Stenson's 3 wood

[drawboy]

Watching Stenson smash the cover off his ball with his 3 wood I'm wondering if using the driver is more of a hinderence than good. A 3 wood is easier to hit, usually launches higher and isn't too far off as long as the driver. I may try the 3 wood. I do not carry one at the moment so may invest in a second hand Ping Anser or similar.

 

[tsped83]

I think Stenson uses a strong 3 wood, 13' degrees. I'm the opposite to your thinking Drawboy, love ripping the driver and forego the 3W in favour of a 5W.

 

[Imurg]

His troubles with the Driver have been highlighted for years
He's long enough with his 3w to not need one.

 

[Foxholer]

He smashed his Driver (into pieces) on Monday! Replaced with a SLDR.

Caved the face in on his 4-wood yesterday on the range, so going through a few clubs!

Left it in the locker room, so no penalty - several phone calls questioning whether he carried it apparently - 4 shots if he did!

So probably is a strong (13*) 3.

 

[CMAC]

His troubles with the Driver have been highlighted for years
He's long enough with his 3w to not need one.

especially in the conditions he's in i.e 230yd 6 irons etc

My TM stage 2 3 wood tour I believe is 13.5* and on courses around 5800yds its pointless gambling with driver..........but it's not as much fun:mmm:

 

[duncan mackie]

so a golfer decides that he doesn't need to use a longer club than one that enables him to get up to any hole on the course, inc the par 5's, in 2 shots.......

hardly seems relevant to the average club golfer's appropriate bag to me

someone recently posted along the lines that you shouldn't have any club in the bag that you don't have confidence (and competence) to play (drive4show?) - this makes a lot more sense :thup:

 

[One Planer]

I heard something mentioned on commentary last night regarding ten shaft in his 3 wood.

Commentator said he'd had it for about 10 years.

Surely it's not the same shaft, I can't see it performing after 10 years of those stresses.

Same make and model but not he same shaft.

 

[Sid Rixon IV]

................. I'm wondering if using the driver is more of a hinderence than good. A 3 wood is easier to hit, usually launches higher and isn't too far off as long as the driver.........

Our first hole is 375 off the yellow tee.
Last week I birdied it for the first time - driver and on in two with 6 iron.
(I've only parred it a few times).
Today I played in a 3 club comp - 5,9, putter.
I was on in 2 with the 5 iron.
That gave me a lot to think about!

 

[Mr A]

Jack Nicklaus said if you are stood on the tee with a driver in your hand, and you don't feel 100% confident, don't hit it. Something more players, especially pros should listen to.

Infact I think all golfers should listen to almost everything Jack says.

 

[Foxholer]

I heard something mentioned on commentary last night regarding ten shaft in his 3 wood.

Commentator said he'd had it for about 10 years.

Surely it's not the same shaft, I can't see it performing after 10 years of those stresses.

Same make and model but not he same shaft.

Yeah, Same make/model.

He and Quiros are rapidly using up the Graffaloy Blue X Flexes! That shaft has been out of production for a long time. Quiros was testing a 'new' version at PGA at Wentworth which seemed to go pretty well - colours are reversed; the label is Blue and the shaft is white.

As if that shaft isn't enough like a poker, Stenson's is tipped 1.5"! Though that makes slightly less difference on an already very tip-stiff shaft.

As for using the 3Wd rather than the Driver... When it's a case of maximising distance, the Driver is used. When accuracy is the clear priority, then the 3Wd is used. The key is striking the right balance when the course is set up where there is a mix.

In fact, none of the Pros at this level expect to hit anything other than perfect shots with whatever clubs they have in their hand. If they thought they might fail - rather than to avoid the danger - they'd all turn into Baker-Finch-es!