Tour News

Henrik Stenson ditches legendary 3 wood for Callaway GBB Epic

Published

9 years ago

Feb 2, 2017

Henrik Stenson has ditched his legendary 3 wood in favor of a new Callaway GBB Epic at the Dubai Desert Classic. “You’re seriously making a big deal out of a 3-wood switch,” you might be saying to yourself. In this case, absolutely.

GOLF-EPGA-UAE

For most PGA Tour players a 3-wood switch is barely a side note, but for Stenson it’s noteworthy because of how much the No. 4-ranked golfer in the world has relied on his Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 3 wood throughout the years.

The Diablo Octane Tour 3 wood was produced by Callaway in 2010, giving it an estimated current value of about $24, according to the PGA Value Guide. It’s been worth millions more to Stenson, however, who has relied on it more often than his driver off the tee under the gun. With the Diablo Octane Tour (see it in the cover image), Stenson has won eight times on the European and PGA tours, including the PGA Tour’s 2013 FedEx Cup and last year’s epic showdown with Phil Mickelson in The Open Championship at Royal Troon.

To be fair, Stenson has tried several new 3 woods throughout the years, including Callaway’s XR ’16 last season, but he always seems to resort back to old faithful when he’s playing his best.

Another interesting note: Based on the photos from Dubai, Stenson’s new 3 wood appears to have a bonded-hosel design instead of the adjustable hosel used on the retail version of the GBB Epic. That gives it an appearance at address that’s more similar to the Diablo Octane Tour, which also has a bonded hosel. Stenson is also using his old shaft in the new 3 wood, a Grafalloy Blue (X-Flex).

Related Topics:Callaway fairway woods

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58 Comments

joe

Feb 22, 2018 at 3:46 pm

I found a Titleist 983K with the same shaft in Stiff for $9.99 in the used bin at my local box store. Yes, I almost jumped at it and spilled the whole bucket of clubs over, and I did ask any questions, just went up and bought it, and the Titleist head was in Excellent condition, right from the first swing the thing launches long and straight!!!! Woohoo…selling a bunch of drivers on the ‘Bay now…I just bought an awesome driver for $9.99, hope to use this for 10 years.

Reply Report comment
- jmvargas
  
  Jun 2, 2018 at 9:10 am
  
  he is still using the same shaft…as they say the shaft is the club’s engine..
  
  Reply Report comment
Dave R

Feb 8, 2017 at 8:30 pm

Why Change is it like a rest?

Reply Report comment
Miuralovechild

Feb 5, 2017 at 3:51 am

It looks like he has gone with an Oban Kiyoshi tour ltd. in his 5 wood as well as the driver. I wonder why he wont put that in his 3 wood as well. Anyone? Quality wise, consistently, and feel have to be so much better with the Oban. I’ve heard that his 3 wood shaft plays like an XXX.

Reply Report comment
Good wood

Feb 3, 2017 at 8:52 pm

I talked to Gareth the other day. He’s done with the diablo. He’s donating it to the HOF in Sweden.

Reply Report comment
Tom54

Feb 3, 2017 at 6:20 pm

The fact that Henrik is still using his old shaft tells you all you need to know about the switch. I’m sure the new model is better but unless it has the same feel it won’t seem to be in his mind. Probably staring at the familiar blue shaft is all he needs

Reply Report comment
M.S.

Feb 3, 2017 at 5:05 pm

It’s temporary only. Henrik stated this to the main Swedish golf site:
-“…Most likely the Diablo is back when I get home, this new one is OK but I do know where I have Old Faithful….” (my translation)
The truth is that during practice the face on the Diablo caved in, and without a spare head the Epic had to suffice.

Reply Report comment
StillBoard

Feb 3, 2017 at 4:16 pm

And not once did you mention his Olympic medal.

Reply Report comment
larry fox

Feb 3, 2017 at 9:47 am

I Love seeing you guys go at it! Such passion

Reply Report comment
Mike

Feb 3, 2017 at 8:59 am

You can still get the Grafalloy blue pro launch from Sweden, I’ve got 3, one in my 9 degree GBB driver and the other two in the 3 & 5 woods, there bloody good at getting it up there, and a nice feel to boot.

Reply Report comment
- TR1PTIK
  
  Feb 3, 2017 at 10:42 am
  
  Unless they’re simply named differently overseas, the Pro Launch is not the same shaft. There was only one Grafalloy Blue when it was originally released and it looks exactly as pictured. They later did a re-release of the Blue with a white shaft and Blue badge. They also released two Pro-Launch versions – a Red and a Blue.
  
  Reply Report comment
- jgpl001
  
  Feb 3, 2017 at 1:08 pm
  
  Feel?
  
