The perfect 3w

[TerryDactyl]

I have been on a quest. I have tried almost everything except the new Mizuno STG head. 

 

I want to know from you all, what is the perfect 3 wood setup? Do you launch it low, spin it low and let it run? Do you prefer a 16.5 "3HL" with a little more stopping power and spin? 

 

How do YOU do it? What shaft and head combos have been your favorite? 

[TerryDactyl]

My all time favorite is a 915F, with a D+ x flex. High enough to stop, long enough for off the tee. Oldie bit a goodie! 

[Phabs]

Taylormade M3 with hot melt was the best I’ve ever swung and I should have never ever sold it. Played a high loft in it due to launching so low 
 

The cobra LTDX head I have now is the best I’ve hit in the last 4 years.  Play this head a degree strong 

[klbcec]

Paradigm 15* w/ Ventus red 6S.

[1puttTUT]

LTDx with an Aldila NV2K blue 70s turned down to 14.5°

 

I like to hit low-ish draws that run out and I want something I can hit off the deck, even though I'm probably not going to do it very often.

[harriscli]

Rogue with the tensi shaft.  Love it so much I bought 3 back ups off callawaypreownee.

[DoughBack18]

Titleist 906f2 was my all time favorite. The slightly deeper face was awesome off the tee, but you could still get some elevation off the deck. 

[Kingcat990]

Off the shelf aerojet. It was leaps and bounds better than everything else I tried. It was the only 3 wood that felt right in every way  It's the only cobra product I've owned in years. I'm afraid to try anything else

[Valtiel]

1 hour ago, TerryDactyl said:

My all time favorite is a 915F, with a D+ x flex. 

 

1 hour ago, DoughBack18 said:

Titleist 906f2 was my all time favorite. 

Those were two of my favorites as well (still have the 906f2 3w/5w and a 915FD 3w in a backup/travel bag)

I probably do more 3w/4w testing than any other club in the bag. I have a bunch of criteria that I look for, the main ones being:

1) Aesthetics behind the ball. It has to look and feel *right* which is very personal. Something that sits a bit open and isn't either too deep or too shallow. I like it fractionally upright as well, but nothing crazy. 
2) The right combination of loft and CG to produce a very "middle" trajectory. This varies a lot between different designs/models. Lower loft with a higher CG or vice versa can both get the job done, but I prefer lower CG overall because:
3) Ball speed and spin consistency. I hate seeing too wide a variation in flight and speed based on small strike variations, especially slightly lower on the face. Low CG designs like the two fairways I have listed below stay much more consistent on lower strikes, no ballooning or big speed losses. 

My sweet spot for all the above has been the lower CG Taylormade designs (titanium + steel sole) at a slightly higher loft (4w lofts generally). This give me room to loft down and open the face without getting too low launching/spinning. 15.5*-16.5* tends to be the range I like. My OG SIM plays at 16* and the Stealth+ at 15.5*ish, the latter being my gamer at the moment due to it being a little more forgiving and consistent. 

[TerryDactyl]

14 minutes ago, Valtiel said:

 

Those were two of my favorites as well (still have the 906f2 3w/5w and a 915FD 3w in a backup/travel bag)

I probably do more 3w/4w testing than any other club in the bag. I have a bunch of criteria that I look for, the main ones being:

1) Aesthetics behind the ball. It has to look and feel *right* which is very personal. Something that sits a bit open and isn't either too deep or too shallow. I like it fractionally upright as well, but nothing crazy. 
2) The right combination of loft and CG to produce a very "middle" trajectory. This varies a lot between different designs/models. Lower loft with a higher CG or vice versa can both get the job done, but I prefer lower CG overall because:
3) Ball speed and spin consistency. I hate seeing too wide a variation in flight and speed based on small strike variations, especially slightly lower on the face. Low CG designs like the two fairways I have listed below stay much more consistent on lower strikes, no ballooning or big speed losses. 

My sweet spot for all the above has been the lower CG Taylormade designs (titanium + steel sole) at a slightly higher loft (4w lofts generally). This give me room to loft down and open the face without getting too low launching/spinning. 15.5*-16.5* tends to be the range I like. My OG SIM plays at 16* and the Stealth+ at 15.5*ish, the latter being my gamer at the moment due to it being a little more forgiving and consistent. 

Did you get the max design 16.5 or loft a 3w down or 5w up? These are things I have been playing with too. 

[TerryDactyl]

2 hours ago, Phabs said:

Taylormade M3 with hot melt was the best I’ve ever swung and I should have never ever sold it. Played a high loft in it due to launching so low 
 

The cobra LTDX head I have now is the best I’ve hit in the last 4 years.  Play this head a degree strong 

Hot melt neutral? 2-4g? Looking for some testing ideas 🙂

[getitdaily]

2 hours ago, Phabs said:

Taylormade M3 with hot melt was the best I’ve ever swung and I should have never ever sold it. Played a high loft in it due to launching so low 
 

The cobra LTDX head I have now is the best I’ve hit in the last 4 years.  Play this head a degree strong 

This thread is a bat signal for me...

