3 Wood or Wedge?

[bogeyhitter25]

Just thought I'd get everybody's opinion on whether I should get a 3 Wood or a Wedge. I only hit my 5 Wood around 195 yards, and both of my wedges have minor flaws (ie. scratches, and the 58* has small rock marks on the sole (I hate my yard). Opinions welcome, thanks.

[miller72]

hey, u dont score with the 5 wood do you?
the sand wedge will help your short game immensely.
i added new wedges, and dropped my handicap to less than 5. it was great.
i play my 5 wood about 205 and i would be ok with your distance on that unless you are playing really really long courses, becasue if you have a decent drive, you should be able to do just fine with that.

[uttexas]

wedges wear out so fast (pros get new wedges every two weeks). 3 wood thoughts:(as long as you hit your driver well) you might only use it (3wood) once a round. Very few 3woods are easy to hit off the turf. You have a 5 wood that you like. You'll get maybe 15 more yards carry off the turf with the 3 wood, but my guess would be, much higher inaccuracy.

[titaniummd]

Just thought I'd get everybody's opinion on whether I should get a 3 Wood or a Wedge. I only hit my 5 Wood around 195 yards, and both of my wedges have minor flaws (ie. scratches, and the 58* has small rock marks on the sole (I hate my yard). Opinions welcome, thanks.

Definitely the wedge. if you can master the short game and get an up and down in 2, then you can drastically cut your score. You would use a wedge anywhere from 4 to 6 times a round (more if you hit into trouble).

Unless your driver is giving you trouble, I wouldn't do a 3 wood. You wouldn't use your 3 wood more than once or twice a round. 3 woods are optimal off the tee or on a perfect lie - hybrids are forgiving and easier to hit out of almost any lie.

[PiKapp23]

I just had that same question. I got a couple of gift certificates from family for Golf Galaxy (they all know it's the only place for me), so I was in there today. I knew I needed a new wedge as old was getting quite worn, but it's still hard to choose. I ended up buying a new Cleveland CG14 (and still have about $120 left).

Currently, I almost never use my 3 wood off turf - it's pretty much just a second driver. The wedge I will use a lot more for sure.

[Big_M]

OK... I'm going to go against the crowd and say the 3-wood (maybe). A 3-wood is useful off the tee when the driver might be trouble, and it gives you some of those invaluable attempts at eagle. scratches don't effect performance, and a little barb or cut can be fixed on a grinding wheel or with a file. Unless you hate your wedges, or they are unfixable... then I'd go with the 3-wood since you don't have one. Also... a groove sharpener will fix up those wedges as well.

Someone said pros get new wedges every two weeks... not always true, many pros will play a wedge much longer than that, wedges will wear out, but good upkeep can make them last at least a 100 rounds or so, depending on conditions and how much you practice.

[Fourputt]

wedges wear out so fast (pros get new wedges every two weeks). 3 wood thoughts:(as long as you hit your driver well) you might only use it (3wood) once a round. Very few 3woods are easy to hit off the turf. You have a 5 wood that you like. You'll get maybe 15 more yards carry off the turf with the 3 wood, but my guess would be, much higher inaccuracy.

Wedges wear out? I can use the same wedges for years. Sand wedge gets a bit scruffy looking, but the others look like new. I only use the SW in the sand, and since it gets scuffed up anyway, I use it when I have nasty pitch from what is or might be rocky hardpan. I think I'm going on 4 years now with my SW, and I play 100 rounds a year since I retired. I expect my other wedges to last indefinitely.

To the OP: If your wedges are still functional and you like them then I wouldn't replace them unless you need something to fill a hole in your set. Just because they look a bit dinged up, it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with them. I played with an 8I for years that had a nasty rock ding in the sole. It didn't affect the play of the club, in fact it was my favorite club in that set.

