Anyone else play Driver, Heavenwood

[sirparalot]

Just picked up a new set of Wilson C200's at an unbelievable price and now I am caught with a huge gap between the set GW and my 56 degree SW. I am thinking about ditching my 4W/7W and replacing with a single Heavenwood so that I can add in a 52 degree wedge and fix that gap. I played my last round using a buddies Heavenwood exclusively when I would have used the 4W or 7W and I feel like it performed as I need(shaft was not completely right for me so there should be a bit more upside as well) . It was decent off the tee (maybe 5-10 yards off my 4W) and absolutely fantastic from the fairway. I will end up with a 20-25 yard gap somewhere in my bag (either between 4H and Heavenward or between GW and 56 degree). I think having that gap at the top of the bag is a better choice. Anyone else have to make a similar decision?? What did you do?? How did it work out?? Thanks

[GolfTurkey]

I go from driver to 7W. I used to have a 4W but sacrificed it for a 64 degree wedge. Sometimes I miss it when there is a reachable par 5 but the 7W is much more controllable for me.

 

Means reaching less par 5's but also less blowouts from going for glory, and the 64 is worth it for me.

[Belmont148]

My wife and son do. I think it’s fine for slower swingers, but the gap will be too large if you can get your drive out there decent. My 10 yo hits his drive about 165 and the HW 135-145.

[GolfTurkey]

I think that a lot depends on your game and your strengths and weaknesses.

 

I am far more comfortable hitting driver off the tee than 3W/4W (direction and strike).

 

I take driver off the tee unless there is a dogleg or nasty hazard that driver will reach. If I give up 10-15 yards by occasionally hitting 7W instead of 4W that's ok.

 

Then I looked at what was the longest club I could hit with reasonable consistency and control off the deck and that's 7W.

 

I'm also no good at opening up my 60 and flopping it, so in went the 64 and out went the 4W. Works for me, doesn't mean it will work for others. Btw I'm a member of the WRX short hitters' club, typical drive is 255-275 at sea level on a level hole.

[sirparalot]

Btw I'm a member of the WRX short hitters' club, typical drive is 255-275 at sea level on a level hole.

 

Well if 255-275 at sea level is a short hitter then I am an extremely short hitter as I average about a 235 carry and with soft fairways here in Florida very rarely see any roll ( sometimes they actually back up :) ) To this day folks from up north still make me laugh when they get down here and swear they hit the ball 280 to 300 (with 80 yards of rollout) and can't understand why they are only driving it 200.... I am looking for about a 210 carry with the heavenwood off the deck. I can handle not going at too many par 5's in 2. Honestly when I look at my game tracking stats I score better over the long haul when I don't go for it. Yes birdie is easier when you can 2 putt for it but I bogey more than i birdie when I go for it.

[xkilgorextroutx]

I do have a 3W in between my driver and HeavenWood, but I almost always prefer to hit the HeavenWood off the deck on longer holes. So the 3W only comes out for tee shots.

[ctwatkins]

I do have a 3W in between my driver and HeavenWood, but I almost always prefer to hit the HeavenWood off the deck on longer holes. So the 3W only comes out for tee shots.

 

Exact same set up - driver, 3 wood, heavenwood - works well for me.

[JohnKHawk]

I tried that last year for a bit. Went driver - Heavenwood - Big Bertha OS 3 hybrid set to 20 degrees & then Big Bertha OS 4 hybrid set to 23 degrees then 5 iron.

 

I have 3 of the most recently released Heavenwoods. I like the Big Bertha V series the best. Nicely shaped head & a little shallower than the Epic. Not adjustable though. The Great Big Bertha Heavenwood is ok but not loving the shape of the head. Can't really notice any distance difference between the 3.

[scruffynick]

I do, driver then 7 wood. It's 20 degree and flies....plus I can't hit a 3 wood off the deck for toffee!

[scomac2002]

I have played that combination quite a bit -- driver to strong 7W in both modern and vintage bags. Without a doubt the strong 7W (or Heavenwood) is the most consistent long club I have from the deck and I can hit it every bit as far as a 3W on a well struck shot. I'm a senior golfer with a modest swing speed, so I give up little in distance to a stronger lofted club even off the tee. The gapping actually works pretty well from a 12° driver to a 20° fairway with a 42" shaft. I generally go right to a 5h from there and then start the irons at the 6i.

