Advice on a new 3-wood

[JMcCann13]

I'm 60 years old and play to a 16 index...and I am considering upgrading my 3 wood...I currently have the TaylorMade RBZ 15-degree loft. I hit the ball short...but fairly straight...most of the time, 210-225 yards

I'm considering the TaylorMade Sim2 15-degree, the Srixon ZX 15-degree, the Cobra RadSpeed 14.5-degree loft, and the Cobra RadSpeed Draw 14.5-degree.

Which one would you recommend for me? Or, is there a different one that I should be considering. I prefer to be straight and short, rather than gaining 10-20 yards and off the fairway.

Also, which shaft would you recommend. My swing speed is the low 90's with a senior flex.

I greatly appreciate any advice you better (or equal) players can provide.

[cnosil]

What are you trying to accomplish?  you have a club that based on your description you hit it straight and decent distance so why the switch?

[CarlH]

Not sure what you're trying to accomplish.  Sounds like the club is working fine.  I'm 70 and would love to hit my 3 wood that far.  

[RickyBobby_PR]

Swing speed and shaft flex don’t always go together and flex has no standard so rule out basing anything on flex or swing speed. 
 

You would actually probably be better of with a higher lofted wood help you hitter straighter an better due to easier to get the ball in the air.

Shaft should get you the feel and weight. Best bet is to go somewhere to demo clubs. Check different lofts, different brands and different shafts to see what you like from looks and feel and see how the ball flight looks

[Kansas King]

If you're really in it for accuracy, you may want to try a 4 wood around 16*. However, you're going to really need to hit a few balls on some form of launch monitor just to make sure the shaft is close enough for you. If you're really serious about accuracy, you may want to heavily consider a custom fitting and getting a 3 wood and have the shaft shortened slightly by 0.5" to 1" depending on original factory length. If I recollect, the shafts in all the RBZ stuff were on the longer end for their time, so if you can hit it straight, shortening may not be necessary.

Overall, lots of options in this area. The optimal and boring answer is to get properly fit. If you don't want to go through a fitting, try and hit balls at a golf shop that at least has a SkyTrak to get some general numbers. I wouldn't expect to see massive differences between an RBZ and new FW today unless you are able to find yourself a lighter shaft that performs well. 

[IONEPUTT]

Going by your stated 210-225 3 wood distance, I'd have to recommend you try either a 4 wood or a 5 wood instead of another 3 wood. More loft would help you get more carry yardage and either a 4 or a 5 wood should be easier to hit and you could see more fairways in your future with either in your bag. I'd also recommend a good fairway wood shaft for your new wood, and I''d highly recommend you have the shaft Spine and FLO aligned so you know the shaft is playing as well as it can. 

[Donn lost in San Diego]

If you can, go to a PXG fitter for a tryout.  They are now priced all the way from low to skigh high.

[Zman56]

I was fitted for a Ping g425 - 3 Wood last summer and love it.  Easy to hit, straight, and get the ball moving in the air.  GoodLuck!

[Bobber]

Advice, and you’re 60? Forget the 3W, and add a 5 or 7.

 

[HK4Health]

A 60 year old with a 16 handicap has no use for a 3 wood, get yourself a 4 wood and you’ll hit it way better and probably farther. I recommend a 7 wood while you’re at it, it’s my favorite club in the bag. 

Edited April 27, 2022 by HK4Health

[Kocher Clamp]

You should be swinging a regular with a 90mph swing.

[RickyBobby_PR]

5 minutes ago, Kocher Clamp said:

You should be swinging a regular with a 90mph swing.

No he shouldn’t. There’s no standard for flex so how can one have a flex based on flex. Shafts provide weight and feel for the club and golfer. Finding the right shaft weight and the right profile for the golfer is more important. 

[CustomClubsGolfer]

I second the question "what are you looking to gain?"...

I would typically not recommend decreasing the loft of a 3-wood.  It would take a lot of on course testing to convince me that decreasing the loft would be a good idea.  What is the loft on your 5 Wood?  What is the yardage gap between the two clubs right now?

