Any decent players carrying a 9 wood?

[ephmen]

Any decent, moderate SS players playing a 9 wood? If so, what is your setup and how does it work for you?

[CKaneb]

Dustin Johnson, seems to work pretty okay for him

[ephmen]

Really? What does he hit it,? 240?

 

[CKaneb]

5 minutes ago, ephmen said:

Really? What does he hit it,? 240?

 

started gaming it for the U.S. Open at Brookline and I believe it stayed in his bag during the Open Championship as well. Don't know the exact carry number but I'm pretty sure it replaced his 4 iron. There are a few GolfWRX articles and pieces by other publications that talk about the switch

[hammergolf]

31 minutes ago, CKaneb said:

Dustin Johnson, seems to work pretty okay for him

What he said. I carry a 7wd and if I thought a 9wd would help me over my 4hy I would switch in a heartbeat. As good as my 7wd has been, I will be testing a 9wd vs my 4hy this year. I’m pleased with my 4hy but if the 9wd is better it will go in the bag. I stopped caring about what others think about what I have in my bag years ago. If it helps me play better golf, it goes in the bag…..

[hammergolf]

35 minutes ago, ephmen said:

Really? What does he hit it,? 240?

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/677107/heres-why-dustin-johnson-is-using-a-9-wood-at-the-2022-pga-championship/

[BIG STU]

49 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

What he said. I carry a 7wd and if I thought a 9wd would help me over my 4hy I would switch in a heartbeat. As good as my 7wd has been, I will be testing a 9wd vs my 4hy this year. I’m pleased with my 4hy but if the 9wd is better it will go in the bag. I stopped caring about what others think about what I have in my bag years ago. If it helps me play better golf, it goes in the bag…..

I have been carrying the same 7 wood for darn near 20 years now. I have had that 9 wood some 5 or 6 years now. The last 3 it has stayed in the bag. Like you I could give 2 hoots less what others think period. Back in the persimmon days I carried a little Northwestern 6 wood but also a 1 iron. In fact when I play vintage I carry a little Macgregor Louise Suggs 6 wood. 

[CKaneb]

52 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

What he said. I carry a 7wd and if I thought a 9wd would help me over my 4hy I would switch in a heartbeat. As good as my 7wd has been, I will be testing a 9wd vs my 4hy this year. I’m pleased with my 4hy but if the 9wd is better it will go in the bag. I stopped caring about what others think about what I have in my bag years ago. If it helps me play better golf, it goes in the bag…..

^^^^ @ephmen if you hit the ball high or struggle with over spinning a 9W is gonna be a pretty poor option in terms of testing. Works really well for a guy like DJ because his dynamic loft at impact is pretty low. Hence why his driver is lofted up to 12* and his iron and wedge shafts are super soft vs how fast he swings to club (softer shaft helps increase dynamic loft)

[Golfdoctor]

I played the Titleist TSi1 9 wood (23°) loft for the last couple of years and it saved me a few times. But, this year I'm switching to a Ping G425 SFT 7 wood (22°) for a little extra distance and straighter flight.

 

[animalgolfs]

9wd is money for my game.

 

Shaft weight choice & playing length is more particular IMO 

[Cwebb]

2 hours ago, CKaneb said:

^^^^ @ephmen if you hit the ball high or struggle with over spinning a 9W is gonna be a pretty poor option in terms of testing. Works really well for a guy like DJ because his dynamic loft at impact is pretty low. Hence why his driver is lofted up to 12* and his iron and wedge shafts are super soft vs how fast he swings to club (softer shaft helps increase dynamic loft)

 

For him, it actually plays more like a 7 wood, if you consider his loft progression from the driver.  It replaced a 3 iron in his set

Edited February 21, 2023 by Cwebb

[Titleist_PT23]

4 hours ago, hammergolf said:

What he said. I carry a 7wd and if I thought a 9wd would help me over my 4hy I would switch in a heartbeat. As good as my 7wd has been, I will be testing a 9wd vs my 4hy this year. I’m pleased with my 4hy but if the 9wd is better it will go in the bag. I stopped caring about what others think about what I have in my bag years ago. If it helps me play better golf, it goes in the bag…..

My experience is as follows.  Assuming one can live with the ball flight and gapping of either (9W vs. 4H, don't hate one or the other or play a course where the characteristics of one is superior), the 4H's biggest plus has been for awkward lies/stances.  I think the smaller clubhead (and shorter shaft) makes it a bit easier to get on the ball here and there.  The advantage for the 9W is consistent setup, look, feel, etc.  Sometimes pulling a club you rarely hit can throw things off.  Obviously, a lot of people play with a mix and match of various clubs, but I have a slight preference for a consistent setup.