[dlygrisse]

I do have a 3W in between my driver and HeavenWood, but I almost always prefer to hit the HeavenWood off the deck on longer holes. So the 3W only comes out for tee shots.

 

This is me. I use HW off the deck into the wind but otherwise it doesn’t get me that much more distance.

[North Butte]

I go from driver to a 19-degree 42” Adams Tight Lies 5w. So a degree stronger and 3/4 shorter but pretty similar. Then my 4-iron.

[cmatthews77]

Just picked up a new set of Wilson C200's at an unbelievable price and now I am caught with a huge gap between the set GW and my 56 degree SW. I am thinking about ditching my 4W/7W and replacing with a single Heavenwood so that I can add in a 52 degree wedge and fix that gap. I played my last round using a buddies Heavenwood exclusively when I would have used the 4W or 7W and I feel like it performed as I need(shaft was not completely right for me so there should be a bit more upside as well) . It was decent off the tee (maybe 5-10 yards off my 4W) and absolutely fantastic from the fairway. I will end up with a 20-25 yard gap somewhere in my bag (either between 4H and Heavenward or between GW and 56 degree). I think having that gap at the top of the bag is a better choice. Anyone else have to make a similar decision?? What did you do?? How did it work out?? Thanks

 

To me this all depends on what you need as your second club off the tee. If you have average swing speed (sub 100 with driver) then you won’t notice too much difference in 4-wood and Heavenwood off the deck most likely. Maaaaybe 10-15 yards max I would think. Also course conditions play a part here. Do you play a lot of shots where you’re using 4w off deck and getting 20+ yards of roll. If not then Heavenwood can easily replace your fairway wood.

 

The thing to test is off the tee. That’s where I probably lose 20-25 yards with Heavenwood to a traditional 3/4 wood. So if your primary course setup doesn’t take driver out of your hands then again Heavenwood is a good single fairway. If you need 4-wood off the tee a lot you may lose some valuable yards with Heavenwood. But you’ll have to test.

 

Is 56 your highest wedge? If not, you could also look at replacing that 56 with a 54 to close that gap and not have to add a wedge.

[BadKiwi]

I do. I game a Big Bertha driver (looking at Epic or G400 Max as replacements soon) then the Epic Heavenwood then the Big Bertha OS 4H.

 

I love the Heavenwood as it is super easy to get off the ground, but I do occasionally miss the distance a 3W or 4W might offer. It’s rare I would want to hit those clubs off the tee, and as a high handicapper I am too inconsistent with them off the ground to justify having one in the bag.

[sirparalot]

Just picked up a new set of Wilson C200's at an unbelievable price and now I am caught with a huge gap between the set GW and my 56 degree SW. I am thinking about ditching my 4W/7W and replacing with a single Heavenwood so that I can add in a 52 degree wedge and fix that gap. I played my last round using a buddies Heavenwood exclusively when I would have used the 4W or 7W and I feel like it performed as I need(shaft was not completely right for me so there should be a bit more upside as well) . It was decent off the tee (maybe 5-10 yards off my 4W) and absolutely fantastic from the fairway. I will end up with a 20-25 yard gap somewhere in my bag (either between 4H and Heavenward or between GW and 56 degree). I think having that gap at the top of the bag is a better choice. Anyone else have to make a similar decision?? What did you do?? How did it work out?? Thanks

 

To me this all depends on what you need as your second club off the tee. If you have average swing speed (sub 100 with driver) then you won't notice too much difference in 4-wood and Heavenwood off the deck most likely. Maaaaybe 10-15 yards max I would think. Also course conditions play a part here. Do you play a lot of shots where you're using 4w off deck and getting 20+ yards of roll. If not then Heavenwood can easily replace your fairway wood.

 

The thing to test is off the tee. That's where I probably lose 20-25 yards with Heavenwood to a traditional 3/4 wood. So if your primary course setup doesn't take driver out of your hands then again Heavenwood is a good single fairway. If you need 4-wood off the tee a lot you may lose some valuable yards with Heavenwood. But you'll have to test.

 

Is 56 your highest wedge? If not, you could also look at replacing that 56 with a 54 to close that gap and not have to add a wedge.

