3wood, swing or sweep?

Papas1982

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So guys, how do you take the 3 wood on. When it's off the fairway I stand pretty tall and seem to connect pretty good getting close to 200 total distance. On the tee no matter how high I tee or how far forward I tee it, I seem to sky it. Any suggestions?
 
Most modern low profile woods need the same T as you would use for an iron shot. People talk about sweeping a three wood away however many pro's hit down on the ball in the same ways as you would with a hybrid or iron but using a shallower angle of attack.
 
3 wood is probably the club in your bag which requires the most confidence to hit regularly as you hit it it pretty much as far as you can from a wide range of different lies.

I vary whether or not I'm using a tee - into the wind = no tee / with the wind = relatively high tee. If you're looking at the no tee option, generally I will create a little mound of grass by knocking my 3 wood into the turf. Not enough to create a divot, but just enough that it gives enough confidence to hit it off the tee.

Off the tee, I'll usually hit it straight or with a slight right to left shape. However, off the turf, I know I'm going to hit down on it more and generally hit it with a 10-15 yard left to right shape. Don't be afraid of changing your shot dependant on scenario. Go with what's comfortable. If it feels easiest when you're hitting a massive slice, work on reducing this to a manageable level, rather than re-inventing your entire swing for the sake of this one shot.
 
People talk about sweeping a three wood away however many pro's hit down on the ball in the same ways as you would with a hybrid or iron but using a shallower angle of attack.

That'll be a 'sweep' then! :D

Thanks for that guys!!!

I figure less friction of a tee equals more distance
Negligible friction, if indeed any, from any sort of tee. Friction only happens while a surface that is moving in relation to another surface that it is in contact with. And s the bll lifts off the tee, that just does not happen!
 
I hit down on my 3 wood but I find the important thing is not to come too much from the inside.

A slightly straigter back plane works and I get about 230 off th tee with my 3 wood, my 3wood best is as good as a decent driver.
 
I use my 3 wood off the tee a fair bit.

I always use a tee and tee relatively high for a fairway wood compared to some, maybe 1/2 inch off the ground (same with my irons actually). I try to sweep like I would with a driver and it's a very reliable shot for me. Club has quite a deep face which I think works well for shots off a tee.

I find teeing too low makes me want to hit down on it. Slightly higher tee encourges a more shallow angle of attack. I try to accentuate this by taking the club back on a low arc.

Ball position is important too. Too far back and you may get too steep on it.

Always been interested at Tiger's "stinger", where he seems to hit down and through taking a divot but still with a low tractory. He's good though!
 
Don't play a 3 wood, but I do tee my 4 wood quite low.

Can't abide seeing fairway woods tee'd up like a driver!!

I have a friend that does that and the ball sits a balls height above the head of the wood. I cringe as he comes into impact as I expect him to smash the tee out of the ground, roof his wood, and the ball to say where it was teed :D
 
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