driver into a tight fairway and off the deck modern hybrids are silly long - still....bag seems incomplete without one....

[Mitchell]

For further clarification, all fairways listed were primary starters in bag for years and I have great confidence in each. Just seems that each one performs a specific function better than the others. The CB2 16.5* works well for shorter courses off the tee, provided wind is not up or for going at longer par 5 holes in two via high-launching carry. The 200 tour 13* is essentially a second driver and my go-to club in windy conditions frequently faced. The MP Ti basically fills similar role as TEE, just easier to launch from tight fairway lies and carries about 10-15 yards further, longest of group, sometimes too long for practical use on certain courses. The 906f3 is a very consistent overall performer, maybe 8-10 yards less in carry distance than the TEE, yet essentially a right-to-left biased club for me, probably a function of shaft and fact that has least-open face angle of listed options.

[sgniwder99]

I've had multiple loft options of the Tour Edge CB4 for the last 4 years. At one point I had all of them. I still have the 13, the 15, and the 16.5. Which one (or two) I carry depends on the course I'm playing and what yardages I might need to hit on non-driver holes (as well as whether I'm likely to have to hit one off the deck on a hole or two). I got rid of the 18 eventually because it crept into the same distance slot as my hybrid, and the hybrid is more versatile for me. But yeah, I've definitely got a "rotation" of fairway woods.

[MelloYello]

Dude, I've made the mistake you're about to and let me give you a piece of advice....pick a bag setup and sell the rest of the stuff. If you like what's in your bag, you don't need the distraction of a bunch of old clubs sitting around just begging to be dusted off and demo'd or thrown in the bag for kicks.

I have a closet fully of fairways, driving irons and hybrids that I should just put on Ebay. Instead of doing that though, I continually experiment going back and forth between a 3w/5w setup and a 4w/hy setup and to be honest, neither one has proven to be optimal over the other. The one true constant is that constantly switching up the clubs youre carrying will make you a crappy player.

That much I can promise you. So whenever you hear someone tell you they have 17-18 clubs that are in rotation or that they choose what clubs to carry based on where they're playing that weekend or that they make a decision to put something in the bag based on the weather...

...run.

I've been as guilty of doing that as anyone and the honest to God truth is, it's materialistic and it's the dumbest most counter-productive thing you could do. Maybe that's not the most popular answer for an equipment forum, but it's the truth.


Now, as for the clubs you mentioned, I'd start by ditching the 13* since it's such a limited club (assuming you don't have a 110+ mph SS). The strong loft creates 2 problems for average golfers: (1) the reduced carry that you mentioned and (2) less reliability and consistency.

I'd also ditch the Titleist 906 since it sounds like a shorter club than all the rest. There's really no advantage if you claim you can hit the others well.

So, it seems to come down to the MP or the TEE. I think you can just take your pick quite frankly. Would you rather have a 3w or a 4w is the question. I don't think there's a big difference honestly, unless you feel like you'd struggle to hit the 3w into Par-5s in which case you'd be best to take the 4w. I'd probably default to the 3w if you consider them both equal though.

[Mitchell]

MelloYello,

Without getting into too much detail, can play a bit occasionally and wasn't soliciting advice as to what should go into my bag.

While I agree in principle that constant turnover of bag can limit ability of player to gain practical familiarity with equipment, that is not what was referencing here and that is not an issue with which I struggle, being more reticent to change than most (see signature). I test quite a bit of stuff, yet if does not show consistent improvement over another club, it's not going into the bag. Point of thread is not to judge club selections of others or reasoning behind same, rather see if others use multiple clubs to fill somewhat similar spot in bag or not and why.

Since you mentioned closet-full of stuff and how it did not work for you, what did you settle upon that does?

Aloha,
Mitch

[Altiman94]

I just have one set that I play. I am familiar with everything in the bag.