[Nelson.br.1515]

I don’t know if you would consider me decent but I play an Adams Speedline LP 9 wood and will not be going back to a hybrid in the 22*-23* slot. Does everything a hybrid does but better. 

[aquapig]

3 hours ago, CKaneb said:

^^^^ @ephmen if you hit the ball high or struggle with over spinning a 9W is gonna be a pretty poor option in terms of testing. Works really well for a guy like DJ because his dynamic loft at impact is pretty low. Hence why his driver is lofted up to 12* and his iron and wedge shafts are super soft vs how fast he swings to club (softer shaft helps increase dynamic loft)

I hit the ball high and also high spin..love my 9 wood.

[aquapig]

5 hours ago, ephmen said:

Any decent, moderate SS players playing a 9 wood? If so, what is your setup and how does it work for you?

I'm a 2.5 index. Swing speed w driver is 108. 

 

I replaced my 4 iron with a 9 wood and couldn't be happier. 

 

It's a cheater club for 200 yard shots for me. 

[SteelieD]

Not sure what “decent” has to do with it but… I went to a 7 wood last year and it’s been my favorite club to hit since then. High, straight, long. Very seriously considering a 9w. 

[aquapig]

4 minutes ago, SteelieD said:

Not sure what “decent” has to do with it but… I went to a 7 wood last year and it’s been my favorite club to hit since then. High, straight, long. Very seriously considering a 9w. 

If you like your 7 wood, go for it. I'm certain you will enjoy adding that to your bag. 

[Justsomeguy]

Wood vs hybrid vs iron.

Wood should have the most spin, iron the least, hybrid the happy medium.

I am not a high speed guy, and my irons stop at 5i. I can get it airborne off the deck, and it's a great tee club for me.

I then go to a 4h bc I think that's where I start losing distance per degree of loft, and the hybrid compensates. It's also great out of bad lies, and I think every amateur needs at least one for that purpose alone.

Then I go 5w 3w driver. The 5w is the best of both worlds, and the 3w I won't hit off the deck unless I have a good lie. It is however great for long par 3s that a driver would be too much for.

 

 

 

[Pack7483]

I would play a 9W if PXG would have made an 0211 9W.  I love my dirt cheap 0211 7W I bought.  

[eric61]

3 hours ago, aquapig said:

I'm a 2.5 index. Swing speed w driver is 108. 

 

I replaced my 4 iron with a 9 wood and couldn't be happier. 

 

It's a cheater club for 200 yard shots for me. 

What’s your set-up between driver and 9W? I love high-lofted fairway woods; just thinking through the gapping.

[idrive]

Bought my first and only 9 wood 22* in 2007 (I think, could be off a year). Hate hybrids and wanted something to replace the 4i.  It will never leave my bag. Wish I had dollar for every time I've told someone it's my favorite club.

 

I use it for my 190ish+ shot. I can dial it back 10 yards by choking it down an inch or add 10 by putting it back in my stance a couple of inches. It's a PRGR EGG. The profile excels off of the tight lies but still works out of the moderate rough. Basic ball flight is med/high to high so it lands softly on the green but by closing down the face I can flight it down if needed.

 

I'm constantly asked, what the heck are you hitting.  Yes, as you might have guessed by now, I simply love this club.

[st1800e]

I had a 5 wood in 1975 when the standard was 1 and 3 woods, and sometimes a 4 wood.  Others laughed at my 5 wood.  In the early ‘80s I had 1,4,5,6,7 woods, Powerbilt Citations.   Laughter then too. 
When metal woods came out Ive had 1,3,5,7 ever since. Started replacing long irons with hybrids in early 2000’s.  Added an 11 wood in ‘21 as my 7w is 21* and the 11w is 25*.  A 9W in my Rogues would be 23* so too close to the 7w. 
Its a wonderful club, noticeably more forgiving and versatile than a hybrid of equivalent loft. 
My set today is Driver 9.5*, 3W 13*, 4w 17*, 7w 21*, 11w 25*,  Hybrid 30*, 34*, irons, 8,9,PW, GW, and 58* Sand/lob wedge.  
I’d highly recommend a 9 or 11 wood.

 

Decent player?  Well,  I was 2-3 hcp for most of the 2000’s, got to 1 a couple times, then work, family health issues and my bad back pushed me as high as 13. In the last year I’ve managed to get that down as low as 7 and am putting more effort to get it lower, along with a recent successful back procedure.  
 

I can say the 11 wood had a part in in my improvement.  
 

p.s. my driver swing speed is 85mph.  

