Most Wanted Fairway Wood

[gaussman1]

What a pleasant surprise to see Tour Edge back on top with its Exotics line. Anyone who was around the business 10-15 years ago will remember what a hidden gem those were with the very first maraging faces. The only woods I liked better at the time were Sonartec (pause to pour one out for our dead homies)

I was shocked to see over 5 mph of ball speed difference top to bottom and over 11 carry yards difference from longest to shortest. Both of those numbers are pretty substantial, particularly when there were big names near the bottom of the list.

The comments were predictable, mostly some variation of "TLDR, but your results are bs." Tony must get tired of re-posting the "how we test" link

[null]

No surprise to see the Cobra F8 finish near the top.  Such a well balanced fairway wood.

[GB13]

Another great test as always. It is a shame to see ignorant people sounding off in the comments. I don't know how Tony doesn't get tired off it and go off at one of them.

 

Anyway, great test. I am a little surprised to see the Rouges do so well. I wasn't a fan of them. The TE isn't a surprise though. They make great clubs but are so underrated.

[Pharm Boy]

Wow. Great test as usual. I would love to take that Tour Edge out for a spin. I currently game the Rogue 3-wood and the Sub-Zero 5 wood. Both were welcome additions to my bag. The 3-wood is my go to off the tee when the driver just isnt geting it done, or when I have a tight fairway. The 5-wood is money off the deck, in the middle of the fairway. It makes those hard to reach distances a little easier. 

[cnosil]

I really enjoy reading the comments, they bring a smile to my face. I guess people don't get his averages work and how one tester that has a good or bad day can skew the averages. Ideally you would be able to see all the data.

 

For me, I think the Cobra line was a solid product and I couldn't hit the callaway products very well. Wonder which were my best performers???

[GolfSpy_APH]

Another great test and great to see Tour Edge on top. Be interesting to see how the testers like them in a short while!

 

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[russtopherb]

I called the Cobra last week on Twitter, so happy to see it do so well.

 

 

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[GeekingGolf]

Wow. Great test as usual. I would love to take that Tour Edge out for a spin. I currently game the Rogue 3-wood and the Sub-Zero 5 wood. Both were welcome additions to my bag. The 3-wood is my go to off the tee when the driver just isnt geting it done, or when I have a tight fairway. The 5-wood is money off the deck, in the middle of the fairway. It makes those hard to reach distances a little easier.

I wouldn't mess with it you sound like you have the perfect setup.

 

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[tony@CIC]

I was surprised to see the G400 towards the bottom of the list. 

[txgolfjunkie]

Looking at last year's most wanted fairway wood test...

 

Callaway isn't messin around...that's two wins in a row. Cobra is a close second. In fact, the only other FW test I can find on the blog is back in 2014...#1 Callaway...#2 Cobra. 

 

Ping is consistently meh which is a shame since their drivers, irons and wedges do pretty well. 

Titleist was at the very top last year, this year is more middle of the pack. Different testers, different swings, etc. 

Same Srixon FW finished 2nd to last in 2017...finished 6th in 2018. 

TaylorMade is usually pretty solid with their FW metals...not this year. 

 

The 2018 test showed a 5-7 yard increase in total distance and a couple yards more accurate than last year's test.

[GolfSpy_X]

Stop for a second. This is how rumors get started.

 

 

We do NOT sell data to OEM's.

 

 

 

 

I really enjoy reading the comments, they bring a smile to my face. I guess people don't get his averages work and how one tester that has a good or bad day can skew the averages. Ideally you would be able to see all the data, but that is some yuk game that is owned by MGS and is obviously sold back to the manufacturers based on an image from a twitter post from one manufacturer. It contained more data than we see and the line in the bottom indicated something like the data was property of the various manufacturers.

For me, I think the Cobra line was a solid product and I couldn't hit the callaway products very well. Wonder which were my best performers???

[cnosil]

Stop for a second. This is how rumors get started.

 

 

We do NOT sell data to OEM's.

Ok sorry. Thought I heard that. Feel free to delete my post if you want.

[Mr. 82]

Wow. Great test as usual. I would love to take that Tour Edge out for a spin. I currently game the Rogue 3-wood and the Sub-Zero 5 wood. Both were welcome additions to my bag. The 3-wood is my go to off the tee when the driver just isnt geting it done, or when I have a tight fairway. The 5-wood is money off the deck, in the middle of the fairway. It makes those hard to reach distances a little easier. 

A buddy convinced me to throw a Callaway 4-wood (16.5* loft) in my bag a few years ago and I'm a strong believer in this being the best decision I've made with a golf club in a long, long time.  I had major problems with consistent contact with the 3-wood from the fairway, and the 5-wood wasn't long enough, and the loft was almost the same as what the 3-irons/hybrids, etc are now.  So rather than carry two fairway woods that there was little to no discernable difference in distance, and one that I couldn't hit consistently enough, I stuck with the 4 wood.

 

From what you are describing above, it sounds like you might benefit from a setup like this as well.  The problem with the 4-wood idea is that there are very few fairway woods in this loft now.  Heck, I'm a PING guy through and through and they don't even make one in that loft.  From what I could find in a quick glance online, your choices are between Taylor Made and Titleist for the most part.  Not bad options, but I am not sure what I will do should my current 4 wood ever needs to be replaced.

[GolfSpy_X]

You said one of them mentioned this on Twitter?  Where is this post?

 

Ok sorry. Thought I heard that. Feel free to delete my post if you want.

[gaussman1]

Did you guys see this in the breakdown? SWING SPEED RANGE: 62mph - 125mph!!.

