The Fairway Wood is by far and without question the most challenging stick to get right. That’s a fact; it’s not a debate. On TOUR, in the hitting bay, and in any store.
Even with the emergence of the Mini-Driver, some may say it’s a reaction to drivers being hard to hit, but IMO, it says more about how hard a 3-wood is to hit for most. It’s no joke.
The consumer-level research and TOUR experience show us that golfers of all levels experience the same issues: 1) Lack of proper loft in combo with desired speed/spin, etc. 2) THIN STRIKES!!!
Everyone from my dad to Sam Burns hits a lot of fairway wood shots out of the bottom of the face. Yes, off the tee is a different story; this is focused on off-the-floor strikes. Thin strikes do result in a manageable miss, but the amount of meat you leave on the table is substantial.
So, how do you combat that? How do you create a head that moves the meat of the face to the back of the ball without asking the player to change their swings?
INTRODUCING CALLAWAY ELYTE FAIRWAY WOODS
THE LOOK
THE MODELS
ELYTE: Core model, FAST, Forgiving, Mid Spin (Neutral weighting), Mid Launch.
Who? TOUR to a Twenty-Five Handicap.
ELYTE X: Max head with a heel side CG. Think draw-friendly and not so anti-slice although it will help that player just the same.
Who? TOUR to a Thirty Handicap.
ELYTE MAX FAST: Lightweight Max profile, lighter head, lighter shaft. Easy to launch, mid-spin.
Who? Anyone looking to swing it faster to help get the ball in the air with some pop. Think of my old man and his Saturday men’s game.
ELYTE TRIPLE DIAMOND: Lower spin, lower launch, deeper face profile. Of the models, this one is the more right bias, although it’s pretty neutral.
Who? This is a better player’s fairway who, if properly fit, can benefit anyone from Xander to a ten handicap.
THE CORE TECHNOLOGY (In simple terms)
All New Tungsten Speed Wave
•Featured on the 3-7 wood, the new Tungsten
Speed Wave is a 35g weight that positions the mass
low and forward to promote fast ball speeds.
•This new, innovative design is engineered
specifically to enhance misses low on the face.
New Step Sole
•Engineered for cleaner contact, the new Step Sole
minimizes skidding, ensuring smoother, more solid
strikes.
•Developed through extensive studies and the
success of the Apex UW, this sole shape delivers
better turf interaction for consistent results.
Ai 10x Face
•Our most advanced Ai face to date, the new Ai10x
Face delivers 10x more control points than the Ai
Smart Face.
•Designed with our C300 Face cup to produce
breakneck ball speeds, tight dispersion, and
optimized launch across the face.
Elyte Shaping
•With progressive shaping and a broad selection,
the Elyte model provides consistent launch and
a neutral ball flight for players seeking reliable
performance.
•Adjustable hosels in the 3W and 3HL models offer
precise loft and shot-shape control, giving golfers
the ability to fine-tune their game.
Elyte Triple Diamond
Penetrating Flight With Low Spin
•The compact shape and deeper face of the Triple
Diamond fairway wood allows players to shape
shots with ease and control.
•A forward-weight screw promotes a lower spin
rate and a more piercing ball flight for added
workability.
TOUR
As I write this in mid-December, the TOUR feedback has been minimal, although what we have is VERY positive.
The month before the launch mainly focused on the driver, but I participated in a few compelling testing sessions with Akshay, Sammy B, and Min.
All three players came back with similar feedback: they loved the look, slight ball speed upticks, easy launch, and much better turf interaction.
Akshay is in the Elyte, and Sam is in the Triple Diamond. After the Hero, I spoke to both of them, and their feedback was the same. It’s hot, with spin, and really easy to get in the air.
My Take
I was a big fan of the last two fairways we made; both were user-friendly and got me numbers-wise where I want to live. As a picker of the golf ball, I’m always looking for anything that will make the thin shots better. Elyte, combined with the new sole and Tungsten speed wave, gives you even more juice. That’s saying a lot, as Paradym and Ai-Smoke were both pretty damn good.
If I had to pick one I was most excited about, it would be the Elyte (STD). The carbon crown and clean lines on this thing give you that “I’m gonna flush this” look while standing over the ball. In my opinion, how it sits behind the ball makes such a huge impact on Fairway Woods. I want to feel I can always get the face on it.
So far, mission accomplished. More to learn as we go.
SPECS: TD 5-wood and 7-wood are BONDED
Happy Hunting
LFG
JDub
