Stinger/Negative AoA players, favorite 3 wood?

I hit down on everything except my driver and the 3 wood has always been the toughest club to for me to find the right match. For those of you guys who hit the low ball with the 3 wood and take divots, which clubs have you found work best for you? I keep meaning to try out some of the Cobras because I feel like the Baffler Rails may be the ticket for me from a turf interaction/confidence stand point. I know its a deeply personal thing but i'd like to narrow in on some candidates with some data from people that hit their 3 wood like I do. Thanks!

I have buddy that "hits down" (to say the least), he bombs his 17 m4.

17 m1 hands down.

17 m1 hands down.

Anything about it in particular that makes it the clear choice for you?

I would definitely give the Cobra fairway woods with the rails a ride. I think the first model was F7.

M4

Cobra or TEE fairway woods with rail implementation are ideal for this scenario. I believe you are probably going to be subject to higher spin rates as well so getting an "ideal" launch with regards to height/spin may be difficult (I fight the same issue). If I go to something that launches higher, my spin rates typically go through the roof and yardage suffers so I generally stick with lower spin type heads.

I LOVE my tee cb pro with the wavy rails. Those things not only look cool but work really well. Recommend very highly

Rocketballz stage 2 picked up brand new old stock for $40. Put a V2 in it playing 41.5" and about 1/2 mile of lead tape on it to SW it to D4. Thing is solid like a sledge hammer and off the fairway i tend to swing it more like a 5-6 iron and it just goes and goes. Have yet to find something i like more.

I don't quite have the same issue you do with your 3w. I did buy a Cobra f6 baffler 5w a couple weeks ago and I have less problems with it over the 3w. I'm thinking about trying to find a cobra 3w now maybe an f7 or f8.

Exotics CB series is money, In the summer when its a little more firm I use the 2016 M2 shallow face(if its tour issue) killer even with a divot.

My AoA with a 3 wood is - 2 to - 3 and I have the opposite problem from you - I hit them far too high and with too much spin. I'm finding shaft has a far bigger bearing than the head - my Vapor Fly glides through the turf beautifully, but I'm struggling to keep the ball down due to the shaft being too soft.

17 m1 hands down.

 

 

 

Anything about it in particular that makes it the clear choice for you?

Good turf interaction and cog seems to flight the ball out easily. Not balloon but not hard to elevate. Right combo of deep face and shallow. It’s just in the middle.

While I was tempted to recommend the 915f like I have in my bag........my only qualm about it is the active recoil channel! I have to clear grass and dirt out of that thing pretty much every time I hit it. Doesn't help when you hit down on it a bit and take some turf!

While I was tempted to recommend the 915f like I have in my bag........my only qualm about it is the active recoil channel! I have to clear grass and dirt out of that thing pretty much every time I hit it. Doesn't help when you hit down on it a bit and take some turf!

Hah! Yeah I feel you on that, I even notice that issue on my 915D3 even though I don't hit down on my driver.

 

Good turf interaction and cog seems to flight the ball out easily. Not balloon but not hard to elevate. Right combo of deep face and shallow. It's just in the middle.

Gotcha, thanks! I really enjoy the M1 Taylormades so I will definitely check it out.

My AoA with a 3 wood is - 2 to - 3 and I have the opposite problem from you - I hit them far too high and with too much spin. I'm finding shaft has a far bigger bearing than the head - my Vapor Fly glides through the turf beautifully, but I'm struggling to keep the ball down due to the shaft being too soft.

I wouldn't actually say I have a problem with hitting it too low, just wanting something that interacts with the turf will and inspires confidence (subjective I know).

Exotics CB series is money, In the summer when its a little more firm I use the 2016 M2 shallow face(if its tour issue) killer even with a divot.

I had forgotten about the TEE CB woods, thanks for that! Those definitely seem like a strong candidate.

Longer shafted (CB if possible) f6 baffler down at 16.5*. I play one with a Fubuki J 70. Awesome.

Longer shafted (CB if possible) f6 baffler down at 16.5*. I play one with a Fubuki J 70. Awesome.

I was actually just looking at the F6 Baffler as well, seemed like a really appealing option. Ideally i'd like lower that 16* loft but that could be doable.

My 3w AoA is around 2* down and to be honest, I have a very hard time finding a 3w I CAN'T hit! The only one I have at home that gives me problems is the 12* custom Golfsmith persimmon FW that I played when I was in my 20's. Got to have a decent lie to ever get it in the air. Everything else I try is money. My only requirements for FWs is they have to be the proper weight for my swing. 80 gm shaft or heavier and D4 SW.

BT

My 3w AoA is around 2* down and to be honest, I have a very hard time finding a 3w I CAN'T hit! The only one I have at home that gives me problems is the 12* custom Golfsmith persimmon FW that I played when I was in my 20's. Got to have a decent lie to ever get it in the air. Everything else I try is money. My only requirements for FWs is they have to be the proper weight for my swing. 80 gm shaft or heavier and D4 SW.

 

BT

I think for me it is mostly a mental thing. The amount of loft I see when I look down seems to be directly linked to how much I let my left arm pronate on the downswing. When I see ample loft, I know I can let that happen and allow the club to drop into the slot and really lead with the left hand which in addition to having a negative AoA also delofts the club quite a bit at impact. My 17* SQ2 produces absolute laser beams at head height with a little bit of rise, which is great, but any less loft and the spin is just too low and I don't get an ideal enough launch to warrant using the stronger club. I see the loft on my 13* SQ2 for example and I feel like i'm mentally blocked from dropping into the slot and delivering the club correctly because I know its not going to get up enough. I think the solution is honestly just going for the 16*ish higher launching 3 wood with a longer shaft. I can hit the 3w just fine using my "driver swing" which has a positive AoA but then I am no more accurate or consistent than I am with my driver so its a waste.

Try an XR 3Deep with tour ad VR 8x

Try an XR 3Deep with tour ad VR 8x

I think i'd actually prefer a smaller head overall, which is why the F6 Baffler seems so appealing. Having a 3Deep Callaway is great and I like mine (save for the shaft which has been butchered) but that serves as an "alt-driver" for me more so than a real knock down control club.

I actually found an x2 hot pro and will not let it out of my hands ever (until it betrays me). If i am hitting into the wind and the lie is good then it is a 2017 m2 driver off the deck for me. Same length on the shot but the wind leaves it alone. Before the x2hot pro I wore out a sonartec ss02 or ss03 (can’t remember which one). It looked like it had been through a war but worked well until I replaced it with the x2hot pro.

17 m1 hands down.

Aye, that's my choice just now.

Goes through the turf nicely and doesn't spin too much.

Also have a 917D2 16.5*.

Goes further than the M1, but not as accurate.

Cobra f7 with weight in front or f8 plus.

17 m1 hands down.

 

Aye, that's my choice just now.

 

Goes through the turf nicely and doesn't spin too much.

 

 

Also have a 917D2 16.5*.

 

Goes further than the M1, but not as accurate.

Funny. Have an m3 5 wood now too and for whatever reason I do not think the turf interaction is s good with it. And they almost look identical.

17 m1 hands down.

 

Aye, that's my choice just now.

 

Goes through the turf nicely and doesn't spin too much.

 

 

Also have a 917D2 16.5*.

 

Goes further than the M1, but not as accurate.

 

Funny. Have an m3 5 wood now too and for whatever reason I do not think the turf interaction is s good with it. And they almost look identical.

I felt the same when I tried a M3 3-wood.

Not sure why that should be the case.

I just wanted to bump this back up and and thank those that recommended the F6 baffler. I have two of them now and they are exactly what I wanted, plus they sound great!