[Titleist Man]

Personally id go w/ a wedge or 2 if you have the money. Wedges will be used more often and effectively than a 3-wood. So unless you really want to get the 3-wood or if you really like your wedges get the wedges. Good luck

[anthonykim3]

go with a wedge for sure you really don't need a 3 wood if you hit your 5 wood good cause the 3 wood will be hard for you to hit of the turf and wedges are your scoring club you want to have one that is nice and that you like and to the guys that said pros replace them every 2 weeks where did you hear that i am not saying it is wrong at all quite possibly is i am just wondering thanks

[LottaBalata]

I use a wedge, nearly as much as my putter. Its a versatile tool, and obviously will be used much more than a 3wood. But, you may simply need to fill that gap between your driver and 5wood. What do you think?

As far as wedges wearing out. I doubt there is an "average" typical golfer out there that has ever hit a club enough to wear it out. I've broken clubs, worn out grips for sure, but can't say I've personally worn out a wedge.

I have, however, used and sold a couple wedges that were worn. But the wear on the clubs were there at purchase.

Don't worry about wear on your clubs, unless you play every day and practice 2wice a day like pros. I mean, who has time to play as much as the pros?

[st0wgolf08]

hey, u dont score with the 5 wood do you?

I doubt he will score that much better as he has a 54 and 58. If you add a 56, there will be almost no gap between clubs.

Edit: maybe I don't get OP's question, but you'd be just adding a SW or a 3W correct? Or would you remove your other 2 wedges for the 56?

[microcrayfish]

3 Woods can be very useful clubs off the tee if your driver's not very accurate or you're hitting into a tight fairway. They're actually very under used for teeing off in my experience. I've played with plenty of guys that spray their drivers all over the place and hit the odd one well where they'd be much better served pulling out their 3 wood and taking their second from a much better lie. If you hit your driver well then it's not a problem of course.

You should consider if you really need a new wedge. A 3 wood is something that you don't have and it seems to be the wedge would be a replacement. If, like someone else said, you can get your wedges reconditioned then you might be better off adding a new club for the option of hitting it when you need to instead of replacing something you already have. You say your wedges have "minor flaws" but if they're not having an effect on how the clubs perform then why replace them?

[anthonykim3]

lottabalata most people do play enough to wear a wedge out in the sence that he was talking the groves of the wedge i can wear out the groves of a wedge easily i played 70 rounds and practice 3 times a week and well my wedge is shot my irons have more grove depth and grip

[LottaBalata]

lottabalata most people do play enough to wear a wedge out in the sence that he was talking the groves of the wedge i can wear out the groves of a wedge easily i played 70 rounds and practice 3 times a week and well my wedge is shot my irons have more grove depth and grip

I believe you for sure, but I wouldn't call you a typical golfer.

And I realize the grooves get worn. . .I've had to use a tool on the set that was in my bag this year. But then again, I don't think I'm a typical golfer either. I'm certainly an average scorer as you can see by my h-cap. I'm saying, I play Quite a bit as well. I love this game!

[Dub]

I voted for the sand wedge.


While I did use my 4 wood more than normal today....I didn't pull it out of the back 1/2 as often as I did my SW.

[I KyotE I]

You could do a couple of things. These are not what I am saying you should do. but just what came to mind.

1. money providing, get a 4 Wood and another wedge. gives the choice of hitting a little more to get a 3W distance or chokeing up for a 5W.

2. Get another wedge, gives you more options around the green and the closer you get

3. Depending how your feel is get the 3W. If you can lighten up on a wedge to hit a distance you need then you don't need the wedge and the 3W gives you another option off the tee.

just the first things that came to mind. Nothing is perfect and there will always be something to complain about. I don't really like my 5W nor 3I so there is a flaw there. We can all give you thoughts but at the end of the day it comes down to what can you use most, and what do you feel better with.

As for what I think, I would say get a wedge. but if you are looking at a sand I would say since you have a 54 and a 58 don't get the 56. I don't know you or anything but I would say that your feel isn't top of the game and you could use the wedge more, but I would say, if you are looking at a SW at 56* and you have a 54 and 58 go with something to fill the gap between PW and 54. just my $0.02