 

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by st1800e

[GolfTurkey]

I'm going for a fitting for this slot in the bag and will definitely test 9W.

 

Currently playing 4H and have never found a hybrid I'm comfortable with.

[Drivingrangehero]

10 hours ago, aquapig said:

I'm a 2.5 index. Swing speed w driver is 108. 

 

I replaced my 4 iron with a 9 wood and couldn't be happier. 

 

It's a cheater club for 200 yard shots for me. 

I haven’t held a handicap in years, but hovered around 2-4 for many years, now my goal is to break 80 when I go out, which is about 50/50 at this point…… since I don’t play much, my distance control on 3/4 to 1/2 half shots and chipping are flat out terrible 
 

my swing speed is around 113 mph with a driver

 

I had a 22* Tight Lies 7w that played at 40”  the last 2 seasons, but recently swapped it out for a Royal Collection (Sonartec) 22* 9W due to the different head designs.  
 

The Adams Tight Lies (2013) is a shallow faced flat style bottom, much like a modern Ping fairway wood which is great for sweeping, while the Royal Collection is more of a U/V rounded shaped bottom with a deeper face like the old Titleist 904F. its just more versatile for me .I play it at 40” with a 90g shaft, so I hit down on it more like an iron. 
 

I fly my irons around 115ft on average 

 

I haven’t gone on a launch monitor with the Royal Collection 9W yet, but I have hit it on the range twice since having it built to specs last week. So far it’s the honeymoon stage, but I love it. 
 

It will occupy my 4i spot (22* HMB at 1/2 over) depending on where I’m playing. If it were my old home course, I would have kept the 4i since it has 4 par threes that play 197y, 215y, 202y, 204y, but since I moved from MA to FL, the 9W is staying in the bag. 
 

I have a 23* Adams Super 9031 proto that I was using in the 4i spot prior to the Tight Lies 7w (I bought the HMB set as 5-PW) but I liked the 5i so much, I opted to buy a 4i. I felt it would be better  for the old home course, which it was. 
 

It’s good to have options. I was having a difficult time filling that spot, but then realized, I don’t need a fixed bag, all three clubs gap off my 1/2” over  25* 5i and my 41-1/2” 18* 5W pretty well, so I will swap them out depending on where I’m playing, and ground conditions. 

[aquapig]

8 hours ago, eric61 said:

What’s your set-up between driver and 9W? I love high-lofted fairway woods; just thinking through the gapping.

4 wood 7 wood

[animalgolfs]

57 minutes ago, aquapig said:

4 wood 7 wood

I use this -  loft up 5wd 17.5 to 18.5 then loft down my 9wd 23.5 to 22.9

 

 

[MattC555]

I've never hit a 9 wood, but love my 7w.  It is difficult to test one with a stiff enough shaft.  Certainly intriguing though, as I'm probably more consistent with the 7w vs my 4H. 

[Cheeek]

Driver SS of 106 and love my G425 Max 9w. I have a very low dynamic loft with my swing and cant hold a green with my 5i. My 9w is about 205 carry and rolls out to max 210. I currently play a 3w but will probably ditch that to a 5w.

 

9w is the easiest club in my bag to hit from any lie.

[eric61]

2 hours ago, Cheeek said:

Driver SS of 106 and love my G425 Max 9w. I have a very low dynamic loft with my swing and cant hold a green with my 5i. My 9w is about 205 carry and rolls out to max 210. I currently play a 3w but will probably ditch that to a 5w.

 

9w is the easiest club in my bag to hit from any lie.

I'll ask you the same question I asked someone else earlier -- what's in your bag between driver and 9W? If it's your 5 iron replacement, I assume that means you have three clubs in between? 

[Cheeek]

20 hours ago, eric61 said:

I'll ask you the same question I asked someone else earlier -- what's in your bag between driver and 9W? If it's your 5 iron replacement, I assume that means you have three clubs in between? 

 

This was my bag last year:

• Driver: 250-270 (Total)
• 3w: 230-240 (Total)
• 3h: 215-230 (Total) but my launch angle is very low so lots of roll out at times
• 9w: 205 (Carry) 210 (Total)
• 5i: 195 (Carry) 210-220 (Total) Sticking greens is almost impossible with my LA on my 5i from last season.

I just got some Mizuno irons that improved spin and descent angle and I am starting to test my numbers to build the bag for this season. Here are my predictions though if you care.

 

Dr, 5w, 9w, 4i-GW, 53, 58. It will end up being that 4i vs 3h vs 3w debate that may depend on the course being played that week tbh.