5 Wood, 3 Wood Length

[tdkrod]

My 5 wood I hit high, my 3 wood not high enough. Has anyone put their 3 wood shaft on the 5 wood. To get more height and distance out of their 5 wood. 

[Patch]

No shaft change, but sometimes I will move the ball a little more forward than normal in my stance for a higher ball flight. More back in my stance than normal for a lower ball flight. It matters little which club I might use. 

[WUTiger]

@tdkrod, a local pro who does clubsmithing for me did what you suggest: first he dropped his 3W in favor of a 5W. Said he only lost about 20 yards distance, and the 5W was much more reliable. Then, after a few months, he put a 4W length shaft into the 5W.

Your experience with 3W is fairly common. Golf club tests indicate that the average golfer can hit a 4W more reliably than a 3W - and sometimes just as far. A couple of degrees extra loft really helps with launch.

A few demo days ago the Tour Edge rep was showing off new Exotics FWs. For most of us the 4W flew better than the 3W - this including a couple of the really long hitters too.

I am in my 8th season playing 4W + 7W at the long end of the bag.

An outdoor session with launch monitor is an excellent way to audition FWs. Shaft and clubhead design also influence how the ball flies; a fitting can help find the best for you.

[Intruder1800]

I think the logical answer is go to a 4W as @WUTiger has stated above, like the idea of 4 & 7W myself, I'll have a rummage in the cellar and dig out my 7W and give it a dam good thrashing.

[pganapathy]

Most guys in the club I am a member hit it further with a more lofted driver.  Some even have 12 to 15* lofts on their clubs.  Most however haven't gone down that route due to pride.  The same thing with their 3 and 5 woods.  They are actually better with a 4 or 5 wood, but remember than one perfect shot they hit and insist on the 3 wood.  Sadly more good golf is played in the six inches between the ears than on the course.  Look at higher lofts and shorter shafts.  You might lose a bit of distance but will gain much more in accuracy and playability

[gbogey]

My 5W is adjustable and is basically set to be a 4W.  I hit it much better off the deck than a 3W - longer, higher, straighter.  I think putting a longer shaft in the 5W would offset the benefits the 5W offers off the deck.  The reason a 3W is harder to hit off the deck is you need a higher swing speed and my guess (although I don't know) is that is more related to shaft length than loft.

BTW, I'm giving up 10-20 yards off the tee but it's worth it to me.

[Shindig]

On 6/13/2019 at 10:34 AM, WUTiger said:

Your experience with 3W is fairly common. Golf club tests indicate that the average golfer can hit a 4W more reliably than a 3W - and sometimes just as far. A couple of degrees extra loft really helps with launch.

A few demo days ago the Tour Edge rep was showing off new Exotics FWs. For most of us the 4W flew better than the 3W - this including a couple of the really long hitters too.

Not that he needs me to do this, but I am confirming what WUTiger said here.  When I got fit for my wood last summer, I intended to get a 3W and a 5W.  The fitting from Titleist -- who already knew I was planning to buy two clubs from them -- ended up with them discovering that I hit the 4W marginally past the other two, which were at about the same length.  So now I have a 4W and a spare spot in my bag to be filled at some point (currently a second gap wedge).

[tdkrod]

Thanks for the responses, I’ve ordered a 4 wood, see how I hit it. I’m not bad with a 3 wood, but I do hit my 5 about as far sometimes. Hopefully I can hit the 4 wood with good distance and height.