3 Wood Usage

[Osnola]

For my last 3 rounds, I have probably used by 3W from the Tee 5 times (less than 2/round) and off the deck 8 times (a little over 2/round).  I know someone will say go to the range and learn to hit it better....but  I believe the 3W possibly cost me 3-5 strokes per round.  So, contemplating taking it out of the bag and using a 3 or 4 hybrid on shots I would normally consider using the 3W. Anyone else ever think about taking the 3W out of the bag and replacing it with something else....like a 4W, 5W...?

[chilepepper]

I did consider it at one time but.......instead I went to the range and worked things out

[Patch]

Next to my 7W,  my 3W is my next best long club. I even use it on some longer par 5s off the tee. Once off the tee, and once off the fairway. Then I follow that up with a mid,or short iron. Heck, I use it more than my driver on all tees. 

No, it has never crossed my mind to remove my 3W. Now my 5W is a different story, and is why I how the OP feels about his 3W. 

Edited February 1, 2018 by Patch

[Eric C]

I think it depends on what your goals are, and your availability to get to a range to effectively work on it.  If you're a playing pro, regularly play local tournaments, or even in a competitive men's league at your local club they you should probably put the effort in to figure it out.  If you're out there having fun and just want to play good, consistent golf then by all means give it a rest.

Other's here will tell you to get lessons, practice more, and identify and resolve the mechanical or mental piece that is holding you back.  That's almost certainly the correct answer.

I took all "woods" out of my bag for an entire season and hit nothing but a 4 hybrid off the tee.  I've more recently introduced a 3W back in to the mix, and I'm smoking it.  

[klineka]

  On 2/1/2018 at 6:07 PM, Osnola said:

but  I believe the 3W possibly cost me 3-5 strokes per round.  

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Why do you think the 3W is costing you 3-5 strokes per round? Are you hitting all of your 3W shots out of bounds? 13 uses over 3 rounds is basically 2 rounds of 4 uses and a round of 5 uses. If you truly are losing 3-5 strokes per round that means you are losing a stroke everytime you pull that club out of the bag. 

What makes you think you would hit a 4W much better than a 3W? 

Not sure which model 3W you have, but if it has adjustable loft you could always turn it up as high as it will go, and then choke down an inch or so and you'd basically have a 4W.

Getting a high launch 3W was one of the better club decisions I have made. Mine is 17 degrees and I have no issues getting the ball in the air and I'm typically a lower ball flight player.

IMO, take the 3W out of the bag when youre playing (for now) and take that money you would spend on a 4W or 5W and get a lesson or two.

Use the hybrid instead when you are playing. If you really do hit the hybrid that much better, then the potential distance difference should be more than made up for by the quality of shot (ex. hybrid might be 20 yards shorter than where a good 3 wood might have been, but if your hybrid is always in play and 3W was always O.B. then hybrid will obviously save you more strokes)

[Lihu]

  On 2/1/2018 at 6:07 PM, Osnola said:

For my last 3 rounds, I have probably used by 3W from the Tee 5 times (less than 2/round) and off the deck 8 times (a little over 2/round).  I know someone will say go to the range and learn to hit it better....but  I believe the 3W possibly cost me 3-5 strokes per round.  So, contemplating taking it out of the bag and using a 3 or 4 hybrid on shots I would normally consider using the 3W. Anyone else ever think about taking the 3W out of the bag and replacing it with something else....like a 4W, 5W...?

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Wow, 13 times in 3 rounds? That's 4.33 times per round. I'd recommend that you play from shorter tees and get a 4W or 5W? It's the 8 times in three rounds that makes me think this. OTOH if you have 4 long par 5 then I can see that?

I use my 3W or shorter off the tee on shorter courses or holes with severe doglegs. I usually hit a hybrid for my second shots for par 5. There is usually one hole per round that I use my 3W off the deck. Usually a 550 yard par 5 or something like that.

The 3W is a really good tool to have in your bag. If you end up near the tee box after your drive for whatever reason , it gives you almost the same distance you would have hit your driver. The caveat is that you have to be able to hit it.

Edited February 1, 2018 by Lihu
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[cooke119]

I've heard it said that the 3W is the hardest club in the bag to hit, I'm not sure I believe that but... I use my 3W often because I don't hit my drives that long, plus I use it on doglegs as well tight fairways.  I hit my 3W well but only after I tried a number of different brands. Years ago I found a Cobra S3 3W which I hit the hell out of, almost as long as my driver. What should you do, I would take it out of my bag for a while and practice, maybe take a lesson as suggested above. When I play my 3W I make sure I sweep the club along the grass on my backswing, keep my head still, and think about 'digging the ball out.' For some reason it keeps me from topping the ball. 3W is a great club once you learn to hit it correctly.

[Moxley]

I took mine out - I don't have the ability and swing speed required to hit it well. Even if I improved my striking , I'm never going to have the swing speed for it to get noticeably further than 5w from deck, which is otherwise more versatile. 

I don't know many players who hit a 3w well, although I don't play with any single figure folk regularly having said that. 

