Jump to content
IGNORED

3-Wood VS Driver


Note: This thread is 3198 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

I'm new to the forum, so I'm sure this has been brought up before, but here it goes.

I have a Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 12 degree Driver, and the Big Bertha Alpha 3-Wood 15 degree (I think).

I slice the ball like crazy with the driver, but when I use the 3-Wood, I hit a nice baby draw with only losing about 5-yards in distance.

I understand the primary differences between the two clubs are loft and shaft length.

Would it be worth me having the shaft of the driver shortened to the same shaft length of the 3 Wood?

For now, I have removed the driver from my bag and added another Wedge, and use the 3-Wood from the tee.

I appreciate any thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I'd work on the swing, but 44.5-45 inches will help.

Mine are typically 45-45.25 depending on the forgiveness of the head... like .25 inches matters... :-$

You can trim to 45, put an extra wrap of grip for the lower hand and grip down .5 inches.

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Are the shafts both the same stiffness? Is the Alpha 3-wood set to 'D" for draw or 'N' for neutral? I would say go try some other drivers but would avoid the 'latest and greatest' as you pay through the nose for them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Moderator
I'm new to the forum, so I'm sure this has been brought up before, but here it goes.

I have a Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 12 degree Driver, and the Big Bertha Alpha 3-Wood 15 degree (I think).

I slice the ball like crazy with the driver, but when I use the 3-Wood, I hit a nice baby draw with only losing about 5-yards in distance.

I understand the primary differences between the two clubs are loft and shaft length.

Would it be worth me having the shaft of the driver shortened to the same shaft length of the 3 Wood?

For now, I have removed the driver from my bag and added another Wedge, and use the 3-Wood from the tee.

I appreciate any thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks.

Even though this is an equipment thread, couldn't hurt to look at this thread. The issue isn't the shaft/loft, it's that you probably swing down and left, which isn't going to work out well for the driver, with 3 wood you can kinda get away with it (to a point).

Another option is to play a Callaway Mini 1.5 or a TaylorMade SLDR mini driver.

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
Follow The Sand Trap on Twitter!  and on Facebook
Golf Terminology -  Analyzr  -  My FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Another thing to consider is how often you have time to practice and how often will you practice.That's important. The driver is a club that requires more practice and if you don't have the time to put into it, cut your losses and enjoy the game more.

Julia

:callaway:  :cobra:    :seemore:  :bushnell:  :clicgear:  :adidas:  :footjoy:

Spoiler

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha w/ Fubuki Z50 R 44.5"
FW: Cobra BiO CELL 14.5 degree; 
Hybrids: Cobra BiO CELL 22.5 degree Project X R-flex
Irons: Cobra BiO CELL 5 - GW Project X R-Flex
Wedges: Cobra BiO CELL SW, Fly-Z LW, 64* Callaway PM Grind.
Putter: 48" Odyssey Dart

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
The driver is a club that requires more practice and if you don't have the time to put into it, cut your losses and enjoy the game more.

I'm not sure I agree with this. The driver is just a little different and most of the adjustments are made at setup. I practice with just a 7I and improvements also appear in my driver swing.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

And if one is not too confident in the driver, grip down and make a 3/4 swing or punch, and it still goes as far or farther than a fairway wood, especially in firm conditions.

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by billchao View Post


I'm not sure I agree with this. The driver is just a little different and most of the adjustments are made at setup. I practice with just a 7I and improvements also appear in my driver swing.

And if one is not too confident in the driver, grip down and make a 3/4 swing or punch, and it still goes as far or farther than a fairway wood, especially in firm conditions.

I've honestly never had any success choking down on a driver. You can always get a Callaway Bertha Mini 1.5, though. It's great off the tee. I'm reviewing the club currently and will write an article on it in the near future.

Bill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” - Confucius

My Swing Thread

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 3198 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Popular Now

  • Posts

    • Day 55: 4/18/2024 Got to the range again today. Planned to do my priority pieces and then hit targets with irons. But after my priority pieces I hit a few drives and tugged them all hard left. .... Uh... oh boy.  So, I spent about a half hour trying to hit targets at the range with my driver. 
    • Day 126 (18 Apr 24) - Trail arm only drill with the LW…focused on letting the club drop, engaging the bounce and letting the club pop the ball up….wrapped up by repeating drill with both hands on the club…
    • OPPs, I guess I have been doing the drill incorrectly, just ignore this.  But as they say, mistakes are learning opportunities. Let’s hope I can learn from mine.
    • Some thoughts after the 1st 9 holes of the year. The driver was pretty good, nothing crazy. My miss seems to be just a push. The start line is a bit too far right for my taste, but they are drawing back at least. Hitting middle-ish of the face to slightly toe. Part of the right miss is a bit of open face and off the toe slightly.  Irons, some really good strikes, others were not so good. I am feeling a few things, when I am being mindful of the swing I made.  1) Got to get the pause down again, and keep things shorter (as usual). One of the best iron shots was when I tried to mimic Rahm's swing length, lol. I caught a flier and hit an 8-iron like 190 yards into an area of no return for that golf ball. The swing felt great 😉  2) I got to stay taller in transition, feel like I gain tons of space between my hands and my chest. The bad swing is the old swing, bad right elbow, tilt to lower the club. This was too much shallowing, and hitting the ball fat. I just think of it this way, you are bent over, and you can reach the ball at address. So, you can reach the ball at impact by getting your hands down.  3) The final thing is the timing. It might take some time to get some flow into the swing. Timing up hands down and the turn is a bit off. Focusing on the hands down kind of stalls everything for me, at least it feels like my hips do not turn. I end up hitting a decent strike, just feels meh athletically, lol.  Short game was Ok, which means pretty good for not practicing it. Not short, but not round destroying.  Putting, doing much better now that I quickened up my routine. Line up, looking at my target. Glance down at the ball to get into my stance. Glance up at my target spot again, then hit the ball with in like 1-2 seconds after looking back down at the ball. Trying not to get to static over the ball while putting.   
    • Oh I'm dumb, I just noticed I did the MyStrategy from the wrong tee box. I don't think it changes anything, though. I'll play it as a three shot hole and I still don't really want to miss right (guy I played with on Sunday never found his ball he hit just over the trees right). I think the trees left are considered part of the environmentally sensitive area because it's part of the drainage area for the course. I actually like this hole a lot. I'll try to remember to take a picture next time. I probably overestimated the wind speed. We had sustained winds of like 12-15mph with gusts up to 25mph. The wind is actually forecast to be WNW on Saturday instead of WSW like was when I played on Sunday so if I play this hole again the wind will be pushing towards that bunker. Similar speeds, though. Wind is always a factor at this course because there's really nothing blocking it. I'm definitely going to have to pay attention to it, especially with the wind. I hit a handful of short iron approaches a lot farther than I thought I would on Sunday. As of right now the only thing I know for sure is I'm starting on Ridge. I don't know if the back 9 will be played on Meadow or Lake.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...