[bladehunter]

Interesting topic Mitchell. I am similar to you in that I have 3 currently. One is a 915f 18 degree turned down and open to 16.5. It has a handcrafted px 6.5 shaft in it. Super smooth and very much right to left biased. But cranked wide open it is a controlled high draw. The second is a xhot 14.5 3 deep. With a matrix radix 7321 x shaft. It is very left to right biased. And plays at 44 inches long. I know I know that's too long. But I'm tall. I got it that way and I hit it straight. So I have to mess with it. I can choke down if it's a tight hole. I can go hard at it and it won't go left. It lasers at 14.2 degrees and today I hit a gps verified 297 yard tee ball on a par 5. Left me 157 to the pin. I played today without driver in the bag. I'm hitting the 3 deep longer. 3rd is a tee cb5 13. It has a black tie in it and is also long. But it's wild . Hook-a lot-amous if I go at it. It would be for sale but the face is so heat up its not worth it. I planned to pull the shaft and put something else in it for my nephew.
I too only carry one at a time. I have never saw the need to carry more than one. If I don't find a driver I can hit farther or straighter than the 3 deep soon I may just carry the two fairways and ditch driver all together. Or thinking of trying a big bertha mini as driver. Anyway I ramble on as usual. I guess I agree. I rotate them depending on course or conditions. If I need higher launch and soft into par 5s the 915 f would be it. Also on a wide open course I would play driver and the 915f. If my home course which is super tight and OB everywhere I'll play the 3 deep and my 2 iron.

[bladehunter]

I guess I feel the need to sum up my rambling post above. To answer short. Yes. Sometimes for a different look. But more so because some of mine are better off the tee and others off the deck. I can use either in a pinch. But like wedges they have become specialty clubs for me.

[BIG STU]

Good topic food for thought. My current Steelhead has been in my bag for 13 seasons now. In days gone by I never carried a 3 wood could not hit them. My late friend Big John built that club for me. He gave it to me I told him I don't hit a 3 wood he told me to shut up and hit the thing. That was 13 years ago it has been in the bag since. I have tried others but nothing worked like it has for me still. The V-Steel 7 wood was a trade in when Big John and I had the golf shop. I had been hitting a Titleist 7 wood with a S-300 steel shaft straight from a tour van. That old V-Steel had a stock shaft and was beat up but I liked the way it sat and felt. I tried it and it performed better than the Titleist for me. It went in the bag and the Titleist went on E-Bay. Now after a couple of years the stock T-Mag shaft broke at the hosel and since I like those UST Pro Force Gold 65 shafts so much I put one in it just like what is in the Cally. talk about waking a club up! It performs great for me and I have had it for 8 years or so. I have hit some of the newer 7 woods but again they do not perform as well for me. I had been experimenting with 9 woods some but could not get one right for me. One night here on WRX a member mentioned something about a V-Steel 9 wood. I replied I did not know there was such a thing and said I was going to look for one to buy. He sent me a PM and told me no need he had several and he gave it to me. What a guy! He wishes to remain anonymous. It was in pristine shape with a stock T-Mag R shaft. I ended up setting it up with the same shaft and head weight as the 7 wood. What a club! for me I hit the 3 wood like a bullett ball with lots of roll. The 7&9 woods I hit a variety of shots with mainly high cuts which is my stock shot. Now in the thick bremuda rough we have here I tend to balloon them so I can still hit a 4 iron and 5 iron and I do so in that situation. Like I said I like my old stuff and that is what performs for me. A person has to find what works for them and build from there whether it is new or old

[1puttTUT]

I go back and forth between a TM aeroburner HL (16.5 deg), and an Adams super LS 15 deg. I just bought a standard aeroburner as well. Those things are crazy long, but I do love the feel and forgiveness of the Adams so I'm always switching.

[jammer59]

Ping G15 4w 5+ years now. On windy or wet days I might pop the X2 Hot 3w in the rotation instead.

[Bigmean]

This is kinda interesting. I gravitate toward not messing with fws and wedges, but I will rotate putters/driver and irons unaffected. However, if I wasn't a casual enthusiast (is that a good way to say weekday hack?) I can totally see having multiple fairways for courses. Like some you may like more off the tee for some courses, others may be better where it is more going at greens or just par 4s that work.

