Fairway Wood Shaft Suggestion

[jjmurry]

All, I was recently fit into a Ping G410 LST with a 65G Tensei Orange (the non-upcharge version) and couldn't believe how well I hit it.

 

That being said, my fairway wood situation is dire and was hoping for some suggestions on a 3W shaft.

 

My swing is 110-112ish with a short backswing and quick transition - think Tony Finau but a little longer (not by much). I anticipate using my 3W off the tee almost exclusively and am looking for it to be my 250 yard club. I've tried the AD IZ 7X in my 3W but it gives me an extreme case of the toe hooks, which isn't a miss I have anywhere else in my bag. Additionally, I spin it a bit too close to 4000 rpm on a Trackman, so I need something that launches lower with lower spin.

 

I really enjoyed that the Tensei Orange was butt-stiff and a bit counter balanced. Should I just get another one of those for my 3W? Any suggestions will help. It's to the point where I don't even bother taking out the 3W, it's a fancy ornament in my bag.

 

Thanks!

[crushingr]

Take a look at the Project X Evenflow Black -- its low launch & low spin. I love the feel -- it is the shaft of choice in my driver and 3w. I also have a shorter backswing - it's probably more of a 3/4 just past vertical -- and I can launch my 3w. I actually found a 13.5 3w to use off the tee to not lose as much distance and find more fairways.

[agood3putt]

Tensei Pro White 70 TX tipped would be my suggestion

[Pepperturbo]

I have a faster than normal tempo and transition which plays similar to a shorted backswing. Look at shafts with active-tip sections and mid-low bend. For a long time, my 3 wood shafts were similar in profile to my driver shaft. Always TS, high bend, low spin only in the 78-85 gram range.

 

Recently, I decided to try a completely different profile. I picked up a new aftermarket Project X HZRDUS Red 6.0 (62gram) which has a mid-low bend, mid-spin, **active tip** for the driver. To my surprise, I gained some distance with a nice trajectory. I figured why not try the same shaft only 75 gram in 3 wood, and got the same result, bit more distance, and slightly higher trajectory.

[jjmurry]

> @crushingr said:

> Take a look at the Project X Evenflow Black -- its low launch & low spin. I love the feel -- it is the shaft of choice in my driver and 3w. I also have a shorter backswing - it's probably more of a 3/4 just past vertical -- and I can launch my 3w. I actually found a 13.5 3w to use off the tee to not lose as much distance and find more fairways.

 

I think I've hit that in the driver when trying it - it felt nice but maybe not lively enough for me. If I can find it on the cheap maybe that's a good option!

[jjmurry]

> @AG12 said:

> Tensei Pro White 70 TX tipped would be my suggestion

 

I keep thinking of pulling the trigger, do you feel like it's a butt-stiff shaft? I've never tried it so maybe it's time.

[agood3putt]

> @jjmurry said:

> > @AG12 said:

> > Tensei Pro White 70 TX tipped would be my suggestion

>

> I keep thinking of pulling the trigger, do you feel like it's a butt-stiff shaft? I've never tried it so maybe it's time.

 

It is a tip stiff shaft and has a high kick point.

[jjmurry]

> @Pepperturbo said:

> I have a faster than normal tempo and transition which plays similar to a shorted backswing. Look at shafts with active-tip sections and mid-low bend. For a long time, my 3 wood shafts were similar in profile to my driver shaft. Always TS, high bend, low spin only in the 78-85 gram range.

>

> Recently, I decided to try a completely different profile. I picked up a new aftermarket Project X HZRDUS Red 6.0 (62gram) which has a mid-low bend, mid-spin, **active tip** for the driver. To my surprise, I gained some distance with a nice trajectory. I figured why not try the same shaft only 75 gram in 3 wood, and got the same result, bit more distance, and slightly higher trajectory.

 

This is interesting... how is your normal ball flight? Generally high or low? Mine is a very high ball flight so I need to knock it down at all costs!

[cmb71]

I personally did not like the Pro Orange in my 3 wood because of the counter-balance, although I love it in my driver (albeit V2 is a different animal, similar to Aldila Copperhead). My suggestions would be to try Tensei Pro White, Fuji Pro 2.0 TS, or maybe HZRDUS Smoke Yellow if you really dig the counterbalance.

[cmb71]

Forgot to add... Tensei Pro White is the opposite of butt stiff. Softer in the handle, should lower launch. Feels outstanding too.

