Senior golfers, I'm looking for a forgiving and and easy to launch hybrid and fairway woods.

[jjfcpa]

I'm a senior golfer and struggling with fairway woods.  I'm sure some of it is that I don't really practice with them that much, and if I play the senior tees, they only get pulled on long par 4's or par 5's.  Any suggestions for an easy launching and forgiving fairway and hybrid?

[boggyman]

Hard to beat PING. Doesn’t have to be the latest series either. Wilson Staff woods come with lighter shafts stock as well. 

Edited May 27, 2021 by boggyman

[jjfcpa]

Thanks for the reply and I've actually tried the Ping fairways a couple years ago and those bafflers did not do it for me.  I understand the logic behind them, but they had the opposite affect for me.  I'm currently bagging the Mavrik fairways and they just don't seem to work for me.  Oddly, I play the Epic Max driver and love it.  

[c_l_33]

24 minutes ago, jjfcpa said:

Thanks for the reply and I've actually tried the Ping fairways a couple years ago and those bafflers did not do it for me.  I understand the logic behind them, but they had the opposite affect for me.  I'm currently bagging the Mavrik fairways and they just don't seem to work for me.  Oddly, I play the Epic Max driver and love it.  

If by bafflers you mean the turbulators then you’ll be pleased to know Ping removed them from the G425 fairways and hybrids. Still there on the drivers though. 

[larryd3]

I'd suggest the Sub70 hybrids  I've got 3 in the bag and they are very easy to hit.  Price is great and they have lots of shaft choices.  Just give them a call and discuss your needs.   forgot to include that I'm a senior golfer also.  

Edited May 27, 2021 by larryd3

[nostatic]

I'm a believer in the rails found on the Cobra fairways and hybrids. I have F9 3W and 3H, RadSpeed 7W. All of them (yes, even the 3W, set at 15.5) are great off the deck. I didn't hit previous Ping or Mizuno hybrids as well but ymmv.

[sittingbull]

I use to struggle with fairway woods also intill i tried a 16.5 3 wood and its like magic all of a sudden im launching them high and some what straight. Maybe you should try one 

[Steelhead]

One word:

 

XXIO

 

Nothing comes close for what you are looking for.

[JAM01]

Ping G425 fairways and Hybrids are game changers. Top is now turbulator free.

[596]

By far the easiest launching fairway woods and hybrids are the older model Ping K15s.  The woods are SFT and the hybrids are fugly.  But they work extremely well.  I've played the driver, since 2010 when they first came out, until recently before I went Ping Max or PXG.  I also played the 16* 3 wood until recently but I get more distance from my TE 16.5* 4 wood.  I also currently play combinations of Ping K15 5 wood, 7 wood, 3 hybrid, 4 hybrid, 5 hybrid and 6 hybrid.  They are by far the easiest woods and hybrids I've ever hit.  It took me awhile to figure out gaps with my irons as they are all old lofts.  The 6 hybrid is the same loft as my Mizuno JPX800 Pro 7 iron.  Sometimes the 8 iron is the longest iron in my bag.

 

FWIW - I'm 66 years old and a 9 handicap from the regular mens tees.  No reason to make the game harder then it needs to be. Shot 36 for 9 holes just yesterday the first time I played 9 holes at my new club using all those hybrids.

[WilCox]

I think it's all about finding the right shaft.  Playing TS2 fairways and hybrids now after upgrading from 917F2 fairways and 818H1 hybrids.  I upgraded the heads, but kept the Tensei shafts.

I'm a senior, 69, 10 hcap from men's regular tees.  I like the Titleist heads, but it's the Tensei shafts that make them work for me.  My advice is focus on finding the shaft that works for your swing rather than some head suggested by someone who doesn't know anything about your swing.

[pmang]

5 hours ago, nostatic said:

I'm a believer in the rails found on the Cobra fairways and hybrids. I have F9 3W and 3H, RadSpeed 7W. All of them (yes, even the 3W, set at 15.5) are great off the deck. I didn't hit previous Ping or Mizuno hybrids as well but ymmv.

