Am I missing out on distance in my fairway woods?

**onthehunt526** · December 22, 2008

As many of you may know I am a +5 handicap and shouldn't be asking advice from higher handicappers...

and I'm not... I just want some opinions...

I hit my Driver about 310 yards on average... it has a 47.5 inch Grafalloy 2X shaft in it...

I carry my 3-wood about 270 and my 5-wood 250 on average... which both have steel Rifle 6.5 shafts in them...

Here's the question? Am I missing out on distance with my fairway woods by playing steel???? if so how much?

**PiKapp23** · December 22, 2008

With those kind of distances does it even matter if you are losing a little distance? I have stuck with steel in 3 wood and 2H because I still think it's easier to control and hit where I want and how I want.

But then you're a much better golfer than me...

**Chilidipper** · December 22, 2008

Just from a technology standpoint I would say you are missing out. How much who knows, go hit some and find out.

But if you are accurate with your 5 wood I wouldn't mess with it. That club is more for accuracy than distance in my opinion. The 3 wood I would look into. It is your longest club in your bag playing from the fairway. If you could squeeze 10 more yards out of it, it could be a more viable option off the tee and you could reach more par 5s in two, especially in wet/windy conditions. But again its just my opinion.

**Pinseeker81** · December 22, 2008

I humbly bow to your greatness and defer this question to Tiger, as he's the only one qualified to give you advice.

**walfice** · December 22, 2008

Could it be as simple as hitting a steel and graphite shaft side by side or am I being a typical dumb ass 6 handicapper?

**ks8829** · December 22, 2008

at your level you are asking for our opinions, I am humbled with your openness to our attempt to answer such a question only a qualifed club fitter or tour van technician could answer.

But, what the hell, you asked............ sounds like you want more distance from your fairwoods and if you like steel have you tried light weight steel from Nippon golf for your fairway woods or the high end graphite shafts the tour pros are using and lastly I would try occasionally to try to hit the driver off the deck just incase you might have the opportunity once or twice a year like Tiger does to put it on a long par 5.

Happy Holidays! by the ways had some questions for you......

1) best round and how many birdies and eagles
2) your up and down percentage?
3) what do you iron distances for say 150 yards
4) what is the best part of your game and what do you need to work on?
5) how much do you practice each day and what percentage is the short game, ie putting, chipping and pitching?

Thanks for your answers in advance

Cheers

**anthonykim3** · December 22, 2008

i think if you get a fitted shaft for your 3 and 5 wood you will gain atleast 10 yards so go and get fit on a launch monitor for a graphite shaft you are missing out on 10 yards

**losingmyedge** · December 22, 2008

As many of you may know I am a +5 handicap and shouldn't be asking advice from higher handicappers...

at your supposed level I would have thought accuracy was over distance in your list of priorities, especially how long you must be with longer irons. steel will be more accurate, I wouldn't change for less than 10 yards of distance.

**onthehunt526** · December 23, 2008

at your level you are asking for our opinions, I am humbled with your openness to our attempt to answer such a question only a qualifed club fitter or tour van technician could answer.

1) best round 60 (I can't make the putt for 59) lol... It was on a par-70 so I don't really count it... I had 2 eagles, 7 birdies and a bogey...

2) My up and down precentage AKA scrambling is in the like 72% or so I'd have to look at my stats... 3) From 150 I usually hit 9-iron... But I'll hit a cut 8 from Time to Time and I'll even rip a wedge sometimes too... 4) The best part of my game, is bunker play believe it or not... and I don't open the face hardly at all the get out bunkers its hilarious... I'm something like 80% from bunkers... (I don't play a lot of 50-yarders) Part that needs some work... probably driving accuracy (with my driver) I only hit maybe 53% of fairways... I mean I've had my 11 or 12 of 14 rounds, and my 3 of 14 rounds... needs so serious work... maybe a higher loft would work better... lol 5) I practice anywhere from like 30 minutes to an hour and a half, with about 2/3 of that on the short game... If you count hitting pitches on the range... and a side note: thanks for the info on Nippon shafts... I'll have to order a couple and give them a try... and I play V-groove wedges too....

