Driver Vs. 3 wood

[mattyb0y]

Hi Guys new to the forum so high all!

Just wondering if im alone on this (and also after some advice)

I recently decided to ditch my driver.. after listening to a fellow playing partner as he pointed out im hitting my 3wood nearly as far (if not as far) even on clean strikes as my driver. So went to my club range to test this.

Driver at the time was a Adams Insight BUL 5000 and i have always played callaway fairways so it was my new 2008 Big bertha. Driver was 9.5* and fairway was standard 14*

After getting warmed up i must admit he was right.
I hit reasonably straight and carry 200yard with roll bout 220-250 on average (depend on conditions ect).

I thought this is wierd? both had the same Grafalloy Pro Lauch Blue in stiff flex! If anything the 3 wood had a higher flight.

As a result i have started to play only my 3 wood and carry a 5 wood to lay up if needs be! an my scores seemed to slightly improve as i have come down from 13.6 to 12.8 in 3 compertitions

Just wondering if anyone else is in this situation and more importantly i was wondering if any one could help me with getting a driver (Specs ect) that would help to gain 30-50 yard on my 3 wood as i could easily be reaching the 280 rang with a driver that suits me like my 3 wood does!

Thanks guys and happy golfing!!

 

[Robobum]

An identical shaft does not perform the same with different comb of head/ loft etc. It would sound as though you have found a good combo for your 3wood but not in the driver. I suggest you either go trial a load or go get fitted.

Please don't fall into the "I hit it 280yds easily" camp Matty, your distance estimate will almost definately be wrong!!

 

[Ste_Denial]

im the same, i was getting in all sorts of troubles with my driver. so i got rid of it and just play with the 3 wood and 5 wood

 

[mattyb0y]

Thanks for the reply... yeh i am aware that 280 camp is quite a claim, all i kno is that with my 3wood it seems to work well for me n i can carry 200, maybe a 80 yard increase with a good big stick is quite a optermistic claim how ever id like to have a driver that works for me!

somebody recommended a Tour Edge Exotics to me... i have recently changed to Titleist and love the feel you get so might go titleist if i buy... have u heard much of Tour Edge?

 

[bobmac]

Welcome to the forum.
Here's what I would do.
Try a regular shafted driver with at least 10.5 loft and see how far it goes.
HTH
How's your putting by the way?

 

[mattyb0y]

Hi Bob! Thanks for the welcome

My putting has improve loads since i changed to the Yes Golf Callie putter! much better what d you think to the putter?.. i tried my mates regulat Orka custom driver hes has the Adila NV Proto by you in reg flex.. and most of the drives leaked out to the left.. which i think was cause by flex being too soft? could be wrong but hit my stiff a lot straighter!

 

[bobmac]

Ok, sounds as if your swing speed is matched to that stiff shaft, alot of players aren't. Have you tried a Ping G10 with more loft?

The Callie? dont like it's too heavy for my liking.
Prefer my old Anser

 

[bobmac]

Hi Bob! Thanks for the welcome

My putting has improve loads since i changed to the Yes Golf Callie putter! much better what d you think to the putter?.. i tried my mates regulat Orka custom driver hes has the Adila NV Proto by you in reg flex.. and most of the drives leaked out to the left.. which i think was cause by flex being too soft? could be wrong but hit my stiff a lot straighter!

Are you left handed?

 

[mattyb0y]

Im Right handed bob! An no i havent tried a g10 are they worth a look at? I was thinking of going titleist!

 

[bobmac]

Im Right handed bob! An no i havent tried a g10 are they worth a look at? I was thinking of going titleist!

Both companys make good clubs, its just personal preference.
Some people even like Taylor Made......don't they HJS?
If you can find a range with a shop attached, give them both a try and ask if there is a pro to help you.

 

[RGDave]

Just wondering if anyone else is in this situation and more importantly i was wondering if any one could help me with getting a driver (Specs ect) that would help to gain 30-50 yard on my 3 wood as i could easily be reaching the 280 rang with a driver that suits me like my 3 wood does!

30-50 yards on your 3 wood.......I think you need a miracle myself.