I can’t agree more than this. Cobra fairway and hybrids are so user friendly nothing compares. You can’t hit them fat. I’ve described these in the past with  “It’s like going bowling and they have the kid-bumpers up.. super duper easy”

Edited May 28, 2021 by pmang

[Davidv]

Tour Edge HL.

[jjfcpa]

Thanks for the replies fellow senior golfers.  

 

I always custom order my fairway woods and hybrids based on shaft length and grips.  Older clubs are usually ruled out because by the time I get them customized to my specs I might as well order new.

 

Some of the ones that I've been considering are the Ping's... don't really want to order them if I have to wait 6 weeks to get them.  

 

I'm going to visit our local GG and see if they have them in stock with a senior shaft.  I agree that shafts are extremely important and I've always tried to stay with UST Recoils because they just work for me.  Doesn't look like they are available in the Pings.  Disappointed.

 

I've tried their Alta stock shafts and didn't really care for them.

 

 

[John76]

What kind of distances are you going for?

[judgemartin]

I am currently using PING  G425 fairways and hybrid with the Slate graphite shaft.  I really liked them, and to me they are better than previous models.  I don't know what they did, but I believe they have it right.  I think I qualify as a senior  (85).  They are worth a test.

 

[platgof]

If you go Ping you will probably get them next year if you order now.

[rp4golf]

Being as literally all the bigbox golf retailers have fitting centers with simulators (so you can actually hit stuff before you buy it), there's really no excuse nowadays to go hit everything, or at least half of everything, and make your purchased based on an educated decision.

[ericft]

i agree with Ping being easy to elevate off the deck which is what I struggled with. I think also having a lighter shaft is key as a lot of fairway woods at 43 with 70g shafts seems a little heavy. If you play them shorter at 42 or 42.5 that also makes a huge difference as the stock shafts are often just too long. Don't be afraid to cut them down. Control and confidence is more important than length in fairways. The lie angles also make a huge difference. taylormade fairways are too upright, ping is nice a flat with the flat sole of g410 and 425. best fairways I have ever hit even if not the longest. If you hit down on fairways then the rounder sole ones will work but for me I sweep and the flatter sole pings are best. 

[gridironesq]

11 hours ago, jjfcpa said:

Thanks for the replies fellow senior golfers.  

 

I always custom order my fairway woods and hybrids based on shaft length and grips.  Older clubs are usually ruled out because by the time I get them customized to my specs I might as well order new.

 

Some of the ones that I've been considering are the Ping's... don't really want to order them if I have to wait 6 weeks to get them.  

 

I'm going to visit our local GG and see if they have them in stock with a senior shaft.  I agree that shafts are extremely important and I've always tried to stay with UST Recoils because they just work for me.  Doesn't look like they are available in the Pings.  Disappointed.

 

I've tried their Alta stock shafts and didn't really care for them.

 

 

I had the same experience with Callaway fwys, they don’t work for me.  Unfortunately anything you order from any OEM is going to take at least 4 weeks.  Ping is 5-6 weeks.  I’m not a Ping fan, but I now have the g425 fwys and hybrids because they launch high and far.  I wish I custom ordered as the stock CB shafts screw up the swing weight making them too light.  I use aftermarket heavier weights AND lead tape.  They’re worth the wait with a custom order shaft.  For stock offerings you can grab off the rack I think the Taylormade offerings are your best bet. 

[phil75070]

I've had a fair amount of success with the Callaway Epic Flash 5W due to the adjustable hosel, being able to increase the loft. The 3W I couldn't hit worth a darn even with the loft turned up the full 2°. Then I traded it in for the Callaway Mavrik Max 3W. I kill that thing! It's easy to launch, great mid-high, boring ball flight and if you monitor Callaway Pre-owned you can get a great deal on one in excellent condition.

 

FYI, I'm a senior, too - 73 yo.

