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Callaway Quantum Fairway Woods: The Evolution of Speed and Playability

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Jman

Jman

Just Have Fun.
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When it comes to release season, there is no doubt that Callaway Golf is the industry’s equivalent of must-see viewing year in and year out, especially in recent years. Yes, much of that is due to performance and playability, as it should be, but another driving force is their unyielding commitment to innovation. Sure, most […]

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How do these look so good?

I thought I was excited about the Mizuno FWs...that was just a Monday morning. The Step Sole last year was amazing...now they've taken it up a notch.

Might have to sneak a new 7 wood into the bag this year.

Great write-up, @Jman !
 
Great article @Jman ! I know people were raving about the step sole last year, so it'll be really cool to hear how much better it is paired with the new face!
 
As one of the East Coast guys I woke up early to join the chat. As one of the first to get to use the new lineup ask questions if needed. Some review stuff coming shortly.
 
I could see these fairways being a pick-up this year. Callaway fairways are always spot on, and now the ability to adjust loft and lie independently with Optifit 4 will have to try these out at some point for sure.
 
Reviewing a fairway wood is hard for me. I struggled with it last year. Its a part of the bag I never use so I don't think a lot about it or really test it much. I have never been able to hit a FW off the tee. This one, so far, has proved to not hook on me. I can't say for sure why. I'm paying the standard loft and lie.
 
The new hosel Optifit 4 was added to these to give greater ability to change the lie angles on a club that is hit off the deck
 
Just checked, and the adjustability goes down through 5W this year better than last year form what I remember, but I will, they went with the whole line for adjustability
 
1 hole at the Clive against Johnny Thompson the nerves were pumping. I kept my drive right in the middle of the fairway and had roughly 240 carry into the green with a down hill lie. I didn't expect much because of the down hill slope. The ball landed just short of the green and rolled back into the collection area. INSTANT CONFIDENCE.

Simulator work with it has been working on strike and trying to find ball position to optimize flight.
 
The two parts of the fairway that stand out
Speedwave 2.0 I swear it is what is responsible for me being able to elevate a high ball off of a down hill lie. The ball speed low in the face just doesn't drop off with these. My Elyte mini is out of the back and this is firmly in! Its usability off the tee is something I can't pass up

The Step Sole design is prominent yet not ugly or offensive like some other sole designs we have seen. It glides through the grass very nicely without feeling "stuck"
 
hedley_lamarr said:
The new hosel Optifit 4 was added to these to give greater ability to change the lie angles on a club that is hit off the deck
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My irons are bent 2UP, so hitting non-adjustable fairways has been difficult. Glad they added this to the 5 as well since I'm possibly looking at one for this year
 
Dan.The.King said:
My irons are bent 2UP, so hitting non-adjustable fairways has been difficult. Glad they added this to the 5 as well since I'm possibly looking at one for this year
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My fitter at ECPC told me he expected the fairways to be very popular with the tour pros and general public for that very reason.
 
GolfSquatch said:
Just checked, and the adjustability goes down through 5W this year better than last year form what I remember, but I will, they went with the whole line for adjustability
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Yea looks like adapters up to 5W. Transparently, I find that choice peculiar, but I’m sure someone smarter than me knows why. Just curious why that wasn’t extended up to HW / 7 / 9 / 11 lofts.

Btw, these look incredible!
 
Very intrigued by the addition of an adjustable hosel on the TD 5w. Really enjoy the look returning closer to AI Smoke — not that Elyte looked bad, I just prefer the carbon crown appearance
 
ChrisATL said:
Yea looks like adapters up to 5W. Transparently, I find that choice peculiar, but I’m sure someone smarter than me knows why. Just curious why that wasn’t extended up to HW / 7 / 9 / 11 lofts.

Btw, these look incredible!
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Yep, that is my one knock; they did it similarly last year. I vow right now if the Grandaddy comes back and I get in, I will ask that question next year because it has bothered me the last two years now.
 
For me, as someone who hits a lot of fairway woods off the tee, I’m seeing consistency I’ve never seen before with the new Quantum fairway line. I play the Max model with maximum forgiveness and speed. The most versatile 3 wood on the planet. Easy to hit and elevate off the deck, workable, and fun to tee up.
 
The only downfall I see from the fairways is for people that used to like to tinker with the driver shafts in fairways. The neck is no longer compatible. The rest is really, really strong for this offering
 
hedley_lamarr said:
The only downfall I see from the fairways is for people that used to like to tinker with the driver shafts in fairways. The neck is no longer compatible. The rest is really, really strong for this offering
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It was bound to happen IMO. Let’s hope Callaway keeps this adapter for the next few years to avoid retipping.
 
K.P. said:
For me, as someone who hits a lot of fairway woods off the tee, I’m seeing consistency I’ve never seen before with the new Quantum fairway line. I play the Max model with maximum forgiveness and speed. The most versatile 3 wood on the planet. Easy to hit and elevate off the deck, workable, and fun to tee up.
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Did you only get a 3 or anything higher lofted?
 
GolfSquatch said:
Yep, that is my one knock; they did it similarly last year. I vow right now if the Grandaddy comes back and I get in, I will ask that question next year because it has bothered me the last two years now.
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A couple of reasons:

weight savings: Fixed neck clubs dont have the extra weight in the neck so they can add the weight and forgiveness where they need it for people playing clubs in certain lofts
Feel: bonded necks feel better

Cost wasn't mentioned but in my opinion it has to matter. The take rate for high lofted fairways is always an up and down trend. Does the fad stay?
 
ChrisATL said:
It was bound to happen IMO. Let’s hope Callaway keeps this adapter for the next few years to avoid retipping.
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you can expect it to be around for a good long while. No reason they would jump from it quickly
 
hedley_lamarr said:
A couple of reasons:

weight savings: Fixed neck clubs dont have the extra weight in the neck so they can add the weight and forgiveness where they need it for people playing clubs in certain lofts
Feel: bonded necks feel better

Cost wasn't mentioned but in my opinion it has to matter. The take rate for high lofted fairways is always an up and down trend. Does the fad stay?
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For me, the adjustability outweighs the weight saving, and it was one of the reasons I switched to Cobra fairways last year, as I can adjust the Cobra 9w (DS Adapt was also a bit part of that, which Opti Fit 4 seems to negate)
 
GolfSquatch said:
For me, the adjustability outweighs the weight saving, and it was one of the reasons I switched to Cobra fairways last year, as I can adjust the Cobra 9w (DS Adapt was also a bit part of that, which Opti Fit 4 seems to negate)
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If thats a deal breaker then I guess thats a chance they were willing to take. The Quantum OS Hybrids are large enough that they very well could fill that gap and all of the hybrids are adjustable.
 
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