Thinking about dumping my 3 wood, your thoughts please...

[EquipmentJunkie]

Hello all,

As you can see my signature my current set-up includes a 15* Cleveland Hibore XLS and an 18* Titleist 906F2. Some stats to consider;

15* 3 wood
Off the Tee : 240 yards to 250 yards
Off the deck : 220-230 yards

18* 5 Wood
Off the Tee: 230-240
Off the Deck: 220-230

**It should be noted I am slightly more accurate with the 5 wood off the deck, and slightly more accurate with the 3 wood off the tee.

Please let me know if I am incorrect in saying this, but as of right now I am of the opinion that I am hurting my game by carrying both of these metals. The difference is yardage does not seem worth the space that they take up in my bag. Yes, I get a little more yardage from the 3 wood off the tee, and I am slightly more comfortable with it there too but I am virtually terrified to even try it off the deck. It usually results in a duck hook, and the extra distance I gain with it off of the tee doesn't seem like it's worth it at times. I feel I could become just as confident with the 906F2 off the tee with it's deep (in comparison to a lot of other fairway metals) face. I am considering pulling the 3 wood, here are some options I am looking at and I want to here your thoughts;

**Dump the 3 wood for a 50* wedge (Right now I have 3 wedges; 46*, 54* and 60*)

**Dump the 3 wood and add my 5 iron, to make up for the distances between my 6 iron and 5 hybrid.

**Dump the 3 wood for my old CLeveland Launcher 2 iron, which I prefer off the tee to the hybrids on those tight fairways and ling 3 pars

**Dump the 15* 3 wood and replace it with a strong 13* 3 wood.

**Dump both the 3 and 5 wood, and opt for a compromise with a 16* or 17* fairway metal (an excuse to try the new Cleveland Launcher) which would still give me the option of adding another club like the wedge.

**Add length to the current 3 wood .5" or 1.0"

What do you think? Is this common?

[TinCupTampa]

Honestly... I would get a different 3 wood. I had an XLS for a while at the beginning of the season. I just couldnt get the distance that I needed out of it. I probably could have worked at it and tweaked my swing a little to adjust to this club but I finally decided to try a more traditional shaped 3 wood to see if it made a difference.

It did... I tried 5 or 6 different 15* 3 woods all with varied success. I finally the one that worked for me and havent looked back. I liked it so much I bought a matching driver and 18* hybrid just to keep the feel consistant.

I had a Hibore XL Driver and an XLS hybrid in addition to the 3 Wood and dumped them all. I think its all about what works for you. If you cant find a 3 wood that works better for your swing and you want another wedge... go for it. You are the one that has to hit them. You need to decide what kind of yardage or what your game is lacking and find a club that meets your need. Good luck.

[sam004]

If you don't mind me asking, what age range are you in ?
I think as you get older, your swing speed tends to decrease, and you will
find the woods easier to hit the the long irons [3,4,5]

It's not you, it's your clubs :). I think I am an equip. junkie too.

I too am searching for the right combo of clubs to fit my game.
I have a couple several different clubs I am trying to decide on which will fit
in to my bag of shots. Sometimes it depends on how i am hitting the ball that day,
or what kind of course layout I am playing. Trying to find the right club for hitting those tee shots on long par 3's and long approach shots on long par 4's

I like my 3W in my bag because of it' size, about 250 CC, 5w is about 200 CC.
In otherwords a small driver. I think that is a liability though for my shot off the deck,
as I don't alway hit as wqell as a 5w or a hybrid.

With that in mind, I prefer a 5W because of it's smaller size and near similar distance.
Gives me a club for around 200-220 yds.

IMO, I would want the 50* wedge over the 60*. I can use my 55 as good as my 60.
I have found that I do not hit my 3,4,5 very consistently. I have since pulled the 3i in favor of a 3 hybrid.

Judging by your driver loft, I would not think a 3+W would not serve you very well.
IMO, again, I think the 5W fits the loft spread a little better.

What's a few yards in distance from that range ? How often do you use a 3W or 5W in a game vs. how often you would use a wedge. What are the most important clubs in the bag ? Putter and wedges + Driver. You use those clubs on most every hole.


Maybe if you are playing a particularly long course or a narrow course, then you can put the 3W back in the bag.


If we are voting here, I go for a 5w and 50 wedge.

[EquipmentJunkie]

Honestly... I would get a different 3 wood.

Thanks for your take, I like my 906F2 a lot, especially the shaft combination. With the 909's coming out I'm sure I could pick up a 906 used or new pretty cheap. However I will try some more, including the new launcher.

If you don't mind me asking, what age range are you in ?

Well I think I'm on the opposing side of the spectrum here. I have only been playing for 2 years and my swing speed is increasing...and I'm trying t slowly remove the hybrids from the bag, I'm working on getting the 4 and 5 out the bag. I'll only be 22, next week actually.

I like my 3W in my bag because of it' size, about 250 CC, 5w is about 200 CC. In otherwords a small driver. I think that is a liability though for my shot off the deck,

Yes, I had a Ping Rapture as my 3 wood earlier and the season and while it was great off the tee, it's large size was the reason it got the boot out of my bag. It was useless off the deck for me, it was just a back up driver basically.

Judging by your driver loft, I would not think a 3+W would not serve you very well. IMO, again, I think the 5W fits the loft spread a little better.

I agree I bought this driver when I was relatively new, and even though I re-shafted it, the loft is ballooning on me now with my improved swing speed, so I plan on getting fitted for a new driver....probably in the 9.5* range.

If we are voting here, I go for a 5w and 50 wedge.

That is the option I am leaning toward, especially since I already own a 50* CG14 anyway. Thanks all.....

[rebby]

**Dump both the 3 and 5 wood, and opt for a compromise with a 16* or 17* fairway metal (an excuse to try the new Cleveland Launcher) which would still give me the option of adding another club like the wedge.

Based on what you were saying above I'd opt for dumping both and getting a 4 wood like you suggested above. I've played a lot of years without fairway woods (carried driver, 2 iron) and did just fine without them. When I really felt the need to have a fairway wood with me, I always grabbed a 4 wood (Callaway Warbird).

I'm having the opposite "equipment" battle as you right now as I'm considering going back to a 3 wood since getting a new set of irons that does not offer a 2 iron. I hit the new irons nearly one club further so I haven't missed the deuce but I now have 2 empty slots in my bag. As noted in my sig, I'm considering adding a weaker lofted 3 wood for a bit more versatility off the tee. I prefer the weaker lofted 3 wood because it's more versatile, just like my old 4 wood. In most circumstances I really favor sticking with only one fairway wood, a 4 wood. This gives you many/most of the shots you want/need with fairway woods while opening a slot in your bag for an additional wedge. Good luck!