[Hoyoymac]

Many people struggle with the top end of their bag and are looking for forgiving and easy to launch clubs.

 

Ironically, fairway woods and hybrids are deigned to be easier to launch than corresponding long irons, but because of their shaft length and lack of loft are sometimes hard to control.

 

What specifically is your issue?

 

Are you having trouble getting the ball in the air?

 

Are you having trajectory issues, fighting a hook or a slice?  

 

Are you topping the ball? Just getting worm burners?  Fatting it?  

 

Is it just off the fairway or do you have similar issues off a tee with these clubs?

 

Do you have similar issues with long irons?  

 

Is it being caused by a lack of swing speed?   Perhaps some other component of your stance, swing or club delivery to the ball.

 

Many modern fairway woods and hybrids are being designed to produce low piercing trajectories with low spin to maximize distance and rollout when hit from a tee.  Utility or driving irons even more so.   

 

Thankfully, manufacturers have been making multiple versions of these clubs with the most forgiving models being larger in size with shallower faces and more distance from front to back to aid in achieving easier launch.  Some are also designed to counteract the most common trajectory issue for amateurs which is a slice.

 

I also have struggled to find fairway woods and hybrids that will launch easily, especially from the fairway, and provide me a playable trajectory.  

 

But the cause of my problem is not related to low swing speed.  I have found that many of the more forgiving models of hybrids and fairway woods have shafts that are too light for me and with high torque shafts to help with launch and counteract a slice.  I fight a hook so those kinds of shaft just make it worse.  

 

My swing and club delivery tends to be steep and in to out.  I tend to deloft all of my clubs at impact.   My ball flight is fairly low and I make large divots.   All of which contribute to really compressing the ball with an iron, but leading to difficulty with fairway woods and hybrids.

 

I want a club that despite my swing and club delivery I can still hit off the fairway or tee and it will produce high launch, neutral trajectory, good peak height, lots of carry distance and enough spin with a steep enough descent angle so that I can hit and hold a green on a long par 3 or reach a green on my second shot for long par 4s or short par 5s.

 

I have been fit multiple times which has helped, but I have still been searching. 

 

What I’ve found that is working for me to increase launch angle, peak height and carry distance is that more loft & more spin often is the best medicine.

 

My search has resulted in some recent changes in the past year that are working better than anything I’ve had before.

 

I currently have a Tour Edge XCG7 28 degree 6 hybrid, a Tour Edge C721 25 degree 5 hybrid, a Tour Edge XCG7 21 degree 7 wood and a Taylormade Sim Ti 19 degree 5 wood in the bag.  

 

Don’t be afraid to try something older.  The XCG7 clubs and the SIM were all bought as new old stock at discount prices.

 

If you are buying new and custom ordering then you are paying top dollar and ought to be getting fit as well.  Many fitters won’t charge for a fitting if you buy from them.

 

Best wishes to you in your search.

 

[jjfcpa]

Currently, I'm playing a Mavrik Max 3h and 4h and I do pretty good with them.  I do better with the 4h probably because of the loft.  Sometimes, I can really make great contact with the 3h, but more often than not, it's just not solid.  I've resorted to using a 5i in many cases where I probably should be using a 4h.  My iron play has improved to the point where I'm using the hybrids much less than I used to.  

 

The woods are a completely different situation.  I tried using a 3w for years and finally pulled it from the bag last year.  Just didn't have the swing speed for it.  I determined that I could hit my 3h as far as my 3w when struck well.  

 

I currently am carrying a 5w (Mavrik) and when I strike it well, it's got pretty good launch and distance, but I struggle hitting it well.  

 

Thus, I'd like to find some easier to launch hybrids and woods.  

 

I am using an Epic Max driver with 10.5 loft and senior shaft.  I've really started hitting it really well after a break-in period.  I seldom  mishit it and distance is right where I'd like it to be.  Because my driver distance has improved quite a bit, I don't find that I need the hybrids and woods as much as I used to.  Primarily long par 4's and par 5 holes.  

