3 Iron or 5 Fairway Wood?

[atrapasuenos]

Hi mates! I have a problem is bothering me a lot. This 2008 I've started playing from the blue tees. With my driver I have the distance, in fact I'm hitting it srtaighter and longer. But the problem is when I have to make a shot over 200 yards.

With my short irons I'm doing it nice but with my long irons...
I can hit my 6 iron for a 190 yards or a smooth 5 iron. My five iron goes like 200 yards.

But when I have to use my 4 or 3 iron I really star to cry LOL. With the 4 iron I can't go further than 210 yards and with the 3 iron, if I hit it well, like 215 yards!

So, problem is, that there is a par 3 of 233 yards, with water at right and O.B. in the left. And guess what... I always end in the water and short. I try to always control myself and make solid contact with the ball but it always go to the water.

So, I was thinking on changing the 3 iron for a 5 wood and it would be easier to reach that distances.

What do you think? I will appreciate your comments!

Regards!

[joshiemac25]

Why not try hitting a hybrid and see if you want to replace the 3 or 4 iron with one. I actually carry a 4 hybrid and use it as if it was my 5 wood, as I feel much more confident in it than I would a 5 wood of the turf or out of the rough.

[geezer]

I don't know about you, but I hit my 5-wood quite a bit father than my 3-iron. Maybe a hybrid would be a more suitable/versatile replacement.

[neudi]

I play a 3 iron and a 5 wood because they do not replace each other, a 3 iron is 21 to 22 degrees while a 5 wood is 18 degrees. If you want to replace your 3 iron look into a hybrid. the new nikes that just came out the sumo 2's are nice for that kind of situation.

[HytrewQasdfg]

A 7-wood is the equivalent of a 3-iron distance wise for most people. If you are better hitting your fairway woods than the irons, consider using a 7-wood instead of the 3 iron.

If you aren't much of a long ball hitter anyway, you should seriously consider going with the 4-wedge system and focusing on your short game. You'll lower your score much more quickly than you would than by trying to perfect your long game.

Drop your 3 & 4 irons (since you can't hit them anyway) and replace them with a 7 wood or a hybrid that hits about the same length as the 3 iron. What you lose in long distance precision you make up for in short distance precision.

[atrapasuenos]

A 7-wood is the equivalent of a 3-iron distance wise for most people. If you are better hitting your fairway woods than the irons, consider using a 7-wood instead of the 3 iron.

I already have 4 wedges

That's why I don't carry a 5 wood or Hybrid. I really will take your comments and think about it. What i'm doing wrong that causes that I can hit the well? Regards?

[JSC924]

You can always replace both your 3 and 4 irons. Like HytreQasdfg said, a 3 iron replacement is usually a 7 wood.

I'm not a particularly long hitter so I have a 17 degree hybrid to replace a 2 iron distances. I hit it 210 every time, even on bad misses, it's just a matter of going right or left. If I hit the ball fat, it's ok, it just goes right. If I hit it thin, it becomes a low slice that starts left. But I always get my yardage.

I would definitely look into hybrids if I were you.

[jammer59]

From the tee at 230(ish), it's a 5-wood for me. Off the turf, especially in troubled lies, I'd take a crack with a 20* Mizuno hybrid. For some reason, I don't do well with a hybrid teed up -- even teed low.

[allin]

I play a 3 iron and a 5 wood because they do not replace each other, a 3 iron is 21 to 22 degrees while a 5 wood is 18 degrees. If you want to replace your 3 iron look into a hybrid. the new nikes that just came out the sumo 2's are nice for that kind of situation.

If you want to keep 4 wedges consider replacing your 3 iron with a 3 hybrid and replace your 3wd with a four wood. Most people hit it them just about as far out of the fairway. You do loose some distance off the tee, but hey your hitting your driver now, and as forgiving as the newer ones are I don't feel there is much advantage except for workability compared to 3 wood off the tee.

[Wisco-Kid]

I had the EXACT same problem. I went to golfgalaxy and hit some hybrids and some fairway woods. I didnt like the hybrids at all, they dont set up right for my eye. I picked up a used Mizuno 5 Wood for 40 bucks. My golf game has improved dramatically. Best purchase I made last year by far!

[SirMilton]

Duh? 18 index and a 190 yard 6 iron? I would say throttle back and get some accuracy, instead of trying to reach a 233 yard par 3 with a 3 iron.

How far would you hit a 80% 3 wood? 75% 3 wood? Generally, the less stress on a shot, the better the accuracy.

If I play a course with a long par 3, then I carry a hi-loft driver (13.0 or 13.5) that I can take a smooth controlled swing and hit those big greens that long par 3s always have. I always expect a birdie putt on a par 3, and I always expect to get a birdie on half or more of the par 3s.

[Bowker]

I would would usually use a hybrid or a five iron for those. A hell of a lot easier than a 3 iron for me. I'm fine with a 4 iron if I can make it though.

[atrapasuenos]

Duh? 18 index and a 190 yard 6 iron? I would say throttle back and get some accuracy, instead of trying to reach a 233 yard par 3 with a 3 iron.

I believe that my handicap is tricky. Because I can strike the ball solid. My problem is inconsistency. I play every 15 days, if I can every 8 days but not always, but I try to really concentrate when I go to play. I can be sure that if I could only play two time per week I would have a lower Handicap, but that's not the case so that's my handicap.

Regards.

[Old South Pro]

If you hit your 3 wood to far and your 3 iron to short you will need to fill the distance gap the you have.
The rule of thumb is 7 wood = 3 irorn & 5 wood = 2 iron or 2 hybrid
I prefer the 2 hybrid. try the adams or the nickent


I have played for 51 years and still learning. I must be a slow learner.

[Old South Pro]

further note at altitude if you are playing in Mexico City you my hit the 5 wood a little further