Anyone still play Sonartec fairway woods? GS Tour?

Hi guys, anyone here still play Sonartec fairway woods? I have the ss-02 model but was thinking about finding their GS Tour model. I heard this model was the best they made before they closed shop. Sonartec IMHO are some of the best fairway woods made, having owned the ss-01, ss-02, ss-03 models, didn't know the GS Tour even existed until recently. Anyone?

I still have three. An SS-03 3 wood and NP-99 3 & 5 woods. I had an SS-02 but sold it to a friend when I picked up the 03. They are rock solid. I haven't really found anything else that has that boring trajectory that just stays in the air forever. I haven't hit the GS Tour but I have heard they are great also. I have tried several fairway woods but the Sonartecs always find their way back into the bag.

I must admit that I have been super tempted to pick up a 910F. I have been gaming the 910 D3 and love it and have demo'd the F and liked it a lot as well.

have back up ss-o3

but currently gaming my love the ss-07!!! just a bomber and consistent!

I have a GS Tour 14 degree that I bought new for about $70 on Ebay in 2008 when they were getting closed out. Bought it primarily because of the Sonartec love on this site.

It's a great 3 wood with "tweener" face height which works well off the tee and the deck. It has the stock Red Ice shaft in stiff which I found to be a great combo, great feel, tip feels a tad soft but still plays stiff like a lot of Graphite Design shafts.

I gamed it for about 6 months until I hit the Titty 906F4 which I found so ridiculously easy to hit off the deck I have kept it in the bag since. I also liked the sound of the 906 better than the GS Tour, the latter having a bit of a sharp "tink" when hit.

I kept the GS Tour, it's a great club and I'd have NO problem going back to it if I had to.

[color=#1C2837][size=2]There are some great things said about the GS Tour, but I haven't hit a deep face wood, is it easy to elevate? How is distance on the GS Tour? Trajectory, height, sound? How does it compare to the Nike SQ2, TEE? [/size][/color]

All Sonartec problems are great. Very long especially off the tee. Their deeper faced three wood models (SS O3 and 3.5) can be a little unforgiving off the turf but are outstanding off the tee. The GS Tour models are the most forgiving off the turf of the deep faced models For the best of both worlds try the SS 07 or NP 99 models. Also forgiving and long off the turf are the 1.5 models.

[quote name='dsc1234' timestamp='1328177786' post='4196275']
All Sonartec woods are great. Very long especially off the tee. Their deeper faced three wood models (SS O3 and 3.5) can be a little unforgiving off the turf but are outstanding off the tee. The GS Tour models are the most forgiving off the turf f the deep faced models For the best of both worlds try the SS 07 or NP 99 models. Most forgiving and long off the turf are the 1.5 models.
[/quote]

I agree with everything here except about the 1.5. The SS01 was the shallowest of the bunch and if you weren't careful, you could sky it really easily. The 1.5 was a Tour Only product until they started going under. Then it was sold everywhere. There were basically 2 versions. IFRC, the 15.5* was a tad shallower and set up either square or closed. The 14* was deeper (think SS07) and open. can't remember about the other lofts but all heads were bore-through and looked a lot like the old Royal Collection BBD Super CV (15.5) or CV Pro (14). If you can find one of these, you've gotten very lucky.

I have a set that I play once in awhile. LS-99 3 wood, NP-99 5 wood and LS-99 7 wood. Awesome clubs. I had them custom built with Graffoloy Pro Lite Fairway shafts in stiff flex and +1" in length. The only reason I do not have the LS-99 5 wood to match is it is extremely rare. I could not find one. They are almost like hitting a hybrid, as the faces are very shallow and the head is small. The NP-99 launchs lower and more boring then the LS-99 series. The LS series launchs high.

i LOVE my sonartec SS 2.5! Nice deep face, killer off the tee and if you can sweep it off the fairway it will go forever! Currently shafted with Prolite stiff fairway (prolites might be the best shaft over the long haul ever no?) and it just goes forever. I searched and searched for a deeper face 3 wood that was playable off the deck. I tried a nike t-60, great off the tee, awful off the fairway, i tried so older cobra SS and it was no good either. There are still some lies in the fairway that I am not comfortable hitting this from. I.E. ball above my feet, but I simply never found a shallow face three wood that I could use effectively off the tee. I have wanted to try a cobra s9-1 pro fairway because it has the deep face i want, but the heel looks slightly more turf friendly.

Can't go wrong with Sonartec IMO.

Have the SS-02 and love it. Will probably use it until, well, forever? 3W is my least used club in the bag, so it's hard for me to ever upgrade it when this oldy is so amazing.

I'm thinking about a 4W option. Anyone know if they made a 17*? I check eBay off and on and never came across one.

I play SS03 3 (14) and 5 (19) woods with the stock Fuji shafts. Also have a GS Tour 3 wood in the closet.

