Time to ditch the 3 wood?

Robster59

Tour Rookie
Joined
Aug 7, 2015
Messages
5,162
Location
Jackton
www.eastrengolfclub.co.uk
I've just been looking at my Shotscope figures and I've released that I'm hitting my 5 wood as long as, if not longer than, my 3 wood. They are both Cleveland Classic XL, but they do have different shafts.
I've always felt the 5 wood to have a strong, powerful flight ever since I got it. Also the fact that it is a slightly higher loft may just help me in getting that little more distance.
I've used fairway woods off the deck all my life, so hitting them off there holds no fears. I'm not sure if the 3 wood would be better off the tee, but off the fairway, there really is no benefit to having the two in my bag.
 

Bdill93

Undisputed King of FOMO
Joined
Jun 18, 2020
Messages
5,147
Visit site
I've just been looking at my Shotscope figures and I've released that I'm hitting my 5 wood as long as, if not longer than, my 3 wood. They are both Cleveland Classic XL, but they do have different shafts.
I've always felt the 5 wood to have a strong, powerful flight ever since I got it. Also the fact that it is a slightly higher loft may just help me in getting that little more distance.
I've used fairway woods off the deck all my life, so hitting them off there holds no fears. I'm not sure if the 3 wood would be better off the tee, but off the fairway, there really is no benefit to having the two in my bag.

Do you not get more roll out in summer with the 3?
 

Imurg

The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
36,757
Location
Aylesbury Bucks
Visit site
This why I've been a convert to the 4 wood for many years...
16/17 degrees and I probably don't lose any distance on the 3w and it goes a bit further than the 5w
Still a decent high flight.
Most amateurs just don't generate enough swing speed to make a 3 wood work as it should.
There will be exceptions to that "rule" but not many.
4w/7w is the new 3w/5w......
 

Lord Tyrion

Money List Winner
Moderator
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
26,693
Location
Northumberland
Visit site
I've done that with other clubs before. It's a good little exercise every so often, take a step back and look at clubs which effectively duplicate each other or simply don't do the job they are supposed to. Well worth it, get the 3 wood on Ebay ?
 

Orikoru

Tour Winner
Joined
Nov 1, 2016
Messages
25,170
Location
Watford
Visit site
I gave up on 3 woods a long time ago. Strong 5 wood is much easier to hit off the deck. My driver is high-lofted at 11.5 and I hit it better than anything else so I don't need a 3W off the tee either, and there's not much of a gap between D and 5W anyway. Would be a waste of a spot in the bag. My course is short but with quick, slopey greens so having one more wedge is much more useful.
 

Oddsocks

Ryder Cup Winner
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
16,613
Location
Croydon, Surrey
Visit site
This why I've been a convert to the 4 wood for many years...
16/17 degrees and I probably don't lose any distance on the 3w and it goes a bit further than the 5w
Still a decent high flight.
Most amateurs just don't generate enough swing speed to make a 3 wood work as it should.
There will be exceptions to that "rule" but not many.
4w/7w is the new 3w/5w......

*this*
I’ve always loved a 3wood but the new gen variants I’ve cranked mine up to 16.5* (4w) and now looking for a high launch 5w or 7w. Cobra did an f8 5-6w but I can’t find one in decent condition.
 

howbow88

Hacker
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
1,389
Visit site
3W was always my weak club. When I hit it well, it was great... but when I didn't I either duffed it, skulled it, or just hit it miles right or left. Absolutely no consistency and so no confidence.

In the Summer I got the Ping G425 Max 3W and I hit it so much better now.

So why not just spend several hundred quid on a shiny new club? It will almost certainly fix your problem :D
 

Backsticks

Assistant Pro
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
3,679
Visit site
Do you not get more roll out in summer with the 3?

Is a good question though, and have wondered how the machines estimate roll. Can you program them to different conditions ? We all know there can be a huge difference between a soft even if not plugging fairway, and a hard baked summer one.
 

benjo09

Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2020
Messages
46
Location
Sheffield, UK
Visit site
When I went for a fitting last year, my pro steered me away from a 5 wood for this exact reason. Ended up with a 3/4 wood and a hybrid as I was never going to hit the hybrid as far as the 3 wood but could hit the 5 wood as far on occasion.
 

Backache

Assistant Pro
Joined
Jun 26, 2015
Messages
2,007
Visit site
If I needed another club in the bag I might drop the 3 wood but I don't really need one.
Use it on the occasional long par 3's and sometimes on the fairway particularly into the wind when it stays lower than a 5 wood though I'm not sure that I benefit in terms of consistent it definitely goes further in dry conditions.
 

Tashyboy

Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
18,436
Visit site
*this*
I’ve always loved a 3wood but the new gen variants I’ve cranked mine up to 16.5* (4w) and now looking for a high launch 5w or 7w. Cobra did an f8 5-6w but I can’t find one in decent condition.

COBRA KING F8 5-6 Wood Fairway | 17-20° | Tensei Blue 50 A-Flex £169 on eBay
 

AliMc

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 29, 2020
Messages
642
Location
East Lothian
Visit site
As I have mentioned before on another thread on this subject not if you play on a links course when the wind is blowing a hoolie and you want to get anywhere near par 5's or long par 4's, I've already got mine adjusted down by 1.5 degrees in an attempt to keep the ball down
 

Oddsocks

Ryder Cup Winner
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
16,613
Location
Croydon, Surrey
Visit site
If I needed another club in the bag I might drop the 3 wood but I don't really need one.
Use it on the occasional long par 3's and sometimes on the fairway particularly into the wind when it stays lower than a 5 wood though I'm not sure that I benefit in terms of consistent it definitely goes further in dry conditions.

17/16* hybrid.
 
Top