What club between driver and heavenwood

[sthazza]

Hello,

 

I'm a 16 handicap but I don't hit a particularly long ball. I'm struggling with hitting a 3 wood from the fairway and wondering what to have in the gap between driver and my next club which is a v series heavenwood. 

 

Bag goes:

Callaway Fusion Driver @10.5

V Series Heavenwood @20.5 (3 wood length)

F6 hybrid @23.5

 

Driver on a good hit is 225 off the tee but generally 210-215

V series is 180-190 off the deck

F6 is 170-180 off the deck

 

I suppose realistically am I going to get a 200yd club off the deck or is the driver to Heavenwood setup as good as it'll get.

[Pastit]

4 hours ago, sthazza said:

Hello,

 

I'm a 16 handicap but I don't hit a particularly long ball. I'm struggling with hitting a 3 wood from the fairway and wondering what to have in the gap between driver and my next club which is a v series heavenwood. 

 

Bag goes:

Callaway Fusion Driver @10.5

V Series Heavenwood @20.5 (3 wood length)

F6 hybrid @23.5

 

Driver on a good hit is 225 off the tee but generally 210-215

V series is 180-190 off the deck

F6 is 170-180 off the deck

 

I suppose realistically am I going to get a 200yd club off the deck or is the driver to Heavenwood setup as good as it'll get.

I’m not joking, try a ladies 3 wood and avoid a draw set up. If that doesn’t work then stick to a 5 wood.  If you can hit your current 3-wood well off a low tee peg it’s likely your set up is the problem when you play the ball down. You need the best swings of the day for these shots. 

Edited March 30 by Pastit

[elwhippy]

I would suggest a high launch three wood with about 17 degrees. TM HL, Ping 5 wood, an adjustable Cobra. Loft is your friend off the deck. 

[chasingbirds]

I agree with above. Higher launch 3 wood (16.5 - 17 degrees). You can work on hitting woods this way but avoid the difficulty of launching a lower lofted one for now. 

[Ben B]

3 hours ago, sthazza said:

Hello,

 

I'm a 16 handicap but I don't hit a particularly long ball. I'm struggling with hitting a 3 wood from the fairway and wondering what to have in the gap between driver and my next club which is a v series heavenwood. 

 

Bag goes:

Callaway Fusion Driver @10.5

V Series Heavenwood @20.5 (3 wood length)

F6 hybrid @23.5

 

Driver on a good hit is 225 off the tee but generally 210-215

V series is 180-190 off the deck

F6 is 170-180 off the deck

 

I suppose realistically am I going to get a 200yd club off the deck or is the driver to Heavenwood setup as good as it'll get.

What 3 wood do you have and what are your struggles?

 

Maybe something like the new Cleveland 17* 3+ Hy-Wood. 

[Itsjustagame]

I doubt you will improve your scores with a 200 (hypothetically)yard club.

Add more wedges and get better inside 100 yards.

[sthazza]

A srixon zx in 15 degrees is the 3 wood now, generating height off the deck I would say is the issue. 

 

I have my 50 degree wedge at 100 yds and 54 and 58 wedges for my yardages from there in so I don't think an extra wedge is needed. Putting practice maybe. 

[North Butte]

SHORT ANSWER

For someone who drives the ball 220 yards and plays off a 16hcp, there's not going to be a magic club that lets you hit high, soft-landing 190-yard approach shots more than once in a blue moon. And trying to hit that shot is going to cost you many, many lost strokes. 

 

LONG ANSWER

You hit the ball about 10 yards longer than me with each club you listed. I've found several times over the years that a 3-wood (i.e. a 43" long club with approx 15 degrees of loft) is of zero benefit to me. 

 

I'm a firm believer in the idea that every golfer has to know the distance beyond which the idea is to give yourself the best chance of keeping the ball in play and advancing it toward the hole to make the next shot as easy as possible.

 

For me that's a little over 160 yards (call it 175 for you). At that distance, with a decent swing there's a good chance of getting yourself on the green and at least a meaningful possibility of getting it within 10-20 feet of the hole. You won't execute it every time but it's more likely to produce a good shot than hit one into trouble or duff it.

 

So I only have one club longer than that. Either a 20-degree hybrid or a 19-degree 5-wood. That's for advancing the ball as far as possible from a good lie, not a "scoring club" but a "keep it in play" club. I can get 180 with it.

 

Your equivalent is that Heavenwood. For me, personally, the long shaft on that club causes far more problems than it's worth. If it were me, I'd get rid of that and go with something an inch or more shorter with a couple degrees stronger loft. The whole Heavenwood idea, as I understand it, is to have enough loft to elevate the ball and land it softly and then buy some extra distance with the over-length shaft. Your swing may be different, for me a 43" long club is just a bad swing or duff waiting to happen.

 

But in any case, my advice is to pick one club longer than your F6 that you can hit very consistently and leave it at that.