I went through a lot of FW woods looking for these. I don't want to do it again unless it's something really special.

I am looking for a new fairway wood, the one club that does not change often with amateurs and pros alike. I have been reading about the new RBZ line and how long it is compared to anything else, fine if you want the distance but I think its a ploy for gap creep, to force you to change your set to have better gaps (P wedge is like a 9 iron loft).

I want to get the Sonartec GS Tour over the new RBZ line because of two things. The first is distance gaps, why would anyone need a wood that is so long it creates a gap between their 3 wood and 5 wood (or hybrid) not to mention decreasing the gap for the driver. Second is consistency, my Sonartec has been consistent and dependable for a long time, who knows what the RBZ will do with its lower swing weight.

But I have digressed as you can see, I have thought long and hard about it and having tested/owned everything under the sun (you name it I have/had it), I feel they have made some best fairway woods ever, very much under the radar. I just want to get the best they made, before they went under and the GS Tour seems the way to go, forgiving and long!

Thanks to all those who have chimed in and gave their experience and feedback for the GS Tour!

Still using the GS Tour 13 and 18 degree FWs. They are still my favorites as they always perform, one of the best FWs I have ever hit. Shame they are not around anymore and the Asian version of Royal Collection is just niot the same.

Love the GS Tour. I played it until last year when I got a TEE XCG IV, which I found to be longer, launch higher and have a bit more spin. I still have it though and am sure I will go back to it at some point. It looks awesome at address, too.

Still playing the ss-03. I went back to it after trying all sorts of other models over the past few years. For me, it's the most consistent, anti left flight of everything a tried. It's great off the tee and I have no issues with it off the fairway.

My brother in law has played the same Sonartec 3 and 5 woods for probaby 7 or 8 years now and hits them great.

Still have my GS Tour 15 degree. Great FW wood. Super hot face and easier to elevate than the face height would suggest. I think I've had 4 shafts in it now, none better than the original Red Ice shaft. Never should have pulled and sold that shaft. This is one head I really want to find a good shaft for this year. Kinda thinking about a Fubuki Ax fw.

If you're interested, you can still get Red Ice shafts new on ebay for under 20 bucks.

The few critical reviews I saw on this shaft weren't that great. Sonartec, on the other hand, said they went through extensive blind testing in selecting the shaft for this head, and that it was the overwhelming choice.

Personally, I think the shaft matches very well with the head. I little lower kickpoint to go with the relatively higher COG in the head due to face height and the driving channel. One of the reasons this FW is fairly easy to hit off the deck.

[quote name='sleuth' timestamp='1328199376' post='4197311']
Have the SS-02 and love it. Will probably use it until, well, forever? 3W is my least used club in the bag, so it's hard for me to ever upgrade it when this oldy is so amazing.

I'm thinking about a 4W option. Anyone know if they made a 17*? I check eBay off and on and never came across one.
[/quote]



I believe they made a 17 degree sso2.

[quote name='cheeks' timestamp='1328336557' post='4210641']
If you're interested, you can still get Red Ice shafts new on ebay for under 20 bucks.

The few critical reviews I saw on this shaft weren't that great. Sonartec, on the other hand, said they went through extensive blind testing in selecting the shaft for this head, and that it was the overwhelming choice.

Personally, I think the shaft matches very well with the head. I little lower kickpoint to go with the relatively higher COG in the head due to face height and the driving channel. One of the reasons this FW is fairly easy to hit off the deck.
[/quote]
I have seen them for sale. Thanks! One of those things where you're not sure if you could ever re-create that original "magical" setup. There are few clubs I regret getting re-shafted, and this was definitely one of them. I agree the stock shaft was definitely a good match for the head. A little lighter than what I normally played, so I though it could be "improved" upon. WRONG! ha ha!

I love my ss-02, easy to hit out of the rough but not so forgiving. The GS Tour is touted as perhaps the best fairway wood (if there is ever a perfect fairway wood lol) and most forgiving in the Sonartec line. Low spin, long and tight dispersion low boring flight into the wind, what more can one ask of a fairway wood? Dare I say better than TEE CB2 and CB3? Expertise and feedback from other Sonartec owners on this club have made me covet the GS Tour even more!

Love my SS-03 5W 19*

Not really a Sonartec, RC 304P 14*.

[quote name='jokerusn' timestamp='1328178839' post='4196285']
[quote name='dsc1234' timestamp='1328177786' post='4196275']
All Sonartec woods are great. Very long especially off the tee. Their deeper faced three wood models (SS O3 and 3.5) can be a little unforgiving off the turf but are outstanding off the tee. The GS Tour models are the most forgiving off the turf f the deep faced models For the best of both worlds try the SS 07 or NP 99 models. Most forgiving and long off the turf are the 1.5 models.
[/quote]

I agree with everything here except about the 1.5. The SS01 was the shallowest of the bunch and if you weren't careful, you could sky it really easily. The 1.5 was a Tour Only product until they started going under. Then it was sold everywhere. There were basically 2 versions. IFRC, the 15.5* was a tad shallower and set up either square or closed. The 14* was deeper (think SS07) and open. can't remember about the other lofts but all heads were bore-through and looked a lot like the old Royal Collection BBD Super CV (15.5) or CV Pro (14). If you can find one of these, you've gotten very lucky.
[/quote]

Which model is the easiest to hit from the fairway for someone with a 95MPH SS?