  One thing the Grafalloy Blue doesn’t have is feel, it’s a stout, solid lump, it just bombs the ball low with low spin, excellent if you have th SS though…I did 10 years ago and loved it then
  
  Reply Report comment
  - TR1PTIK
    
    Feb 3, 2017 at 4:20 pm
    
    If he’s talking about the Pro Launch version I’d agree that it does have decent feel. Until the middle of last season, I gamed the original Blue and it absolutely was a board. If I could have controlled the clubface better I would have stayed with it though because I could definitely hit some bombs (my version of bombs anyway).
    
    Reply Report comment
  - indyvic
    
    Feb 3, 2017 at 11:49 pm
    
    I bought the original from a reputable Golf Store on the advice of the club fitter and had it installed in my driver. Took it to the range, never felt a thing. Took it back within an hour. jgpl001 is correct “if you have the swing speed.”
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Ommmmmm
    
    Feb 4, 2017 at 3:19 am
    
    It’s the best shaft ever made, perfect feel and load, stiff as a telephone pole, you can rip it without it ever moving. Only the strong need to use it. I love it
    
    Reply Report comment
DAVID NATHAN WEEKS

Feb 3, 2017 at 7:17 am

The diablo will be back soon enough.

Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Feb 3, 2017 at 4:37 pm
  
  This. I’d bet good money that by the Masters he has the Diablo back in the bag, and is right now willing to try the Epic as part of his contract to help Callaway move product.
  
  Reply Report comment
BooBunkie

Feb 3, 2017 at 3:11 am

Well, that 3 wood may not make it to The Mahztaz, and neither will Eldrick! Dude just bailed on the tourney in Do Buy! Sheesh, his walking yesterday looked painful. Well, whata’ya think, is that a
wrap for 2017?

Reply Report comment
MBA-J

Feb 2, 2017 at 10:10 pm

“Legendary?” Strong language for a dude with one major and eight total wins. The overemphasis of marginal accomplishments have turned various sports halls of fame into “halls of ‘very good.'”

Reply Report comment
- Alvaro
  
  Feb 3, 2017 at 7:22 am
  
  Well, when you have made almost 40M$ playing golf, won The Open, 19 professional wins, The FedEx Cup, The Race to Dubai twice while hitting 3w 80% of the time and sometimes outdriving peers hitting a drive, you can consider that a legendary 3 wood, yes.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - michael
    
    Feb 3, 2017 at 8:52 am
    
    ^^^ What that guy said
    
    Reply Report comment
    - The dude
      
      Feb 4, 2017 at 10:50 am
      
      ^^what THIS guy said….
      
      Reply Report comment
- TR1PTIK
  
  Feb 3, 2017 at 10:38 am
  
  You obviously only watch the PGA Tour. I feel sorry for you…
  
  Reply Report comment
S Hitter

Feb 2, 2017 at 9:20 pm

Same shaft though, eh? lol can’t get rid of that shaft

Reply Report comment
- S Hitter
  
  Feb 2, 2017 at 9:20 pm
  
  Oh, and er I’ll buy that for a dollar
  
  Reply Report comment
Dill Pickleson

Feb 2, 2017 at 9:12 pm

god help us.

Reply Report comment
The dude

Feb 2, 2017 at 8:30 pm

When is it not considered a 3 wood…..since his “3 wood” is said to be ~ 12deg…

Reply Report comment
- Jim
  
  Feb 3, 2017 at 2:27 pm
  
  Exactly – for some reason we speak of woods only in odd numbers these days …1,3,5, etc. Historically a 12 degree club would have been a 2 wood; more recently a “strong 3”.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - McPickens
    
    Feb 6, 2017 at 1:17 am
    
    wouldn’t that be more like a “spoon” or a “brassie”? I also do not like the odd numbers only. I currently game a 16 deg. fairway wood. I would call it a 4 wood, but no, today that would be a 3 wood HL.
    
    Reply Report comment
BooBunkie

Feb 2, 2017 at 5:12 pm

We’ll see if the 3 wood makes it to the Mahztaz!!

Reply Report comment
Branson Reynolds

Feb 2, 2017 at 5:04 pm

This is why i like when guys don’t have equipment contracts. I like to see what they actually like to play with.

Reply Report comment
- Golfer
  
  Feb 2, 2017 at 7:11 pm
  
  He does have a contract…
  
  Reply Report comment
  - S Hitter
    
    Feb 2, 2017 at 9:19 pm
    
    lol yeah isn’t he with Callaway?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Branson Reynolds
      
      Feb 3, 2017 at 9:01 am
      
      Damn fellas, give me the benefit of the doubt on being a complete moron. I was saying that Stenson switching from the ol’ trusty to the latest and greatest($$$) is why i like no equipment contracts. I like to see what people actually want to use, not what they get paid to use.
      
