Is it strange to hit 3wood farther than driver?

[jlyles]

I tend to hit my 3 wood off the deck farther than my driver off the tee. This is consistent and not much of a problem but wondered why/how?  Not sure if it matters but hitting both off the tee my driver is longer.

[JetFan1983]

I remember in my first couple years of playing, I would hit my 7 iron farther than my 6, 5, or 4 iron. And I could hit my 5 wood farther than my 3 wood. Over the years, I've seen several others post about this, so you should know what you are experiencing is not unique.

Finding the sweet spot consistently is difficult to do for newer or higher handicap players. You're likely just better at finding it with the 3wood off the deck than you are the driver off the tee. Over time, with the right practice, information, and experience, stuff like this will gradually go away.

So, absent this being some sort of obvious equipment issue (which I doubt), it should come as no surprise that the underlying cause here has to be likely due to technique.

[Shindig]

Yep, +JetFan1983 has it right. The short story is: assuming it isn't an equipment issue, you're probably making solid contact with your 3-Wood and not with your driver. With properly fit equipment, a center contact with the driver will go farther (due to lower loft and longer shaft, and thus higher clubhead speed). Of course, until you've learned (probably at the range) to hit the driver better -- and that's an important club to practice with! -- using the 3-wood during a round is hardly a terrible thing. Just don't plan on having 14 clubs besides the driver, because you'll want to get that one ready and in play.

[mvmac]

I tend to hit my 3 wood off the deck farther than my driver off the tee. This is consistent and not much of a problem but wondered why/how?  Not sure if it matters but hitting both off the tee my driver is longer.

Hi welcome to the site. So you hit your 3 wood farther off the deck than off a tee?

[jlyles]

Thanks guys...was thinking along the same lines but wasn't sure. Don't believe its equipment issue. Driver is my weakest club or at least least confident. My driver average is 225 high ball flight; 3 off tee 210 high ball flight; 3 wood off deck (clean lie) 230+ mid boring trajectory - the ball just goes.

[wedgehammer40k]

Modern drivers are designed to increase distance through carry so my guess is that it's harder to generate the required swing speed for distance if your not confident in wielding the big stick. A well struck 3wd could therefore be just as effective until you get confident with the driver.