Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
Note: This thread is 1371 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Posted

I need to get some more consistency to my drives. Looking at the distances I hit it last night I ranged from 260s which were high on the face hits and/or heeled shots to a 310 drive that flew the green which was a straight draw that was slightly above center on the club face. I'm really thinking I need to get that 4w because it would give me something I can comfortably hit on holes that are just under 300 yards and not worry about going passed the green. I know it seems stupid for me to worry about that considering I could just hit my 2h and get down there 30-40 yards from the green pretty reliably. However, I'd like to maximize the scoring potential by attacking the green if I can reach it. Maybe this is a bad strategy? @iacas e me on this, should I even worry about the gap between my driver and 2h? Is going for the green on those shorter par 4s even a good strategy for me?

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
I need to get some more consistency to my drives. Looking at the distances I hit it last night I ranged from 260s which were high on the face hits and/or heeled shots to a 310 drive that flew the green which was a straight draw that was slightly above center on the club face. I'm really thinking I need to get that 4w because it would give me something I can comfortably hit on holes that are just under 300 yards and not worry about going passed the green. I know it seems stupid for me to worry about that considering I could just hit my 2h and get down there 30-40 yards from the green pretty reliably. However, I'd like to maximize the scoring potential by attacking the green if I can reach it. Maybe this is a bad strategy? @iacas could you advise me on this, should I even worry about the gap between my driver and 2h? Is going for the green on those shorter par 4s even a good strategy for me?

Why a 4 wood instead of a 3?

Ryan M
 
The Internet Adjustment Formula:
IAD = ( [ADD] * .96 + [EPS] * [1/.12] ) / (1.15)
 
IAD = Internet Adjusted Distance (in yards)
ADD = Actual Driver Distance (in yards)
EPS = E-Penis Size (in inches)
Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

I need to get some more consistency to my drives. Looking at the distances I hit it last night I ranged from 260s which were high on the face hits and/or heeled shots to a 310 drive that flew the green which was a straight draw that was slightly above center on the club face. I'm really thinking I need to get that 4w because it would give me something I can comfortably hit on holes that are just under 300 yards and not worry about going passed the green. I know it seems stupid for me to worry about that considering I could just hit my 2h and get down there 30-40 yards from the green pretty reliably. However, I'd like to maximize the scoring potential by attacking the green if I can reach it. Maybe this is a bad strategy? @iacas could you advise me on this, should I even worry about the gap between my driver and 2h? Is going for the green on those shorter par 4s even a good strategy for me?

Obviously I am not the expert on this, but here is my opinion anyway.

Depends on the hole and your shot zone for that club.

-Matt-

"does it still count as a hit fairway if it is the next one over"

DRIVER-Callaway FTiz__3 WOOD-Nike SQ Dymo 15__HYBRIDS-3,4,5 Adams__IRONS-6-PW Adams__WEDGES-50,55,60 Wilson Harmonized__PUTTER-Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

I need to get some more consistency to my drives. Looking at the distances I hit it last night I ranged from 260s which were high on the face hits and/or heeled shots to a 310 drive that flew the green which was a straight draw that was slightly above center on the club face. I'm really thinking I need to get that 4w because it would give me something I can comfortably hit on holes that are just under 300 yards and not worry about going passed the green. I know it seems stupid for me to worry about that considering I could just hit my 2h and get down there 30-40 yards from the green pretty reliably. However, I'd like to maximize the scoring potential by attacking the green if I can reach it. Maybe this is a bad strategy? @iacas could you advise me on this, should I even worry about the gap between my driver and 2h? Is going for the green on those shorter par 4s even a good strategy for me?

It depends where trouble is. If your "miss" would still be a safe play, then sure. If your miss is OB or in a hazard, probably not.

Ryan M
 
The Internet Adjustment Formula:
IAD = ( [ADD] * .96 + [EPS] * [1/.12] ) / (1.15)
 
IAD = Internet Adjusted Distance (in yards)
ADD = Actual Driver Distance (in yards)
EPS = E-Penis Size (in inches)
Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Why a 4 wood instead of a 3?

4 wood seems easier to hit, at least from what I've heard.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Obviously I am not the expert on this, but here is my opinion anyway.

Depends on the hole and your shot zone for that club.