      Reply Report comment
- Crash Test Dummy
  
  Feb 2, 2017 at 9:37 pm
  
  He probably doesn’t have a shaft contract with Grafalloy. The Grafalloy Blue is a really interesting choice because it is a pretty old shaft. It is a good shaft though. I think if he had a shaft contract, he would probably be using one of the new premium shafts.
  
  Reply Report comment
westphi

Feb 2, 2017 at 4:54 pm

We’ll see if it stays. One tournament is hardly a “commitment.”

Reply Report comment
jgpl001

Feb 2, 2017 at 4:24 pm

Totally agree

If he keeps it the bag it would be a massive endorsement – I might even get one

His 3 wood is as important as an arm or a finger to him

Reply Report comment
Golfraven

Feb 2, 2017 at 4:23 pm

Epic fail!

Reply Report comment
- The dude
  
  Feb 2, 2017 at 8:22 pm
  
  What’s the fail?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Boobsy McKiss
    
    Feb 2, 2017 at 8:27 pm
    
    He was trolling and you bit. Here’s your trophy.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - LD
    
    Feb 2, 2017 at 9:32 pm
    
    That they don’t offer the glued-hosel at retail.
    
    Reply Report comment
Kevin B

Feb 2, 2017 at 4:07 pm

When you find that one 3-wood you can hit no matter what, you keep it! I am upset I made that mistake many years ago and thought, newer was better. I have now found one that I think I can keep until it breaks, an 07 burner 3W.

Reply Report comment
- 3 metal stinger
  
  Feb 2, 2017 at 5:02 pm
  
  Thanks for letting us know. Jk no one cares, hold this L again
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Kevin B
    
    Feb 2, 2017 at 7:33 pm
    
    Thanks.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - 3 metal stinger
      
      Feb 2, 2017 at 8:02 pm
      
      L
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Kevin B
        
        Feb 2, 2017 at 8:03 pm
        
        Thanks again, but I think the only person taking an “L” as you call it, is yourself. What grown man follows around another man on a golf forum, to troll? I think its hilarious so I hope you keep them coming, but I really wonder how pathetic your life must be. Anyways, thanks again for the laugh!
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        3 metal stinger
        
        Feb 2, 2017 at 8:11 pm
        
        L
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        The dude
        
        Feb 2, 2017 at 8:27 pm
        
        Db
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        LD
        
        Feb 2, 2017 at 9:36 pm
        
        Decibel?
        
        S Hitter
        
        Feb 2, 2017 at 9:22 pm
        
        You just did, Kevin B, followed the troll lol
        And don’t you know this is WRX?
        
        Reply Report comment
  - Tony Rich
    
    Feb 3, 2017 at 12:52 am
    
    You’re a waste a space 3 metal….he loves his 3W, I love my Titleist PT 13*, the one Tiger could played and could use right now. Got to TMZ if you want to be tough.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - 3 metal stinger
      
      Feb 3, 2017 at 12:32 pm
      
      Reading comprehension is hard, I know
      
      Reply Report comment
Juan

Feb 2, 2017 at 3:44 pm

The Epic fairways haven’t been getting nearly the level of buzz as the drivers, but if Stenson sticks with this one, that’ll be a pretty solid endorsement.

Reply Report comment
Branson Reynolds

Feb 2, 2017 at 3:34 pm

There’s a small handful of people in the world that find this interesting, and that’s why I love golfwrx. Because they’re all here.

Reply Report comment
- gwillis7
  
  Feb 2, 2017 at 4:06 pm
  
  exactly.
  
  Reply Report comment
Progolfer

Feb 2, 2017 at 3:28 pm

They’re either paying him through the nose to play it, or he’s getting driver-like numbers out of it. Either way, I wouldn’t doubt seeing his trusty rusty back in the bag before Augusta…

Reply Report comment
- TR1PTIK
  
  Feb 2, 2017 at 4:08 pm
  
  While I’m sure there’s stock lying around somewhere in a corner at Callaway HQ, you’ll notice that the shaft he has bonded to the Epic is the older (original) version of the Grafalloy Blue which makes me wonder if he didn’t actually pull the shaft from his Diablo Octane.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - WilCox
    
    Feb 2, 2017 at 4:53 pm
    
    No, Stenson liked the original Blue so much that he stashed some away when Grafalloy moved on to the newer versions. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Diablo back in the bag at Augusta.
    
    Reply Report comment

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