In the market for a 4w or 5w but needs to not sit closed

[cj4501]

Looking a fairway to put in the bag this year and need done opinions on where to start. Had a epic flash 5w last year but hooked it too much. was thinking g400/410 or maybe a ts2 16.5. I struggle with lefts and topping fairways. Any input would be appreciated!

[tgoodspe1991]

A guarantee for a fairway to not sit as closed would be to deloft the club using the adjustable hosel. This will lower the loft and open the face angle. You'd want to stick with the more "fade biased" fairway woods that each OEM offers as well.

You might want to look at the Taylormade SIM TI 5W that is 19*, but you can adjust it down to 17* with the loft sleeve. That would make it effectively a 4W and really open the face. I think TM says you open the face 3-4* if you go down 2* in loft. If you're still hooking that, then I have to imagine it's a swing issue.

 

[naws-golfer]

tour edge ex10 beta. Sits a little open, not adjustable but real long

[Ago0330]

Tour Edge CBX

[BrendanH]

Might be worth looking at the Mavrik Sub Zero 16.5. It supposedly has a slight fade bias. You could move the heavier weight to the rear for more traditional launch and spin.

[cj4501]

Interesting. I'll have to check out the sim! Thanks

[setter02]

Grab a 5wd and open it up.

[leo the lion]

Ping G410 5 wood opened up to be a 4 wood. See my WITB below.

[dmbrill719]

Tour Edge Exotics CBX 16.5*, or as mentioned, Maverick Sub Zero 16.5 as well. Pay attention to lie angle if you don't want as much draw bias. Most standard 4 woods are much more upright than these 2.

[Golf64]

Ping or Titleist are the way to go. Both have a flat setting. Ping is easier for me to get airborne.

[Jut]

Based on your requirements, I'd also say the G410. It's already pretty flat in standard setting and you have the option of making it more so. Plus, it doesn't have a super deep face (less likely to top it). A lot of the players options (square to open at address) in woods seem to have a somewhat deeper face, but not the G410.

[Whodey-85]

New Mavrik SZ 4 wood. Mine sits open.

[BostonWRX]

Titleist best adapters in my opinion

[bullie76]

My Rogue fairway woods sits neutral at address. No idea how it compares to the Epic Flash.

[GooseHook]

I know you said you had an Epic Flash, but the Flash Sub Zero 5w is 18 degrees and you can open it down to 17. I have one and it sits open at address. Really forgiving for a sub zero model too.

[BrianM18]

917 f2 18* i have turned down to 17.25 and it sits very square to maybe slightly open

[Celebros]

I have a Cobra F8+ 4-5 wood set at 16.5*. Neutral at address. I'd imagine the newer F9 and SZ versions are the same.

[Valtiel]

Yeah I agree with the general wisdom here that lofting down from a 5w is the best way to control face angle like that. I like Titleist for their face angles which always feel comfortably neutral to open, although you have much less adjustability for delofting purposes than something like TM. That ends up feeling very necessary though given that I have found a great many TM fairway woods to sit very closed. I tried to demo an M5 5w one day and there is no way to could play it at its standard loft setting, just slammed shut at address, so that 2*+/- adjustment range would be necessary just to make it sit right at 17*.

[VNutz]

A couple of years ago Mizuno made some woods that laid more open than any I'd ever seen before. Either the GT or JPX lines, with a blue finish.

[getair23]

Titleist or Callaway Mav Sub Zero are they way to go.

[BrendanH]

Quick note regarding lie angle - it's always worth looking beyond what the various manufacturer adapters can do, as their default lie angle can vary quite a bit.

 

For example, most would default to Ping G410 for flat lie angles because of their "up to 3 degrees flatter" marketing. No doubt their adapter added a great level of adjustability, but when you dig into the details, you'll find a G410 5-wood lofted to 16.5 as a 4-wood would have 55.5 degrees lie angle as its flattest offering. The Mavrik Sub Zero comes default at 55 degrees lie and 16.5 degrees loft. The Titleist will be 56.25 degrees at its flattest, unless you go for a lofted up 3-wood, in which case you can get it to 55.75 degrees. That would incur a more closed face though.

 

I'm not particularly advocating one over the other, just pointing out that you need to really dig into the specs and beyond the common perceptions when it comes to these settings, and be aware of them when you go test. You never know where you will find that sweet spot.

[RH82]

Highly recommend the Exotics CBX.