I think fairwoods are too long

[Lobby]

As driver club lengths have increased, all the way to 46”, so have fairway woods

 

I’m looking for a 9 wood, but 41 - 42 inches?  
 

what would y’all do if you wanted a 39” 9 wood?

[vandyfan]

I felt the same way so I got a hybrid. The lengths on golf clubs at the top end of the bag these days are absurd. 

[dsmil]

I just got a 5 wood and I'll probably wind up playing it around 41-41.5, but that's only 1-1.5 below standard.  I'm with you where I'd rather play a fairway wood, and for me it's because of the forgiveness over a hybrid.

 

If you want to play it at 2.5 inches below standard, you'll probably need some lead tape and possibly a heavier shaft.  You might need 10g of lead tape added as a starting point and then go from there, adding or subtracting until it feels good.  A heavier shaft should decrease the amount of lead tape necessary, and may make the club blend better with your irons, but would increase the total weight of the club more than lead tape would.  

[Bad9]

I would special order it at the length, swing weight, etc you want or buy one and adjust it yourself. many fairways have easily replaceable weights.

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

Play hybrids, utility wood/iron, or simply order as you'd like and have it compensated for all the swingweight issues that will come with it.

[Trippels]

Get a hybrid, some are getting quite flat and wood shaped anyways

 

https://www.titleist.com/product/tsr2-hybrid/665C.html#start=1

 

https://mizunogolf.com/uk/golf-clubs/st-series/st-z-230-hybrid/

[BagofToast]

I’ve realized this with fairway woods. I play my driver at 45.5 which is standard for it but I play my 3 and 5 wood a half inch short, makes for better contact. 

[reider69]

I agree 100% and so for the last 5 years I have played a 2 hybrid instead.  Currently using a shortened Callway UW at 17 degrees.  

[sheamclkel]

I feel this so much, and couldn't agree more. I still play driver at 44.5" so having a fairway wood at stock lengths just doesn't work for me.

 

Heaviest shaft possible is the best way to get there, but even then you will still have ground to make up. If you can find a fairway wood with adjustable weight, generally you can find heavier weights to go in those slots. Custom order from factory might be a good option as well for you, they will be able to get it as close to possible to what you desire. 

 

 

[wam78]

Exactly why I play my 3 wood at 5 wood length.  Also, just put a hybrid in play for the first time in many years.  It’s been surprisingly effective for my game as I learned to hit it properly.

[MattM97]

1 hour ago, Lobby said:

 

what would y’all do if you wanted a 39” 9 wood?

 

I'd order a 9W at that length. Many people are playing shorter woods even some pros, stock length isn't industry standard. 

[iknowbagu]

I'm failing to see an issue here. If you want a specific club at a specific length then buy/build that club. Might need a heavier shaft. Might need some extra head weight. But this is not exactly an insurmountable venture. 

[Flip4000]

56 minutes ago, iknowbagu said:

I'm failing to see an issue here. If you want a specific club at a specific length then buy/build that club. Might need a heavier shaft. Might need some extra head weight. But this is not exactly an insurmountable venture. 

This is what I do. I play my driver, 3 wood, and hybrid shorter than off the rack and added a heavier shaft. After playing this way for 2-3 years I cant go back to the overly long stock shaft lengths 

[getitdaily]

I'd cut 2 inches off of it, slap some lead tape on it, and be done...

Edited January 30 by getitdaily

[gbang15]

having a 43” 3 wood helps my aoa stay shallow. personally, feels like there’s a balanced transition into the driver. shorter only worked for me when I shortened all other clubs. Which, felt awkward at my height. 

[mogc60]

I’ve always played my 3 wood at 42-42 1/2” I’ve never had any lack of distance or height with it and it just feels easier to setup to and contact it squarely. 

[DE-ILLINI]

I just got a new 5W and ordered it with a 7W length shaft (I think it is a half inch short).  I hit it so much better and I too feel like fairway woods have gotten a little too long.  I don't mind it so much off the tee, but from the fairway I struggle.  I went with a little heavier shaft and it feels fine.

[Feelingofgreatness]

I have 7w at 39.25" and a 9w at 38.50"... They are so ridiculously good it's scary. 

 

This year I'm going to be getting a 4w at 40.25". 