[Lotok]

I replaced my 15* 3 wood with a 17* 2 hybrid until I can get it working for me. Whenever I pulled it out I was already convinced I would top it, so best to give it a break.  I do intend to get the 3 wood working, been working a lot on my tempo which may help a lot. We'll see how the coming season goes.

[WUTiger]

A classic report by Golf Digest found that average golfer hits a 4W more reliably - and sometimes longer - than a 3W. A little extra loft really helps on launch.

For the short term, try choking down on the 3W when hitting it off the deck. It will help with control. If that doesn't help, try 4W (or 5W).

Also: consider putting your club mix from your bag in your sig line. That way, we will know what clubs you use and how you approach the game. It's much easier to advise you if we know.

[arturo28mx]

  On 2/2/2018 at 12:27 PM, Moxley said:

I took mine out - I don't have the ability and swing speed required to hit it well. Even if I improved my striking , I'm never going to have the swing speed for it to get noticeably further than 5w from deck, which is otherwise more versatile. 

I don't know many players who hit a 3w well, although I don't play with any single figure folk regularly having said that. 

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My understanding is that a 3 wood requires not only good technique but also sufficient club head speed. I’m 60. I don’t have enough speed so I prefer a 4 or 5 wood. 

[Missouri Swede]

Add me to the list of high handicappers with a 5w instead of a 3w. When I was filling out my current set 7-8 years ago, I asked my (then) teaching pro about a fairway wood. He had me try a few clubs, and the 5w was easily better for me than a 3w. 

For fun, I borrowed my son's 3w when I went to the range last year. I still hit my 5w better. (Not the same as a fitting, but just wanted to see.)

[NJpatbee]

I am a 66 year old 17 Hcp and the only wood I carry is the driver.  I use a 2h through 6h and my 2h is more reliable and accurate than any 3 or 5 wood I have ever used.  If you are younger and have a high SS try working on the 3 wood but I can hit my 2h as long as my 3w off the fairway 20 years ago with a much higher percentage of solid strikes.  

[MarvChamp]

  On 2/3/2018 at 4:41 PM, NJpatbee said:

I am a 66 year old 17 Hcp and the only wood I carry is the driver.  I use a 2h through 6h and my 2h is more reliable and accurate than any 3 or 5 wood I have ever used.  

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This is me, most of the time (and when I ever get out of phys therapy and back to golf). Except that my lowest hybrid is a 3. More reliable and accurate. If I feel I need a wood, I take my 5FW, so I practice(d) using it. Good topic.  Wishing all the best, -Marv

[AlDena]

Until recently, I didn't have a 3W that I could hit worth a darn, so I stayed with my 5W or 3I. Yesterday, I tried a recently acquired used TM Burner 3W. I had a slight pull left on the shots from the fairway (10 - 15 yards), but DAY-UM, did I hit them high and far enough, about 210 to 215 yards. At 62 years old, that's almost are far as my drives. lol. However, I did hit my newly acquired Burner Driver 238 yards on 18, the only hole I tried with the new driver. I guess finding the right club makes all the difference.

[Piz]

I try to imagine that my 3 wood and 5 wood are the same club; the only difference being that one might roll out more than the other.  Kind of a "single length" fairway concept.  Time was I'd try to give it a bit extra, with the 3 wood, and that was (and still is) a recipe for disaster.

[onthehunt526]

  On 2/1/2018 at 6:07 PM, Osnola said:

For my last 3 rounds, I have probably used by 3W from the Tee 5 times (less than 2/round) and off the deck 8 times (a little over 2/round).  I know someone will say go to the range and learn to hit it better....but  I believe the 3W possibly cost me 3-5 strokes per round.  So, contemplating taking it out of the bag and using a 3 or 4 hybrid on shots I would normally consider using the 3W. Anyone else ever think about taking the 3W out of the bag and replacing it with something else....like a 4W, 5W...?

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@Osnola

As you have a 20 Handicap, I recommend a 4W over a 3W. Why? Because with slightly more loft, the ball will have less sidespin. Secondly, the shorter shaft will make it easier to make solid contact and you'll consistently hit it farther than your 3W. 

Let me put it to you in the words of Erik and David, "Golf Is Hard (R)" why make it harder than it already is?

I'm a 6.7 HDCP and I prefer a 4-wood over a 3-wood. I can hit the 3-wood, but I hit the 4-wood better.

Edited February 6, 2018 by onthehunt526
Last statement

[Foot Wedge]

Everyone's different.  Quality of strike is going to impact your distance more than the loft, shaft length, etc.  So if you hit a 5W better than your 3W, it'll probably carry almost as far and more reliably as it did for me.  In my case, the 3W was a solution in search of a problem.  since I play the white tees, the 5W is perfect distance for shorter holes and if the hole is longer, I use driver.  There really isn't a distance that I need the 3W for.  For par 5's, off the deck it wasn't that reliable, and a good drive puts me in 5W/hybrid range.  If I'm further out than that, well I should have hit a better drive! 

If you hit the 5W better, go with it.  A well struck 5W is going to fly further than a 3W knuckleball.