I have a 13* gs tour with a x stiff red ice and it is crazy consistent. I honestly hit it off the tee farther than my driver a lot if times and it is ready to hit off the turf but I never could get much height. I have a couple buddies that hit it too and we can't miss with this thing. I would live to be playing it now but on my course it is actually to long and without the height I can't stop it on the greens. One of the most solid clubs I have ever hit though.

[quote name='skeeter33' timestamp='1335108316' post='4767690']
[quote name='jokerusn' timestamp='1328178839' post='4196285']
[quote name='dsc1234' timestamp='1328177786' post='4196275']
All Sonartec woods are great. Very long especially off the tee. Their deeper faced three wood models (SS O3 and 3.5) can be a little unforgiving off the turf but are outstanding off the tee. The GS Tour models are the most forgiving off the turf f the deep faced models For the best of both worlds try the SS 07 or NP 99 models. Most forgiving and long off the turf are the 1.5 models.
[/quote]

I agree with everything here except about the 1.5. The SS01 was the shallowest of the bunch and if you weren't careful, you could sky it really easily. The 1.5 was a Tour Only product until they started going under. Then it was sold everywhere. There were basically 2 versions. IFRC, the 15.5* was a tad shallower and set up either square or closed. The 14* was deeper (think SS07) and open. can't remember about the other lofts but all heads were bore-through and looked a lot like the old Royal Collection BBD Super CV (15.5) or CV Pro (14). If you can find one of these, you've gotten very lucky.
[/quote]

Which model is the easiest to hit from the fairway for someone with a 95MPH SS?
[/quote]

For the original ones, the SS01 will be the easiest off the turf to elevate but I liked the 02 the best of all of them. It had just the right size face to be good from all lies and was still easy to hit. If you can find one in 16*, buy it immediately.

For new ones, I believe there's a Royal Collection head that's designed for slower swingers.

I stumbled across these FWs recently and thanks to advice from Jokerusn, picked up a mint SS-1.5 head that I'll have shafted up soon. I originally wanted the NP-99 but wasn't able to find one in good shape or with a shaft I could use. There are still plenty of 2.5s and 3.5s on eBay, along with some GS-Tours, but I hear the 1.5 is rare and supposedly great off the deck and tee. This thing looks awesome and I can't wait to try it out.

I stumbled across these FWs recently and thanks to advice from Jokerusn, picked up a mint SS-1.5 head that I'll have shafted up soon. I originally wanted the NP-99 but wasn't able to find one in good shape or with a shaft I could use. There are still plenty of 2.5s and 3.5s on eBay, along with some GS-Tours, but I hear the 1.5 is rare and supposedly great off the deck and tee. This thing looks awesome and I can't wait to try it out.

 

 

 

 

Wow! That thing looks sweet. Is that a bore thru desgin? Also that head looks kind of deep faced or am I just seeing things?

As far as Sonartec clubs go, I love them. I have all of the MD hybrids with an extra 17 degree to spare. I have an 18 deg TRC, two 14 degree SS 2.5, and a 13 degree SS 03. I buy them every time I come across one in the used section of GS or GG.

A big, old school, thumbs up for these sweet clubs. :good:

[quote name='sustain' timestamp='1337045017' post='4915502']
Wow! That thing looks sweet. Is that a bore thru desgin? Also that head looks kind of deep faced or am I just seeing things?

As far as Sonartec clubs go, I love them. I have all of the MD hybrids with an extra 17 degree to spare. I have an 18 deg TRC, two 14 degree SS 2.5, and a 13 degree SS 03. I buy them every time I come across one in the used section of GS or GG.

A big, old school, thumbs up for these sweet clubs.
[/quote]

Yeah it was listed as new with shop wear and it really is. Great quality finishing from what I can tell. I don't know if it's a true bore through, I thought I saw someplace that the shaft doesn't go all the way down in the 1.5 heads. Not sure, I'm still new to Sonartec/RC. The face is deeper than I expected, which is fine, since this will primarily be a tee club more so than for off the deck. The fact that it's 14* and not 13* will help off the deck if I ever need it. I was initially looking at a SS-02 or SS-2.5 in 13* or 14*, but this one came up and I took it. I missed a GS Tour 14* head on eBay for $24.50 and a SS-02 13* for $30 before that.

Sorry, I picked up that 14 degree head. Have to hook up with Joe Kwok to match a shaft to it.