Do you still see gains in newer fairway woods?

[mizunotpz]

Most of us know how hard it can be to find the perfect gamer when it comes to fairway woods! So if we find one it stays in the bag. My 7w has stayed in the bag since it came out (M4) but Ive struggled to find the perfect option in a 16.5-18 degree fw. So now Im searching for options. But should I be looking for some option from the last 6-7 years or do you see performance gains in recent models? More distance, more accuracy, more forgiveness across the face, or is that just what the OEMs wants us to believe? What are you gaming and how much better is your new vs your former fws?

[RightHandRough]

My ts2 4 wood has stayed in the bag despite repeated attempts to "beat" it with a diamana s+ shaft that I'm pretty sure is older than the wood itself.

My hybrid, despite the same efforts, is a Cally BB 815 alpha. It just does everything right, beat out the super hybrid and the epic super. Longer, straighter, and can be flighted up and down. 

In a lot of words I guess I'm saying that tech only does so much and once you find that match stick with it.

[Putter Addict]

Have mostly TEE for my fairways and hybrids. I think they are as good as anything out there for a fraction of the price. Super forgiving and their stock shaft options work well for me. I believe I have a 3, 4, and 5 wood that I rotate between. 

[AnthonyC143]

I stopped chasing distance with my fairways, and now I share dispersion/ forgiveness.   The best one so far for me is the TSR 4 wood.  I plan on keeping it a long time.

[BagofToast]

I still have my M6 3w that I will die with. Tried a lot of things to replace it and just don’t hit anything as good. 
I’ve gone through a few 5Ws to get to the stealth2+ I have now which I love. Feel like I can change 5w easier then 3w though. 

[rsballer10]

I wouldn't upgrade fairway woods if you're chasing gains. If distance is all that matters, there are plenty of low spin 3 woods that will encroach on your driver.

 

The benefits from newer woods will be incremental improvements to stability in off center strikes. Higher spin on toe side, spin reduction on heel, etc.

 

From my fitting I learned I actually need/prefer a much higher spinning head. Much better distance control and stable flight.

[mizunotpz]

50 minutes ago, Putter Addict said:

Have mostly TEE for my fairways and hybrids. I think they are as good as anything out there for a fraction of the price. Super forgiving and their stock shaft options work well for me. I believe I have a 3, 4, and 5 wood that I rotate between. 

I had a TEE XCG3 that I loved. Unfortunately its a brand thats not common here in Scandinavia so hard to test and ordering from US gets expensive.

[mizunotpz]

13 minutes ago, rsballer10 said:

I wouldn't upgrade fairway woods if you're chasing gains. If distance is all that matters, there are plenty of low spin 3 woods that will encroach on your driver.

 

The benefits from newer woods will be incremental improvements to stability in off center strikes. Higher spin on toe side, spin reduction on heel, etc.

 

From my fitting I learned I actually need/prefer a much higher spinning head. Much better distance control and stable flight.

Interesting you say that cause Ive tried a few low spinning options and now I want something easy to hit and ive suspected that it is more spin I need. I think thats why I hit my 7w so well. 

[Admhowarth]

I received a TSR 4w as a replacement for a cracked TSi 4w.  I think the ball goes higher, goes further and generally straighter. Definitely a step up. 

[phizzy30]

Anything from the past 8 years in terms of fairways are worthy to at least test IMO because tech hasn't changed much.  I mainly use my 3 metal off the tee and need it to carry a certain distance and find the fairway.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I've tested the latest and greatest fairways from this year and find them no better for my needs which is why the OG SIM ti is still in the bag.   

Edited October 12, 2023 by phizzy30

[mizunotpz]

32 minutes ago, Admhowarth said:

I received a TSR 4w as a replacement for a cracked TSi 4w.  I think the ball goes higher, goes further and generally straighter. Definitely a step up. 

I have the TSI2 4w, and not a big fan. Maybe its too low spin for me. Not getting along with the shaft either so it has to go.

[mizunotpz]

9 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

Anything from the past 8 years in terms of fairways are worthy to at least test IMO because tech hasn't changed much.  I mainly use my 3 metal off the tee and need it to carry a certain distance and find the fairway.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I've tested the latest and greatest fairways from this year and find them no better for my needs which is why the OG SIM ti is still in the bag.   

You find it to be forgiving enough? Not too low spin? I had the M1 2017 and liked it in 19 degrees but afraid the 3hl will be too low spin.

[phizzy30]

Just now, mizunotpz said:

You find it to be forgiving enough? Not too low spin? I had the M1 2017 and liked it in 19 degrees but afraid the 3hl will be too low spin.

Yes, forgiving enough, but spin is on the lower side. 

[mizunotpz]

6 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

Yes, forgiving enough, but spin is on the lower side. 

A lot of weight low in the head which tells me it can launch.

[Valtiel]

IMO there are sometimes *more* gains/differences to be had in fairways than in drivers for the same reasons there were bigger differences between Steel and Titanium drivers until Titanium took over. Like @phizzy30 above I still game the OG SIM Ti for that reason, because the more extreme CG manipulation possible with Titanium heads creates specific performance characteristics simply not possible with Steel. It all depends on your needs though.

[Dan Drake]

I'd say the "best" gains are:

 

1. We have some more "true" ball speed (vs. just loft jacked ball speed) to play with now so we can dial up the loft a tad to hit it the same distance but land softer.  For all but those of us using our fairway as a 2nd driver, that is pretty significant.  

 

2. What @Valtiel & @phizzy30 said.  More CG possibilities allow for more a specialized fit.  

 

All that said, if you find a fairway/hybrid/UW where a certain head fits just right (Stenson, Scheffler, Koepka, etc.) don't mess with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It ain't worth the possible addition of a couple of yards. 

 

Trust me, I know.  

[b.mattay]

Hard to say for me. I don't hit fairway woods well enough to notice 😆

[Valtiel]

43 minutes ago, Dan Drake said:

All that said, if you find a fairway/hybrid/UW where a certain head fits just right (Stenson, Scheffler, Koepka, etc.) don't mess with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It ain't worth the possible addition of a couple of yards. 

 

Trust me, I know.  

[rsballer10]

14 hours ago, mizunotpz said:

Interesting you say that cause Ive tried a few low spinning options and now I want something easy to hit and ive suspected that it is more spin I need. I think thats why I hit my 7w so well. 

 

In the past, I've opted for higher lofted fairway woods. played the Taylormade M1 3HL for a long time, also have an M3 3HL. I end up having to add the loft back to a low spin fairway to get the height and spin back anyway.