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3w vs driver of tee

iWALK18
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iWALK18 Dedicated Member

iWALK18

Are amateurs/rec players really more accurate with a 3 wood versus a driver? I've never carried a 3w consistently, and I'm starting to wonder if i should.
Bag: Flight SS
Driver: 10.5* r5 draw with Pro Launch blue 65 Stiff
Irons: CCi Forged 3i-pw
Wedges: 56* CG12 black pearl and 60* low bounce RTG 900
Putter: i-Series Anser 35"Ball: e5+Tee: Zero FrictionGlove: FootJoy WeatherSofRangefinder: MedalistShoes: Sp-6 II, Adidas 360Scores this year:92 91...
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HookEmHorns Established Member

HookEmHorns

Hey guys.

I tend to hit my 3 wood off the tee because I can't consistently hit my driver straight. I have a steel shaft on my 3 wood and I think that the graphite shaft on my driver isn't stiff enough.. Or I just don't know how to swing the dang thing right. haha
I usually hit my 3 wood straighter than my driver so I usually use it. Lately I haven't been able to hit anything except for my irons straight.. I have been trying to work on hitting my driver straight but I just can't get over my hook so I try to work on it and over analyze my swing which has just messed up what I had working... Just don't know what to do to get back to where I was before with my driver and fairway woods...

HookEmHorns

In my 14 Xtreme bag:

Driver Burner 10.5*3 Wood Rawlings 15*5 Wood Ignite 19*Irons S2 Max 4-GWPutter Rossa Corza Ghost 35" Next to be replaced: 3 wood. All Rawlings junk has got to go. haha

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right handed phil mickelson Great Member

right handed phil mickelson

well, neither do I as a matter of fact. I don't find much difference. I'm usually more confident and accurate with my driver. I just never quite liked the 3 wood. I usually hook it or hit a big draw with 3 woods.

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha Diablo 9º
2 Hybrid: Callaway Big Bertha Heavenwood
Irons: Nike Slingshot OSS 6-3 iron
          Taylormade Tour Preferred PW-7 iron
Wedges: Cleveland CG14 50º, 54º
              Taylormade RAC 58º
Putter: Ping Darby 32" shaft


 

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shankapotamus Dedicated Member

shankapotamus

There's only like a ten or fifteen yard difference between my Driver and my 3 wood, but I generally hit my 3 wood more accurate. So which one I use is depends on the width of the Fairway.

A quote from Kris
...is that college bball really isn't "lower tier". The better teams have their rosters filled with guys who could play in the NBA. hell, guys used to come straight from high school to the NBA. I really don't think there's much of a difference skill-wise between the two.

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Ryanrocksfender Well Established Member

Ryanrocksfender

well.....i tend to top 3 woods. I have no idea why as i have no problem hitting a driver. heck, i don't even know why it's in my bag.

Alot of tour players have a hard time trying to find a 3 wood that fits them! anthony kim didnt even use a 3 wood untill recently he just used a 1 hybrid. henrik stenson is using a 3 wood thats 3 years old! you just gotta find wats right for you!

in my bag
hibore xls 9.5* S flex
sumo2 sasquatch 3 wood 15*
a2os 3 hybrid
sc2 4-pw mpt raw haze 52* 588 56* wedge xtour PM grind 60* cleveland classic #2

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sp33d Dedicated Member

sp33d

I don't carry a 3 wood. hybrid 18* does the trick for me. I can hit my driver accurately, and if the hole is too short or hazard before the green (where I can drive it into it) I pull my hybrid.

Aerolite III bag
MP600 10.5*
F-50 15*
MP57's Project X 5.5 3-PW
CG10 56* RAC 52* 60* 2 Ball putter ProV1/ProV1X Blackberry Storm GolfLogix

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Leftygolfer Great Member

Leftygolfer

I feel alot more confident with my driver. I have two nice three woods and don't carry them. I can hit my 5 wood as far and higher but I still shy away from that because my swing has something wrong. I hit driver if at all possible.

I have been playing like dirt so who knows now.

Brian

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Mr3Putt Dedicated Member

Mr3Putt

Are amateurs/rec players really more accurate with a 3 wood versus a driver?

Yes.

The accuracy comes from the higher loft/shorter shaft of the 3 wood. Not only do straighter shots tend to go further than crooked shots, there is also less danger in the fairway than there is in the woods. I think that if most higher handicapped players would tee off with a 3 wood for an entire round, they could post a record score. Of course that would require checking their ego at the door. When you're standing on the tee box, who wants to do that? Grip it and rip it baby!
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TN94z Super Member

TN94z

  • Moderator
From the higher handicappers that I have played with, they would be much better off going with the 3W IMO.

I feel just as comfortable with my driver as I do my 3W. There is also not much distance lost on mine either. I mean my driver is longer but not that much. With that being said, I use my 3W alot. THe biggest reason I do this is because of the lower ball flight. There are only 2 par 5s at my course that I can reach in 2 and one really long par 4. Other than that I try to use my 3W if I am playing our usual matches. Now there are days when I will pull the driver quite a bit just messing around. Usually when I am playing in our money games, I pull the 3W and the majority of the time I catch crap about pulling the "chicken stick."