**st0wgolf08** · December 23, 2008

Just a quick question, why would that extra yards matter? If your getting 10 yards more, how often is the hole 590 instead of 580? Also your up and down percentage is pretty high, so if you don't make it to the green, 3/4 of the time your still getting birdie. Aren't most holes that are like 600+ downhill? I havn't seen very many level ones. Well good luck to you, I hope I hear about you at the U.S. Open

**denver_nuggs_15** · December 23, 2008

Oh no! God forbid you only hit a 3 wood 270!
I agree with most of the posters: 270 vs. 280 is not that big of a deal. You would gain distance with a graphite shaft granted that it is lighter than your steel shafts. It's physics.
You could/should get fitted for a shaft. At your level, this would probably make a huge difference.

**Smallville** · December 24, 2008

As many of you may know I am a +5 handicap and

Is this guy for real? Here's my opinion: you're a pompous ass.

I can't believe you actually said that.

**Laxplayer201092** · December 24, 2008

You make me mad!

We both his 9 iron at 150 yards,

Your 5 wood goes 250, my 2 iron goes 245 with a draw.
Your 3 goes 270, mine goes, well, probobly around yours, in and around 260-270. About the same as yours.

But you, you had to go hit thatt 310 driver.. AH!

Hey man, atleast J.B. can still hit 3 wood past you :)

But really, i doubt you need the graphite.. i hit my 3 wood pretty consistently, and it still varies by 20 yards.. So i would stay stick with what got you to a 5..

**anthonykim3** · December 24, 2008

It is really distance vs acuracy if you get fitted for a graphite shaft you will gain distance but lose some acuracy if you keep steel you will lose distance but be more presicse in where you can put the ball. If you don't mind me asking what tour are you playing on. And how long did it take you the get to a +5 from scratch.

**Crafty** · December 24, 2008

Is this guy for real? Here's my opinion: you're a pompous ass.

As "pompous" as it may sound, there is almost no doubt in my mind that he has a much better grasp of the game compared to the average high handicapper, so I don't find it ridiculous at all that he would say something along those lines.

As for the question, im gonna make a blanket statement and say that you probably are missing out on a few yards. But at your swing speed, you obviously make a pretty strong move at the ball, which means that a steel shaft may be better suited for your tempo. However, you might want to look into a heavy graphite shaft like the UST V2 95 or the Fuji Pro 95. Both are known to provide good feel with steel-like control.

**Smallville** · December 24, 2008

As "pompous" as it may sound, there is almost no doubt in my mind that he has a much better grasp of the game compared to the average high handicapper, so I don't find it ridiculous at all that he would say something along those lines.

He sounds like a country clubber vs a muni. High class snob vs low class slob. He didn't need to say it; he could have disregarded us players who suck so bad that our opinion is worth nothing instead of saying something that would obviously rile people up. At least me. He's still a pompous ass. Doesn't matter if he has a grasp on anything. Being a jerk is no excuse. And he asked for an opinion. I simply gave him one.

**Titleist Man** · December 24, 2008

He sounds like a country clubber vs a muni. High class snob vs low class slob. He didn't need to say it; he could have disregarded us players who suck so bad that opinion is worth nothing instead of saying something that would obviously rile people up. At least me. He's still a pompous ass. Doesn't matter if he has a grasp on anything. Being a jerk is no excuse. And he asked for an opinion. I simply gave him one.

I would have to agree with crafty. He probably has a much better grasp of golf than the average 10-15 handicapped. Although you are entitled to an opinion regardless of what it is.

Now for the subject of shafts. If you switched from graphite(I see no point in doing this if it works for you unless you just want to experiment) you would want to get a 95 v2maybe heavier if they make them. But you should probably stick with steel IMHO. Good luck then again you probably don't need it with a +5 handicap LOL.

**Smallville** · December 24, 2008

So you agree it's OK to be holier than thou? Have right at it. I never said he wasn't a better golfer with more knowledge than I. I simply think the way he worded his original post was very snobbish. No getting around it.Well, that's my opinion, and that's all I got to say about that.

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Am I missing out on distance in my fairway woods?

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