Our 2014 Golf’s Most Wanted 3 Wood Test is underway.
Fresh off publication of our 2014 Golf’s Most Wanted Driver test, we’re putting 21 different 3-woods from 15 different golf companies head to head. Basically we’re talking about the very best that 2014 has to offer (minus Titleist of course).
As has become our traditional we will look at each club in terms of distance and accuracy independently before putting it all together to name 2014’s Most Wanted 3-Wood.
As is also our tradition, not everyone will go home with a trophy (seriously, we literally have trophies we send out…they’re really nice). There can be only one Golf’s Most Wanted 3 Wood.
What Is a 3 Wood?
With different companies offering different lofts (and in some cases several different lofts) that loosely qualify as 3-wood-esque, we know the lines can get a bit blurry. For the purposes of this test, we have defined a 3-Wood as having a stated loft of between 13° and 15.5°. Just as it is with the driver, 3-wood loft is a fitting consideration. With that in mind, we were happy to include lower lofted models, provided shafts were of the same length as those in the 15° range.
What About 5 Woods?
Quite frankly, we’re not sure anyone still plays a 5 wood (yeah, I know that’s overstating it a bit), and so we decided to leave them out of this particular test. If you guys tell us you want more information on 5 wood performance, you can bet we’ll be more than happy to deliver.
If you want something tested, all you have to do is ask. If it makes sense…even just a little sense, we’ll be more than happy to entertain the idea.
Incremental Improvements
Since the publication of our driver test, we’ve received a tremendous amount of feedback and support from the companies who participated in that test. We’ve spoken with members of the R&D teams at several prominent golf companies and have started the process of integrating some of their better suggestions into our testing methodologies.
We’ve promised to get better, and we’re well on our way.
Most of what’s come from those discussions will be transparent to you, but the insight we’ve gained will help ensure that the data we collect is reliable, and most importantly repeatable.
Declined to Participate
While response to our invitations was once again strong, as is almost always the case with our tests, a couple of companies did decline our request for product. Those companies are:
▪ Titleist
▪ Krank Golf
As is our nature, we remain optimistic these companies will provide product for future reviews.
And now for those companies who are willing to put their products head to head against the best of what’s out there.
Ladies and Gentlemen (mostly gentlemen, unfortunately), here are the entries for 2014’s Most Wanted 3-Wood.
Adams Tight Lies & Tight Lies Tour
We put the Adams Tight Lies to our Better from Everywhere test last summer. This time around Tight Lies is going have to be better from the fairway if it’s going to finish ahead of the other 20 fairway woods in this year’s test.
Stock Shaft: Mitsubishi Bassara
Retail Price: $199
Adams XTD
A late addition to our Most Wanted Fairway Test, Adams decided to send us the XTD because YOU asked for it. How cool is that? Power to the consumer. That’s what we’re talking about. Featuring a titanium face and…well…Adams reputation for making killer fairway woods. The XTD could be a disruptive force in our test.
Stock Shaft: Matrix 7Q3 “Red Tie”
Retail Price: $299.99
Callaway Big Bertha
There’s no Alpha version, it lacks the adjustable perimeter weighting of the driver, but even if it doesn’t go 3 (or 2 or 4) Deep like X2 Hot, we still have a sneaking suspicion that Big Bertha will be one to watch as we work our way through this season’s test.
Stock Shaft: Mitsubishi Fubuki Zeta
Retail Price: $269.99
Callaway X2 Hot & X2 Hot Pro
Despite all the buzz around the Bertha line, the X-series (now X2 Hot) remains the more robust offering (options, options, and more options) in the Callaway lineup. We’ll be putting the regular and Pro models to the test. Callaway elected not send the Deep series this time around, but if this miniature driver trend catches on, we may have to take a closer look at the clubs that are blurring the lines between driver and fairway.
Stock Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue (Standard), Aldila Tour Green (Pro)
Retail Price: $229.99
Cleveland 588
The epitome of classic looks and design (minus the weight port, of course), Cleveland’s clean-crowned 588 looks more Custom than Altitude. Quite frankly, I have no idea what to expect from this club, but if you want to drop your money on what I suspect many will see as a longshot, the 588 may be the one to gamble on.
Stock Shaft: Matrix 6Q3
Retail Price: $199.95
Cobra BiO CELL & BiO CELL+
Unlike the driver test where BiO CELL and BiO CELL+ were tested as unique entries, these two will be tested as one (player’s choice). The BiO CELL is the larger of the two, and if not for Cobra’s bright colors (it comes in black too) it would look the part of the modern fairway wood. The BiO CELL+ is the most compact fairway in our test, and should appeal to better players, and perhaps even guys who generally prefer to drop fairway woods for lower lofted hybrids.
Stock Shaft: Project X PXv, Matrix 6Q3, Diamana D+
Retail Price: $219, $249 (BiO CELL+)
Mizuno JPX-EZ
The last time we tested fairway woods head to head Mizuno’s MP-650 won the whole damn thing. Given the improved performance from the JPX-EZ driver, a repeat performance isn’t out of the question.
Stock Shaft: Fujikura Orochi Black Eye
Retail Price: $199.95
Nike VRS Covert 2.0 and VRS Covert 2.0 Tour
I’m not saying you should be betting on the Nike Covert 2.0 to finish on top, but if you don’t have this pairing, you haven’t been paying attention. The 2.0 line isn’t simply a cosmetic improvement, it’s the business. I’m predicting solid results from Nike.