 

I think Ping would be a good option, but the shaft choices bother me.  What's the thought on using a regular shaft instead of their soft regular (senior)?  I would have to say my swing speed is probably above average for someone my age.  I don't really know what my swing speed is though.

[rp4golf]

On 5/27/2021 at 8:41 PM, WilCox said:

I think it's all about finding the right shaft.  Playing TS2 fairways and hybrids now after upgrading from 917F2 fairways and 818H1 hybrids.  I upgraded the heads, but kept the Tensei shafts.

I'm a senior, 69, 10 hcap from men's regular tees.  I like the Titleist heads, but it's the Tensei shafts that make them work for me.  My advice is focus on finding the shaft that works for your swing rather than some head suggested by someone who doesn't know anything about your swing.

I have to say I agree with WilCox here, it's all about finding the right shaft that works with your swing (now).

While the OP's initial post was kinda vague, wanting "easy launching and forgiving fairway and hybrid" - being as the current tech on most of the major manufacturer's offerings is really similar, it seems to me that it's less about what brand/model and more about being fitted with the right shaft based on your average swing.

Which then brings me back to the OP's follow-up, and them professing they use "UST Recoils because they just work for me" ... and wondering if that decision was based on their best shots on the best of swings, or if it was based on their average swings? ... because if it was based on their average swing it seems that they shouldn't need a change.
Unless their current selection is really, really outdated.

Just curious. 🤔

[pup142]

XXIO Prime 9 or 10 Fairway Woods. The best a senior golfer can use. Par 5’s will be reachable again.

Edited May 29, 2021 by pup142

[pup142]

On 5/27/2021 at 6:46 PM, Steelhead said:

One word:

 

XXIO

 

Nothing comes close for what you are looking for.

Thought I was the only one in South Florida using the XXIO. Your right nothing comes close.

[ChipNRun]

I am going into my 11th season of 4W + 7W. Several studies show that the average golfer hits the 4W more reliably - and sometimes just as far - as a 3W. The shorter shaft helps control and the extra loft helps launch. Initially went with 7W as better distance gap than 5W. Then, I found the 7W was quite a versatile club. Holds greens fairly well, comes out of rough with gusto, useful on longish par 3 holes.

 

As an individual, you have to find out if higher-lofted fairways or hybrids work best for you. With me, either will work as long as I swing smoothly.

 

As COVID recedes, more manufacturing is going on in golfdom.  This means used clubs not as scarce as this time last year. See if you can find any Callaway XR Steelhead or Big Bertha V Series fairways. These both have rounded soles and lighter shaft options.

[minhjn]

XXIO for sure

[John76]

I play Ping G400, 5, 7 and 9 woods and carry them 180, 170 and 160.  I do not carry a 4 or 5 iron as a result.  I get great ball height from the 7 and 9 and they stop nicely on the greens.  Much easier for me to hit fairway woods than irons, in fact I carry an additional 4 higher lofted fairway woods as well.

Edited May 29, 2021 by John76

[subrew]

On 5/27/2021 at 1:27 PM, jjfcpa said:

Thanks for the reply and I've actually tried the Ping fairways a couple years ago and those bafflers did not do it for me.  I understand the logic behind them, but they had the opposite affect for me.  I'm currently bagging the Mavrik fairways and they just don't seem to work for me.  Oddly, I play the Epic Max driver and love it.  

 

Are you playing the std Mavrik or the Max version?

 

I've recently added a Mavrik Max 5w and 9w to the bag, and the 9w especially has been awesome.  I'm a very average swing speed player, and tended to suffer a bit of a fade.  I specifically chose the stiffer of the two standard women's shafts (Helium 5) because I wanted the 1" shorter length, and the ability to increase the weight in the heal to bring swing speed back up to "normal."

 

The 9w plays anywhere from 160-180yds, depending on if I harness my inner Inbee Park, or put a bit more zip on it.  It is the straightest club in my bag.

 

  

Edited May 30, 2021 by subrew