 

After trying everything under the sun for the last few years...

 

Ventus black 7x in a paradym std 16.5.

[Valtiel]

Just now, TerryDactyl said:

Did you get the max design 16.5 or loft a 3w down or 5w up? These are things I have been playing with too. 

Unfortunately i'm a pretentious gear snob that seeks out the "tour only" 4w variants. In the case of the OG SIM and the Stealth+ it's 3w heads that spec anywhere between 16-17* of loft that I loft down to get the desired face angle. My goal is usually between 2-3* open and that aforementioned 15.5-16.5* loft range. 

[eddiebigeddie]

Cobra Bio Cell set to 16’ with a Aldila Tour Blue 65s has been in the bag since in came out. However I just picked up a Mizuno ST-G TI 3w with Lin-Q Red 6s and I’m in love with it so far in backyard trials. Can’t wait to get it on the course. 

[jdcho]

Callaway xhot pro 4 wood with diamana blueboard.  Hit some sweets shots with that club.  
 

Not long enough compared to current fairway woods so in the garage somewhere but it won’t be sold anytime soon.  

[Phabs]

36 minutes ago, TerryDactyl said:

Hot melt neutral? 2-4g? Looking for some testing ideas 🙂

All mine are hot melted neutral up against the face in the low 200g range.  I like to pretend I can shape the ball 

Edited December 11, 2023 by Phabs

[hitnfades]

Paradym STD 3HL (16.5*) with GD Tour AD IZ 7s for a bit more launch and spin from prior setup.  Prior setup: Epic Speed (STD) 15* with GD Tour AD UB 7x.  

[MattM97]

19 minutes ago, hitnfades said:

Paradym STD 3HL (16.5*) with GD Tour AD IZ 7s for a bit more launch and spin from prior setup.  Prior setup: Epic Speed (STD) 15* with GD Tour AD UB 7x.  

 

That's almost my current setup. 

 

Paradym X 15° - Tour AD-IZ 7X 

 

Off the deck and swinging well can carry it 240-245 and if I can step on it 250-255. Off the tee it works well too for me. 

 

Runner up for me would be the Stealth 2 with the same shaft or Ventus Blue. 

[bmbsawy]

Ping 430 max- the ol trick that was referenced for their tour guys. A few grams of toe side hot melt and playing small- to get the face angle open. Surprisingly hot and stable across the face. 

[RolandofGilead]

3 hours ago, DoughBack18 said:

Titleist 906f2

Similar vintage: TaylorMade V Steel with a UST Proforce V2. Larger than the Titleist 975/980 but smaller than current fairways, it’s still a great club.

[TerryDactyl]

1 hour ago, eddiebigeddie said:

Cobra Bio Cell set to 16’ with a Aldila Tour Blue 65s has been in the bag since in came out. However I just picked up a Mizuno ST-G TI 3w with Lin-Q Red 6s and I’m in love with it so far in backyard trials. Can’t wait to get it on the course. 

How is that new head!?

[eddiebigeddie]

8 minutes ago, TerryDactyl said:

How is that new head!?

Love it…feels hot/explosive off the face. Everything about this head feels right. 

[379]

TSI2 15 hzrdus rdx black 
 

Mid low flight. Dead straight. CG just works. 
 

 

[eddiebigeddie]

44 minutes ago, TerryDactyl said:

How is that new head!?

 

[Jaygolf37]

Signature says it. Stumbled on a green tour issue Cobra BioCell with a Aldila Tour Green shaft. Head has some hot melt, and the butt end of the shaft had a couple wraps of lead tape under the left hand. The unicorn has been in my bag ever since.

 

I will never remove the tape…nor will I part with the club. Long. Forgiving. Workable. Easy has hell to hit!

[GriperRiper]

have used the cobra SZ with the baffler rails....really for me its the rails, and I will not take it out of my bag unless there is another one with the rails, same with my 2hy which is really like a 7w.

[Streuner]

TM SIM2 titanium 5 wood head turned down to 17 in combination with GD Tour AD HD, great optics and superb performance 

[jerebear21]

Paradym X - stupid forgiveness. Long and high off the deck. Enough roll off the tee.  

[aussieb]

OG SIM is perfect in every way.  Long off the tee as my trusty sidekick to driver.  Drills though the wind and can easily get up high on par 5 approaches.  I rarely want extra launch or spin, so maximum ballspeed is my metric.  I have the 3w and 5w in waiting for our summer.  T.I. Mavrik 3w+ and 4w goes in play for winter course conditions when it's slushy.

[tleader]

TSR2 w/ Tensei Blue. Stock shaft, but just plain works!