3 Wood or 5 Wood ?

[Deke]

Hi guys,I am about to replace my old,stiff,Nike 3 wood for a new regular shafted fairway,and i was wondering if maybe a 5 wood might be a better club for me? I nave never been able to hit my 3 woods very well,so the trade of a little distance for a more controllable(shorter shaft),higher lofted head seems to make sense.What do you good folk think? If you only carry 1 fairway,which one? Why do you favor one over the other? Distance? Forgiveness? Thanks a bunch,all responses appreciated!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

A few people on here put a 4 wood in their bag.

 

[Aztecs27]

I would carry a 3, only because I can get a good (high) ball flight...

But then I would carry both to bridge the gap between my 3 wood and 3 iron.

 

[Deke]

I think a 5 wood will bridge the gap between my 3 hybrid and driver quite well.I will probably add or replace with a 3 when my ball striking gets better.Do you think a 5 is any easier to hit?

 

[Tommo21]

Cleveland do a higher loft 3 wood, could be the answer. I've got one myself that I use a certain courses.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cleveland-Launcher...=item53e5a6b0cb

 

[haplesshacker]

I guess that it depends on your distances. Or maybe you have a 12.5 degree driver, in which case a 3 wood of 15 degrees doesn't give much of a difference. If that's the case maybe something around 17 degrees would do.

That's what I would consider, but as they say, the choice is yours.

Have some fun trying some clubs out.

 

[philly169]

until recently i only used to roll with a driver and 5 wood as my woods. 5 wood off the fairway is my confidence club, but off the tee just doesn't work.

I invested in a G15 3 wood for off the tee, when i'm not hitting my driver very well, its very controlled and gets distance and roll. I rarely hit it off the fairway atm but it can be ripped down the middle!

 

[Macster]

I carry a Callaway WarBird 4 Wood, Steel shafted, and its a very powerful club.
I started with a 5W in the same, and changed for that slight more distance on a couple of our holes, and I still have the 5 too.

Having said that, my son has a TM 3 Wood, again Steel shafted, and that goes a dream for me too, - I guess my swing just suits steel shafts in Fairways etc.

Pick up something cheap on Fleabay and try it, see what suits etc, and what you are confident with, and especially without going out and shelling out lots on something that you might not get on with.

Lots on Fleabay.

 

[Deke]

Thanks for all the input chaps.Annoying thing is i have limited money to spend,and the 5 wood version is going for a lot less than the 3 in my club of choice! Aaaargh,temptation!

 

[robbest3offthetee]

Deke, What i did was to drop the hybrid in favour of a 5 wood,for some reason found it easier to hit,both off the tee and fairway/rough....

 

[Tiger]

Can you try them both? If you only hit the 5 wood well there in lies your answer. No point having extra distance in the bag if you can't hit it for toffee.

 

[Deke]

Good point Tiger.My experience hitting other 3 and 5 woods makes me lean towards the 5 wood to be honest! I never got a great deal of distance hitting a 3 over a 5,so I think 5 is the way to go.When I am hitting it well I can add a 3 or replace the 5 with one.Cheers!

 

[Macster]

Deke, in my experience, distance does not come the Club, it comes from your swing, so I wouldnt spend a lot of dosh on one.
The very old Cally WarBird 5W is good for 225yds for me, while the 4W more like 240yds, and thats with Steel shafts.
Very powerful clubs, I often get some strange looks with mine in hand which turn to disbelief as the 4W flies past their Drivers.......

 

[Region3]

Unless you have a fast swing I'd be surprised if the 3 wood went a noticeable distance past the 5 wood, just purely because the 5 wood will have a better trajectory.

I went to The Belfry a couple of weeks ago and hit a 4 wood further than a 3 wood just because the launch angle was better and the ball stayed in the air for longer.

Add to that that a 5 wood will give you a bit more confidence because of the extra loft and that's what I'd go for in your shoes.

 

[Deke]

Thanks again for your contributions forumers! I have made my mind up and I am now the proud owner of a Callaway Diablo Edge 19deg 5 wood.Thanks again Region3 and Tiger,it was your posts that swayed me.I will let you know how i get on with it asap!

 

[lee_leggett]

I carry and 3 and 5 wood, I used a taylor made rescue but did not find much use for it as my 3 iorn went just as far.

I would stick with the basics, a rescue shoule be easier to hit then a 5 wood. as rescues are more like irons.

Best bet is to pop to a local centre and try them, see which one works best for you.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I know it is sorted out now but one thing was not mentioned!

I chose my setup, Driver and 5 wood because of my course.

My course is so open there are no holes that need a 3 wood off the tee. A 3 iron will suffice when a driver is not needed as the holes too long or too tight to hit in two and good fairway placement makes getting a par easier.

I know I will struggle on courses that are narrow or tree lined without a 3 wood. I do have an old 18 deg driving iron I might put in instead of the 5 wood as an option or drop the 60 for a 3 wood if I ever get round to buying a 3 wood!

Summary... pick your clubs for the course you play the most or the type of course you play the most.

 

[Up_Point_1]

Thanks again for your contributions forumers! I have made my mind up and I am now the proud owner of a Callaway Diablo Edge 19deg 5 wood.Thanks again Region3 and Tiger,it was your posts that swayed me.I will let you know how i get on with it asap!

Good decision made if i'm honest. I was in the same dilemma last year and spent ages pondering over whether a 3 or a 5 wood would serve me better. Opted to carry just the 5 and haven't looked back since. There was very little distance difference between the 3 and the 5 wood and I hit the 5 much better off the deck. Bit of a no brainer in the end really

UP1.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

A decent choice and so its just down to getting use to it now. Then the fun starts!!

 

[Deke]

Cheers lads,thanks for the positive response! I feel I have made a good choice and I cant wait to hit my new 5 wood.I will post my results,stay tuned!