MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Titleist 913F.d 13.5° 3-wood fitted with a stiff-flex shaft. The SureFit hosel was configured to a loft/lie setting of A1.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: It sits very nicely at address and looks like you could easily use this from a variety of lies. For a 3-wood it’s low-lofted at 13.5°, so it will be interesting how this compares to my 3-wood – it could play more like an old-fashioned 2-wood.

VERDICT: There was no manipulating of the clubhead required to feel comfortable with the 913F.d at address. I liked the way shots came out with a similar flight to a driver but how you could still comfortably hit shots ‘off the deck’ with it as well. A couple of the shots I hit were into the breeze on a windy day and both times the trajectory was perfect; a boring, chasing ball flight where the ball didn’t climb excessively.

The 913F.d would be a touch shorter than my 3-wood for distance, however I found it flew straighter and was easier to hit. The balance between the shaft weight and the clubhead weight was nice and even – neither part felt heavier. Overall, its flight characteristics would make it an asset for low handicappers.

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Titleist 913F 15° 3-wood fitted with a stiff-flex shaft. The SureFit hosel was configured to a loft/lie setting of A1.aFIRST IMPRESSIONS: I own a Titleist driver but my fairway woods are from another brand and my initial thought was that this is a small clubhead for a 3-wood, which is a little intimidating at set-up.

VERDICT: My concern went away as soon as I struck the 913F. It had a perfect flight – it’s one of those great fairway woods that steadily rises without ballooning in the air. Every time I hit it I took great feedback from the strike and trajectory, and enjoyed it even more with each shot. I could easily put one in my bag, easily. And I’d say I hit the 913F at least 20 metres further than my 3-wood. It also flew straighter than mine and achieved a better shape with it. I could work it both ways pretty naturally while still keeping that slowly rising ball flight.

This is an A-grader’s club. It’s perhaps not as forgiving as some other woods I’ve owned, hit and tested because – especially with the stiff shaft – if you mis-hit it you will know about it. But for better players the 913F is a 3-wood to get excited about.

Facts & Figures

SUITABILITY: All golfers.

SHAFTS: There are five stock shaft options available: Aldila RIP Phenom 80, Diamana D+ White 82, Diamana S+ Blue 72, plus the Titleist Bassara W 55 and W 45 for moderate swing speeds. All Titleist clubs can be custom fit for every level of player.

LOFTS: Options include 13.5°, 15°, 17°, 19° and 21°. The 913F.d 3-wood has 13.5° of loft.

LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes, in all loft options.

HOW MUCH?: $349 per club.

TITLEIST SAYS: “The 913F is a high-performance, classic-shaped fairway wood that delivers long distance and all-around performance from the tee and turf. Our patented SureFit Tour hosel technology allows loft and lie to be independently adjusted to precisely fit your game. The 913F delivers both speed and forgiveness with uncompromised looks, sound and feel.

“Player benefits include more distance through an optimised launch with reduced spin, a precision fit to your game with our adjustable SureFit Tour hosel technology, a preferred look and flight for outstanding performance off the turf, premium shaft choices from our high-performance stock or custom shaft matrix, superior sound and feel from a higher standard of acoustic engineering and being precision-made with the industry’s tightest tolerances.

“Also available is Titleist’s 913F.d low spin model – a larger, high-performance, full pear-shaped fairway wood that delivers long distance with lower spin and a penetrating flight.”

Contact Titleist Australia on 1800 660 535 or visit www.titleist.com.au