Driver vs 3 Wood - some questions....

[J5MBF]

Fellow Golfers, had 9 holes tonight and resisted the urge to use my driver as I've been slicing it quite bad of late. Used my 3 wood off every tee requiring a drive and never hit a bad one. Hit 4 lout of 7 fairways but the missed ones were probs 1-2 yards off the fairway. I won't post some of the distances as I'll get called a liar etc etc but I know how far they were going!

A couple of questions I have are;

Do your driver and 3 wood have the same shafts? Maybe not the same brand but what about flex?
Do you alter your swing for driver vs 3 wood?

I ask as my driver, 11.5* Nike VR Pro has a stiff shaft, my RBZ 3 wood a regular. I can't believe the difference in clubs and I feel that with the driver, I try and swing harder?! Should I be? Do you? Should the shafts be the same flex ideally?
I've never been fitted for a driver, that will come in the future but bought second hand with a stiff shaft as I always felt I had a relatively fast swing. I guess I need to get a regular and stick to the smooth 3 wood style swing.

 

[virtuocity]

Come ON! Get thoses yardages posted. Your missus won't care but we do!!!

I'm starting to become a believer in the importance of getting the right shaft for you. Get fitted or have a bash at your local store with different flex shafts.

 

[J5MBF]

1st hole measures 315 off the yellows, I played second shot from 75 yards (GPS Verified). 4th hole measures 285 slight uphill all the way, I played 2nd from 35 yards. Both dead centre of fairway. 2 others were par 5 but around same distance. One I hit not so well measured approx 240yards but had not roll,on as the 1st cut was wet.

 

[One Planer]

To answer your questions.

I have the same shaft in my driver and 4 wood (Don't carry a 3 wood).I do however have a different shaft in my hybrid as I want a slightly higher flight.

As for your second question. Aside from teeing the ball lower, no. Same ball position and swing.

 

[Mugs]

3 wood is a gret club if the drivers not working out, very rarely lose much distance maybe 20/30 yards between the two for me but very consistent and shallow enough to play from the deck also

My woods are all the same make and shaft so that probably helps too

 

[SaintHacker]

I've started leaving my driver out of the bag to force myself to use the 3, and to be honest I'm seriously considering selling the driver. They're both RBZ with the stock stiff Ozik shafts. I probably lose 20-30 yards on average but the ball stays in play so much more often. I took the driver out with me tonight, used it 3 times, missed 2 fairways, and lost 1 ball with it.

 

[Stuey01]

I hit two balls off the tee tonight on a few holes, Driver and 3W. My 3W is loooong. I hit the sweetspot more regularly and it is maybe 5 yards shorter than an "average" driver hit.
I go after the 3W a bit more as I have so much confidence in it, that could account for the small difference in distance. When I smoke one with the driver it is much longer, but it gets me in more trouble.
I'm thinking about leaving the driver at home for this weekends medal.

Both have stiff shafts, the nike vr pro ltd ed 3w has a made for nike diamana 'ahina stiff. The driver, 910D2, has a genuine fujikura motore speeder 6.1 stiff.

 

[Alex1975]

I rip my driver with everything I can put into it, I smooth my 3 wood and try my hardest to find the centre of the club. I'm not scared of my driver and I am a little scared of my 3 wood. If I had to guess I would say its to do with the size of the heads.

I have a different shaft in my driver to my 3 wood but same flex and kick point. The driver shaft is a little smoother. I use the driver whenever I can and the 3 wood when I have to so having a better quality shaft in the driver seemed more important.

Shafts are cool and really interest me but it is maybe 2% of my performance.

 

[pbrown7582]

i have sourced the same shaft in my driver and 3 wood having adjustable R11's made life a bit easier.
Knocking it 240 up the middle of the fairway every hole will improve your scores no end and maybe the way to go as already mentioned.
Do you need to risk going wayward and in the clag to get to 250/255 or settle for 240 on the short stuff?

 

[Fish]

As per my signature, I put my strong 3w ahead of using a driver and now with the warmer weather and more run, I'm not only up with most peoples "average" drives, but the other really hot day, I out drove most of them

I was slicing a lot last summer but now rather than trying to change too much and do "text book" set-ups & swings, I simply moved the ball a little further back and now I don't come across it and find far more fairways, if I'm off, I'm only slightly off and not in any major trouble.

