help hitting 3 wood off the deck

[aca247]

i am looking for tips on hitting your 3 wood off the deck

[James_Black]

why do you need to hit it off the deck?

it's a risky shot and isn't really worth it

[aca247]

why do you need to hit it off the deck?

because my course has a bunch of par 5s and long par 4s

[James_Black]

because my course has a bunch of par 5s and long par 4s

can you not reach the par fours with the hybrid?

par 5's are 3 shots to hit them in regulation for a reason

[keb]

Golf Digest in fairway hotlist talked about putting 4 wood in your bag and specifically mentioned the Ping G15.

[senorchipotle]

i am looking for tips on hitting your 3 wood off the deck

hit down on the ball and take a divot. well, not down literally, but with a descending blow taking a small divot.

[Jon K]

hit down on the ball and take a divot. well, not down literally, but with a descending blow taking a small divot.

This is the way to do it.

[Shindig]

i am looking for tips on hitting your 3 wood off the deck

Do you have access to a grass range? That's the first thing you need. That or an adjustable rubber tee for the mats. Remember, for each shot: pick a target, go through your routine, and then hit the ball. This is meant as a range routine.

Warm up with a club you're confident with off the grass, such as a 7-iron. Don't use a wedge for this, or, if you do, transition to a medium club. Going SW to 3W without an intermediate club between them won't help you here. Next, hit 3W tee shots, as if you ... well, as if you were hitting it at a tee box. If you can't hit the 3-Wood off a tee, first get yourself to being able to do that before you worry about hitting it off the deck. After you've hit a few of these well, lower the tee a bit. I'm deliberately not defining how much. Hit some of these. Lower the tee more. Repeat until the ball is all the way on the turf. Then hit some without even a tee underneath it. Now that we've covered how to hit it, let's discuss when to hit it. A 3-Wood isn't as versatile as a 7-iron, nor is it meant to be. My feelings on the 3-Wood is that it's a specialty club, like a lob wedge. Hit it when the shot is called for, when you have a good lie, and when the risk isn't too much. Hogan eventually decided never to hit his woods for a second shot into a par-5, and lowered his stroke average for the season considerably by doing so. As for long par-4s, I'll bet you get a shot on them. Between now and when you learn to hit 3-Wood, don't hit it off the turf during a round. Hit your hybrid and pitch on; I'll bet you'll be closer after two than you would have been hitting a bad 3-wood shot. Alternately, if there's a hazard you need a good 3-Wood hit to clear, lay up short of it then hit a wedge in. Back before I could hit a fairway wood off the deck, I made my fair share of fours on long par-4s by treating them as par-5s in which I knew I'd have my choice of shot in. I also made my share of good scores for the round by completely taking big numbers out of play. I'll take net par-or-better on just about any hole, just about any day.

[jlh1508]

Do you have access to a grass range? That's the first thing you need. That or an adjustable rubber tee for the mats. Remember, for each shot: pick a target, go through your routine, and then hit the ball. This is meant as a range routine.

This is a fantastic post. Thank you for this.

I have been slowly learning to hit my 3 wood at the range and I haven't hit it on the course is my last 10 rounds or so. Now as I have finally began to get comfortable with the 3 wood, I can't think of a situation in the last 10 rounds where playing the 3 wood off the turf would have been beneficial.

[luckyluke699]

This is a fantastic post. Thank you for this.

To be honest a course near me has only 1 hole... a 590 yard par 5 which is basically straight all the way (boring!). It is one of those shots where the need for it is rare, though that said on a long par 5 it can put you that bit closer to the green on your 3rd shot

[TakeDeadAim]

i am looking for tips on hitting your 3 wood off the deck

Amazing to see all the responses to this question, without someone actually asking: what seems to be your problem when hitting a 3wood of the deck?

Without an answer to that question everyone is shooting advice blindly...

[Jay-Bird]

Golf Digest in fairway hotlist talked about putting 4 wood in your bag and specifically mentioned the Ping G15.

I have a g10 4 wood. It's money. Last time I played I was 265 out (gps) and was just trying to get to the front collar area to make an easy chip and putt, I

ripped it - ended up pin high on the left fringe. I am a fan of the PING 4 wood.

I can't think of a situation in the last 10 rounds where playing the 3 wood off the turf would have been beneficial.

Once you get confident in hitting it, you will find that you'll use it at least once a round.

[Andrew Rice]

When a golfer indicates that they are struggling to hit a fairway wood off the deck I can only assume the ball is not getting in the air, as this is certainly the most common affliction I see. The best thing I can say is, "HIT DOWN ON IT!" The more the ball stays close to the ground, the greater the instinct to try to help it up. Hit down!
Watch just about any PGA Tour broadcast and you'll see players taking a divot with hybrids and fairway woods. Tiger actually takes divots with them even when he hits shots off a tee.
Here is a link to drill that can done just as easily with a fairway wood.



I hope this helps.

[RIduffer]

That shot sounded so flush...very nice Andrew. Guess I will have to try that drill now.

[allin]

I have hit my 3 wood well from the fairway for a long time, I reach for it several times a round. Watching others I would say the problem is more tryiing to get to much out of it more often than not. I definitely wonder about those who say to hit down hard on it? IMO 3woods are designed so that you only need a modestly decending swing. Taking a divot? If you don't slice try opening your stance up a little and move the ball so it is 1 or even two inches inside your driver ball position, this is a balanced swing, without excessive weight shift to the back leg on your backswing. I hit my 3 wood off the fariway only 15-20 yards less than my teed up driver. I carry my driver 210-220 and my 3 wood 195-200 Since I obvioulsy am not a power player if I can get it up anyone can.

[sean_miller]

When you say "off the deck" you're obviously not talking about "off the deck", which is off the teebox without using a tee.

Hitting a 3-wood isn't any more difficult than hitting a long iron. It's easier than flushing a 2-iron from the fairway. Similar swing though.

Why would anyone put a 3-wood in the bag that they couldn't hit off the fairway? Seriously, why?

[ks8829]

Can you hit your wedge off the fairway? after you hit the wedge, hit the 3 wood with the same backswing as your wedge. The key to hitting a successful 3 wood off the fairway is the take away or backswing. Practicing hitting perfect wedges and move up to the 3 wood.

[drumon]

I have hit my 3 wood well from the fairway for a long time, I reach for it several times a round. Watching others I would say the problem is more tryiing to get to much out of it more often than not. I definitely wonder about those who say to hit down hard on it? IMO 3woods are designed so that you only need a modestly decending swing. Taking a divot? If you don't slice try opening your stance up a little and move the ball so it is 1 or even two inches inside your driver ball position, this is a balanced swing, without excessive weight shift to the back leg on your backswing. I hit my 3 wood off the fariway only 15-20 yards less than my teed up driver. I carry my driver 210-220 and my 3 wood 195-200 Since I obvioulsy am not a power player if I can get it up anyone can.

Allin:

I am also having trouble hitting 3 wood from the fairway and working to improve on it. I will try your tip. At the same time I am also thinking about what woods are useful to carry. I am not a long hitter, and have considered having 3 and 5 wood or 4 and 7 wood. Though I see in your signature you have the Wilson FY 19.5 wood, tell me how you find the FY compared to a 5 wood or 7 wood on the course? I have considerd the FY though dont have a chance to try the club. (sorry for slightly hijacking the thread here.)