Edited March 30 by North Butte

[gvogel]

I'm 70, hit the ball 210 off the tee, and 180 with my 5-wood.  I am going to pick up a 4-wood of some sort.  That might be a TSR1 15* fairway wood adjusted to add 1.5* of loft.  I think that a shallow fairway wood with a larger profile will be easies to hit off the fairway.  The new Taylormade Qi10 Max fairway wood might be worth a hit, or save some money and try a Stealth2 HD.  The Ai Smoke Max and Ping G430 Max would also be worth a look.  

 

If I pick up the Titleist TSR1, I might also play it at 15* as a fairway finder driving club.  Options, I like options.

 

BTW, I am a sweeper, have always been a sweeper and learned to like fairway woods at a young age.  I will be playing 5, 6, and 7-hybrids this year (but will have a 7-iron in the bag just in case).  That's right, I am going to an LPGA bag.

[Bad9]

2 hours ago, Itsjustagame said:

I doubt you will improve your scores with a 200 (hypothetically)yard club.

Add more wedges and get better inside 100 yards.

This. I doubt you would get any consistently noticeable yardage or control(dispersion) improvements over your Heavenwood.

[klharper]

Another vote for a 3HL.

I play a 9* driver, 14.5* 3+ (lofted up from 13.5), and 17.5* 3HL (lofted up from  16.5).  

I was struggling with the 3+ off the deck (but it’s a great secondary tee club), so I picked up the 3HL.  
I carry it probably just as far as the 3+ on equivalent good hits - the 3+ rolls out a bit more and has a little extra juice if I really square up the launch.

I’m way more comfortable with the 3HL in most situations off the deck from 215-240

[teedub21]

I have similar distance playing to a 15 handicap currently.  I go from driver to Ping G430 7 wood.  Easier to hit than even the 5 wood I had and goes just about as far for me.  I’d keep playing what you’ve got.

[ChaosTheory]

7 hours ago, sthazza said:

Hello,

 

I'm a 16 handicap but I don't hit a particularly long ball. I'm struggling with hitting a 3 wood from the fairway and wondering what to have in the gap between driver and my next club which is a v series heavenwood. 

 

Bag goes:

Callaway Fusion Driver @10.5

V Series Heavenwood @20.5 (3 wood length)

F6 hybrid @23.5

 

Driver on a good hit is 225 off the tee but generally 210-215

V series is 180-190 off the deck

F6 is 170-180 off the deck

 

I suppose realistically am I going to get a 200yd club off the deck or is the driver to Heavenwood setup as good as it'll get.

The best fit is a 16.5-17° club that matches the Heavenwood specs.  

[st1800e]

8 hours ago, sthazza said:

I'm a 16 handicap but I don't hit a particularly long ball.

Based on the above, fairway woods are definitely not “scoring clubs” for you. They’re for getting you in position on second shots, and depending what length course you play laying up on long par 4’s.  Adding a club that maybe gets you 10 more yards than your HW isn’t going to change your score.  And you’ll probably have more misses with any 3W than your HW. Unless you loft up a 3W , but then it’s going to be very close to your HW anyways.  
 

Improving your short game is the biggest opportunity to improve your score.  
 

 

[rooski]

9 hours ago, sthazza said:

Driver on a good hit is 225 off the tee but generally 210-215

V series is 180-190 off the deck

F6 is 170-180 off the deck

 

This is fine gapping, there's no club needed imo

Edited March 30 by rooski

[TWGator]

My vote is HL3 I just got Callaway Ai max 3wood turned to 16*, it’s awesome and you you can use it off the tee.  You might wanna go 17* for higher launch but the hl 3 is a great club to have in the bag.  
 

but also it depends on what course you play.  If you never play a round needing a 200 yard shot then maybe you go another direction.  I hit mine 3 times today, twice off the tee(should’ve hit it again) and I topped a drive about 100 yards on a par 5, so hit it outta the fairway there, saved par.  

[hammergolf]

9 hours ago, sthazza said:

Hello,

 

I'm a 16 handicap but I don't hit a particularly long ball. I'm struggling with hitting a 3 wood from the fairway and wondering what to have in the gap between driver and my next club which is a v series heavenwood. 

 

Bag goes:

Callaway Fusion Driver @10.5

V Series Heavenwood @20.5 (3 wood length)

F6 hybrid @23.5

 

Driver on a good hit is 225 off the tee but generally 210-215

V series is 180-190 off the deck

F6 is 170-180 off the deck

 

I suppose realistically am I going to get a 200yd club off the deck or is the driver to Heavenwood setup as good as it'll get.

What kind of trajectory do you have with your Hvnwood off the fwy? 

[m d g]

9 hours ago, elwhippy said:

I would suggest a high launch three wood with about 17 degrees. TM HL, Ping 5 wood, an adjustable Cobra. Loft is your friend off the deck. 

 I have an older Ping 5-wood and a 3-wood that matches.

 

Honestly, the 5 is just as long or longer on the carry. The 3 just gets me more roll.