[Howard_Jones]

> @jjmurry said:

> > @Pepperturbo said:

> > I have a faster than normal tempo and transition which plays similar to a shorted backswing. Look at shafts with active-tip sections and mid-low bend. For a long time, my 3 wood shafts were similar in profile to my driver shaft. Always TS, high bend, low spin only in the 78-85 gram range.

> >

> > Recently, I decided to try a completely different profile. I picked up a new aftermarket Project X HZRDUS Red 6.0 (62gram) which has a mid-low bend, mid-spin, **active tip** for the driver. To my surprise, I gained some distance with a nice trajectory. I figured why not try the same shaft only 75 gram in 3 wood, and got the same result, bit more distance, and slightly higher trajectory.

>

> This is interesting... how is your normal ball flight? Generally high or low? Mine is a very high ball flight so I need to knock it down at all costs!

 

My best advice is NOT to use the shaft to tweak ball flight. Ball flight is ONLY a question of loft at impact, and if lower launch is wanted, lower static lofts is the way to go. Choose shafts by Weight, Feel and Dispersion, leave ball flight to LOFTs, thats why we play the same shafts in a set of irons, but with different lofts. If ball flight was a shaft question, we would have irons with the same loft, but different shaft profiles, but we dont, since that would make FEEL very different depending on club.

 

Never underestimate what FEEL does to your swing, so if the shaft dont feel right, it aint right, and it dont matter at all for the stupid ball we play, no matter name, flex label or price tag on the shaft.

 

The feel alone can improve your swing and impact, so go by feel, NOT ball flight since thats a loft question, and the ball has no clue where loft came from, shaft bending or static loft difference does not matter for the ball, only loft at impact does.

[Pepperturbo]

> @jjmurry said:

> > @Pepperturbo said:

> > I have a faster than normal tempo and transition which plays similar to a shorted backswing. Look at shafts with active-tip sections and mid-low bend. For a long time, my 3 wood shafts were similar in profile to my driver shaft. Always TS, high bend, low spin only in the 78-85 gram range.

> >

> > Recently, I decided to try a completely different profile. I picked up a new aftermarket Project X HZRDUS Red 6.0 (62gram) which has a mid-low bend, mid-spin, **active tip** for the driver. To my surprise, I gained some distance with a nice trajectory. I figured why not try the same shaft only 75 gram in 3 wood, and got the same result, bit more distance, and slightly higher trajectory.

>

> This is interesting... how is your normal ball flight? Generally high or low? Mine is a very high ball flight so I need to knock it down at all costs!

 

Medium to a low trajectory with all clubs mostly due to my mechanics and hands at impact. I was looking for a bit higher ball flight with 3 wood off the deck and got it with HZRDUS Red profile. As I said, for many years I played high bend stiff tip shafts and hit bullets, so wanted a higher trajectory off the deck and surprisingly got it with active tip. The difference though at least with my chosen shaft is it has a stiff butt and mid-section.

 

However, if you are hitting them high now, an active tip may not be the answer. You have a challenge ahead of you. Good luck.

[jjmurry]

> @crushingr said:

> Take a look at the Project X Evenflow Black -- its low launch & low spin. I love the feel -- it is the shaft of choice in my driver and 3w. I also have a shorter backswing - it's probably more of a 3/4 just past vertical -- and I can launch my 3w. I actually found a 13.5 3w to use off the tee to not lose as much distance and find more fairways.

 

I think I've hit that in the driver when trying it - it felt nice but maybe not lively enough for me. If I can find it on the cheap maybe that's a good option!> @"Howard Jones" said:

> > @jjmurry said:

> > > @Pepperturbo said:

> > > I have a faster than normal tempo and transition which plays similar to a shorted backswing. Look at shafts with active-tip sections and mid-low bend. For a long time, my 3 wood shafts were similar in profile to my driver shaft. Always TS, high bend, low spin only in the 78-85 gram range.

> > >

> > > Recently, I decided to try a completely different profile. I picked up a new aftermarket Project X HZRDUS Red 6.0 (62gram) which has a mid-low bend, mid-spin, **active tip** for the driver. To my surprise, I gained some distance with a nice trajectory. I figured why not try the same shaft only 75 gram in 3 wood, and got the same result, bit more distance, and slightly higher trajectory.

> >

> > This is interesting... how is your normal ball flight? Generally high or low? Mine is a very high ball flight so I need to knock it down at all costs!

