2012 Fairway woods

Fairway woods are an under-estimated club in many a players bag. Certainly not as glamorous as their big brother the Driver, they can be the vital ‘go to’ club for many under pressure or simply needing a bit of confidence off the tee.

The 2012 range of fairway woods have some progressive technology advances including the new speed pocket from Taylor Made and Velocity slot from Adams. In addition we are starting to see the customisation that has become the norm in drivers being expanded to the fairway wood market giving the consumer more options – always a good thing.

Below Golfshake has taken an un-biased look at some of the new product for 2012. You can also view the 2012 Drivers, wedges and hybrids.

Titleist 910F and 910F.d

As with the drivers and the hybrids in the range, Titleist’s fairway woods feature its SureFit technology allowing customisation of loft, lie and shaft. The head is a classic compact shape with a modern sleek look. There is also an interchangeable weight in sole allowing for adjustment of the centre gravity.

The 910F.d has a larger and deeper club head to help inspire confidence off the tee. The deeper face also allows for a lower centre of gravity giving a higher more forgiving ball fight.  

The 910F.d also features the same SureFit technology making it and the 910F the most customisable fairway metals on the market.

The Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana shaft comes in three options as standard, although there are multiple upgrade options. 

The 910F is available in 3+, 3,5,7,9 wood and the 910F.d is available in 3+ and 3 wood.

Ping G20

External weight positioning in the G20 creates a low spinning, but high ball flight. This is optimal for maximising of distance. As with all the Ping G20 range of woods, the head shape is traditional, although it is deeper and larger than previous Ping fairway woods.

The G20 head is matched with a light weight graphite TFC 169F shaft. The shaft has a soft tip, creating a high launch ball angle. The G20 is available in 3, 4, 5 and 7 wood.

Callaway Razr X Black

This is a great looking club with a sleek black finish both on the crown and the sole plate. The Razr X is traditionally styled.

As with all the Callaway Razr range of clubs the Razr X features VFT technology which allows Callaway to precisely engineer the face thickness of their product.

In addition to this the face is heat treated for extra strength. These two technologies help create a larger sweet spot for extra forgiveness.

Fitted as standard is a mid torque, low kickpoint shaft which helps create a long high ball flight. The Razr X black is available in 3,4,5,7 and 9 wood.
 

Cleveland Golf Black CG

The Cleveland Black CG is a striking looking fairway metal with an all over black finish. The tear drop shaped head features a ultra thin crown making it one of the lightest fairway woods on the market.

The MaxCor2 variable face thickness increases distance with a springboard effect off the clubface, this coupled with a lower, further back centre of gravity creates a long high ball flight.

The light weight theme continues with an ultra light Miyazaki CKua 39 shaft and Golf Pride Ultra light grip.  Available in 3, 5 and 7 wood.

Nike Golf VR-S

The VR-S fairway wood utilises the NexCOR technology that is the hallmark of the VR-S range of clubs. The NexCOR technology helps Nike to create an ultra thin area of the face which in turn creates fast ball speeds and longer shots.  The head is traditionally shaped, but has been deepened and enlarged to help make it easier to hit.

Coupled with the NexCOR technology is a longer and lighter Mitshubishi Rayon Fubiki shaft. The shaft has a firm tip which helps to create a lower spin and a strong ball flight. The VR-S is available in 3, 4, 5 and 7 wood.

TaylorMade Rocketballz Tour and Rocketballz TP

The Taylormade Rocketballz have certainly caused many to sit up and take note this season with TaylorMade claiming that its speed pocket technology will add up to 17 additional yards.

The speed pocket creates a spring board effect off the club face which in turn increases ball speed. A deep head and lowered centre of gravity also make the Rocketballz fairway wood easy to hit.

The Taylormade TP is aimed at the lower handicapper with a shallower and smaller head creating a lower, more powerful ball flight than the deeper head of the Rocketballz Tour.

The TP features the same speed pocket technology as the Tour and both have a distinctive matte white finish with slick black sole plate. Available in 3+ (13*) 3 and 5 wood

Cobra Long Tom 2

As you may have guessed from the name the Cobra Long Tom 2 has the longest length to weight ratio of any Cobra fairway wood, the shaft measures a massive 4 foot long!

For this reason the Long Tom 2 is aimed at mid-low handicappers and may well appeal to those not wishing to carry a driver as it is something of a compromise between 3 wood and driver.

Although the head size is half that of a modern day driver it is still bigger than most fairway woods at 240cc and comes in a stunning jet black finish. The head also features Cobra’s E9 face technology creating a hotter feel off the face.

A Grafalloy Blackbird shaft is fitted as standard and the head is only available in a strong 12.5* loft.

Adams Golf Speedline Fast 12

The success behind Adam’s hybrids in recent years has been attributed to its velocity slot technology. The slot design is at the core of the Speedline Fast 12 fairway wood. The velocity slot creates a larger sweet spot on the club face and moves the centre of gravity lower in the head. This makes the club easy to hit with and creates a higher ball flight.

The head is a classic low profile fairway wood, but features a silver finish with the velocity slot on the crown. A Grafalloy Prolanch Blue is fitted as standard as is the Adams Tour Elite Plus grip. Available in a 3 wood and 5 woods.