 

I am thinking of ditching the 3-wood and just using the 5...it's much easier to hit and is almost automatic.

 

7.5 index btw.

[WilliePPQ]

19 degree Ping Crossover from a few years back seems to fit the need for me. (Similar game to OP)

[Jon Gee]

7 hours ago, North Butte said:

SHORT ANSWER

Your equivalent is that Heavenwood. For me, personally, the long shaft on that club causes far more problems than it's worth. If it were me, I'd get rid of that and go with something an inch or more shorter with a couple degrees stronger loft. 

I agree with this 100%. More often then not you find those heavenwoods with senior flex shafts.  A high lofted 3 wood for slow swing speeds . Not meant to be a true 7 wood.

[sthazza]

4 hours ago, hammergolf said:

What kind of trajectory do you have with your Hvnwood off the fwy? 

 

A nice penetrating one, plenty of height but not balooning

[Ben B]

9 hours ago, sthazza said:

A srixon zx in 15 degrees is the 3 wood now, generating height off the deck I would say is the issue. 

 

I have my 50 degree wedge at 100 yds and 54 and 58 wedges for my yardages from there in so I don't think an extra wedge is needed. Putting practice maybe. 

I'd say there's 3 options (#3 you should be doing regardless, unless you have a health condition that doesn't allow you too):

 

1. Do absolutely nothing. Are you really going to gain strokes by having a club that goes 200? If you are having a lot of shots from 200 into the green on other than par 5s, you need to move up. Ignore teebox color and play at a distance that's comfortable for your game. You'd probably want to be playing par 4s that are 375 on average (maybe a few less, maybe a few more but not over 400). This game is hard enough, no reason to punish yourself. 

 

2. As mentioned, ditch the heavenwood. Go and get a fitting for some new woods, hybrids, utility woods or whatever works out to be the best option for the upper end of the bag.

 

3. Work on increasing your clubhead speed by doing some speed training, mobility and strength training, and some lessons to make sure there isn't something going on in your swings that's robbing you of power and speed. 

[hammergolf]

1 minute ago, sthazza said:

 

A nice penetrating one, plenty of height but not balooning

Try a 4wd that is adjustable. If you like Callaway, look for one on Callaway Preowned. It might not get you much more carry, but it should get you more total distance.

[dmeeksDC]

My suggestion would be a 4 wood and a true 7 wood, but I would play both at shorter lengths than current standard to increase control. I find a 16.5 degree 4 wood at 42 or 42.5 inches and a 7 wood at 41 or 41.5 will not suffer any distance loss but will be easier to hit well with consistency. Many players gain distance by shortening up because they middle it more often. Standard lengths on fairway woods have nudged longer but it can come at a cost if contact wanders. So I would say up the loft and shorten by a half-inch to an inch. 
 

[sthazza]

Thanks everyone for the answers so far. There's certainly a bit of variation but I like the different viewpoints. 

[peteinsanjose]

On 3/30/2024 at 8:10 AM, teedub21 said:

I have similar distance playing to a 15 handicap currently.  I go from driver to Ping G430 7 wood.  Easier to hit than even the 5 wood I had and goes just about as far for me.  I’d keep playing what you’ve got.

Same setup here - fully agree!

[lil'mike]

I would go 3HL at 16.5 deg or 4wd at 17 deg.

 

My current setup is 3HL and Heavenwood but in the past I have played different combos like 4wd/7wd, 5wd/7wd also.

 

[TWGator]

12 hours ago, lil'mike said:

I would go 3HL at 16.5 deg or 4wd at 17 deg.

 

My current setup is 3HL and Heavenwood but in the past I have played different combos like 4wd/7wd, 5wd/7wd also.

 

So I’ve seen heavenwood is 20* and 7 wood 21* and heavenwood is 1/2 longer in Callaway, what difference are you getting with the 2?  I would think obviously you get a little more distance from the heavenwood but do you notice any difference in playability?  Shorter shaft in the 7 easier to hit?

[fred faldo]

if you trim the heavenwood a half inch you now basically have a seven wood and depending on the model is probably adjustable to boot. If you do that then a 17 degree 4 wood would fit quite well. If you don't want to cut down the heavenwood look for a Taylormade M6 D-type it is 16 degrees and extremly easy to hit off the deck. Just some options for you

[st1800e]

4 hours ago, TWGator said:

So I’ve seen heavenwood is 20* and 7 wood 21* and heavenwood is 1/2 longer in Callaway, what difference are you getting with the 2?  I would think obviously you get a little more distance from the heavenwood but do you notice any difference in playability?  Shorter shaft in the 7 easier to hit?

The other difference is the HW head is about the size of a 4W head, about 20 cc larger than a 7 W.  
 

And in most , if not all cases the HW is 3/4” longer than a 7W.  
 

So a HW is really just a lofted up 4 wood.   While some suggest lofting up a 3W or even a 5W, those are not going to effectively be much different than the HW the OP has in the bag now.