Does anyone use a 3 wood off the tee anymore?

[alcorn]

I've been reading all these threads about people wanting to get better or asking what we think their potential is (you get the idea). I notice in almost all of the threads like this they say how long they hit their driver, but oh yeah they only hit 30% of the fairways in their round. I have a Ping Rapture and love it so don't think I'm putting down the driver. They are easy to hit for most people. My only thing is it seems like people would rather hit their drivers because they're there rather than use a 3 or 5 wood that they may be able to set themselves up better. Personally, if I'm not sure I can get the ball where I want it with the big dog then I'll go for the 3 wood. Like I said, I know the big drivers out there can be easy to hit but if someone is missing the majority of the fairways it just seems to make sense to switch due to less side spin.
Your thoughts.

[lumpuckeroo]

I use my 3 wood regularly off the tee, but it greatly depends on the hole. On the course I regularly play there is a par 5 that is like a double hump camels back. I hit 3 wood off the tee to a flat spot between the humps, hit three wood again to a flat spot between the then next humps and then have a full sand wedge to the green.

If you hit driver, you stick in the side of the hill, and this is not a small hill, probably a 30 degree grade, you don't want to hit from that lie.

If any par 4 is less then 350 yard I will hit 3 wood also.

[SasQuatch<3]

Well theres always a time to use a driver. But some times for me ill use my 3 wood to maybe lay up a bit shorter and get a better approach shot. I its a fairly skinny fairway using a 3 or 5 wood would really make a difference on the accuracy of the shot. I think a lot of people sometimes like to get the drivers out a crank it as hard and far as they can and dont really give much thought on there next shots.

[David in FL]

All the time.

On holes where a driver might put me through the fairway or get to a hazard that I'd rather stay short of, on tighter holes where precision is more important than overall length, or where the ball needs to be worked one way or another, the 3 wood is often the better choice for me.

But then, I'm more concerned with the number that goes into that little box, than I am about how it got there......

[Slim 11]

There are certainly times when course management calls for clubbing down. That said, I tend to hit my driver whenever I can, even if I am in a rut and not hitting it well. Actually, I make sure I hit it then. I feel it is a club that I need to learn to hit fairly well and with decent consistency. A similar issue is my 56* wedge. In this case, I am trying to force myself to use it more on the course because I am not comfortable or consistent with it but I know that if I can get better with it, it will allow me more options around the green and improve my scores.

[TN94z]

I hit my 3-wood a lot until I replaced it with the 1iH that I am currently using. I found that, on many holes, the 3-wood would get some of the downhill run on a hole and my driver might hit it past the downhill...that would equate to not much distance loss with my 3-wood. I would also use it, if there was a bunker I couldn't carry or a par 5 that I didn't have a chance at getting there in 2 on. Or, as other posters have stated, a dogleg that a driver might hit it through.

It's funny because when we would just go out and play for fun, I would hit my driver. When we would play for money, I would pull the 3-wood out on the tee box. I would good trashed by my buddies saying that I was hitting the "chicken stick." But I usually brought home the money though!

[DJYoshi]

i'll hit 3 wood off the tee... no doubt... i love smashing that club and splitting the fairway..i feel like I can swing more freely....really go after it..and get a damn good result...

on a side note the other day..... I was killing it with the driver...then on a short par 4: 360...I decided to pull the 3 wood out.... was thinking... i'll be left with a 56 degree after this bad boy....

what happened? SKULLED THE TEE SHOT OB!!!! YEAH BABY!

[PiKapp23]

I still use the 3 wood off the tee from time to time (as well as my 2H), but it's seldom used because I hit it more accurately than driver - I use it on holes where driver is too long and that's about it. I hit about 10-12 fairways a round with driver, so I'm not concerned with needing extra accuracy. A couple weeks ago I hit 10 of 13 fairways with 2 of the misses being with 3 wood and 2H - the other 11 I used driver and only missed one fairway and that one was just because it rolled onto the first cut of rough on a dogleg. Most days I feel more confident with driver in my hands on tee box than one of the other alternatives.

[pjsnyc]

Heck yeah I use 3-wood off the tee. Especially on par 4s that are under 350. Sometimes on par 4s under 400. And like others, even on holes that are long, the fairway lies or bunkers in play might dictate how far you want to get the ball out there.

[Stuart]

I use my 3 wood a lot. It really just depends on the day. Some days my driver doesn't even make it out of the bag. Sometimes I wish drivers were smaller like they used to be. Anyways I love hitting my driver, but I'm definitely more accurate and can shape the ball better with my 3 wood. Also I find that with the 3 wood I always swing smoothly, but I can get crazy with my driver sometimes and just get into a routine of smashing it out there with no real thought to where exactly.

[DiverDown]

I did yesterday with good results. I barely ever hit my 3 wood, mainly because I've replaced all my starter clubs with better clubs, except the 3 wood and 23 degree hybrid which are both Snake Eyes. It's not aesthically pleasing to look at either so I always seem to avoid.

When I played yesterday I came to the 18th hole. It has a creek running through it right at 250 yards. I'm not a long hitter, I probably average 240 - 250 with the driver. Every now and then I'll catch one clean and take it beyond that, but that's rare. I have little confidence with the hybrid because of the offset on it that I don't need anymore, so I was left with the 3 wood or 3 iron. I went with the wood and hit a beautiful draw to 235 - 240 right in front of the creek (don't ask me why I hit my driver only 10 yards more than this, if I knew I'd tell you).

All of sudden that clubs not so ugly anymore.

[glebert]

The courses I play don't have ranges, and I don't have much time to warm up, so I hit 5w at the beginning of the round. My new rule is that I don't hit driver before the 4th hole. It definitely seems to help my scores.

[wachesawgolfer]

I use my 3 wood regularly off the tee, but it greatly depends on the hole.

Great advice. Short par fours have lots of trouble but only need a three wood or 20 degree hybrid, to set up an easy approach shot to the green for an easy par or birdie. The driver opens the door to the high numbers on these short holes.

[Doctorfro]

I use my Three regularly. Narrow holes. Placement holes. Days when the driver ain't workin'.

[goblue107501]

I agree with most who have posted. Just didn't want to take the time to multi-quote a bunch of posts.

Most any par 4 I look to be inside of 160 for my second shot. If a 3-wood gets me there I hit it. Off a tee, I can hit my 3-wood 230-240 if the conditions are right. So pretty much any hole under 400 yards I will use the 3. If the hole is wide open I will use a driver, but most times it is the 3-wood or even 2-iron if it is short enough. I have found out placement is sometimes better than distance on some hole. Then there are days when the driver is really working and I will use it everywhere. Those days are rare, but a lot of fun.

[nevets88]

If the yardage is between 375 and 410, I hit a fairway wood. 375 to 350, 3 iron. I don't mind having 140 to 160 for an approach shot. If you're offline with a fairway wood though, you have a tough recovery shot coming up. It's like you give yourself a better chance at par, but a higher chance for bogey too.

[thr33]

Will generally only use it to tee of with about twice a round. It's generally not with narrower fairways, but when hitting a driver will leave me with a lousy approach shot.

[mikelz]

I use my spoon at least twice a round. I have seen few courses that don't have some short par 4s that are short for good reason. When that extra 30 yards brings in unacceptable risk, I love the three wood.