83 replies to this topic

[GolfWRX]

See the Titleist 3 wood in Gary Woodland's bag? The reason it's still in the bag of the new Callaway Staffer, according to our eyes and ears on the ground at the Humana Challenge, is that Callaway's new X Hot Pro fairway wood -- same loft, same length, same shaft -- is actually flying t0o far for Woodland, who is said to be the longest player on Tour by one of the Tour most credible sources, Dustin Johnson

To get a fairway wood that flies an appropriate distance for Woodland, he worked with Callaway on a steel-shafted model (see the pictures below) that would shorten the distance he could hit the club. Even at his standard length, the steel-shafted fairway wood was flying too far, so Woodland and the Callaway crew worked on shortening the X Hot Pro fairway wood steel shaft 0.25 inches until it fly the proper distance.

Check out out continuing coverage of the Humana Classic, as well as TV coverage on the weekend to see what 3 wood makes it in Woodland's bag.

[PreppySlapCut]

Cool stuff, thanks.  Wonder what the deciding factor is for the staffers between the RFE and the X-Hot Pro?

[ksavy17]

that x -hot pro stuff looks damn good. Not surprised he was hitting it to far!!!

[mrlongball]

Thats just nuts. This guy is a freakin' beast! Hope he gets his groove back cause hes got a great swing. Love to see him get back to how he was at the Hope that one year....Preppy, I would like to know this as well...it seems that everyone is going with the XHOT Pro so far as I have one seen one (Ryo) with the RFE....I wonder if they (cally) hasn't released it to even the pros...The Sony had a lot of staffers with the HOT...

[Jrolsen0425]

He hits the ball a ton! Hopefully he can get back to the winners circle this year. The more I see the xhot driver and woods the more I want them!

[Puppetmaster]

Awesome pics and info, thanks guys. Slightly surprised he went with the OG Utility and a Two Ball. Any info on his GD shafts? I think it was posted previously they are 90 gram shafts.

[MadGolfer76]

Steel-shafted 3 wood? Gee, I wonder who gave him THAT idea?


...Robo

[FairwayGolfUSA.com]

Wow, what a beast.

[Ness]

The putter spot was the main club I was wondering about when the rumors of him going to Callaway. That's a big change for him.

[J.W.]

The putter change VERY much surprises me... not because he changed away from the Cameron but because he goes from a Newport II to a 2-Ball.

I will say, the more and more I see the X-Hot Pro 3 wood the more it intrigues me... I played a Titleist PT 3 wood with X100 for a little while and love the look.  Definitely brings back old memories... I may have to scoop one up even though I love my 913F-d.

[XJared]

So the 3 wood is too long, why not bag a 4 or 5 wood instead of all that work?

[Jamboy72]

I'd love to know the actual numbers in play...if he hits that 3 wood too far...you wonder how close it is to his driver...why not tweak the loft?

[jdzeeb]

XJared, on 14 January 2013 - 07:41 PM, said:

So the 3 wood is too long, why not bag a 4 or 5 wood instead of all that work?

The x-hot in those pics IS a 4-wood (17 degree). Unless he's bagging the. 4 wood also?

[J.W.]

topekareal, on 14 January 2013 - 07:45 PM, said:

I'd love to know the actual numbers in play...if he hits that 3 wood too far...you wonder how close it is to his driver...why not tweak the loft?

I said this in another thread but a lot of players are very sensitive to address look, loft and face angle.  I fit a college team that was/is a top D1 program (finished top 5 last year) and a couple of the kids ball speeds are in Woodland territory... 182-190 or so with the driver.  The first thing they comment on with the fairway woods is almost always the look from the top.  The PGA tour rep there that day said this is pretty common with the guys he fits.  Seems almost all of the top level college guys like a strong lofted 3 wood for tee use and a lot of their PGA Tour staff like more loft for more carry.  They don't always want a club that's gonna bounce forward and run out because they cannot keep it from running through the firm fairways on tour and then it makes shot shaping necessary.  Anyway, a lot of them don't like the higher lofted fairways because they have to be VERY open to look "square" to their eye.  This would be my first guess as to why they don't just make a simple loft tweak and call it a day.

Edited by J.W., 14 January 2013 - 07:58 PM.

[<88>]

jdzeeb, on 14 January 2013 - 07:52 PM, said:

XJared, on 14 January 2013 - 07:41 PM, said:

So the 3 wood is too long, why not bag a 4 or 5 wood instead of all that work?

The x-hot in those pics IS a 4-wood (17 degree). Unless he's bagging the. 4 wood also?

was just going to post the same thing

[dmalli]

Seen this on Instagram. Bomber.

[tnord]

maybe because he likes the flight of the ball as is but can cut some distance off and add control by shortening the shaft?  that's what i did with my 17deg hybrid at least...cut it down because it was too close in distance to my 3w.

[drbonesvt]

So he's carrying a 17* and 15* or 13.5*?

[J13]

J.W., on 14 January 2013 - 07:28 PM, said:

The putter change VERY much surprises me... not because he changed away from the Cameron but because he goes from a Newport II to a 2-Ball.

I will say, the more and more I see the X-Hot Pro 3 wood the more it intrigues me... I played a Titleist PT 3 wood with X100 for a little while and love the look.  Definitely brings back old memories... I may have to scoop one up even though I love my 913F-d.

JW do yourself a favor and get a hold of one and put on the trackman.  I got CRAZY numbers with it in Carlsbad.  I actually played 9 today and was BUSTING by my playing partners drivers.  It's that long.

