I got the chance today to test out the new GT N SWS Fairway Wood from Geotech Golf.  The GT N SWS is in fact the most advanced fairway wood in Geotech’s current lineup and is aimed more at the mid to higher handicap wanting premium performance and feel.  Unlike the more basic and no frills Prototype RF700 fairway wood I reviewed the other day, the GT N SWS has more fancy materials and more technology in its design. As always I need to give my blurb about Geotech Golf for those who don’t know the brand. Geotech has always been known to make some very nice metal woods with very good cost performance attractiveness. Geotech has become Japan’s top components brand and that is a lot to say in probably what is the most demanding and picky golf market in the world thanks to its ability to provide great performance without breaking your wallet.

Stable and forgiving…

Geotech wanted to create a stable but forgiving fairway wood with great distance for the average golfer. With top notch materials and advancements in technology and manufacturing they are able to do this with the new GT N SWS.  The GT N SWS is a modern looking head which is on the larger side starting at  190cc for the 3 wood down to 145cc for the 9 wood. The head features Geotech’s Stability Weight System, an interchangeable weight system which allows the user to alter ball flight and head bias.  The head comes in standard configuration with 2 x 4g weights in the heel and toe for a neutral bias. Th sole is dual layered with the trailing part of recessed for less drag and more aerodynamics.

Mid height Maraging face…

The GT N SWS fairway wood has a mid faced height making it useful off the tee as well as off the deck. It’s quite handsome and high quality looking face on. It’s satin face is smoothed off with a chrome rounded leading edge to minimize any digging action with the club. Geotech does not hold back when it comes to materials for the GT N SWS.  They use a premium Custom 455 Maraging steel face which is typically found in big brand name clubs from PRGR, Yamaha and others.  Matched with a high strength SUS630 body, Geotech is able to create a fairway wood that is stable but has some great pop off the face for maximum distance performance.

Strong trajectory and low spin…

Unlike many clubs today that continue to push the CG point deeper and lower in the club for maximum launch and carry, Geotech decided the key to stable distance performance was an optimal CG point, not necessarily being the lowest CG point. The CG is actually on the higher side at 25.9mm  high (the face is 35mm tall) which allows the GT N SWS to create a strong trajectory with low spin.  This results in good carry PLUS good run. At the same time the CG point is deep enough at 32.1mm to still allow the club to provide a nice easy launch. Overall Geotech worked to design a head that reduces not only back spin but unwanted side spin.

Hides its size well…

One of the great things about the GT N SWS is even though the head is on the larger side, it doesn’t look that way at address. The setup is still rather traditional looking and Geotech is one of those brands that realizes even average golfers don’t want to look at a closed hook face. While the 15* 3 wood is closed 0.5* (the spec seems pretty accurate), all other models are square to open including the 17* 4W (0* square), and the 19* 5W, 21* 7W and 23* 9W which are all 0.5* Open to prevent pulling which can happen with shorter woods.  Face angles don’t mean much if you can’t square the head at impact and the GT N SWS is designed to meet the ball square thanks to a 26.5* gravity angle.

Feels good, goes far and straight…

So how does it perform and feel? Darn good I must say. I’ve hit all the fairway woods in Japan, the egg Spoon, the TRC, the ONOFF’s, the Yamaha’s and Tourstages etc. and this club is right up there with them all in performance and quality.  The club is very straight and the trajectory very strong (I should note it was shafted with the XDB 90t/50t FW65 shaft) with good rollout. The face feels awesome at impact with much more pop which maraging typically gives and I liken the feel to RC’s TRC. Sound is more titanium like and crisp, quite different from the RF700 which was more solid and subtle. I was happy with the way it sets up at address and I could not tell it was a 190cc head. My egg Spoon because of the design looks bigger at address even though its only 165cc. I didn’t get a chance to try the weights as Geotech sent me only the standard 2 x 4g however with this setup the ball was still reasonably workable and the head itself very forgiving. The sweet spot seems rather large as miss hits off center were not noticeable. The head in fact has a very high MOI of 3543gcm2 which is close to some smaller drivers on the market.

Head only or any shaft you want…

What makes the GT N SWS stand out more is that it is available as head only since its a component and can be built with any shaft, from a low end stock 40.00 Geotech shaft, to the XDB 50t FW65 shaft to a Tour AD DI series or even Crazy FW80 shaft. So depending on your budget you could have this as a complete club for well under 200.00 (head only is 125.00). We’ll be selling the heads only in the pro shop but as always you can contact us to have one custom built right at Geotech to your specs with any shaft and grip you choose. Cost performance wise, this head is highly recommended. I’m going to be testing the GT N SWS utility next which I am really looking forward to!

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