For those having trouble with fairways off the deck....

[kekoa]

I've been looking for some good fwy woods for the last several years. Specifically, I wanted something that is easy to launch off the deck. I've used the old TM aeroburners since they came out. Recently picked up the G410's and so far I'm very pleased. I wouldn't say they are the longest, but they are the easiest fwy to launch out of everything I tried (Titleist, Cobra, TEE, TM, Epic Flash). FWIW, I went with the regular version which is a bit spinny, but I'll sacrifice that for the forgiveness off the deck any day.

[dokex]

The vast majority of golfers have neither the clubhead speed nor the consistency of swing to get a playable trajectory from a three wood off the deck. They probably will hit a four or even five wood both higher and longer off the deck.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

> @dokex said:

> The vast majority of golfers have neither the clubhead speed nor the consistency of swing to get a playable trajectory from a three wood off the deck. They probably will hit a four or even five wood both higher and longer off the deck.

 

I'm of the slow to moderate swing speed (86 to 88 driver) Durnig a recent PING fitting, i was fit for the G410SFT in 16 degree, as well as the 7 and 9 FW. They have changed my game from 165 and out. So easy to hit high and straight. Even the 3w (16 degree) gets pretty good height.

[Galanga]

+1 on the 410 3 wood. I am a low to mid 90s swing speed with driver, and, I get great launch, flight and distance (for me) with it with the Alta CB Red stiff. Had the G400 3 wood, but, the 410 is significantly easier for me to make solid contact and launch it. Found the same with the 410 hybrid versus the 400 hybrid.

[wgpinc]

Annika Sorenstam played with driver, 4 wood and 7 wood. I'm older now and play a Callaway XR16 4 wood with the stock Fujikura Senior shaft and a Callaway X2 Hot 7 wood with the stock regular shaft. Both easy to hit high and for me long.

[kiw1982]

Ping fairways are always easier to hit off the deck.

[SilenceX]

I still game the old 2007 TM Burner 3 wood in 15 degree and 5 wood in 18 degree because I have yet to find any that are easier to hit off the deck. I keep trying because I'm a sucker for equipment, but nothing holds up. The 5 wood is my favorite club in the bag outside of my 60 degree hi toe that I somehow can do anything I could ever want to do with. Give me a half decent lie and 200+ yards and without a doubt I'm pulling one of those clubs, just depending on elevation/clearance and distance needed. I genuinely cannot remember the last time I hit a poor shot with either, and I am definitely not that good of a golfer to say that with pretty much any other club.

[T.B.]

Love my TEE 4 wood and 7 wood. They are reliable from the deck and the 4 wood off the tee on tight driving holes.

[Hawkeye77]

My Titleist 913 plenty easy to hit out of the fairway. It fits me.

[consultnj]

I thought the new ping 410 LST is one of the easiest to hit fairway woods off the deck. The head size is amazing, and ball just flies. Easier to hit then the regular ping 410 fairway wood in my opinion

[Chuck905]

> @dokex said:

> The vast majority of golfers have neither the clubhead speed nor the consistency of swing to get a playable trajectory from a three wood off the deck. They probably will hit a four or even five wood both higher and longer off the deck.

 

I don’t buy into it’s a club head speed issue. I’ve taken lessons and have no problems hitting my 13.5* off the deck. I’ll even hit my 10* driver off the deck if it’s dry and all fairway to the green. I’m below 100 mph nowadays that I am aging.

 

My one co-worker in his 50s who has always been a good fairway wood player his whole life has no issues hitting a 15* 3 wood. It’s an original Callaway and his swing speed is 85 mph at most with the driver but he has great technique and tempo.

 

I am more inclined to say it’s a technique issue to the OP. This popular 4 wood answer is a just a band aid for not learning to hit a 3 wood from my personal experiences.