Works for me

 

[duncan mackie]

I use a 3 wood off the tee when it's the right distance for the target - for me it's no more accurate in terms of angles (but obviously going further with any particular angle error means further from the 'centre'!

most club players can't hit their drivers fully, in the same way as they can hit a 6 iron not far short of their 4 iron, so if you are more comfortable with your 3 wood then use it I'm a little in Alex's camp and am actually more comfortable with the driver off the tee.

there's also the small matter of the OP's 3w - it does go an awfully long way (I've got one) but is not the best for parachuting a soft approach shot to a firm green! Can't have everything.

"I put my strong 3w ahead of using a driver and now with the warmer weather and more run, I'm not only up with most peoples "average" drives, but the other really hot day, I out drove most of them " - you are obviously progressing well with that Cleveland Fish; shame you aren't playing Friday so I could see it against JS's R1 & Oddsock's Amp ...

 

[JT77]

I love driving the ball but I usually hit 1/2 not great ones in a round that put me in some bother do last weekend I left the driver out the bag, played 18 on Friday and hit 13 of 14 fairways with the 3 wood, and not massively different approaches to what the driver would leave. Tried again sat and hit 9 but there was a few bad ones in there.
I think if u find the holes you can hit driver freely withinimal repercussion do it. Hit 3 wood on the others.

 

[Fish]

you are obviously progressing well with that Cleveland Fish; shame you aren't playing Friday so I could see it against JS's R1 & Oddsock's Amp ...

I am Duncan, everyone is saying I simply don't need a driver! Playing on the links courses all over the winter certainly helped me "tune it", if you know what I mean

 

[Nashy]

Alot of problems people have using a driver is they try and hit the thing with everything they have. A lot of golfers who struggle with consistency with a driver would be better off with the shaft being about an inch shorter. This is why a lot of people find a 3 wood easier as the shaft is shorter.

My driving is a strength of my game but as everything this is due to hard work. I missed 4 fairways all day on Tuesday which is about average for me, but only one was missed with a driver, missed one with a 3 wood, 3irons, and ran out of fairway on a short hole with a 4 iron.

 

[Roops]

When I bought my driver I specified the same shaft as my 21 degree rescue, because I really like the feel and action. This is a regular shaft. Prior to this I had bought a 13 degree rescue with a stiff shaft, that was just low and left to right all the time. Interestingly I often play with a guy who has the same driver as me with a stiff shaft, and he's probably 20 yds shorter than me. I strongly suspect that a large majority of players have the wrong shaft in their drivers and are subsequently constantly fighting a strong left to right ball flight.

 

[Keeno]

I'm having similar Issue's at present. Driving is really erratic and killing my confidence. I carry my 3w further than my driver when both are hit well, but my driver will have a good 20/30 yards extra roll out. However, I'm luck if I hit 1 in 3 well with my driver. With my 3wood, my percentages are better.

I actually handed my driver into my Pro on Sunday to have it shortened by an inch. Should get it back tonight and will hopefully be able to find the sweet spot a little/lot more often.

Fingers crossed

 

[Pin-seeker]

1st hole measures 315 off the yellows, I played second shot from 75 yards (GPS Verified). 4th hole measures 285 slight uphill all the way, I played 2nd from 35 yards. Both dead centre of fairway. 2 others were par 5 but around same distance. One I hit not so well measured approx 240yards but had not roll,on as the 1st cut was wet.

I'd be more than happy hitting 3w every time if I was getting those numbers. I sold my 3w as I'm much more confident with driver. I put a 18deg hybrid in to replace 3w. (Love it).

 

[Pin-seeker]

I'm having similar Issue's at present. Driving is really erratic and killing my confidence. I carry my 3w further than my driver when both are hit well, but my driver will have a good 20/30 yards extra roll out. However, I'm luck if I hit 1 in 3 well with my driver. With my 3wood, my percentages are better.

I actually handed my driver into my Pro on Sunday to have it shortened by an inch. Should get it back tonight and will hopefully be able to find the sweet spot a little/lot more often.

Fingers crossed

Could you not just choke down a inch? Would this give you same results?

 

[Keeno]

Could you not just choke down a inch? Would this give you same results?

I already do choke down an inch or more at times and it does help, hence getting it trimmed. £4.00 is all its costing me. I may even grip down on it after its shortened!

The worst thing that'll happen is that I'll hit it shorter into the rough than before, BUT should find my ball easier ;-)