>

> My best advice is NOT to use the shaft to tweak ball flight. Ball flight is ONLY a question of loft at impact, and if lower launch is wanted, lower static lofts is the way to go. Choose shafts by Weight, Feel and Dispersion, leave ball flight to LOFTs, thats why we play the same shafts in a set of irons, but with different lofts. If ball flight was a shaft question, we would have irons with the same loft, but different shaft profiles, but we dont, since that would make FEEL very different depending on club.

>

> Never underestimate what FEEL does to your swing, so if the shaft dont feel right, it aint right, and it dont matter at all for the stupid ball we play, no matter name, flex label or price tag on the shaft.

>

> The feel alone can improve your swing and impact, so go by feel, NOT ball flight since thats a loft question, and the ball has no clue where loft came from, shaft bending or static loft difference does not matter for the ball, only loft at impact does.

 

Howard, you're much too sensible for this forum! I think you're right. I gotta go for the feel then work on mechanics of my swing to get the desired ball flight. Imagine that, user error! I think with my fairway wood I need something with a bit stronger tip, that I can feel like I'm hitting more down on the ball and therefore dial in the ball flight mechanically.

[jjmurry]

> @cmb71 said:

> I personally did not like the Pro Orange in my 3 wood because of the counter-balance, although I love it in my driver (albeit V2 is a different animal, similar to Aldila Copperhead). My suggestions would be to try Tensei Pro White, Fuji Pro 2.0 TS, or maybe HZRDUS Smoke Yellow if you really dig the counterbalance.

 

I've been eyeing the tensei pro white for a while now, and as it it's got a stronger tip that I think I can feel like I am hitting down on the ball more, so that may be a winner.

[agood3putt]

> @jjmurry said:

> > @cmb71 said:

> > I personally did not like the Pro Orange in my 3 wood because of the counter-balance, although I love it in my driver (albeit V2 is a different animal, similar to Aldila Copperhead). My suggestions would be to try Tensei Pro White, Fuji Pro 2.0 TS, or maybe HZRDUS Smoke Yellow if you really dig the counterbalance.

>

> I've been eyeing the tensei pro white for a while now, and as it it's got a stronger tip that I think I can feel like I am hitting down on the ball more, so that may be a winner.

 

I keep beating these forums to death about the Pro White as the best driver/fairway shaft combo out there right now. They are THAT good

[jjmurry]

> @AG12 said:

> > @jjmurry said:

> > > @cmb71 said:

> > > I personally did not like the Pro Orange in my 3 wood because of the counter-balance, although I love it in my driver (albeit V2 is a different animal, similar to Aldila Copperhead). My suggestions would be to try Tensei Pro White, Fuji Pro 2.0 TS, or maybe HZRDUS Smoke Yellow if you really dig the counterbalance.

> >

> > I've been eyeing the tensei pro white for a while now, and as it it's got a stronger tip that I think I can feel like I am hitting down on the ball more, so that may be a winner.

>

> I keep beating these forums to death about the Pro White as the best driver/fairway shaft combo out there right now. They are THAT good

 

Cool! I'll snag one if I see one on the bay. Question for you about it - what is your miss with it? My miss right now are these spinny blocks that barely fade left, I'd like to be able to turn the club over. Do you have any issues with that with your pro white? Thanks

[RyanBarathWRX]

I would suggest an Accra FX 2.0 300F - Its 85 grams and meant for players that really load it with speed.

[jjmurry]

> @RyanBarathWRX said:

> I would suggest an Accra FX 2.0 300F - Its 85 grams and meant for players that really load it with speed.

 

Hi Ryan - I recognize you from Instagram! It's an honor to hear from you on this. I'm not sure if my swing speed can handle an 85g fairway wood shaft, but it appears they can be had on the cheap so I'll add it to my list. I'm at the point where I just don't even want a 3W and would rather keep it in my trunk, but I think I need a club in between my driving iron and driver. Thanks for the suggestion!

[RyanBarathWRX]

> @jjmurry said:

> > @RyanBarathWRX said:

> > I would suggest an Accra FX 2.0 300F - Its 85 grams and meant for players that really load it with speed.

>

> Hi Ryan - I recognize you from Instagram! It's an honor to hear from you on this. I'm not sure if my swing speed can handle an 85g fairway wood shaft, but it appears they can be had on the cheap so I'll add it to my list. I'm at the point where I just don't even want a 3W and would rather keep it in my trunk, but I think I need a club in between my driving iron and driver. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Hey Happy to help.

If you are no sure about the 300 I would also suggest the FX 2.0 200 which is in a lighter range. Good luck with the search