Thanks guys. Definitely some things to consider for sure. The Heavenwood would be my second option off the tee (typically only on holes under 350. Longer than that and I can usually pull driver without too much fear of fairway hazards). If I can get 210-215 out of it off the tee (95-97mph driver swing) I think I would be fine (usually got 200-205 off the tee with the 7W). I am a pretty solid iron player who hits over 50% GIR so even if I find I need 1 more club into a hole because I teed off with the Heaven vs 4W I feel like I can hit that shot(probably 7-8 iron vs 9-PW on approach). 60 degree is my most lofted wedge and it has become a necessary evil on the courses I play (wirey bermuda rough, tight green side lies and firm sand). I'm going to give the Heavenward option a try. Found a good deal on CPO and it should be here right after walking the PGA Show floor on Wed.

[Belmont148]

Another note on my usage. My kid and wife use a 12* or higher lofted driver, so the HW at 19* is just like a lot of folks going 10.5* driver then 17* 5w. I just found that with 95+ driver SS the HW would launch like a mortar shell and could loose distance with any wind. I think another alternative for an easy fwy would be the baffler. It fills this spot just as well but hits off of better lies than the HW imo. Doesn’t launch near as high either, unless you want it to with the the right shaft and weight back.

[Hateto3Putt]

I just upgraded my old Bertha Heavenwood, to a new (to me) Epic Heavenwood.

 

I still have a 3 wood, but I'll only use it from the fairway if the conditions and shot requirements are "just right". I do use it when I need a "just get it in play" drive.

 

Any other long second shot requirement is usually met with the Heavenwood. Odds are, it goes long enough and on target enough to be either on or pretty darn close to most greens. I've had more "nice shot" compliments with that club, than any other. My boys appreciate decent shots from sketchy lies.

 

The Heavenwood is one heck of a weapon, I'm glad not everyone I play with uses one.

 

[sirparalot]

The driver/ Heavenwood combo has been in the bag for 2 rounds now and I am really liking it. The Epic Heavenwood is pretty automatic creating a nice high draw for me. I am seeing about 210 off the tee with it (hit one 227) and right around 200 off the deck so its right about where I wanted to be. I have not made any adjustments yet but will probably take it down a degree just to see if I can get a little more out of it. So far I haven't regretted not having a 4W/7W combo (again its only 2 rounds) and closing the gap at the bottom of my bag has paid dividends as well.

[kepeollie]

Glad it working out for you. This game is all about the give and take. I go driver 2Hy and it has similar numbers to your Heavenwood.

[presser34]

Glad it working out for you. This game is all about the give and take. I go driver 2Hy and it has similar numbers to your Heavenwood.

 

 

 

 

I am using the Epic Driver 10.5 Epic 3 wood lofted to 16 degrees and heaven wood lofted to 19 covers all the bases for me. I also game 3-4 Hybrids

[Sanzabar]

I played driver-heavenwood for a really long time. I am more comfortable with the VSeries Heavenwood than any club I think I have ever had. I RARELY hit 3 wood, the only time I do is if I have plenty of room to miss.

[Little Ned]

Btw I'm a member of the WRX short hitters' club, typical drive is 255-275 at sea level on a level hole.

Well if 255-275 at sea level is a short hitter then I am an extremely short hitter as I average about a 235 carry and with soft fairways here in Florida South Carolina very rarely see any roll ( sometimes they actually back up :) )

FIFY :)

[B-Nads]

I used to play an old MacGregor 7 wood - it was a money club for 200 yard straight carry, In my most recent ho-ing endeavor, I picked up a Cobra F6 7 wood. Set at 21*, all I could do was laugh when hitting it on the monitors. If I do my part with the driver, there aren't many par 5's I play that I couldn't reach in 2, but my irons start from 5, so I put something in between it and my 8.5* driver to use as a safety driver off the tee.

[jimsmithleeds]

I go Driver, 4 wood, Heavenwood, 4 Hybrid, 5-W then 50/55/60.

 

14 Clubs with the putter. The gap biggest I have is heavenwood to 4 hybrid, but I just go down the shaft a little on the heavenwood and it takes 10 yards off to fill that space.

 

I'd strongly recommend it