Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

[welshjim22]

I have been struggling with my driver for a while now. Those at the London golf club meet would have seen me pulling it left all day. I normally hit from the tee 7-8 out of ten good shots with my 3 wood but with the driver it is about 4-5 out ten. When hit well i get both to about 220 although in summer i can exceed that with the three. So i was wondering what added distance you all get from a driver over a three or what makes you opt for the 3 wood off the tee instead of a driver.

I have issues with my driver as it is a Callaway diablo draw and since having lessons and improved my swing i tend to hit more pulls and hooks. I know it had a lot of bad press for the closed look at address but it used to work well. I have therefore had to move the ball back a tad in my setup to keep it straight. I have been considering the Nike Dymo2 SRT-8 for £130 through Onlineolf.

 

[JT77]

My driver is usually around 30 yards or so longer than the 3 wood, I would hit 3 wood off the tee more atm as I have had a few driving issues and 3 wood is good for finding the fairway/light rough, if there is an open fairway without too much trouble i will hit driver, if its a bit tighter i will hit 3 wood, or if its a shorter par 4 sometimes i will hit 4 iron.

 

[EaseNgrace]

I get around 10-20 yards more with my driver, I usually opt for the 3 wood on a lot of holes at my club though as the driver can be too long for the ideal landing area on a few holes. It sounds like you aren't getting much benefit from taking out the driver at the minute. Go for whatever you're more confident with until you are swinging the driver better and out hitting the 3.

 

[jack1]

anything between 15 and 30 yds longer with the driver depending on how i hit it. However, i think sometimes us amateurs use the driver too often when a 3 will leave a mid iron in or even a 3/4 iron off the t in summer on some par 4,s

 

[stevek1969]

IMO get rid of that Callaway its doing you no good the Nike is a good driver which will help you no end,just my 2p worth.

 

[mattyb0y]

I dont see the point of the driver any more played my best golf with just a 3 wood - now carry 3 wood and a hybrid i dont havea needed for the driver... i would challange most people for a lon driver comp with 3 wood 5/7 longest drive wins with society last season with 3 wood!

Anyway if you struggle with the driver leave it out the bag for a few rounds ul notice a difference!

 

[Andy]

Sounds like a challenge Matty lol

Andy

 

[RGDave]

So i was wondering what added distance you all get from a driver over a three or what makes you opt for the 3 wood off the tee instead of a driver.

20 yards or more in the summer.

I always used to favour the 3 wood on every hole where I don't need the distance (anything under 400 basically). But a.t.m. I can't hit it at all, so I'm using my 13 degree driver as a compromise.

On really short holes I use a 5 wood or rescue anyway....

Tomorrow I'm going to be using a 1 iron. (that's not a joke b.t.w.)

It all depends where you are playing. If I was playing anywhere but mine, I'd hit a driver all day long probably.

 

[pokerjoke]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

I like to use my three wood a lot off the tee as im very inconsistent with my driver dont really measure how far as long as on the short stuff,however i woudnt use it on any hole under 220 and i dont seem to be able to play a knockdown 3 wood.

 

[Imurg]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

At the moment I've got about 30 yards difference. Measured some drives this morning. 4 drivers of around 250 and 4 4 woods of around 220.
Still toying with swapping the 4 for a 3 and 5wood combo to get a little more distance - makes hitting par 5's in 2 a bit easier.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

To stand any chance of hitting a large number of the par 4's at Ascot I need to be hitting driver as a well struck 3 wood is still going to leave me too far out. I could use the 3 more on the par 5's when the driver is misbehaving. I'm not sure what the difference between the driver and 3 wood is but would reckon on at least 30 yards.

 

[Region3]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

I reckon my driver carries about 20yds more than my 3-wood. Obviously though in the summer the difference is more than that because of the driver getting more roll with the lower flight.

At the minute my driver is more accurate than my 3-wood, and that's saying something, so if I have to be safe off the tee I hit 3-iron.

 

[USER1999]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

Ditched my 3w, as my 5w is equally as long. Driver is miles longer. Fully endorse the Nike Dymo Str8 fit, although have not tried the square one. Sounds nasty, but forgiving, and solid. You need to try it though, as the shaft is ..... interesting.

Best driver I have owned. Love it.

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

I prefer to play my driver rather than my 3 wood, probably because my ball striking is better with the driver.
Not sure exact distances but i do know that today i hit a 320 drive into wind (measured it on rangefinder thing before anyone questions it)

 

[JustOne]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

At the moment I've got about 30 yards difference. Measured some drives this morning. 4 drivers of around 250 and 4 4 woods of around 220.
Still toying with swapping the 4 for a 3 and 5wood combo to get a little more distance - makes hitting par 5's in 2 a bit easier.

Interesting. I'm thinking of going Driver, 3, 4 & 5 wood at the moment and losing my 3 iron completely.

My 5 wood is 20°, the 4 wood will be 17 and the 3 will be 15. I feel a 17° club will make my 3-iron obsolete.



Hard to say what the difference is between my driver and 3 wood, 40 yards perhaps on two good ones, maybe more? Dunno. If there's enough space then it's normally a driver For me it's more a directional thing rather than distance.

 

[Andy]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

I prefer to play my driver rather than my 3 wood, probably because my ball striking is better with the driver.
Not sure exact distances but i do know that today i hit a 320 drive into wind (measured it on rangefinder thing before anyone questions it)

Keep taking the tablets Pete

Andy

 

[pokerjoke]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

I prefer to play my driver rather than my 3 wood, probably because my ball striking is better with the driver.
Not sure exact distances but i do know that today i hit a 320 drive into wind (measured it on rangefinder thing before anyone questions it)

Keep taking the tablets Pete

Andy

Remind me not to buy one of those range finders there yardage is dodgy.

 

[CannyFifer]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

i'll hit about 20 yards further but as 1UK suggests, I have a 19* hybrid instead of a 3 iron and no other woods. TBH I need a decent drive on our course on a few par 4's as they are 470 plus and inpossible at the best of times to reach in 2.

 

[welshjim22]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

Went to nevada bobs today and spent an hour testing the Nike Dymo2 STR8, Taylormade burner 2009, Cleveland DST launcher and for comparison my old Diablo draw. Well the Nike was an instant distance improvement, the Burner just didn't work out and the CLeveland with it's very light shaft worked best. Clear to see the Diablo needed a change. However, due to the price difference i couldn't make my mind up between the Nike and Cleveland as we kept swapping reg for stiff and 10.5 for 9 lofts. In the end the guy said hit five of each reg with 10.5 loft and compare them. The dispersion, distance, launch angle and club head speed were all better on the Cleveland with average distance over 230 yards. In fact the Nike driver club head speed was low 80's and the CLeveland min 90's. According to the launch monitor most shots were straight or draw. With only the odd hook or slice.

Went down the range later on in the day and hit 60 balls with the driver and not one went straight, sliced almost all of them with a good shot being a fade. A little worried about my purchase now. Now i did a 15hr nightshift last night and haven't slept since, and at our range there are roof supports between each bay and i do tend to stop the follow through quite short. I don't do it on pupose but subconciously. Very nervous of hitting the supports witha driver as i have heard others do it all the time.

 

[RGDave]

Re: Driver v 3 Wood. what distance?

Very nervous of hitting the supports witha driver as i have heard others do it all the time.

I found a range bay with mirror and thought I'd swing my driver facing the mirror.
Bad idea, swung through and up and my club (head) hit the metal support. Bad idea....nice dent in my 460cc titanium head.