Dumping My Fairway Wood

[Jakester23]

  inthehole said:

I switched from my 3w to a 4w for most of the year .... recently went back to the 3w - its ALOT longer and I find isn't any more difficult to hit at all (it's only a half inch longer & 2 degrees lower).    I really enjoy hitting it off nice fairway lies (although as others have said above, I avoid hitting it from uneven or tight lies).    I find I use it a lot off the tee for no other reason than to come up short of fairway bunkers rather than challenging them with the driver.    I would really miss it if I had to take it from my bag...

I couldn't disagree more with this post but everyone is different. Lihu you will figure out how to hit a fairway wood. Just go to the range a few times and work on hitting it with smaller swings then build up to a 70 % speed full swing. Once you hit it solid like that increase your speed.

[saevel25]

  Lihu said:

It seems like the timing for a 3W is really precise. Even if I am hitting it well, there isn't a lot of opportunity to use it.

Glad to hear the DI is easier to hit off the deck. Thanks for the info.

That is more just your swing. The less keys you have the more timing you need.

Honestly, even on holes were I need to ease back, I rather take a driver and choke down on the grip and swing easier. Just because I rather have the higher MOI and forgiveness than a 3-wood. Really 3-woods are not really that much more accurate than a driver. It has a smaller MOI, smaller sweet spot. It is shorter, so that helps.

  inthehole said:

I switched from my 3w to a 4w for most of the year .... recently went back to the 3w - its ALOT longer and I find isn't any more difficult to hit at all (it's only a half inch longer & 2 degrees lower).    I really enjoy hitting it off nice fairway lies (although as others have said above, I avoid hitting it from uneven or tight lies).    I find I use it a lot off the tee for no other reason than to come up short of fairway bunkers rather than challenging them with the driver.    I would really miss it if I had to take it from my bag...

It shouldn't be a lot longer. It should only be about 10-15 yards longer at most. I would say it is probably your swing than the club.

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In the end there is no right answer to this. If everything is the same confidence in the club matters a lot. There are some times I don't want to pull the 3 wood because I still have a bad memory of a terrible shot I hit. Maybe I am hitting the driver really well and I think I can ease off it and keep it in play better.

Really, just find what works for you. I would say buy a low lofted hybrid and give it a test. Keep your 3 wood just in case you want to put it back in your bag.

[MS256]

The people I see having the most problem with a fairway wood off of the ground fall into one of these:

They are trying to hit up on the ball like they would with a driver on a tee. In some of those cases it's because they don't have the club head speed for the loft they are using to get the ball in the air with much distance. They love it when they have a very fluffy lie but hate thin lies.

Or.

They come over the top with a ridiculously steep AOA and simply bottom out too soon or start raising up and/or pulling from out to in to keep from driving the club right into the ground behind the ball.

[Tomputt]

Could not his my three wood for anything.  Got a Taylor made #3 hybrid.  I use it all the time on par 5's.  I"m giving up a little yardage but it is very forgiving. It has made a big difference.  My three wood is now mothballed.

[trickyputt]

  MS256 said:

The people I see having the most problem with a fairway wood off of the ground fall into one of these: They are trying to hit up on the ball like they would with a driver on a tee. In some of those cases it's because they don't have the club head speed for the loft they are using to get the ball in the air with much distance. They love it when they have a very fluffy lie but hate thin lies. Or. They come over the top with a ridiculously steep AOA and simply bottom out too soon or start raising up and/or pulling from out to in to keep from driving the club right into the ground behind the ball.

Good points. I had to reconcile the length of shaft I needed for the distance gap with the approach angle I have and the ball flight I was getting with a 15. I ended up with a +1 17 3hl from taylormade. I lose 3 yards to my partner sometimes, but have the High Draw/Fade that can be so useful with the 3W. Jason Day plays one. I stole his idea.

[Jmdmbike]

  Dave2512 said:

Loft up. I hit an 18 degree fairway further, higher and more consistent than a 15 or 16 degree fairway.

Did the same thing. Ditched the 15 degree 3 wood and put an 18 degree 5 wood in as my fairway. Easier to hit consistently and I don't think there's much of a difference in terms of distance.