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Why We Like It
- The most versatile option in the OPTM fairway wood line uses adjustable front and rear sole weights (11 and three grams) to control spin, launch and forgiveness.
- With the 11-gram weight in the back setting, ball flight is neutral, and players should expect higher launch and extra forgiveness. With the 11-gram weight in the front position, expect a penetrating flight with higher ball speed and lower spin.
- Internal weight pads that distribute additional weight to the rear perimeter and the hosel create a built-in draw bias.
- Another key to consistent performance is how the internal weighting and sole weights are balanced to stabilize the head.
- A carbon-composite crown (4.5 times less dense than the steel it replaces) frees up mass for a lower center of gravity.
- Developed through machine-learning applications, the variable-thickness pattern in the face has 15 zones. The distinct geometries of thickness and shape optimize speed, launch and spin on impacts across the face.
- A 33-way adjustable hosel, the most diverse in the game, dials in the preferred ball flight from low to high and left to right by adjusting loft and lie by plus/minus 2 degrees.
- Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps
- 15, 16.5, 18, 21, 24 degrees (with a 33-way adjustable hosel)
- all
- low
- mid
- high
Hot List testers noted a shallow, compact head with a clean matte finish, strong alignment cues and a hot, forgiving face that produced consistent carry, penetrating mid‑to‑high trajectories and easy workability. Many praised its stability, effortless turf and tee performance, adjustable settings, and satisfying impact sounds from crisp thumps to ringing pops. It launches reliably and masks mis-hits, especially on heel strikes. One minor quibble: the sole is a bit more curved than some preferred.
Hot List panelists observed a softer, hotter feel with a compact, low-profile head that is highly maneuverable. Adjustable settings offer many tuning options. It launches mid-to-high yet penetrates, produces a muted but confidence-building sound, and excels in forgiveness—especially on heel/toe and mis-hits—making it easy to hit and long. White face grooves visually enlarge the face. One drawback: the sole is slightly more curved than some prefer.
Hot List testers noted a crisp, high‑pitched click at impact with surprising heft and an extremely hot face that delivered strong carry and a penetrating mid‑high, mostly straight flight. The shallow, matte‑black head is clean, easy to align and confident without being intimidating. Testers found it forgiving across the face, maneuverable for shaping, and reliable off the tee; one caveat: it could be a bit tougher to launch consistently from the deck.
Hot List testers noted a visually striking, one-piece carbon finish and a high-contrast crown/face alignment aid that made address simple and consistent. Ball flights were piercing, higher-launching draws with lots of carry and surprisingly low side spin; distance improved without extra effort. The head felt balanced and stable through the swing, forgiving on mis-hits and workable off tee and turf. Impact delivered a poppy, ringing crack; sole downside was a firmer-than-average feel with limited hand feedback.
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