3-wood off the fairway

[iku]

How often do you play a 3-wood off the fairway? Yesterday morning I hit a very bad drive with a lot of top spin and the ball went just over 150 yds on a 560 yds par 5. Fortunately I ended up on the fairway and the lie was pretty good. I normally can hit a pretty good 3-wood off the tee and I was so tempted to try to hit from the fairway but because I had never done it before I went for my 4h (I don't have a 3i) which ended up short of 220 yds so with almost another 200 yds to go I had to go for a full swing 5i but I didn't reach the green anyway.

Anyway, I don't remember seeing many pros playing 3-woods off the fairway but that's probably because they don't have to. Personally if a good opportunity will happen to me again in the future I think I'll give it a go but yesterday I simply didn't dare doing something I had never done before.

Surely I'm going to try few from the practice ground next time I go. Not from the range mats though.

 

[Jabba]

I don't carry a 3 wood but I frequently hit a 4 wood off the fairway. We're both off 19, so you still were only a chip and 2 putts off a nett par (providing the hole wasn't SI1), so I don't see that you did anything wrong ater your poor drive.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

The Pro's often hit woods off the deck and I use mine whenever it's required. If you can hit your 3W off the tee you should be able to hit it off the deck.

How high do you tee it up when using your 3w? I tend to tee mine pretty low so hitting off the deck is practically the same shot. If you tee it up quite high I can see why you might struggle. Bottom line is if you don't try, you don't know if you can do it.

 

[Evesdad]

I don't hit mine too often to be honest and I'm not too great with it either!! To be honest there are only about 4 or five holes I can use it to be honest at mine. I also tend to use the hybrid instead, just a confidence thing I think!

 

[iku]

How high do you tee it up when using your 3w?

I generally use a yellow (18mm??) castle tee with my 3wood. I'm gonna try few shots on the practice ground to see if I can have it as an option for the future or not.

 

[patricks148]

TBH i use it more from the fairway than i do the tee.

If its into the wind and your drive only goes about 200 you have to use a 3 wood to be able to get on the green in two on a par 4.

In aan open at Brora last year had to use a 3 wood for most of my sec shots going out apart fron the first.

 

[HRC99]

I'll use it once or twice a round off the deck - either into a par 5 or to a long par 4 if it is into the wind.

I love my 3 wood.

 

[hangover]

even when i hit my 3 wood as me tee shot i always hit it off the floor. i seem to be able to hit it better of the floor rather than a tee

 

[The19thHole]

my 2nd fav club is my 3wd, on the fairway or off the tee.

 

[Imurg]

How high do you tee it up when using your 3w?

I generally use a yellow (18mm??) castle tee with my 3wood. I'm gonna try few shots on the practice ground to see if I can have it as an option for the future or not.

If you must use castle tees then use a red one for your 3 wood. Yelloe's too high. Don' t treat it like a mini driver and have half the ball showing above the head. You should sweep the 3 wood away, maybe just brushing the grass.
If you can do that from a tee you should be able to.do it from the fairway. Don't swing too hard - let the club do the work.

 

[Mungoscorner]

I don't normally carry my 3 wood unless i'm playing a course with long par 5's.I'd rather sacrifice the 3 wood for another wedge.
As for hitting it,best advice i can give is......

Maintain your rhythm,don't try and hit it harder,treat it like a 7 iron swing.
Don't try and help the ball into the air,let the clubs loft do that.
Bring the ball back slightly in your stance,maybe 2 inches inside your left heel.This way you will squeeze ball,rather than lifting the ball,so your less likely to suffer thins and tops.

 

[goldenbare]

How high do you tee it up when using your 3w?

I generally use a yellow (18mm??) castle tee with my 3wood. I'm gonna try few shots on the practice ground to see if I can have it as an option for the future or not.

If you must use castle tees then use a red one for your 3 wood. Yelloe's too high. Don' t treat it like a mini driver and have half the ball showing above the head. You should sweep the 3 wood away, maybe just brushing the grass.
If you can do that from a tee you should be able to.do it from the fairway. Don't swing too hard - let the club do the work.

Just moved down to a red tee from the blue for my 3 wood and Imurg is dead right, I catch the sweet spot much better.
Although I do use it off the deck I tend to do it far more away from my home course which is very tight on the long fours and par fives...mostly when away I seem to have a lot more room for my soft fade when it becomes a bit of a slice

 

[RGDave]

Just moved down to a red tee from the blue for my 3 wood and Imurg is dead right, I catch the sweet spot much better.
Although I do use it off the deck I tend to do it far more away from my home course which is very tight on the long fours and par fives...mostly when away I seem to have a lot more room for my soft fade when it becomes a bit of a slice

Just to annoy you all, I use a blue castle for my 3 wood and catch it without grazing the turf. I also hit it off the fairway with a small scorch/divot. Works just fine.

I could tee it on something lower, like an orange 5mm, but t.b.h. I'd rather hit it cleanly like a mini-driver.

Then again, I only use it on one or two holes off the tee, so I can't really assess the best technique.

 

[ScienceBoy]

If the ball is sitting up I do try hitting a driver off the fairway, its a good shot to have in your arsenal. I do not have a 3 wood, I opt for a stronger 5 wood and an extra wedge instead. It suits my home course well.

 

[Imurg]

I've hit a driver when the ball's been sitting up in the rough. A par 5 at my old place had a pick'n'place rule on one of the mounds about 260 from the tee - used to aim for it, find the ball, "tee" it up on a tuft and smack it with the driver again. Managed to eagle the hole twice doing that.

 

[goldenbare]

I've hit a driver when the ball's been sitting up in the rough. A par 5 at my old place had a pick'n'place rule on one of the mounds about 260 from the tee - used to aim for it, find the ball, "tee" it up on a tuft and smack it with the driver again. Managed to eagle the hole twice doing that.

nice use of the rules Imurg

I like a side hill lie with my 3 wood, gives me a rounder swing to stop the fade

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I can use it but tend to get a bit quick when I do trying to larrup it and usually get flippy with the hands and go sharp left or come out of it and hit a high cut right. It depends on the situation and the hole. I have hit it on the practice ground quite well so I know its in there. I think its a case of getting out on the course and giving it a go and not worrying too much about the consequences. Hawkeye and I are in a 4BBB the day after we get back from Ireland so I might take a more cavalier attitude and let him use his advice from Padraig's clinic with him to help carry me