Best 4-wood, Best 5-wood for Seniors

[gvogel]

Figuring that senior golfers who play stiff or regular shafts need a bit more help in hitting fairway woods for distance, recommend the best 4-wood or 5-wood.

[tagermo]

Ping G430 Max 5 wood as you can turn it down to 4 wood loft if needed. There are longer fairway woods out there but hard to beat the Ping for forgiveness and accuracy. 

[Milfordlefty]

If you are willing to play pre-owned, any Ping fairway with SFT tech (started in K series, but anything after has this option, which are a bit higher loft compared to non-SFT. My G425 SFT 3w is 16° and the 5w is 19°. You can add additional loft thru the adapter settings.

[gvogel]

10 minutes ago, Milfordlefty said:

If you are willing to play pre-owned, any Ping fairway with SFT tech (started in K series, but anything after has this option, which are a bit higher loft compared to non-SFT. My G425 SFT 3w is 16° and the 5w is 19°. You can add additional loft thru the adapter settings.

I have a Ping G25 5-wood which is pretty much point and shoot.  Just thinking of an upgrade which might be longer.

[596]

I used to play the Ping sft line of drivers and woods.  I played them since they were introduced in 2010 with the K15. I changed about 1 year ago. I've found that the Cobra line of fairway woods with the rails on the bottom are actually easier hit consistently.  I play the Cobra Speedzone 3 and 5 woods.  I also pay Cobra hybrids and hybrid irons. They all have the rails on the bottom.

[Streuner]

Cheaper than PING in the pro shop right now on sale the Stealth 2 HD fairways tall face and very good performance 

Edited May 7 by Streuner

[boggyman]

The best is the one that suits one’s eye and they’re very comfortable with, and suits their game. With that being said, I’m back to my OG RBZ 17* and it’s not leaving the bag until the faces caves  in. Ping G would be hard to beat though. I’d also look at the new Cleveland line as well. 

Edited May 7 by boggyman

[theothertwo]

I am trying this Callaway Great Big Bertha 5 Wood at 18* which can be adjusted to a 17* 4 wood or a 19* /20* heaven or 7 wood.  Titanium instead of steel, average size, very light club at 292g instead of usual 320ish grams.  Very forgiving and long.  It was $500 when it first came out in 2023 but on sale now.  It appears that Callaway made a really high end and expensive club with all their tech thrown in, market did not really buy it due to price I believe.

 

Suitable for seniors IMO.

Edited May 7 by theothertwo

[BlkNGld]

46 minutes ago, gvogel said:

I have a Ping G25 5-wood which is pretty much point and shoot.  Just thinking of an upgrade which might be longer.

 

As you know, ballspeed/hot face with curve often winds up shorter than less speed and straight.   Long way of saying that if you like your G25, the Ping FWs have improved on ball speed and are usually among the straightest.

 

Obviously the answer is to get fit to determine what you need... for example if you'd be helped by gaining launch, I'd suggest TSi1/TSR1.   Demoed a TSi1 and it gets airborne like a Harrier.   I tend to hit the ball high and when I hit 4w the launch looked like a short iron to me.

[gvogel]

10 minutes ago, BlkNGld said:

 

As you know, ballspeed/hot face with curve often winds up shorter than less speed and straight.   Long way of saying that if you like your G25, the Ping FWs have improved on ball speed and are usually among the straightest.

 

Obviously the answer is to get fit to determine what you need... for example if you'd be helped by gaining launch, I'd suggest TSi1/TSR1.   Demoed a TSi1 and it gets airborne like a Harrier.   I tend to hit the ball high and when I hit 4w the launch looked like a short iron to me.

A TSR1 7-wood arrived in a box just yesterday.

[bellken]

Ping G425 5 wood might be a little longer. It is what I have, I think with my lack of club head speed, there is not a whole lot to gain. Forgiveness is probably more important to me at this point.

[Pepperturbo]

If you're looking for an easy 4 wood to hit, check out the standard hosel Exotics XCG-4 16.5' Fairway.  It's easy as hell to hit straight, too. 

 

Fortunately, I have practically new 2011 Exotics 3 & 4 woods, bought when they were introduced.  Looking for a 80g shaft for the 4wd.

Edited May 7 by Pepperturbo

[m d g]

As an 'almost' senior with a moderate swing speed (86 at beginning of the year but over 90 now with speed training) I love my Ping G30 18-degree 5 wood. I play it at the standard loft.

 

It is the favorite club in my bag. I have the matching driver, 3-wood, and a hybrid, but oddly don't love any of those nearly as much.

