3 wood or 3HL wood

[MadAdey]

As the title says, 3w or 3HL.

There is only normally a 1.5*-2* difference is loft. But does anyone really find much of a difference between them.

The reason I ask is because I'm thinking about a new 3 wood, but it's going to be a long drive to go to a fitting centre that actually has the shaft options and both these heads available to try.

The HL is obviously a little bit easier to launch having more loft, but on average does anyone find much loss of distance over a standard 15* 3 wood.

So what are people's opinions on these 2 clubs.

 

[shewy]

no noticeable distance loss, I had a 3 wood and 5 wood and I hit my 5 wood just as far, I got rid of the 3 wood as the slightly shorter shaft resulted in a better strike, anyhow fwiw my 5 wood is cranked down to 17 degree's so in effect a hl 3 wood.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I had a RBZ stage 1 three wood and I struggled with it both of the deck and off the tee - lasted about 6 months with it

I then went to a stage 2 3HL and it's brilliant - superb off the tee and just as good off the deck.

Hit it further than I ever could my 3w

 

[Foxholer]

Why not go for a 15* that is adjustable by the 1.5 to 2* to turn it into an HL!

That way, the you can check the conditions to see which mode it's better to be in! Though conditions may not be so severe in your part of the world (even NC) as on clay-base winter clag this side of the pond!

 

[hovis]

Rbz stage 1 3 wood is awesome in 3 and 3hl. They haven't really got the profile to hit that well off the deck though. The ping g30 4 wood is a beast of the deck

 

[ger147]

Rbz stage 1 3 wood is awesome in 3 and 3hl. They haven't really got the profile to hit that well off the deck though. The ping g30 4 wood is a beast of the deck

The Ping G30 FW doesn't come in a 4 wood.

 

[hovis]

Sorry, ment g25. Haven't tried any g30 fairways yet

 

[Hacker Khan]

no noticeable distance loss, I had a 3 wood and 5 wood and I hit my 5 wood just as far, I got rid of the 3 wood as the slightly shorter shaft resulted in a better strike, anyhow fwiw my 5 wood is cranked down to 17 degree's so in effect a hl 3 wood.

I read an very interesting article in I think National Club Golfer when they were testing fairway woods. And they said exactly the same thing, the vast majority of amateurs would benefit a lot more from using a 5 wood, especially from the deck, as the shorter shaft means more chance of hitting the sweat spot and therefore just as much, if not more distance on average then they would get from trying to hit a 3 wood all over the face.

 

[MadAdey]

Why not go for a 15* that is adjustable by the 1.5 to 2* to turn it into an HL!

That way, the you can check the conditions to see which mode it's better to be in! Though conditions may not be so severe in your part of the world (even NC) as on clay-base winter clag this side of the pond!

Good idea, but that has one pitfall to it, increasing the loft on TM also closes the face. I got the 12* driver so the loft could be cranked down as I much prefer to look down at a face that sits open.

Got to say the conditions here are pretty good, even in winter. It's around 10*-15* most days still, but when the weather turns you certainly do not go out in it.

 

[MadAdey]

I had a RBZ stage 1 three wood and I struggled with it both of the deck and off the tee - lasted about 6 months with it

I then went to a stage 2 3HL and it's brilliant - superb off the tee and just as good off the deck.

Hit it further than I ever could my 3w

I had a Stage 2 3w and wasn't that impressed to be honest with it from the deck. Now off the tee it was a monster, but hated it from the fairway. So you find that the easier to launch 3HL is worth looking into as an alternative to standard 3w then.

 

[Slab]

I read an very interesting article in I think National Club Golfer when they were testing fairway woods. And they said exactly the same thing, the vast majority of amateurs would benefit a lot more from using a 5 wood, especially from the deck, as the shorter shaft means more chance of hitting the sweat spot and therefore just as much, if not more distance on average then they would get from trying to hit a 3 wood all over the face.

Begs the question why not get a 3w without an elongated shaft!