It depends where trouble is. If your "miss" would still be a safe play, then sure. If your miss is OB or in a hazard, probably not.

Well, at my course most of the short holes don't have trouble around the green, but long is bad always. I lucked out because the ball ended up left of the green so I wasn't in the trees behind it. Most of the short holes around here are pretty safe anywhere left/right but long is almost universally bad.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

4 wood seems easier to hit, at least from what I've heard.

Get a 3 wood. On a good day, I can carry my 3 wood 265...but it lands softer. Couple weeks ago I nailed the green on a 270 yard par 4 on the fly and it actually held.

I don't think 3 woods are hard to hit. However, If you don't hit them right...distance suffers. My 3 wood ranges from 200-280 yards lol.

Ryan M
 
The Internet Adjustment Formula:
IAD = ( [ADD] * .96 + [EPS] * [1/.12] ) / (1.15)
 
IAD = Internet Adjusted Distance (in yards)
ADD = Actual Driver Distance (in yards)
EPS = E-Penis Size (in inches)
Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Get a 3 wood. On a good day, I can carry my 3 wood 265...but it lands softer. Couple weeks ago I nailed the green on a 270 yard par 4 on the fly and it actually held.

I don't think 3 woods are hard to hit. However, If you don't hit them right...distance suffers. My 3 wood ranges from 200-280 yards lol.

Sounds like my 2h distances haha *edit Sorry that wasn't meant as a rip on your distances, just that my 2h varies between those distances as well*

I'm open to trying a 3 wood, I've just heard a lot of good things about the 4 wood being comparable on distance to 3 wood but with a bit more forgiveness.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Sounds like my 2h distances haha *edit Sorry that wasn't meant as a rip on your distances, just that my 2h varies between those distances as well*

I'm open to trying a 3 wood, I've just heard a lot of good things about the 4 wood being comparable on distance to 3 wood but with a bit more forgiveness.

I think that is pretty much because golfers with slower swing speeds NEED more loft to get good gaps in the longer clubs. A lot of golfers would hit a 5 iron and then they would have minimal gap to their 4 iron. Then the introduction of hybrids allowed golfers to get more air time and get a proper gap.

For you, you will probably see a difference in distance between the two. The 4 wood is probably more accurate, but they should not be similar in distance (more loft and shorter golf club). Another aspect could be, it is easier to hit because it is shorter. So are the clubs actually the same distance or is it user error on the golfer miss hitting a longer 3 wood.

Just some things to consider.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

I think that is pretty much because golfers with slower swing speeds NEED more loft to get good gaps in the longer clubs. A lot of golfers would hit a 5 iron and then they would have minimal gap to their 4 iron. Then the introduction of hybrids allowed golfers to get more air time and get a proper gap.

For you, you will probably see a difference in distance between the two. The 4 wood is probably more accurate, but they should not be similar in distance (more loft and shorter golf club). Another aspect could be, it is easier to hit because it is shorter. So are the clubs actually the same distance or is it user error on the golfer miss hitting a longer 3 wood.

Just some things to consider.

In your opinion, knowing my good drives are 270-300 typically *possibly increasing with my improved swing*, would the extra distance on the 3 wood be necessary over the increased accuracy of a 4 wood?

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
Quote:

Originally Posted by saevel25

I think that is pretty much because golfers with slower swing speeds NEED more loft to get good gaps in the longer clubs. A lot of golfers would hit a 5 iron and then they would have minimal gap to their 4 iron. Then the introduction of hybrids allowed golfers to get more air time and get a proper gap.

For you, you will probably see a difference in distance between the two. The 4 wood is probably more accurate, but they should not be similar in distance (more loft and shorter golf club). Another aspect could be, it is easier to hit because it is shorter. So are the clubs actually the same distance or is it user error on the golfer miss hitting a longer 3 wood.

Just some things to consider.

In your opinion, knowing my good drives are 270-300 typically *possibly increasing with my improved swing*, would the extra distance on the 3 wood be necessary over the increased accuracy of a 4 wood?

Maybe try an adjustable 3-4 wood?  Then you could find the loft that works best.

