Factors in Equipment Decisions.

[Samick]

I have a little dilema and was wondering how other people decided what to put in the bag.

My bag is almost set.....almost. I'm having a particular problem deciding on what 3 wood to put in the bag. Whats in the bag right now are a Cleveland Launcher 10.5* with a Prolaunch 65S, and a Callaway Steelhead III 7 wood with Prolite Fairway 35 stiff shaft.

Both of these clubs are in the bag for a long time, great trajectory, distance, shot dispersion, etc... so when I think of a 3 wood, I either think of another Steelhead III 3 wood with a Prolite.....or the Prolaunch.

I have tried the Steelhead + with Prolite.........no good (for me). Nothing but high fade/slice.

Tried a Steelhead (original) with steel shaft..........no good (again, for me) It goes all over the place, big hooks...high slice.....you name it.

Even went back to the old Warbird I have with Aldila 80-B stiff......no good. It used to be my money club wth a steel shaft, but after the graphite went in...its high fade city.

I bought a new G5 Ping with an NV 75 stiff, the guy told me no way you'll hook this........BANG.....bloody hook!

So I ask you.....is it the head......the shaft.....or combo? I think combo, which leads me back to a Steelhead III 3 wood with prolite like the 7 wood.......although.........I seen a spiffy lookin Sonartec NP-99.

Should I at least stick with either the Prolaunch or Prolite?

I'm friggin lost......been drivin myself nuts for days now.....:help:

PS went to GT lunch time......really like the look of the Callaway X.....and Mizuno F-50.

[laxgolf]

I have a little dilema and was wondering how other people decided what to put in the bag.

My bag is almost set.....almost. I'm having a particular problem deciding on what 3 wood to put in the bag. Whats in the bag right now are a Cleveland Launcher 10.5* with a Prolaunch 65S, and a Callaway Steelhead III 7 wood with Prolite Fairway 35 stiff shaft.

Both of these clubs are in the bag for a long time, great trajectory, distance, shot dispersion, etc... so when I think of a 3 wood, I either think of another Steelhead III 3 wood with a Prolite.....or the Prolaunch.

I have tried the Steelhead + with Prolite.........no good (for me). Nothing but high fade/slice.

Tried a Steelhead (original) with steel shaft..........no good (again, for me) It goes all over the place, big hooks...high slice.....you name it.

Even went back to the old Warbird I have with Aldila 80-B stiff......no good. It used to be my money club wth a steel shaft, but after the graphite went in...its high fade city.

I bought a new G5 Ping with an NV 75 stiff, the guy told me no way you'll hook this........BANG.....bloody hook!

So I ask you.....is it the head......the shaft.....or combo? I think combo, which leads me back to a Steelhead III 3 wood with prolite like the 7 wood.......although.........I seen a spiffy lookin Sonartec NP-99.

Should I at least stick with either the Prolaunch or Prolite?

I'm friggin lost......been drivin myself nuts for days now.....:help:

PS went to GT lunch time......really like the look of the Callaway X.....and Mizuno F-50.

Taylor Made 200 Steel with one of the shafts you liked in the past - problems solved.

[Samick]

Taylor Made 200 Steel with one of the shafts you liked in the past - problems solved.

Ummmmmmmm, I forgot.....I had two Taylor 200's with Harmon Tour Design shafts.....hit them a ton, but waaaaaaaayyy too low for me. 5 wood was almost as long as the 3 wood. Not a big fan of taylor.

[laxgolf]

Ummmmmmmm, I forgot.....I had two Taylor 200's with Harmon Tour Design shafts.....hit them a ton, but waaaaaaaayyy too low for me. 5 wood was almost as long as the 3 wood. Not a big fan of taylor.

Did you ever try any other shafts in them?

[titleistfan]

The problem is def. shaft.. Nothing to do with the head.. If you find a head you like then find the right shaft for you.. Go get fitted..

[Samick]

Did you ever try any other shafts in them?

Actually no.....and thats my fault for sure. As we all know the shaft is the engine. But I had a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth...

The problem is def. shaft.. Nothing to do with the head.. If you find a head you like then find the right shaft for you.. Go get fitted..

I agree totally on getting fitted.....but just a quick question. Do you think that its better to have both fairway woods match? Same shaft, and head manufacturer/name? I mean if you have one that works really well.....getting the same combo with different loft should be money in the bank would it not?

So many 3 woods........so little time...and money!

Love the look of the Titleist 904, Callaway X, and Mizuno F-50 are nice too......what to choose, what to choose. Prob with the Callaway Steelhead III is that they are as scarce as hens teeth now.

[NWILLIAMS]

I prefer having matching clubs...

Like to have my Woods all from the same line, and the wedges all frrom the same line ...

Now my woods don't have to be from the same manuacturer as my irons and as my wedges ... I just like to make sure those groups are the same within themselves.

It is probably mainly a mental thing, but to an extent it also has to do with feel. It is really nice to know the ball will react the same from one club to another.

As for the heads, you will find very little difference between 2 heads that are from the same era. It's all about the shaft, and getting fitted :)

I find if you put the same shaft in 3 different competing heads, the results are very similar, but the feel is 100% different.

[el tigre]

I agree totally on getting fitted.....but just a quick question. Do you think that its better to have both fairway woods match? Same shaft, and head manufacturer/name? Not necessarily. It depends on what you use them for.

For most people the 7-wood and perhaps the 5-wood is often a long approach club. So you generally want a nice high trajectory with them so you can hold greens. And you'll probably want a head that is easy to hit off the deck and in the rough (especially with the 7-wood).

The 3-wood is often used differently:

a) a driver alternative - since you're mostly using it off the tee, a high-profile head is fine and you don't want a trajectory that is too high.

b) a set-up club - hitting it mostly off the deck, sometimes for long approachs to hit par 5's in two. A low-profile head with high trajectory will probably suit you better.

How you use your 3-wood should determine your choice - rather than what you already have in the bag.

[Samick]

Exellent points made there guys. I would be primarily using this club on shorter par 4's (410yards and less) for tee shots. I dont want to comprimise the tee shots, but I would like to be able to hit it off the deck every once in a while for the second shot on par 5's.

But like you said El Tigre, its what you would use it the most for. Points well taken and thanks for all the help. I think I have FINALLY made a decission.