[Lacey Underall]

So many interesting topics on this bag.  First off, Woodland is one of my favs so hope he stays healthy and has a great year.  This dude could really move the meter if he becomes a star.  I am also surprised at the number of staffers gaming the X Hot Pro driver.  Would have thought Cally would push them towards the Xtreme driver.

I am not surprised on the 3 wood issue.  I said all last year that I was shocked so many of the pros were gaming the RBZ 3 wood.  These things go way too far for a long hitting pro.  Why the hell would you need a 3 wood that goes 310 yards?  It makes no sense.

[J.W.]

J13, on 14 January 2013 - 08:24 PM, said:

J.W., on 14 January 2013 - 07:28 PM, said:

The putter change VERY much surprises me... not because he changed away from the Cameron but because he goes from a Newport II to a 2-Ball.

I will say, the more and more I see the X-Hot Pro 3 wood the more it intrigues me... I played a Titleist PT 3 wood with X100 for a little while and love the look.  Definitely brings back old memories... I may have to scoop one up even though I love my 913F-d.

JW do yourself a favor and get a hold of one and put on the trackman.  I got CRAZY numbers with it in Carlsbad.  I actually played 9 today and was BUSTING by my playing partners drivers.  It's that long.

I think I will, 13.5 at 42.5" with Kai'li 80.  Did you go 13.5 or 15?  I would love to do a showdown... my 913F-d 13.5 with DI-8X vs my Anser 14.5 with BB-7X vs G25 15 with VTS Black 85X vs X-Hot Pro 13.5 with Kai'li 80X.

[2012BFT]

<88>, on 14 January 2013 - 07:55 PM, said:

jdzeeb, on 14 January 2013 - 07:52 PM, said:

XJared, on 14 January 2013 - 07:41 PM, said:

So the 3 wood is too long, why not bag a 4 or 5 wood instead of all that work?

The x-hot in those pics IS a 4-wood (17 degree). Unless he's bagging the. 4 wood also?

was just going to post the same thing

Exactly... Bubba doesn't game a 3wood either...

[J.W.]

2012BFT, on 14 January 2013 - 09:13 PM, said:

<88>, on 14 January 2013 - 07:55 PM, said:

jdzeeb, on 14 January 2013 - 07:52 PM, said:

XJared, on 14 January 2013 - 07:41 PM, said:

So the 3 wood is too long, why not bag a 4 or 5 wood instead of all that work?

The x-hot in those pics IS a 4-wood (17 degree). Unless he's bagging the. 4 wood also?

was just going to post the same thing

Exactly... Bubba doesn't game a 3wood either...

Technically, its a 4 wood head but its open and I was told it is 15 degrees finished loft.  VERY heavy head, plays 42" and is still D4 with all that weight on the butt end with a 703 Gold grip and heaps of build up tape.  I cannot imagine how much weight they had to add inside that thing.  After the grip is installed about 10-12 degrees open it plays much lower loft than the stamped 16.5...

Edited by J.W., 14 January 2013 - 09:27 PM.

[jokerusn]

Damn!  How long is too long for a steel shafted 4 wood?  Pretty sweet setup anyway.

[J13]

[quote name='J.W.' timestamp='1358216697' post='6229567']
[quote name='2012BFT' timestamp='1358215994' post='6229475']
[quote name='<88>' timestamp='1358211335' post='6228959']
[quote name='jdzeeb' timestamp='1358211160' post='6228935']
[quote name='XJared' timestamp='1358210468' post='6228875']
So the 3 wood is too long, why not bag a 4 or 5 wood instead of all that work?
[/quote]

The x-hot in those pics IS a 4-wood (17 degree). Unless he's bagging the. 4 wood also?
[/quote]was just going to post the same thing
[/quote]

Exactly... Bubba doesn't game a 3wood either...
[/quote]

Technically, its a 4 wood head but its open and I was told it is 15 degrees finished loft.  VERY heavy head, plays 42" and is still D4 with all that weight on the butt end with a 703 Gold grip and heaps of build up tape.  I cannot imagine how much weight they had to add inside that thing.  After the grip is installed about 10-12 degrees open it plays much lower loft than the stamped 16.5...
[/quote]

Correct 17 cracked open to 15.

JW I got the 13.5 with the Speeder 7.1 and its a great combo.  Would love to see what ya think.  It is without a shadow of a doubt the LONGEST 3 wood I've ever held in my hands.

[ninothing]

J.W., on 14 January 2013 - 07:28 PM, said:

The putter change VERY much surprises me... not because he changed away from the Cameron but because he goes from a Newport II to a 2-Ball.

I will say, the more and more I see the X-Hot Pro 3 wood the more it intrigues me... I played a Titleist PT 3 wood with X100 for a little while and love the look.  Definitely brings back old memories... I may have to scoop one up even though I love my 913F-d.

pretty sad to see the 'Rock Chalk' Cameron go...

[HateTheHighDraw]

Curious why he's got the X-20 (or whatever) Utility and not the new Utility Prototype.  Cool bag!

[tembolo1284]

So what's the 'proper' distance for him for a 3-wood? 285 yards of carry? Come on!

[BNich0622]

Looks and sounds like Callaway is making a big splash this year with player contracts and new equipment. I have never been a Callaway guy, but their new stuff looks great. And so far it sounds like it has been performing quite well. I may have to give them a try!

[mackepa]

Man I wish I had Gary Woodlands problems.