-Matt-

"does it still count as a hit fairway if it is the next one over"

DRIVER-Callaway FTiz__3 WOOD-Nike SQ Dymo 15__HYBRIDS-3,4,5 Adams__IRONS-6-PW Adams__WEDGES-50,55,60 Wilson Harmonized__PUTTER-Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Maybe try an adjustable 3-4 wood?  Then you could find the loft that works best.

I actually was going to purchase one of the cobra adjustable ones before. It's just at this point in the season I've used basically all my "extra" money for clubs already and another 150ish on a fw may not be a viable option.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
The accuracy isn't probably as big as you think. Your are taking half an inch to 3/4 inch length and 2-3 degrees of loft. You might see 5-10 yards less left or right. Though I've missed my 3 wood just as far as my driver before. The issue is the 4 wood has less MOi as a 3 wood because of the smaller head size.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
The accuracy isn't probably as big as you think. Your are taking half an inch to 3/4 inch length and 2-3 degrees of loft. You might see 5-10 yards less left or right. Though I've missed my 3 wood just as far as my driver before. The issue is the 4 wood has less MOi as a 3 wood because of the smaller head size.

I guess the better consideration is less the number on the club *3 or 4 wood* and more the loft. With my 2h being 18* going with a 16* fw is probably what I should look at. With the extra loft and longer club length that should give me the yardage I'm looking for without the confusion of whether I need a 3 or 4 wood.... Then we come back to the initial point of whether it's even really something I should worry about or should I just deal with the 50 ish yard gap between my hybrid and driver.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

FWIW I would say to wait until the right one finds you. Putting a bad club in your bag just because you can afford it doesn't make much sense. JMHO.

- Shane

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

FWIW I would say to wait until the right one finds you. Putting a bad club in your bag just because you can afford it doesn't make much sense. JMHO.

I know what you mean, and I am leaning that way. It's just very frustrating to have that gap there. If I didn't run into holes that are in that range every week in league I probably wouldn't even have thought about it, but both the front and back 9 on the league course have holes that are right in that range.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

I know what you mean, and I am leaning that way. It's just very frustrating to have that gap there. If I didn't run into holes that are in that range every week in league I probably wouldn't even have thought about it, but both the front and back 9 on the league course have holes that are right in that range.


Get rid of that flip to gain yards with your driver. Then you won't have a gap. :-P

- Shane

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Get rid of that flip to gain yards with your driver. Then you won't have a gap.

