safest bet 3 wood and driver of the last couple years without getting fit.

[NorthTXGolf]

long story short someone stole my driver and 3 wood. I had a full PXG bag but honestly never love the wood/driver. I have heard PXG's new stuff is really good but between expenses etc.. My wife may off me if I spend $1500 going to get fit for a brand new driver/wood.

 

Seems like Ping and Cobra have been a pretty safe bet over the last few years from all the reivews I see and read. Just curious of you guys opinions. For reference not sure if this actually matters) I play an X stiff shaft usually and carry my current driver 290-300 but need all the forgiveness I can get lol. Thanks!

[kwcsports]

Ping G425 or 430 IMHO. Great clubs that work for the majority of us.

[Masterhacker]

sim max 2 tm has been the easiest three wood to launch I've hit in the last few years.  

[JetSpeed79]

Ping 430 max

[ChaosTheory]

By reputation, the G400 Max driver.  No personal experience though.

[MattM97]

Look at the Paradym stuff on CPO can probably snag something new for a good price. 

[Jifmoli]

Watching reviews of current offerings, all are focused on forgiveness except for Cobra apparently which is goi g for distance.

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

1 hour ago, kwcsports said:

Ping G425 or 430 IMHO. Great clubs that work for the majority of us.

This.  Bring earplugs if you go for the 425.  It's even worse than rumored. Absurdly forgiving though.

 

3-woods...going to depend on your preference.  People love the Ping FWs.  I'm not as enthused and prefer a more pear shape vs elongated head.  TSR2 or Paradym seem like people like 'em if you want that compact head shape.

[Tyler724]

33 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

Look at the Paradym stuff on CPO can probably snag something new for a good price. 

Or check out Callaway Rogue ST driver and fairway on CPO. Still great products and definitely strong on forgiveness IMO

[iNeedMoreGolf]

I think ping then callaway 3 woods are safest bets for easy off rack 3woods. At least in my expiernce.

[ArcticSound]

I agree with Ping G425/430 Max for a driver. Not the best in distance, but they’re so forgiving, and the moveable weight plus hose means you can get it dialed in for a wide variety of swings.
 

For 3w, I’m not as big a fan of Ping’s product and agree with the earlier poster about the shaping—they’re too elongated and shallow for me.

 

SIM/SIM2 are pretty beloved. I really like the Rogue ST line, too, which are very cheap on Callaway Preowned.

[von3jack]

Something with a high level of adjustability is only going to help if you can't see a fitter, if you are comfortable kind of fitting yourself. If I had to pick one brand simply based on adjustability options and forgiveness, it would be Ping. The G410 Plus was very solid, has a sliding weight track, hosel adjuster and can be found much cheaper than any of the 23'-24' drivers. I also found the Cobra LTDx LS to be very forgiving for a players style driver.

Edited April 4 by von3jack

[opensupoverthere27]

ping g425/430 hands down

[Greenie]

Tour Edge Exotics C721 series is the best bang for your money. The E722 series prices are holding their resale value a little higher. If you are trying to save money TEE is it.

 

Ping and Cobra is always a safe bet.

[Boricua Golf]

I say the G400 series were amazing (still have the G400 LST), the Paradym stuff from last year is amazing as well, I still own the fairway 3D and a 3HL, both different animals, the 3D is a monster off the tee, not as user friendly off the turf (for me) the 3HL is kind of the jack of all trades, I can hit it well off the tee but I truly love it off the turf, way easier to get in the air. As for the driver, like stated before the G400 series and the Paradym Max from last year are safe bets, good luck.

[Lag_0820]

Ping g430 has been great for me.

[muniman]

Personally, I  would look at the Callaway Rogue ST Max driver and woods. Paradym and AI Smoke line couldn't knock them out of the bag. Experimenting with the Black Ops driver, and 4 wood right now, but if they can't replace the Rogue ST Max, then I will stop looking for this year.

[miami1023]

TSI/R2 3 wood is a safe bet. Also have heard good things about cobra's woods

[Rstowe38]

I agree with Ping G425/430. I did game a Ping Rapture 3 wood from 2014 that was intended to be a mini driver. It was absolutely the hardest club I ever tried to hit off the deck. Last year, when the G425's went on clearance I decided to buy a 3 wood to replace it and actually have a usable club. It was just that. Super easy to hit off the deck, night and day difference. You can still find brand new 3 and 5 woods in the G425 depending on what shaft you need R or S flex. I would give one of those a shot. 

[Urb]

Callaway is the Lexus of golf clubs. Maybe not the most exotic but always reliable.  They usually look decent, most woods are adjustable and they have both forgiving and ball speed monster versions.

 

CPO is also great.  

 

Tour Edge woods are basically discount Callaway imo.  The E series fairway woods are mega forgiving and high launching, if that's what you're after.

[Maroon_19]

Callaway Rogue ST.  I'm carrying the 10.5* driver, 15* 3 wood, and 20* Heavenwood.  They are fantastic and should be available at really good prices now that they are 3 generations old.

[Nickb333]

I tried a ping 425 max. No way I could listen to that thing all day. Loved the tsr1 at the sim and took it home. Very playable but too light. Felt

like it was going to snap on toe hits. Traded it for a tsr2 w hazrdus cb shaft. 
 

The tsr2 is stupid easy to hit. Looks great, Sounds great. I’ll be grabbing the 4w as soon as they go on sale.

Edited April 6 by Nickb333

[boggyman]

Ping that suits your eyes and budget. Ping shafts are really good for being stock offerings, at least to me. Easy to hit and forgiving. 

[optimator]

I haven't yet owned a Cobra driver that I didn't like. Amp Cell - SZ Extreme - LTDX. 

[larryd3]

As noted many times above, look at Ping fairway woods.  Great performing, easy to hit and depending on the year/model, reasonable prices.  

[1puttTUT]

Cobra LTDx is just a great line and can be picked up cheap now that it's a few years old.

[robbie91]

Ping G425 woods seem to be going for very good prices right now and are a pretty safe bet. I also think the Ping Tour shafts are quite good as far as a stock offering goes. 

 

TaylorMade stuff seems to divide opinions but I am a big fan of the SIM 2 lineup. The clubs didn't necessarily excel at anything but fit a really wide range of players and perform well. 

[bekgolf]

On 4/4/2024 at 6:42 AM, Greenie said:

Tour Edge Exotics C721 series is the best bang for your money. The E722 series prices are holding their resale value a little higher. If you are trying to save money TEE is it.

 

Ping and Cobra is always a safe bet.

 

TEE has got to be the leader for a good, forgiving product at a decent price.  They even have their own CPO program too.

 

https://shop.touredge.com/pages/certified-pre-owned

 

I've had great results with the C72x and E72x lines.

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

On 4/2/2024 at 3:35 PM, NorthTXGolf said:

long story short someone stole my driver and 3 wood. I had a full PXG bag but honestly never love the wood/driver. I have heard PXG's new stuff is really good but between expenses etc.. My wife may off me if I spend $1500 going to get fit for a brand new driver/wood.

 

Seems like Ping and Cobra have been a pretty safe bet over the last few years from all the reivews I see and read. Just curious of you guys opinions. For reference not sure if this actually matters) I play an X stiff shaft usually and carry my current driver 290-300 but need all the forgiveness I can get lol. Thanks!

TSR3 is the best driver on tour and for decent to great amateurs.  Closest thing to it performance/spin/forgiveness wise is Ping 430LST

Either can be bought for $300 or so

 

[fsusp]

Cobra Ltdx LS.