 

I play my driver at 11.25* and 43.50"

 

The current length of FWs is silly for average golfers. The game is hard enough already, we don't need to make it harder. 

 

 

[Pepperturbo]

4 hours ago, Lobby said:

As driver club lengths have increased, all the way to 46”, so have fairway woods

 

I’m looking for a 9 wood, but 41 - 42 inches?  
 

what would y’all do if you wanted a 39” 9 wood?

YOU don't have to stick with what ever OEM length is.  My TSR2 Driver stock length was 45.5 and TSR2 3 wd is 43".  Now driver playing length is 44.75" and 3 wd is 42.75"

[Vlade15]

1 minute ago, Pepperturbo said:

YOU don't have to stick with what ever OEM length is.  My TSR2 Driver stock length was 45.5 and TSR2 3 wd is 43".  Now driver playing length is 44.75" and 3 wd is 42.75"

Thats great, but it turns into a swing weight issue.  Sometimes it can be hard to add 10 grams of weight into a smaller wood.

[boggyman]

Only carry one…. Currently a 17* RBZ at 41.5”. Have a Stealth2 HD incoming at 16* also playing 41.5” as well.

[Pepperturbo]

On 1/30/2023 at 1:22 PM, Vlade15 said:

Thats great, but it turns into a swing weight issue.  Sometimes it can be hard to add 10 grams of weight into a smaller wood.

Swing weight is not a big issue, least not for my builder.  All my clubs have been swing weighted to my desire.  I used lead tape to find what I wanted, and my builder used tungsten powder to get there.  I like heavier SW's in all my clubs. 

Edited February 1 by Pepperturbo

[AKA_Double J]

There should be several OEM combinations (the last few Ping releases for example) of fairway woods with removable weights and adjustable hosels that will make what you are wanting to do relatively simple. You can get heavier weights (OEM or aftermarket) and get a shorter, heavier hybrid shaft with the same adapter. You can also use the adapter to change the lie angle a little if need be.  Pretty much all of the major OEMs would have this option up to a 7 wood, but it appears that there are less choices for a 9.  Of course you would first want to confirm that the brand you went with used an adapter that was common (other than shaft diameter) from hybrids to woods. 

[azgreg]

I play a steel shafted 4w at 41.5" and a steel shafted 7w at 40". I'm 6'4".

 

 

Edited January 30 by azgreg

[phizzy30]

Shaft length in general is a very personal thing.  I play my 3 metal at 43 inches these days.  I've also had ones in the past that were as short as 42.5 inches.  I found out through trial and error that contact doesn't suffer much when the difference is half an inch for 3 metal.  I do however get a bit more ball speed which is always bonus in my book. 

[karstens_ghost]

6 hours ago, Lobby said:

As driver club lengths have increased, all the way to 46”, so have fairway woods

 

I’m looking for a 9 wood, but 41 - 42 inches?  
 

what would y’all do if you wanted a 39” 9 wood?

 

Custom order, with a notable highlight of correct swing weight.

 

This doesn't seem difficult… 

[hammergolf]

6 hours ago, Lobby said:

As driver club lengths have increased, all the way to 46”, so have fairway woods

 

I’m looking for a 9 wood, but 41 - 42 inches?  
 

what would y’all do if you wanted a 39” 9 wood?

Buy the club you want, them trim it 2” and add weight back to the head. Depending on the clubs, there are aftermarket heavier replacement weights you can buy. Or special order it from the manufacturer and request a swingweight but shorter shaft.

[dciccoritti]

5 hours ago, Flip4000 said:

This is what I do. I play my driver, 3 wood, and hybrid shorter than off the rack and added a heavier shaft. After playing this way for 2-3 years I cant go back to the overly long stock shaft lengths 

How heavy if you don't mind me asking?

[this_is_golf]

I ordered my 5w and 7w short and haven’t had any issues. 

[Flip4000]

4 hours ago, dciccoritti said:

How heavy if you don't mind me asking?

Instead of going with the typical 6x in the driver, 7 x in thr 3 wood and 8x in the hybrid I go 7x in the driver, 8x in the 3 wood and 9x in the hybrid.

 

Havent noticed any loss of distance due to better striking and my dispersion has been great