Gap between 1-wood and 3-wood

[timwalsh300]

I would like to know how big the gap is between everyone's driver and 3-wood.(?)

When I hit my driver solid it usually stops around 250-270, but my 3-wood never gets much beyond 200 yards. Sometimes I get really frustrated with that - I feel like the 3-wood should be longer, but maybe not?

The online calculators (given my 5-iron distance) generally show that my driving distance should be shorter, but my 3-wood should be longer.

It is possible that I'm just more comfortable hitting the driver (up on a tee, bigger club head, etc.) so I'm swinging harder... I guess my driver usually gets more bounce and roll too with the significantly lower loft.

Tim

[neudi]

There are a lot of factors that are involved in what you are saying. You will most likely hit your three wood further when it is teed up rather than on the ground. Or your 3 wood may be 16 degrees rather than the average 15. I have seen 3 woods from 13 degrees all the way to 17.5 so it really just depends on what yours is. You could think about maybe getting a 14 degree 3 wood (original Ping Rapture is 14 degrees) and throwing a 5 wood in that is around 18 or 19 degrees to make up for the big gap in yardage.

[RC]

It depends a bit on whether I am hitting the three wood from the tee box, in which case I might tee it up a slight bit, or off the deck. No doubt I can hit the 3 wood with a very small ascending swing further than a sweeping off the deck swing.

Not sure which situation you are asking about.

Note: sorry to be redundant... I must have been writing or not have seen the post above.

[timwalsh300]

Mine is a 15* 3-wood. I have no trouble whatsoever getting the ball up in the air (provided I don't top it). In fact my trajectory is probably too high most of the time. That's why I went out of my way to find a 6* driver that isn't available at your typical pro-shop.

Tim

[glebert]

I think you should definitely be getting more distance out of your 3w. Your driver length is similar to mine, but I hit my 7w 200 yards. Maybe you need a strong 3 or to reshaft with a stiffer shaft to keep the ballflight down.

[Big_M]

I'm a little puzzled... your sig says your driver is 6* and has a 48" shaft... I'm not sure why you play a club with those specs, are you a long-driver?

Either way... your gap is HUGE... also, why are you playing an extra stiff shaft... extra stiffs are usually for swing speeds of 110+, and if you swing a driver that fast the 3-wood should hit 200 well before it lands.

Anyway as a reference... I hit my driver 250-280 and my 3-wood 230-245 or there abouts. My swing speed is around 105 with driver. I hit my 3-hybrid over 200... so it sounds like you have some issues.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

I always launch my 3 wood pretty high, causing it to be shorter. Sometimes I'll catch a good stinger, but generally higher and shorter. I always keep it very straight, so I'm ok with it for now.

[NorCalGolfer]

Maybe the problem isn't in his clubs, but in his swing guys. Not to sound like a d*ck, but in your honest opinion how are your mechanics? Pretty sound or are you all over the place?

If that's you in your picture and if that's your normal swing I'd say that if that were your 3wood swing it seems like it'll be far to steep unless you make some amazing drop down with that flailing right elbow. I'd really like to see your 3wood swing.

[timwalsh300]

I'm a little puzzled... your sig says your driver is 6* and has a 48" shaft... I'm not sure why you play a club with those specs, are you a long-driver?

No, I'm not, but I for a long time I wanted to try. It's not that I had any particular talent for it - I just wanted to learn and give it a shot. More recently I've decided to focus on real golf instead, and I just stayed with that driver for a couple reasons: 1) I was comfortable with it and 2) if those are the kinds of specs that give you some extra yardage, I'll happily take that edge.

I have never seen my swing speed when I'm actually hitting a ball, but when I was "practicing" for a run at the local long drive qualifier I could dry swing between 110-120 mph. I have toned that down now that I'm more interested in hitting fairways and greens. I probably tone it down a lot when I'm hitting my 3-wood off the deck.

in your honest opinion how are your mechanics? Pretty sound or are you all over the place?... If that's you in your picture and if that's your normal swing I'd say that if that were your 3wood swing it seems like it'll be far to steep unless you make some amazing drop down with that flailing right elbow. I'd really like to see your 3wood swing.

I'm not going to try to qualify them by saying "good" or "bad." I wish I had the ability to take some video and upload it for you, but I do not. However, the picture you are looking at is 5-6 years old and my swing has improved tremendously since then. I used to come over-the-top and hit a lot of slices, very vertical, but not so much anymore. My typical ball flight now is straight.

Tim

[alcorn]

I'm gonna agree with the guy who said maybe its your swing. I'm wondering if you ever taken a lesson and had your swing analyzed by a professional during a video lesson. If not I would recommend it. From your original post, I'm reminded out how I used to hit the ball. My swing was steep so every club when extremely high and I'd loose yardage before I did the samething I just recommended to you. The Pro helped me fix these issues.

[LBlack14]

Mine is a 15* 3-wood. I have no trouble whatsoever getting the ball up in the air (provided I don't top it). In fact my trajectory is probably too high most of the time. That's why I went out of my way to find a 6* driver that isn't available at your typical pro-shop.

Sounds like it could be a spin issue too, may be time to find a different shaft and check the actual loft of the head.