That makes no sense Shane, if I gain yards with my driver the gap gets bigger.... The driver goes too far as it is, unless you are saying just hit the 2h further rofl.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 1371 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    Carl's Place
    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • Day 610 - 2026-06-03 Got some work in between lessons today. Rare late day, teaching until 7:30pm.
    • Let's continue on… Cool. The thing is, nobody's claiming par is "reliable" and par's inclusion piggy-backs in the course rating, which is awfully close to par and, thus, brings par in to make it make sense. Once again, for those in the back… (CR - Par) just makes it really easy to know what kind of score you need to shoot to best, match, or play worse than your handicap index. Yes, when par is different, the players from the higher par tees get an extra stroke (72 vs. 71, the 72s get an extra stroke. That makes sense and is a small complication (more info at https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/roh/Content/rules/Committee%20Content/USGA/LG_R6d.htm). However, most of the time, this adjustment will not be needed, as many courses play to the same par for the same genders from all sets of tees. And, the rare times it is needed, par (measured in whole numbers, integers) and strokes (also whole numbers/integers) map easily and the idea is easily grasped. Dean seems to be unaware of the fact that most every golfer carries something orders of magnitude more powerful than the highest end desktop computers available the last time he consulted with the USGA in their pockets. While it is quaint that his club puts printouts by the first tee… get with the times, Dean. Look up your handicap index and course handicap in the GHIN app and get on with it. It's a better system than the one that didn't account — at all — for a difference in the playing conditions (via an algorithm, not a judgment). Dean's assertions about the "less precise system because of par" continues to make absolutely zero sense. Right, it still changed tee to tee. Now it just changes differently… and in a way that more accurately reflects the score you need to shoot to play to your handicap. Previously, a 1.1 index would get 1 stroke on a 66.7/122 par-72 course. Now they give four strokes back to the course and must shoot 68 to play to their handicap. This makes way more sense. The 18-shot difference is a pretty extreme example. Maybe a long course that also offers a par-three set of tees could play that long, but… man, that's not going to be super common. Sensationalistic much, Dean? Also, once those unhappy (complete assumption) golfers realize a) what the change shows them (playing to net par = playing to your index) and b) realizes that their differential is going to be the same… I think they'll get over their initial questions. No. And yet… if he shoots the same scores, he'll get the same handicap index he has now. But he'll know on each course what score he needs to shoot to "play to his handicap." Sheesh, Dean. This stuff isn't that hard to figure out. Enough with the sensationalistic stuff. I don't find it "unacceptable" at all. Then again, I'm not nearly 80 and seemingly incapable of doing basic math these days. No. This literally makes no sense, as that part of the differential calculation and the course handicap calculation remains identical. Good! No. Categorically wrong. They should have been adjusting their handicaps all along. Previously it was by subtracting the course ratings. Which… is still basically what's done, with the addition of the course rating being "baked in" to the course handicap calculation. Dean is wrong here, or doing some math heretofore unknown by the world. When par is the same, what determines the difference in handicaps? The course rating, which Dean loves! Sheesh! You had to things when players were in situations like this before, too. This is getting exhausting. He keeps using words like "less precise" and "unfair" but does not seem to understand what they mean. This is like the Princess Bride meme: "you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." The caps reduce upward movement. Committees have reign to reduce a player's handicap, and there's still an automatic Exceptional Score Reduction. I'm going through these more quickly now because… well, it's silly how badly Dean misses the mark with this blog post. Dean is literally confusing the upward movement (with the soft and hard caps) here with the exceptional score reduction which is used when lowering handicaps due to an exceptionally good score. The creators of the WHS are handicap experts. They know more about the current state of handicaps/handicapping than the Pope Emeritus. It's been shown to have almost no effect across all handicaps. Yes, some 36s under the old system are now 35s under the new system. Yawn. He should have stopped there. It's easier to apply and makes more sense. This makes no sense. It's "not complex" but players will have to guess? And, for men or women, the stroke index of each hole doesn't change because they play a different set of tees. They get a different number of strokes, but it's always been true that when you get 14 strokes you apply a stroke to stroke index holes 1-14, and when you get 11, to just holes with a SI of 1-11. Objection, your honor. Assumes facts not in evidence. Dean's just out here continuing to make shit up about "the inaccuracy of par" and ignoring that with Par (an integer) came the Course Rating, which he agrees is precise and accurate. No. No, this is inaccurate. Also, as noted, you can randomly assign stroke indexes, and so long as all the low numbers or all the high numbers are not clumped together at the beginning or ends of the 18 holes, matches generally work out the same. This is inaccurate. It is an algorithm that looks at scores. That's it. Also, this is better than a system like the prior one where no such thing existed at all. Wildly inaccurate and off-base. Did they do actual testing? No need. They have millions and millions of rounds and ran many, many, many simulations. That's testing. Dean seems to continue to be unaware of the fact that computers are more powerful now than they were in 2002. But, he's nearly 80, so we can understand if not going so far as to give him a pass on how much he gets wrong. Cool. Noted. For the most part that was because many countries haven't been able to rate enough of their courses. :sigh:
    • Day 3 (3 Jun 26) - More work on keeping arms connected today - hard foam balls with 7i and 5w…..
    • Day 274 6-3 flow drill getting chest through, arms in front. Arms get a little pinned to the side, not as much in front as I want them when I add speed. 
    • Shot 48 yesterday.  For me bogey golf is good.  I was 10 over through 7 and figured with a Par 3 and 4 coming on all I needed was birdie / par to get my 45. I had a great tee shot on #8 and sunk  a 5 footer for birdie, game was coming together, now just needed par on #9. Had a great tee drive and the green was within range for a hoped GIR or nGIR.  But I pulled the shot left into tall weeds and needed to take a drop.  So much for par, but a bogey for 46 is still good for me. I hit my lob wedge to get over a small tree and saw the ball riding nicely  on line to the pin when my club hit the ball a 2nd time on my follow through causing the ball to change directions and ended up @ pin high but along the same tall weeds I just took an unplayable out of.  had no room for a backswing, Just hacked at it and it shot across the green to the rough on the far side.  Needed a chip & 1 putt got a triple bogey. you can see the hole fall apart in the screenshot below.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.