I still have a king cobra metal 5wood (the real old school grey ones), and I will not get rid of it ever. Once you get along with a FW, you will always get along with that FW. I have had confidence issues and whatnot with drivers being hot and cold, but FWs are like irons, if you like them, you will always hit them well so i can see having a 13/15/18 and only bagging one at a time depending. Makes a lot of sense.

[bladehunter]

Agreed biggie. Once they are in. They are always "in". You never hit them bad one day and good the next. You may hit them bad. But it's when everything is bad. I've had several fairways that just did not work for me. The x2hot pro was one. Super long. But just too light in the head and very much draw biased. Another that does work is the v steel. Very good fairway. I have a 15 degree head come to think on it. Lol.

With me it's mostly about yardage gaps. If I'm hitting driver well I don't want a super long fairway. I want control. If I'm hitting one off the tee mostly instead of driver I want the hottest thing I can get.

[ATAlxndr]

I generally carry a Razr Fit Xtreme 3 wood and a Razr Fir 5 wood. Some courses I will leave one of them home and take another wedge or just leave one at home because I know I wont need it.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

[quote name='bladehunter' timestamp='1445219626' post='12475000']
Agreed biggie. Once they are in. They are always "in". You never hit them bad one day and good the next. You may hit them bad. But it's when everything is bad. [b]I've had several fairways that just did not work for me. The x2hot pro was one. Super long. But just too light in the head and very much draw biased.[/b] Another that does work is the v steel. Very good fairway. I have a 15 degree head come to think on it. Lol.

With me it's mostly about yardage gaps. If I'm hitting driver well I don't want a super long fairway. I want control. If I'm hitting one off the tee mostly instead of driver I want the hottest thing I can get.
[/quote]

Glad it wasn't just me! I tried one of these out, and really wanted to like it. It had a quality shaft (a Crazy of some sort in SX flex), but I just could not feel the head in the swing. Come to think of it, the heavy shaft may have exacerbated the problem.

[cardoustie]

Oh lord

I have 20 or so heads and the same number of shafts. ... Which I played around with this summer .. A lot of fun but I was scolded by Square

My only negative is my 3 deep is not for tight lies

My only change happens on different courses, wide open and I drop the 3 deep for a 7w

3 deep is straighter than my driver but it hits low and flat and running three woods. I can't cut over doglegs with it as I do with my driver teed up 3.25". 3 deep will see lots of action next week at TPC Eagle Trace for our inter club championships

[Nudga]

I have four fairway woods, most been mostly using the TEE this year although the Benross is in at the moment

TEE XCG5 15*
Benross RIP Speed 2 14*
Makser Tw400 18*
Original Mizuno T-Zoid 15*

[NoTalentLefty]

G15 3 & 5 . All else are pretenders.

[boggyman]

One at moment, XHot Pro 3Deep at 14.5 and 42.5 inches! I just choke down if I need a little less distance. We have a par 3 that plays anywhere from 2-225 yards and is a flat green that WILL not hold a ball. It's the only tee shot where another club would work but I'd have to give up a wedge or 3 iron and I don't wanna do that. Give up a wedge or a distance club?

[Bigmean]

I gotta say, I really like my 913 15* a lot. I can see having a hot faced 13 degree spoon (they still call them that? Lol ) for courses where you know you are going 4/5 fee shots without driver and bagging that instead as the 913 is fine off the tee, but I would think the 2* and deeper face would be a benefit on many courses over it. One in particular by my house.

[Ayoung19]

I've been going back and forth this season between my SLDR 3w set at 14* w/ stock speeder X flex and my TI Jetspeed at 16.5* w/ Diamana D+ 72X - I like the Jetspeed a lot better off the deck but off the tee where I use it most it tends to get going left in a hurry. I've been wanting to like it but this time of year in Boston it goes too high in the wind I can hit low missiles with the SLDR. Looks like the SLDR will be back in the back for the last tournament of the year this weekend.

A guy on my team has a 909F 13.5* with a Matrix Ozik 80X shaft and it is an absolute bomber- 10/10 would play that club every day of the week.

I like threads like this, as it helps me to think through my bag more so than I might otherwise.