13.5* or 15.5*???

[hypergolf]

I am currently using 9.5* driver. I currently drive on average 280 yards so swing speed is not a problem for low lofted clubs.

I see lots of tour players using 13.5* (or 13*) and 18.5* (or 18*) fairway wood combo on tour.

When do you know when to use the 13.5/18.5* combo rather than 15.5* (or 15*)/18.5* combo for fairway woods?

Also, since I am using 9.5* driver, would the distance gap be better with a 13.5* fairway wood?

I usually use the fairway off the deck and for distance purposes. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I use both a 15 and a 13. It depends on what kind of course im playing that day. I dont see a 3wood as much as providing a distance gap from my driver, as i would never consider hitting a driver off of the deck. Gapping starts with my 3 and i work down.

If it is windy, or im playing a course i know to be long and firm, i would pick the 13. Because the ball flight will be flatter. If im playing a course i know has alot of tight driving holes, i pull the 13 and use it as a second driver. I use my 15 3/4 of the time though, simply because it is easier to hit off of the deck and its easier to land at a particular distance. You really have to have a grooved swing to use a 13 as your primary 3wood.

When im using my 13, i aslo use a 5 wood (18.5) The combo makes sense because it covers your gap better, and the 5 gives you another power club because the 13 can be bad in certain situtions. When i use my 15, i use my 19 hybrid.

[Big_M]

My old 3-wood was a 15* and it went only a few yards further than my 18* 2-hybrid. It also had a lighter shaft (65g) than I prefer in 3-woods and thus wasn't as accurate as I would like. I pretty much quite using it as my 2-hybrid was much straighter and would get nearly the same distance... I essentially didn't have a 3-wood.

Now I have switched to the 3-wood in my sig which is 14*. I had read that the 14* plays like a 13*, having a fairly low trajectory. For me the trajectory was lower than my old one, but still not crazy low or anything. It gives me a MUCH better gap from my 2-hybrid to my 3-wood and I love using the 3-wood off the tee on tight holes, and still being able to get pretty good distance (not losing the 30-60 yards I might loose with a 2-hybrid).

For what it's worth... my SS is about 105 w/ driver, and my distances are...
driver: 250-280
3-wood: 235-245
2-hybrid: 215-220

[alcorn]

I just made the switch from 15.5 to 13.5. So far I like the 13.5 because its seems like ya get just alittle extra out of it. I would try'em both of the deck and off the tee to see what you hit better. In my case it was the 13.5 for both.

[Blades4me]

  hypergolf said:

I am currently using 9.5* driver. I currently drive on average 280 yards so swing speed is not a problem for low lofted clubs.

I have a MacGregor NVG2 12.5* 3w. Its a very easy hitting fw and off of the tee about 10-15 yds short of my driver. Off the deck I can get 220-250 depending on where I grip the club. IMO, this is the easiest hitting 3w I've ever come across.

[Dub]

Rountinely bombing it 280 off the tee is great. If I was doing that and wanted distance off the deck then I'd most likely go with the strong 3.

I'm a little different, though.....slower swingspeed than you plus I tend to set up with my hands slightly ahead with the fairway wood and swing smooth for solid contact...this delofts the stick a bit, though. I game a 17*4wood with a 3 wood length shaft. Were I gonna change it up....I'd go with a Cleveland Launcher 3 in 15* or 17*. I get this club up very nicely, too.

With your swingspeed, though....it's whatever you want.

I've only owned one strong 3....years back....a Callaway Steelhead. I generally would get 200 yds carry and 25-35 yds of roll....ball stayed well under the radar.

[chriskzoo]

The best progression I've come up with is what I'm using:

8.5* TM Tour Burner (270)
13* TM TP Spoon (240 off the tee, 230ish off the deck)
16.5* Tour Edge Exotics 4-wood (215-225)
20* Nickent #3 4DX Ironwood (195-210)