 

 

[Thinnedit]

Epic flash 3w dialed up to 16⁰

Plays ¼" shorter than standard due to draw setting (42.75)

Favourite club in the bag

[braincramp52]

My long game has improved drastically since I ditched all fairway woods and got a 2 hybrid at 17 degrees.

[Ri_Redneck]

There are some FW heads that are easier to elevate than others, But playing FWs well requires proper technique as mentioned above. The proper FW swing is more like a long iron swing than a driver swing. And I see many players trying to make a driver swing with their FWs as opposed to a more iron-like swing. The only alternative is to increase the loft, as many find. And sometimes that doesn't even get the job done.

 

The one thing that I almost NEVER hear mentioned with FWs is turf interaction. I find a FW with an open FA is TONS easier to control than one with a square or closed FA. The reason is that the wide sole of the clubhead can actually contact the ground prior to ball contact if the golfer does not have proper technique. Trying to sweep a ball off tight firm turf with a closed FW is difficult for even the best players. That is, unless a pull-draw is your preferred shot! However, use an open faced FW that is squared up using your grip and it's as easy as hitting a mid-iron. All of my FWs are open faced and I can play any shot I want with them. High, low, cut draw.... they're all there if I need them.

 

BT

[danman44]

you could also try a shaft like evenflow red Max carry.. lighter and specifically designed to launch high.. my 2 cents

[SnapHooker_307]

I switched to a Cobra F8 and love it. I used to absolutely fear hitting a 3 wood off the turf. Once I got the F8 and started feeling like I was hitting slightly down at it, it has been a game changer.

[kekoa]

> @Chuck905 said:

> > @dokex said:

> > The vast majority of golfers have neither the clubhead speed nor the consistency of swing to get a playable trajectory from a three wood off the deck. They probably will hit a four or even five wood both higher and longer off the deck.

>

> I don’t buy into it’s a club head speed issue. I’ve taken lessons and have no problems hitting my 13.5* off the deck. I’ll even hit my 10* driver off the deck if it’s dry and all fairway to the green. I’m below 100 mph nowadays that I am aging.

>

> My one co-worker in his 50s who has always been a good fairway wood player his whole life has no issues hitting a 15* 3 wood. It’s an original Callaway and his swing speed is 85 mph at most with the driver but he has great technique and tempo.

>

> I am more inclined to say it’s a technique issue to the OP. This popular 4 wood answer is a just a band aid for not learning to hit a 3 wood from my personal experiences.

>

>

 

I'd agree it isn't a club head issue. Hell, my 9 yr old son hits his M4 fwys great off the deck. For me its more a comfort and mental thing. I hated fwy woods so I'd never practice with them and obviously when it came time to play I flat out sucked. Since getting the 410's I literally hit half the bucket with my 3 and 5 woods. Its actually an amazing feeling to hit a fwy well off the turf.

[RonSwanson]

I'm playing an M5 5 wood in the lowest setting as my only fairway wood and it's been great so far. Easy to elevate and plenty long.

[Shipwreck]

I second the F8 fairway (or any Cobra fw with the rails). I feel I can be super aggressive towards the ball without fear of drop kicking it or completely fatting it.

[MPSgolfs]

Dropping 4 w and adding 16 degree hybrid has been the answer for me, for the most part. Ultimately I'd like to add a strong 3 wood to see if I can start hitting more par 5s in two. But my swing just isn't there yet with the longer FW shafts.

[My2Dogs]

I’ve got both the Ping G410 and Cally Epic SZ Flash 3 wood. Both are great off the tee and both are easy to hit off the deck. I am gaming the Ping as it’s just a monster with the Veylix 888 shaft. However the Flash (to me) is easier to hit off the deck. I’ve always hit Cally FW woods well off the deck. The smaller size seems to fit my eye but I don’t need it off the deck as much as I use it off the tee on tight courses.

[stugotz]

> @dokex said:

> The vast majority of golfers have neither the clubhead speed nor the consistency of swing to get a playable trajectory from a three wood off the deck. They probably will hit a four or even five wood both higher and longer off the deck.

