"Classic" 3 Wood Recommendations

[JD3]

Not having much success with "modern" 3 wood performance and not pleased with the prices, I am looking at some 3 woods from 10 to 20 years ago. I recall them being more useful at the time. However it's hard to get good reviews, and specs for most in terms of cc's nearly impossible. 

 

Couple I am interested in now are Titleist 904F and Ping G5. Does anyone have views or information on them? Also interested in other recommendations.

 

Thanks!

Edited November 4, 2024 by JD3

[easylittle5wood]

Tour Edge Exotics CB2

 

Adams BTY

[AdExec]

Titleist 970 if you like a little punishment with your pureness. 

 

Not forgiving but unbelievable out of the middle with a ProV1 or softer golf ball.

 

Otherwise it’s original Sim 15* and not much else is close to that performance wise. 

 

Special shout out to Callaway RAZR fit fairways. Way ahead of its time feel/performance wise. 

[hook_or_slice]

On 11/4/2024 at 10:35 AM, JD3 said:

Not having much success with "modern" 3 wood performance and not pleased with the prices, I am looking at some 3 woods from 10 to 20 years ago. I recall them being more useful at the time. However it's hard to get good reviews, and specs for most in terms of cc's nearly impossible. 

 

Couple I am interested in now are Titleist 904F and Ping G5. Does anyone have views or information on them? Also interested in other recommendations.

 

Thanks!

 

I thought the Callaway "X" fairway woods from about 20 years ago were fantastic. 

[GDB67]

Callaway steelhead.

Awesome off the turf. 

[dan360]

Adams

Sonartec

Nickent

PING

TEE

 

[philly2kuk]

If you’re looking for old, nothing beats the original and facelift v steels in my opinion. There was a whole thread many pages long dedicated to them here.

[mat562]

TM V Steels and R7 TP. Titleist 906 series. The original TM RBZ. Sonartecs. The older Tour Edge models. Adams BTY.

 

I'm still using a Nike T60 3-wood and an old Titleist 913F 4-wood. Paired with the right shaft (for me, also older models) they work very well. 

Edited November 6, 2024 by mat562

[Llortamaisey]

All of the previous ones mentioned are worthy inclusions to the list, the one that never gets mentioned that I think is the most underrated three wood of all time is the Cobra S9-1 Pro. They made it back when Acushnet owned the company and that model was more of a Titleist fairway with a hotter face than a Cobra fairway. If you like a little deeper head, it fits the bill. Not a good three wood for golfers who like shallow pancake fairways. 

[JD3]

11 hours ago, GDB67 said:

Callaway steelhead.

Awesome off the turf. 

I had a steelhead back in the day and the thing ran for miles on the fairway ...don't know if there was a hotter face in terms of roll ever made 

[GDB67]

2 hours ago, JD3 said:

I had a steelhead back in the day and the thing ran for miles on the fairway ...don't know if there was a hotter face in terms of roll ever made 

I had one with a steel shaft. Good times. Of course I was 21 years old too.. 🤪

[Kale_m]

Not an old 3w , it is actually the current model. But have a look at the Mizuno ST-G 440 TI 3w. Man, it looks great! Looks like an old school “spoon” type fairway wood. Looks awesome! 

[mshills]

Easy, TEE CB2 every day and twice on Sunday. 

[obsessed_golfer]

Sonartec NP-99 for a shallow face, Ping TisiTec for a deep face

[GoldenAges]

The Titleist 915f and TS Line are oldies but goodies. Not too old. 

 

May be worth checking out the Sub70 ProV2 fairway too. $219 brand new with good shaft options. Feel is outstanding with these.

[Ri_Redneck]

I was partial to my 975F FWs. I still have all of them and play them from time to time. GD Purple Ice 80 FW shafts. What a machup!!

 

BT

[cgasucks]

On 11/4/2024 at 7:35 AM, JD3 said:

Couple I am interested in now are Titleist 904F and Ping G5. Does anyone have views or information on them? Also interested in other recommendations.

 

Thanks!

 

After playing with my VSteels for many years, I decided to try out the 904F with GD YS6 as I got a 15d and a 19d for like $30 CAD each.  I love how it sits behind the ball and the deeper face profile.  The feel is just as good as my VSteels.  I don't know much about the G5s since I've never held their clubs but you can't go wrong with the 904Fs.  

 

I also have an old school Titleist PT 3 wood that is bore thru with DG S300.  Feel is good but the trajectory is too low for my tastes.

Edited November 8, 2024 by cgasucks

[Pepperturbo]

If "easy" to hit, and long interests anyone, find a Tour Exotic XCG-4, 15' or 16.5 fairway wood.  Every now and again, I ponder putting one of them back in the bag.  They are seriously long.

[hammergolf]

Tour Edge fwy woods were WAY ahead of their time. My personal favorite was the XCG4 line. In fact I still have a 16.5 still in the closet just in case. Another great performer was the Ping TiSi Tec. It was certainly a different look at address, but man did that club flat our perform. You can probably find some for less than $100 in really good shape.

[Drivingrangehero]

54 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

Tour Exotic XCG-4,

+1 

[wam78]

Not as old, but the ts3 was and is still outstanding.  A little larger and more forgiving for that model and absolutely keeps up on ball speed.  Can be had for a good price.

[Drewhill44]

The Cobra F9 Tours were one of my favorites to have. If you want to go older the Cleveland Launcher fairway's circa 2003ish.  One of my all time favorites.

Edited November 8, 2024 by Drewhill44

[Kai Slater]

I would seriously look at the Cleveland Quadpro.....or.....original Callaway Steelhead

 

I've had both years ago and both were awesome.  The Cleveland Quadpro was a cannon and one of the best feeling woods ever

Edited November 9, 2024 by Kai Slater

[boggyman]

OG RBZ 17*, essentially a 4 wood but hard to beat. 

[WestCoastSeminole]

Nike VR Pro Limited Edition was released in late 2011 and I had one in my bag for over a decade until it finally was forced into retirement by the G430 LST. It's a very nice spoon style head, a nice traditional shape with a smaller footprint. Deep enough to be really effective off the tee but not so deep that it's tough to elevate off the deck. Has some "modern" technology as well with the speed slot on the sole that helps ball speed on contact low on the face. Very versatile club. Not to mention Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Reed both played them long after their model year

Edited November 10, 2024 by WestCoastSeminole

[circa3182]

Titleist 906F2 or F4 depending on your preference. End of thread!

[herkyjerk]

Callaway Steelhead Plus or Epic Flash.  All time great and classic shape, sound, performance.  

[BYK]

913 or tee ex9 tour 

probably newer than ya want though 

[Bobb3rdown]

callaway diablo edge tour. great 3wd.

[WristySwing]

On 11/4/2024 at 10:35 AM, JD3 said:

Not having much success with "modern" 3 wood performance and not pleased with the prices, I am looking at some 3 woods from 10 to 20 years ago. I recall them being more useful at the time. However it's hard to get good reviews, and specs for most in terms of cc's nearly impossible. 

 

Couple I am interested in now are Titleist 904F and Ping G5. Does anyone have views or information on them? Also interested in other recommendations.

 

Thanks!

 

What is it about that is causing issues? Are they too shallow/deep? Too big? Too much draw/fade bias? It might help you narrow it down a bit because the 904F and G5 are about as opposing as you can get in terms of size and forgiveness for the time, so it is difficult to make suggestions.