[russtopherb]

Your new 3w should actually be a 4w or even a 5w. Lofts, shafts, etc are all going to be dependent on your swing and transition. Are you looking for something primarily off the tee? Off the deck? Both? That can also play into things as well.

[pineneedlespro]

#3 FWY. must look good in the playing position.  It also helps to play one with a shallow face with about 33 mm face height, also one with 455 Carpenters steel face and cup face construction (like a Integra 455) and look for a shaft that is 190 +/_  CPM and 55 grams in weight with a high launch/low spin.

[Kocher Clamp]

On 4/27/2022 at 5:26 PM, RickyBobby_PR said:

No he shouldn’t. There’s no standard for flex so how can one have a flex based on flex. Shafts provide weight and feel for the club and golfer. Finding the right shaft weight and the right profile for the golfer is more important. 

You sound like your bitching at me 

[GaDawg]

I would only suggest that you go get properly fit if you want to change clubs. Everyone's swing is different and to properly get the best value, hit different brands and different shafts. Just because a shaft says stiff, regular, etc. you need to hit them using a monitor and get advice from a professional. I am 63 and just did this for a driver. It was a great learning experience and feel that I was properly fit.

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, Kocher Clamp said:

You sound like your bitching at me 

I’m not bitching at you. I’m saying he shouldn’t just choose a regular flex based on his swing speed. Swing speed is one of the last things used to choose a shaft. There’s no standard for flex so how can one say that X speed should choose Y flex.

Even within a shaft company flexes aren’t the same.

[Pouetvl11]

Normally 90 mph is regular flex as a baseline when you start looking for shaft BUT he can easily fit in lighter stiff shaft. Golf should have a standard for new players so they can understand what shaft they are getting. 

[Chester3488]

On 4/18/2022 at 6:43 PM, JMcCann13 said:

I'm 60 years old and play to a 16 index...and I am considering upgrading my 3 wood...I currently have the TaylorMade RBZ 15-degree loft. I hit the ball short...but fairly straight...most of the time, 210-225 yards

I'm considering the TaylorMade Sim2 15-degree, the Srixon ZX 15-degree, the Cobra RadSpeed 14.5-degree loft, and the Cobra RadSpeed Draw 14.5-degree.

Which one would you recommend for me? Or, is there a different one that I should be considering. I prefer to be straight and short, rather than gaining 10-20 yards and off the fairway.

Also, which shaft would you recommend. My swing speed is the low 90's with a senior flex.

I greatly appreciate any advice you better (or equal) players can provide.

PXG makes a 16 degree 3 wood (The 341 XF) - Adjusts up and down 2 degrees. That's like a 4 wood that can adjust to 3 wood or 5 wood loft. 

BTW - Why play short and straight? Why not long and straight?

Hitting longer doesn't necessarily mean hitting it less straight, 

[vandyland]

On 4/27/2022 at 10:52 AM, Kansas King said:

If you're really in it for accuracy, you may want to try a 4 wood around 16*.

Totally agree with Kansas King and others and would take it a step further...5 wood or 7 wood. I swing a driver 104 mph and found I didn't like the launch conditions of a 3 or 4 wood and that a Sim Max 2 5 wood (18*) carries as far, on average, as my 4 wood and is more consistent. Unless you are playing in high high winds all the time, the launch conditions of a 5 wood or 7 wood are excellent. 

[sopranosly]

Callaway Big Bertha B21  3 wood you'll thank me later

[TripleB]

On 4/29/2022 at 4:52 PM, GaDawg said:

I would only suggest that you go get properly fit if you want to change clubs. Everyone's swing is different and to properly get the best value, hit different brands and different shafts. Just because a shaft says stiff, regular, etc. you need to hit them using a monitor and get advice from a professional. I am 63 and just did this for a driver. It was a great learning experience and feel that I was properly fit.

GaDawg is right on the money here. Take it from a guy that has tried to "buy his game" in the past and always getting the latest greatest. Go find a reputable fitter and have him help you. It could be that all you need is a new shaft in your existing club or perhaps a different stick all together. Point is, they can help, and show you what you need to accomplish your goal. Don't get stuck on one brand or the other. It may be something completely different from what you expect. My bag has 5 different brands represented for example. All because that is what worked for me. Best of luck!