Please let there be video of the 125 mph swing speed with 3 wood. That is serious speed

[cnosil]

You said one of them mentioned this on Twitter? Where is this post?

It is probably just my interpretation of intellectual property(the data) in the bottom of the post linked below. I assumed the names were owned by tee companies and that the data was owned by MGS. In my mind the bottom statement in the image implied that the data was sold to The OEMs.

 

https://twitter.com/golfnewlevel/status/1016356455945887745?s=21

[null]

It is probably just my interpretation of intellectual property(the data) in the bottom of the post linked below. I assumed the names were owned by tee companies and that the data was owned by MGS. In my mind the bottom statement in the image implied that the data was sold to The OEMs.

 

https://twitter.com/golfnewlevel/status/1016356455945887745?s=21

 

I believe the statement refers to the "product, trade and service names" of the various OEMs as the intellectual property - not he data set.

 

And the data shown is simply a reformatted version of the data that is available to everyone on the results blog

[GeekingGolf]

Did you guys see this in the breakdown? SWING SPEED RANGE: 62mph - 125mph!!.

Please let there be video of the 125 mph swing speed with 3 wood. That is serious speed

I am pretty sure that is driver swing speed.

 

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[gaussman1]

I am pretty sure that is driver swing speed.

 

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Don't ruin this for me

[cnosil]

I believe the statement refers to the "product, trade and service names" of the various OEMs as the intellectual property - not he data set.

 

And the data shown is simply a reformatted version of the data that is available to everyone on the results blog

As I said it was my interpretation. In the future I will refrain from posting interpretation on how MGS operates

[Charli]

Ya done messed up A-Aron

[revkev]

Back on topic - I appreciate the results. I'd love to have more data as well particularly if there was a tester who had a bad day and skewed results for a couple of clubs.

 

I'm not at all surprised by the results. We've been pumping Tour Exotics here for a long time and Callaway and Cobra always seem to have good fairway woods out there.

 

Ping has never done it for me at 3 wood - too deep a face for me.

 

It's amazing to me how different OEMs have their theories of how to make equipment work and how their stuff suites differing swing types.

 

 

 

 

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[Shankster]

I think one of Tony's comment on the blog is spot on. When you find a 3 wood that works it will tend to stay in the bag longer. ( Henrik Stenson )

 

Not having to weed through all the marketing BS is good for consumers, and I don't think enough people appreciate the work that MGS does FOR FREE....

 

I heard about some of these brands before I found MGS, but actually reading reviews and seeing testing results is fun.

 

They are definitely flying a bit under the radar, and have a following of dedicated players, I am talking about the Tour Exotics. I would have never gave them a look before here.

 

I might now, who knows.

[GeekingGolf]

I have never found a fairway wood that works for me I dont kmow why. It must be a swing flaw. I have gone back to my trusty TM rescue mids now. I have the right driver, irons, now wedges and putter but the top of the bag not so much I dont have a club that I can hit 235-245 so longer par 5s ia always a layup for me.

 

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[Shankster]

I have never found a fairway wood that works for me I dont kmow why. It must be a swing flaw. I have gone back to my trusty TM rescue mids now. I have the right driver, irons, now wedges and putter but the top of the bag not so much I dont have a club that I can hit 235-245 so longer par 5s ia always a layup for me.

 

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I have “Henrik” for the time being. A SLDR TS 3 wood. It isn't going anywhere for a bit. Yes, it's name is Henrik.

[GeekingGolf]

I have “Henrik” for the time being. A SLDR TS 3 wood. It isn't going anywhere for a bit. Yes, it's name is Henrik.

Ohhhh the Tour Spoon...I like that looks closer to a hybrid don't you think...not as deep

[Shankster]

Ohhhh the Tour Spoon...I like that looks closer to a hybrid don't you think...not as deep

It's small, small, small. I love it. I put 15 swings in yesterday with it, just admiring the flight and sound. It has a wonderful (almost wood) thwack sound it makes.

 

It really makes a great fairway finder. Tee it up a touch higher and hit up on it... perfect rainbow.

 

Yeah, it isn't going anywhere. Might get a shaft upgrade and a paint job eventually but until it caves in its in the bag, unless there i can find something different.

[StrokerAce]

I've had a couple TEE fw woods in the past and they are hit-or-miss.  Sounds like the model this year is a real winner!  The good news about TEE is that they are more of a boutique line so after a year or so you can usually get one at a really nice price....amazing how much people pay based on brand name (i.e. the Ping driver is so good this year I *must* get the fw wood because they have to be just as good...)

 

Cobra has made a tremendous comeback in the last couple years.  Hope they keep it up...

 

BTW - anyone notice Tommy Armour sneaking in the top 15 ?!?!  whoa!  not bad.

[goaliewales14]

For me I was actually shocked that Tour Edge was on top.  I had the chance to hit the 3 wood about a month ago, and granted when you caught it out of the middle it was a rocket!  The thing I noticed though was it was not forgiving at all on mishits.  I was using the same shaft that I have in my F8 3 wood, hzrdus yellow, so it would be a close comparison.  

 

I definitely wasn't shocked about Rogue though.  That is a great fairway wood!  It came down to F8, Rogue, and Ping for me when I was looking.  I just feel in love with the F8 especially with the baffler tech because my miss is to chunk it.

[GeekingGolf]

So I got all hyped up reading this topics posts and went and tried 917 D2 3 wood hit it between 230 and 250 what price would be considered a good deal on this club used?

 

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