4 woods, So hard to find. Why?

[Qwerty]

I've been using a 4 wood for a good few years now, and I've noticed few others on here use one also.
I just can't understand why these clubs are not more popular with amateurs, I find mine easier to hit than a 3 wood but with similar distance,
My main question is why don't the manufacturers make more of them.
The only reason I can think of is that most retailers Don't like to stock them because they would rather try to sell you a 3 and 5 wood.
The retailers will also stock pretty much every number of hybrid but still no 4 woods.

 

[fundy]

Surely with adjustable heads fairway woods arent as pigeon holed into the number on the bottom anymore. A titleist 910 so called 3 wood can be either 13.5 degree (which can be adjusted to 12.75) or 15 degree (which can be adjusted to 16.5) so surely their range of 3 woods actually covers what hostorically would have been 2, 3 and 4 woods

 

[Imurg]

Callaway, TM, Titleist, Cleveland, Tour Edge, Ping, Mizuno all make 4 woods - that covers most of the major players - and there maybe more I've missed
The biggest problem is that the retailers - AG, DG etc - don't stock them. Fitting carts might have the 4 wood heads but they can be hard to find in shops. Easy to buy online if you know what you want.
And if you don't - get fitted for a 3 or 5 wood and buy the 4 wood online.

 

[USER1999]

Surely with adjustable heads fairway woods arent as pigeon holed into the number on the bottom anymore. A titleist 910 so called 3 wood can be either 13.5 degree (which can be adjusted to 12.75) or 15 degree (which can be adjusted to 16.5) so surely their range of 3 woods actually covers what hostorically would have been 2, 3 and 4 woods

Shaft will need to be cut down 1/2", but I can see where you are coming from. I nearly bought a 910 3w with this in mind (it was cheap), but then realised I still love my exotics. Best club in my bag.

 

[fundy]

whats a standard 4 wood Ian, 17 degree?

 

[USER1999]

whats a standard 4 wood Ian, 17 degree?

16.5.

 

[Imurg]

I guess anything from 16.5 to 17 can be called a 4 wood these days.
Mine technically isn't - it's the same size head as the 3 wood, same length shaft just 2 degrees weaker loft.

 

[fundy]

Am i right in assuming you guys use the 4 wood mainly as a fairway club, or do you also use as a driver substitute?

I have my 3 wood down at 14.25 as for me its predominantly a club for off the tee, albeit I am happy hitting it off the deck. 17 degree just seems a bit weak as a driver substitute and a bit close to my Hybrid i think

 

[Qwerty]

It's all about choice Nowadays isn't it, loads of shaft options, adjustable heads, moveable weights etc etc, but you can't go into a major retailer and have a choice 4 woods to try out.

I just think the buyer should have the choice, especially someone who's just starting out who's probably on a budget and only thinks he has the choice of a 3 or 5 wood because that's all he see's.

 

[fundy]

its simple economics though Qwerty, the shops like AG, DG etc dont stock any shafts that work for me, just not able to go in and try clubs in these sort of places because it is uneconomical for them to hold shafts that so few people want, with regards to 4 woods, i expect they can sell most who would want one a 3 or 5 wood with adjustable head

much better to find a proper fitting centre or demo day where they will carry the 4 wood head (and a far wider range of shafts) for you to try

 

[USER1999]

I bought mine as 90% of the time, there was no difference between my 3w and my 5w. I use it off the tee, and off the fairway. it is long (for me), and pretty forgiving.

My utility is 21 degrees, as it is a 3 iron.

 

[fundy]

Fair enough

I suppose at some stage I should compare the 3 different loft options on my 3 wood and see how much difference there is between them, that said I like the ball flight I get from having it dialled down to 14.25

 

[Imurg]

I bought mine as 90% of the time, there was no difference between my 3w and my 5w. I use it off the tee, and off the fairway. it is long (for me), and pretty forgiving.

My utility is 21 degrees, as it is a 3 iron.

I could have written these exact words........

 

[fundy]

do you 2 reckon then that I wll get same distance from my 910 3 wood at 14.25 and 16.5 degrees then? Guess Im gonna have to find the wrench and find out soon

 

[Imurg]

Maybe not the same but I bet there's not a whole heap of difference.
Although with your swing speed you may get a bit too much spin from a 16.5 and it may lose distance to the 14.25

 

[fundy]

makes sense Ian, will have to try and measure some next time we get a still day

 

[Imurg]

That'll be 3 months next wednesday then.........

 

[fundy]

If we're lucky yes Not sure I remember the last still day at AVGC, actually not sure Ive ever played there on a still day

 

[Qwerty]

I bought mine as 90% of the time, there was no difference between my 3w and my 5w. I use it off the tee, and off the fairway. it is long (for me), and pretty forgiving.

My utility is 21 degrees, as it is a 3 iron.

Same here.

For me the 4 wood does the job of both a 3 and 5 wood. I just think the retailers would rather try to convince us that we need the 3 and 5 wood in the bag. Rather than the 1 versatile 4 wood.