If your 3 wood is 14, I can't see much chance. You'll have to try a few models out......If you ended up with an 11 or 12 degree that suited you as well as the 3 wood, you might get 20 yards.

Custom Fit job I suspect.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I don't understand the idea of dropping the driver from the bag. I find mine to be one of the easiest clubs to hit. I certainly get no where near as much distance with my 3 wood, so if I don't use it I'm losing out!

I only hit it 250, and my driver goes 280 at least

 

[mattyb0y]

Gil_Emott i see you play the FT-5 tried it for a while and couldnt get on with it.. I think its a custom fit option by the looks of it!

Also your from derby do you know of newhere i get custom fit?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Yes, mine was custom fit. It was between this and a Titleist but the Callaway was just too good.
I'm hitting over 60% of fairways so far this year, and when I miss it's normally ok as I'm planning my rounds better. So that's why I don't understand the idea of dropping to a 3 wood. The only time I drop down is to avoid hitting beyond the fairway on dog-legs. I use my driver when accuracy is of a premium as I'm confident enough with it.

So I'd recommend speaking to a pro and/or getting a fitting.

Good luck with what ever you choose.

 

[RGDave]

I only hit it 250, and my driver goes 280 at least

Yes, but you are probably playing a 15 degree 3 wood.

This chap is struggling with a 9.5, so if he ends up with an 11 (say) that's only 3 degrees...unlikely to get 30-50, 30 maybe (at a push).

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My pro has just got the Tour Exotics custom fitting equipment in and they do look a decent club. There is one driver head that is very similar to the Titleis and looks pretty sexy behind the ball.

My advice would be to get out and try as many drivers as you can. We are heading into demo season so have a look on the manufacturers (or American Golf's) websites and see where the nearest ones are. They usually all have launch monitors to measure your swing and the guys there will be able to sort a shaft to suit accordingly. As a thought and to keep Bob happy, have a look at the TM Burner especially if you can find the 08 model which should be pretty chap now.

 

[TonyN]

Something doesnt make sense to me here.

You are stiff shaft so I presume you swing pretty quick 95+? and you carry 200 but get 250 yards out of a 3 wood? How do you hit this with any accuracy? shaft not spinning the ball enough maybe, or am I wrong in presuming 50 yards roll is normal with a 3 wood?

I am Reg shaft and swing at 85mph, carry my 15.5 3 wood about 200-210 yards and with roll get about 220.

I use a 10.5 FT-5 and carry 220 and on good hits get about 240. Thats only an extra 20 yards with the driver.

You want an extra 80 yards from the big stick Have you considered a Slazenger K1 speed driver?

On a serious note, I use my 3 wood more than the driver because it draws less. I only take a driver when I really must or the fairway is wide with little trouble.

I would suggest a custom fit. Take your 3 wood and current driver. I think its more important to get a consistent and equally gapped set of yardages rather than being as long as possible 10% of the time.

Off topic slightly, last couple of weeks I have played with a few single H/C who are good drivers of the ball, all played stiff shafts and swing faster than the speed of light. Look to be nutting the ball miles. I swing at 85 and play reg as I said above, but they only ever seemed to be 10-15 yards longer than me from the tee. How?

 

[bobmac]

Perhaps they weren't hitting the sweet spot and you were

 

[mono217]

Try a new driver maybe get custom fitted.

 

[RGDave]

Off topic slightly, last couple of weeks I have played with a few single H/C who are good drivers of the ball, all played stiff shafts and swing faster than the speed of light. Look to be nutting the ball miles. I swing at 85 and play reg as I said above, but they only ever seemed to be 10-15 yards longer than me from the tee. How?

That'll be because of the shape and trajectory when you hit a good 'un. A tidy strike with ideal loft conditions (nothing to do with the OOB post about insulation!!) and a tasty draw are going to give you more yards than you might expect. I hit a 240 yard 3 wood the other day.....totally crazy......

As my pro said, "Don't give me all this **** about needing more distance. Hit it better and straighter and you'll hit it further.....if once it's straight and flying out of the middle of your melon driver, then I'll offer you some free lessons if that's still not good enough." He's right.....of course.....if I was hitting straight and 250+ I'd be in range of every last par 4 hole.