Equipment
How do I fit this utility wood into my setup?
In our forums, our members have been helping out a WRXer looking to find a spot in the bag for his Callaway Apex UW 17. WRXer ’58degreedreams’ kicks off the thread saying:
“Hi y’all, I recently got my hands on an original Apex UW 17-degree. I have a spot in my bag for it, but I’m generally curious about where the bag goes.
Would it replace the 3 wood and allow me to get a 5 wood or mini driver? The possibilities are endless! But I’d still love to know how y’all would handle the issue.”
And our members have been sharing their tips and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- gentles: “Bear in mind that the measured loft on the 17* heads is often a degree or two lower than stated on the head, meaning it will be much closer to a 3w compared to a 5w in terms of loft. I’ve tried and failed 3x to put a 17* UW in the bag, for me it is just a really low launching and spinning head so I would suggest it would take the place of a 3w rather a 5 or 7 wood given the launch angle will be far lower than the latter. Depending on how high of a spin player you are, you could maybe get away with it as a 4w replacement and have a mini driver in place above it.”
- MountainMan: “2nd club for me, right behind driver. I go from that to 21° UW. I could see it being stronger lofted than 17 as others have stated. It has a strong flight that will roll where the 21° comes in steep and can hold a green. They play a bit differently for me but both very useful.”
- Ty_Guy: “The 17 UW takes the 3w and 5w spot of my bag. If using the Apex, I will generally go Driver, UW 17, 21 degree wood (UW 21 or 7w). Compared to my 5w setup is Driver, Mini, 5w.”
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Marshall
Nov 6, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Nooo… It’s essentially a hybrid 2 iron. The 19° is a 3, and the 21° is a 4 iron. If you hit the 17 and your 3w the same distance, you really should get a fitting for a 3 wood. My 3w goes 250 and my 17° apex UW goes 230. My 19° goes 220(it has the same shaft length as the 17°), and the 21° goes 205. My 5i goes 195 and I have 10y gaps from there all the way to the PW.
Olav Maaland
Nov 6, 2025 at 12:46 pm
I have 3 of those 21-19-17 and they are all great for different distances . Of course the 21 is one I use for high shots but mostly it’s about the different length I hit them . They are also much more versatile out of rough than a wood . Love this club and just changed my 19 to then latest model just out which is eve better …..
DJ
Nov 6, 2025 at 11:42 am
It is more ofna 3 wood replacement. It launches lower and less spin. Great club for advancing the ball, especially innwindy conditions. However, it wont hold a green as well as a 3 wood. My favorite shot with it…2nd shot on par 5, 245 yards into howling wind. Put it to 10 feet for eagle. A 3 wood at that distance would have ballooned and never made it for me.