 

Totally agree with your observation. Speed and consistency of swing for a 3W is critical and difficult to achieve for the average mid hdcp golfer. There is a higher scoring potential from using a 5W / 4W for a second shot on a par 5 giving you better odds of getting you into a safe scoring position and GIR.

[SwooshLT]

> @Ri_Redneck said:

> There are some FW heads that are easier to elevate than others, But playing FWs well requires proper technique as mentioned above. The proper FW swing is more like a long iron swing than a driver swing. And I see many players trying to make a driver swing with their FWs as opposed to a more iron-like swing. The only alternative is to increase the loft, as many find. And sometimes that doesn't even get the job done.

>

> The one thing that I almost NEVER hear mentioned with FWs is turf interaction. I find a FW with an open FA is TONS easier to control than one with a square or closed FA. The reason is that the wide sole of the clubhead can actually contact the ground prior to ball contact if the golfer does not have proper technique. Trying to sweep a ball off tight firm turf with a closed FW is difficult for even the best players. That is, unless a pull-draw is your preferred shot! However, use an open faced FW that is squared up using your grip and it's as easy as hitting a mid-iron. All of my FWs are open faced and I can play any shot I want with them. High, low, cut draw.... they're all there if I need them.

>

> BT

 

Great answer! How does this affect your tee game with stated open faced 3-metal? I fit into everything you said......hit a great tee ball with 3-metal yet struggle mightily off deck.

[JDMRN81]

I can’t hit a fairway wood or hybrid for the life of me. I’m much more consistent with a 3i. If I went back to a fairway wood it would be a Ping, I’ve had the most success with them.

[Ri_Redneck]

> @" SwooshLT" said:

> > @Ri_Redneck said:

> > There are some FW heads that are easier to elevate than others, But playing FWs well requires proper technique as mentioned above. The proper FW swing is more like a long iron swing than a driver swing. And I see many players trying to make a driver swing with their FWs as opposed to a more iron-like swing. The only alternative is to increase the loft, as many find. And sometimes that doesn't even get the job done.

> >

> > The one thing that I almost NEVER hear mentioned with FWs is turf interaction. I find a FW with an open FA is TONS easier to control than one with a square or closed FA. The reason is that the wide sole of the clubhead can actually contact the ground prior to ball contact if the golfer does not have proper technique. Trying to sweep a ball off tight firm turf with a closed FW is difficult for even the best players. That is, unless a pull-draw is your preferred shot! However, use an open faced FW that is squared up using your grip and it's as easy as hitting a mid-iron. All of my FWs are open faced and I can play any shot I want with them. High, low, cut draw.... they're all there if I need them.

> >

> > BT

>

> Great answer! How does this affect your tee game with stated open faced 3-metal? I fit into everything you said......hit a great tee ball with 3-metal yet struggle mightily off deck.

 

Tee and deck are the same for me since I always play my FWs off the turf. I know, I'm not getting the "ideal lie". But actually, I am! If the grass is not pristine on the tee box, I just bump the turf up about 1/8"-1/4" and place the ball on that. I firmly believe that NOT playing my FWs off a tee allows me to make the exact same stroke at the ball regardless and builds consistency.

 

Something else I get a lot of concern about is the open FA affect on ball flight. Since day one, I was taught to aim the clubface for every shot. That means that I, not the club, have control over where the face is aimed. And thus, I control the FA at impact. I have had some in-depth arguements on the advantages/disadvantages of this practice and everyone has their own opinion on which is best. All I can tell you is what I do and how it works for me. But I have questioned many high level golfers as to whether they aim the clubface on every shot and the answer is always.. YES!

 

BT

[Ivyguy]

I have a 13* TEE and love that thing, first one that I've been able to rely on. Just keep hitting different types, you'll find one....

 

And when you do, dont let it go.