Are you hitting 3 woods off the fairway? How?

[Erlend]

Hi,

I am considering buying myself a FW wood. This year, I`ve started driving 240-250 meters when I get the correct hit. I average on about 220-230 meters. The average is of my assumption, as I have never really checked it, and I haven`t played enough rounds to really estimate an average.
But the last two rounds (only played 3 this year due to finals at school, and I am starting to play a lot more nowadays), I played against people with a handicap from 6 to 17, and I actually had the longest drive on all the holes where we used the driver.

So, on one of the par 5s, I drove approx 250 meters. Next up I used a 7 wood, and the ball stopped 20 meters from the hole. I don`t think I am able to hit the green with a 7 wood from that distance. So now I am considering buying either a 3 wood or a 5 wood.
But I need some advice. How do you hit a 3 wood off the deck? Should I rather go for a 5 wood?

Thank you all for any help,
Erlend

[Zeph]

I don't own a 3 wood, but use my 5 (18,5º) wood off the turf. Is not really a problem. I tee it very low for tee shots also. How easy it is to hit off the deck depends on the design of the clubhead. I find my 5 wood very easy to hit off the fairway, I'm sure most clubs can be used for this.

When playing it I keep it at the same place as with my longer irons and hit the ball at the bottom of the swing or slightly downward. I do not want to hit it thin. With a shallow swing you are also less likely to hit it fat as long as you accelerate through the ball.

A 3 wood is of course harder because of the longer shaft, but very doable. If you need to be 20 meters longer, a 5 wood will do fine.
I use my 5 wood a lot on longer courses. Sometimes off the deck, but primarily off the tee when I don't want to risk hitting the driver too far or it is very narrow. I'm usually able to hit it pretty straight.

Artig å sjå ein nordmann her inne forresten.

[Kcas77]

I would suggest you get a 4 wood around 17* of loft. It needs to have a shallow face which will make it easier to hit off the fairway.

[Erlend]

Thanks for the reply, still hoping for more suggestions though.

I`ve only played with a 5 wood once, I did it while borrowing a Callaway set from a friend of mine. We were playing the same set, and I actually drove the 5 wood longer than he could manage to hit the driver. He was clearly embarrassed.

Still, who doesn`t love distance. I have already considered buying both a 3 wood and a 5 wood. But I think I will take the plunge and only buy one of them. Unsure what, though. I have a very poor Olyo 3 wood. I used to hit it off the tee before I got a driver. Now I never hit it anymore, as I don`t like the looks, feel or touch of it. To put it simple, I have no confidence with it, even from the tee.

Ja, det var gøy. Tror ikke det er så mange av oss her akkurat. Hvor i landet er du lokalisert da?

[mkoreiwo]

I would suggest you get a 4 wood around 17* of loft. It needs to have a shallow face which will make it easier to hit off the fairway.

Good suggestion given the performance of clubs these days. Would allow a space for an extra wedge. That is - if you do a 3/5 wood combo, which I have. If I didn't, I would go for the 4w. But I happen to love both my fw woods.

[Mr3Putt]

I would suggest you get a 4 wood around 17* of loft. It needs to have a shallow face which will make it easier to hit off the fairway.

I just recently did exactly that!

I replaced my old Callaway 3 wood, with a new Ping 4 wood. It flies just as far as the old 3, but gives more "love" on the mishits. (of which I have many) I had tried my friends G10 3 wood, and my other buddies G10 5 wood and liked them both. The 4 wood was the perfect compromise. Ain't technology grand?

[$2 Nassau]

I have a 15 deg 3 wood that I like off the tee but rarely ever use off the fairway. I'm just not good at hitting it off a fairway lie. Comes out really low. So I avoid using it.

[Leftygolfer]

I agree with the above. I can hit my 5 wood as far as any 3 wood I have had. I can carry it farther and hit it higher. For me, the key to hitting it off the deck is to play it a little farther back and stay down through the shot.