Stock Shaft: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Black, Kuro Kage Silver (Pro)
Retail Price: $199.95, 249.95 (Tour)
ONOFF Fairway Arms Type D and Type S
Japanese Domestic Market sensation, ONOFF, was in the mix nearly every minute of our driver test. Our guys loved the Red (Type D) model, and with go reason. We have no reason not to expect similarly good results off the deck.
Stock Shaft: ONOFF Smooth Kick MP-514F, Smooth Kick MP-613F
PING G25
In our 2014 Most Wanted Driver test, the G25 driver was a standout performer. Someone would argue that with it’s near zero compromise blend of distance and accuracy it should have won. Will the 3 wood offer the same level of performance?
Stock Shaft: PING TFC 189
Retail Price: $229.99
PING i25
PING’s i25 brings one of the most robust stock shaft offerings into our test. Like the driver it features a matte grey crown and racing stripes. It also happens to be PING’s first adjustable fairway wood in the i-series.
Stock Shaft: PING PWR 55, PWR 65, PWR 75
Retail Price: $249.99
PING Rapture
Nearly the most expensive, and certainly the biggest of any fairway wood in this test, PING’s Rapture is a compelling entry. Like TaylorMade’s upcoming Mini Driver, and Callaway’s 2 Deep, the Rapture exists in the fuzzy space between driver and fairway wood. This is going to be interesting.
Stock Shaft: PING TFC 949
Retail Price: $495
PowerBilt Air Force One N7 DFX Black
Either Nitrogen works or PowerBilt simply makes a very good driver. We know what the company can do with the longest club in the bag, so we’re extremely interested to see if their 3 woods perform equally as well.
Stock Shaft: Graphite Design G Series, Fujikura Motore F3
Retail Price: $179.99
TaylorMade SLDR
Baby brother to our 2014 Most Wanted Driver is the first of TaylorMade’s two entries in our test. No doubt given the way the driver performed, SLDR is the early favorite, but fairway woods are entirely different animals. There are no guarantees.
Stock Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 77, Fujikura Motore Speeder TS 8.3 (TP)
Retail Price: $349.99
TaylorMade JetSpeed
It’s just a hunch, but I think that with it’s larger footprint, JetSpeed could prove to be the TaylorMade entry to watch. Distance is the law (or something now). Let’s hope for TaylorMade’s sake JetSpeed lives up to the billing.
Stock Shaft: Matrix Velox T
Retail Price: $229.99
Tommy Armour TA845
We love that Sport’s Authority’s house brand, Tommy Armour, is back for another round of testing. The little guy with a legitimate pedigree may have a better shot in a test where they won’t be at a loft disadvantage. I should probably mention that the TA845 is currently selling for $47.99.
Stock Shaft: Apollo Graphite
Retail Price: $47.99
Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro
That $500 driver with the funky sole design is the first of Tour Edge’s 2 entries. Our staff members raved about it at Tour Edge’s PGA show media event. Will the performance live up to the initial impression.
Stock Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 661, Fujikura Speeder 757
Retail Price: $499.99
Tour Edge Exotics XCG7 & XCG7 Beta
The XCG7, particularly the Beta model, was a favorite among our higher swing speed testers during our driver test. Very early returns suggest the XCG7 will again be one to watch.
Stock Shaft: Fujikura Exotics Fuel (Standard), Matrix 7Q3.1 (Beta), Matrix 7M3.1 (Beta)
Retail Price: $249.99, 299.99 (Beta)
Wilson Staff D-100
Last seasons (but still current) D-100 is the first of two Wilson entries in the test. Whether or not ultralight translates well to a fairway wood remains to be seen, but if it’s anything like the driver, it’s going to be a lot of fun to hit.
Stock Shaft: Matrix Ozik HD5.1
Retail Price: $149.99
Wilson FG Tour M3
The FG Tour M3 is Wilson’s adjustable entry in our test. Geared towards a greater population of golfers, we know that many of you will be keeping a close eye on how it does. We think The Staff is Back, and so, hopefully, here comes your proof.
Stock Shaft: Aldila Phenom 65
Retail Price: $219.99
Yonex EZONE XP
The EZONE XP is designed for a wider audience than Yonex’s other entry in this test. The XP was a quiet but strong performer in our driver test, and I won’t be the least bit surprised if the counterbalanced approach proves beneficial in the smaller footprint of a fairway wood.
Stock Shaft: Yonex EX300
Retail Price: $249.99
Yonex I-EZONE (Type St)
One of the more compact entries in our test, the I-EZONE Type St, is cut from the same mold (ok, a slightly larger mold) than the Cobra BiO CELL+. Traditionalists will love the way it sets up. Whether or not that translates to performance remains to be seen.
Stock Shaft: Yonex NST300EX
Retail Price: $299.99
We’ll Keep You Posted
Testing is now underway, and we expect to have everything wrapped up in the next few weeks, with publication to follow shortly thereafter. As I’m fond of saying…Stay Tuned.
alan bernstein
10 years ago
Been hitting a x-hot 5 and 7 woods and an x hot 2 4 wood as my driver ( about 225 on a good day) Just ordered a Ping Rapture 3 wood and a Big Bertha 5
Looking to get better distance on drives and off the deck with the 5
Will report on Rapture when it arrives