Bryan A
"Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same"

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deafheaven Well Established Member

deafheaven

Driver technology has changed so much particularly when it comes to negating a slice. At this point I'm much more accurate and consistent with my driver as opposed to my 3W.
Driver :Adams Speedline 9032LS 10.5*
Woods:Wilson Staff FYbrid 3W
Hybrids:Wilson Staff FYbrid (wood/hybrid gap)
Hybrids:Ben Hogan Edge CFT 3H & 4H
Irons:King Cobra S9 5I-PWSand Wedge:Cleveland CG12-58*Putter:Ping Redwood AnserBall:Nike Karma/Topflite GamerFavourite Gizmo:Club Caddy
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RichF Great Member

RichF

I max. my 3-wood/metal about 230-240+roll (with my driver about 250-260+roll )
I'll use it quite often on the courses I play, mainly, if:
a) my driving isn't working that day
b) the fairways are tight
c) fairways are lined with trees

I also find it easier to work the ball left or right with the 3-wood too.
TaylorMade R9 460 9.5°
TaylorMade R9 13°
TaylorMade RAC TP MB 3-PW
TaylorMade RAC TP 54°.10 / 58°.10
Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport 2
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bunkerputt Great Member

bunkerputt

I take my 3-wood whenever I can. It's shorter, so it's easier to control. Plus, I don't feel like I have to kill it like I do every time I get a driver in my hands. My 3-wood also has a lot smaller sweet spot, which actually makes it a little easier for me to hit, mainly because I just don't know where to hit my driver. Even if you say the middle of the face, do you mean exact middle, or upper middle? That varies by driver. It's not really a club I'm very comfortable hitting, and I get plenty of distance with the 3w.

[ Equipment ]
R11 9° (Lowered to 8.5°) UST Proforce VTS 7x tipped 1" | 906F2 15° and 18° | 585H 21° | Mizuno MP-67 +1 length TT DG X100 | Vokey 52° Oil Can, Cleveland CG10 2-dot 56° and 60° | TM Rossa Corza Ghost 35.5" | Srixon Z Star XV | Size 14 Footjoy Green Joys | Tour Striker Pro 5, 7, 56 | Swingwing

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Chas Great Member

Chas

Usually when I am playing in our money games, I pull the 3W and the majority of the time I catch crap about pulling the "chicken stick."

LOL. It's where the chickens come home to roost that counts when there's money involved.

I most play the 3W off the tee now (last month or so) and it's working for me. I'll go back to hitting driver more often when I've got more confidence in hitting fairways with the darned thing. Actually I'm looking for a nice persimmon driver, might start playing with that later and show some style out there (got a wooden putter from Hawaii to go with it .....).

Driver: Cobra 460SZ 9.0, med.
3 Wood: Taylor stiff
3-hybrid: Nike 18 deg stiff
4-hybrid: Taylor RBZ 22 deg regular
Irons:5-9, Mizuno MP30, steel
Wedges: PW, 52, 56, 60 Mizuno MP30
Putter: Odyssey 2-ball

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Smw Member

Smw

My driver recently broke down on me, so it has been a few weeks since I have had one of my own. Last game I was 3 wood all day off the tee and I hit more fairaways than in any previous game. My misses were also more manageable.

I may finish this season out using just the 3 wood and see where it takes me.
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retexan599 Well Established Member

retexan599

My three (metal) wood is one of the old Adams Tight Lies "Air Assault" with a narrow face height. It works very well for the rather low cut baked fairways I encounter in the Houston area, as it almost feels like a hybid. However, with the short face, I do not have confidence hitting the Tight Lies 3 from the tee box. Besides I just bought a new driver....

John Hanley
Sugar Land, TX
Driver: Pinemeadow ZR-1 460cc 10.5 degree; senior flex graphite shaft;
6-PW: ProStaff Oversize; graphite (about 13 years old);
Adams Tight Lies fairway woods.

Cleveland CG14 56° sand wedge

Zebra 395gm Mallet putter

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Three Putt Great Member

Three Putt

Most high handicappers would be better off with a 13 to 15 degree driver. In one league I play I carry a 15 degree 440cc Golfsmith Driver for use on one hole only, ....a par 4 (if you can hit it high enough and get it to drop steep enough at 265 yards...you are on the green and putting for eagle (huge tall trees, the ball needs to just about fall out of the sky). My 3 wood at 13 degrees doesn't clear and the Driver goes to far (if it makes it over "the wall") and into the maintenence parking lot...OB. If you play the narrow dogleg straight up it's about a 320 2 shot par 4.

back to OP...I say driver all the way...Get a 13 or 15 degree driver, cut the shaft down and inch....what situation should you ever hit 3 wood off the tee now??

In the Bag...Ping Hoofer

3dx Tour Square - UST V2 HMOI X Flex
3dx 15* - X flex
Baffler DWS 20* Aldila NV Stiff 4-GW 600XC Forged Irons- S Flex 55* SW - Burner XD 60* LW - Burner XD Craz E Putter <----ProV1x---> Pellet

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