 

I purchased all of my clubs when living in Japan in 2014 and got them from the Ping rep for Asia. The shafts are TFC 390F SR, 42.5"

 

The SR is not 'Senior' but between Stiff and Regular as I understand it, as Japanese shafts tend to be a bit whippier than US shafts (I like regular shafts normally).

 

I don't know how I'd ever kick it out of my bag even if I get other new woods...

 

7.5 index btw.

[GDB67]

Sub70 fairway woods are amazing 

Plenty of shaft choices too. 

[ducky50]

Srixon 5 wood has been good

[lil'mike]

Played the Ping G425's 5wd and 7wd combo when they came out for quite awhile and liked them alot.  I even got a hole in one with the 7wd.  I played them -1/2 inch in length and that just fit.

 

Now I play the Paradym 3HL at 16.5 degrees and Heavenwood.  I really like this combo too.

 

Both brands are very easy to hit.

 

[SwooshLT]

4 hours ago, m d g said:

As an 'almost' senior with a moderate swing speed (86 at beginning of the year but over 90 now with speed training) I love my Ping G30 18-degree 5 wood. I play it at the standard loft.

 

It is the favorite club in my bag. I have the matching driver, 3-wood, and a hybrid, but oddly don't love any of those nearly as much.

 

I purchased all of my clubs when living in Japan in 2014 and got them from the Ping rep for Asia. The shafts are TFC 390F SR, 42.5"

 

The SR is not 'Senior' but between Stiff and Regular as I understand it, as Japanese shafts tend to be a bit whippier than US shafts (I like regular shafts normally).

 

I don't know how I'd ever kick it out of my bag even if I get other new woods...

 

7.5 index btw.

 

SR designation is actually SOFT REGULAR in PING vernacular..... but would be a slightly stiffer senior flex 

[Tinkerer]

I play the Paradym X 3HL, 16.5° with a stiff shaft at 42.75”. It’s easy to hit and consistent. 

[m d g]

1 hour ago, SwooshLT said:

 

SR designation is actually SOFT REGULAR in PING vernacular..... but would be a slightly stiffer senior flex 

Really? I love the way it feels. Maybe at 90MPH with the driver could it be too soft?

 

Could I be leaving yards in the bag because of this?

 

The rep knew I played R steel shafts in Ping ISI previously.

 

Thanks : )

[SwooshLT]

5 minutes ago, m d g said:

Really? I love the way it feels. Maybe at 90MPH with the driver could it be too soft?

 

Could I be leaving yards in the bag because of this?

 

The rep knew I played R steel shafts in Ping ISI previously.

 

Thanks : )

 

Yeah at 90mph , depending on the actual shaft, you should be in Regular or maybe a stiff with softer profile..... if you have a very smooth tempo, you could get away with SR flex 

 

Edited May 8 by SwooshLT

[Milfordlefty]

On 5/7/2024 at 10:26 AM, gvogel said:

I have a Ping G25 5-wood which is pretty much point and shoot.  Just thinking of an upgrade which might be longer.

If you stay with Ping, then 3w from G30 newer with an adjustable hosel will allow you to loft up from 15°, but playing at 3w length. The newer models are supposed to have a bit hotter face. Good luck in your search and don't sell that G25 5w until you've played the replacement for a year.

[Tommy56]

On 5/7/2024 at 10:32 AM, gvogel said:

A TSR1 7-wood arrived in a box just yesterday.

I’ll be very interested to hear how you like it. Also, what shaft did you go with?

[Peninsulagolfer]

Agree with what has been said.  The Ping G430 (either Max or SFT) is a weapon.

 

But I think the Cleveland Launcher XL is easier to get up.  It is also a larger footprint, which may give some players confidence.

 

Cleveland make incredible clubs for players with slower swing speeds. 

[gvogel]

9 hours ago, Tommy56 said:

I’ll be very interested to hear how you like it. Also, what shaft did you go with?

Tensei AV Blue 65R

[Kai Slater]

Callaway Paradyms are very easy to hit and get up in the air.  I never could really get along with the Pings (had a g425....5 wood) as it was something about the weighting of the club that just didn't sit well with me.  I wanted to like it, but just couldn't execute anything with the Pings.  In my situation, for my swing and the way it sets up, the Paradyms have been great.  I have a 7 wood and a 15* that I turned up to 16*

 

Edit....I forgot to mention that I'm also a "senior" and recommend a light shaft.

Edited May 9 by Kai Slater