We always raise the question 'What are the best clubs for average golfers?' and today we compare a 3 wood and a 5 wood, should either of these be in your golf bag?
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Just an Average Golfer giving unbiased opinions on all things golf, product tests, Golf travel vlogs and golf news!
A 9 handicap is average? 😂 Considering how few golfers ever legitimately break 90 it’s probably safe to say “average” is far from 9.
Completely agree, I would say an 18 handicap is above average.
According to the internet the average bloke plays off 17.3 in the UK. Therefor this is false advertising and should be above average golf lol!
Maybe he is playing the ladies tees
He was probably an average golfer when he started the channel
I have never broken a hundred without cheating.
When I say the title I knew this would be about a 3 wood as I have been asking myself the very same question! Watching this has iced that decision for me. Golfers of our level are always going to be more consistent with the slightly shorter and more lofted 5 wood. Having them both in the bag just causes indecision especially on par 5's were I can be tempted to try and get another 10 -15 yards by hitting my 1 in 20 pure 3 woods. Thanks Andy. It's going out of the bag!!
I carry both the 3w and 5w. The 3w is great for drilling into the wind. It is also my go to when my driver is misbehaving. That said, the 5w is my confidence club and I love the forgiveness of the trajectory. Really enjoy your content. Thanks!
I can respect that. I've been thinking of getting a 4 or 5w but really my 3 wood works just fine for any shot outside of a 4-iron. It's my 2 and 3 iron that I rarely play but still they are decent at keeping shots low and short but not too short. I honestly don't understand where this guy is coming from and I don't want to spend the time to watch for what I suspect is very little value.
Nice video, Andy. As an ancient (74) yet fit golfer, I made the change from 3w to 5w earlier this year. I no longer have the swing speed to justify trying to hit a 3w off the turf, or anything short of a driver off any par 4 or par 5. The top of my bag now goes from driver (11*) to 5w (18.5*) to 4h (22*) to 5h (25*), no iron longer than a 6i--and the 4h may be the next to go. At my age, my score relies on pitching, chipping, and putting, so I play with 3 wedges (pw, gw, sw) and--shudder--a chipping club (Cleveland Niblick 42*). My course strategy is "somewhere near the green in regulation, then up-and-in at worst--and to play from the proper tees. Still manage to shoot the low 80s to high 70s most days.
I've added a chipper too. There's times around the green it's just the right club for me. Use it way more than wedges particularly with tight lies. Mine's lofted 37° and would actually like a bit more. I will occasionally put my 3 wood in the bag but if I had to choose 5 is much more versatile. I might start experimenting with higher fairways to replace my 4h. I'm younger than you and need to work on my fitness😅
I'm 77 and nowadays play with the same strategy as you. My group plays the senior tees of course and my goal on every par 4 is to look for the 150 marker and make that my target to equal or exceed. From 150 to 120 in I can hit 3 or 4 clubs from that distance. In my 40s and 50s I shot in the 70s and now it's 82-90. My chipping and putting usually saves my rounds.
"and to play from the proper tees. Still manage to shoot the low 80s to high 70s most days." Shooting 75-85 from the golds or even the reds? Is that supposed to be significant? Just go out and play and stop worrying about your score.
I'm just getting back into golf after 12 years of not playing, I peaked at a 15 handicap. I play driver, 3 wood, 3h and 4-sw. I have a horrible slice with my driver, and find the 3 wood easier to control. I used to play a 5 wood, but haven't replaced it since I got another set of clubs. This video has given me something to think about, thank you!
@@tylenoljackson9378k
I love my 5 wood and play it often instead of a longer iron. I bought myself a 3 wood to get a bit extra distance as I tend to hit my clubs higher than average. It’s usually pretty windy where I play and every hole is tree lines, so the lower flight of the 3 wood is less impacted by the wind. I also love the 3 wood off the tee on a lot of the shorter or tighter par 4s….and tend to hit it much straighter than the driver. So for me, it’s a big win having both 3 and 5 in the bag
My local course has some steep uphill holes and the lower ball flight of a 3 wood off the tee helps get the ball further up the hills (fairway). The higher ball flight of my 5 wood tends to make the ball stop dead when it lands, so the difference in distance between the clubs ends up being rather a lot. Admittedly I don't need my 5 wood often but I don't need 4 different wedges so it's not a difficult choice to keep the 5w in the bag.
I have a 3w and a 7w in my bag. Just choke down on the 3w grip for ~5w carry.
Based on an article I read some years ago, I carry a 4W and 7W. The 4W splits the distance between a 3W and 5W. I ensure the 4W is a true 4W length. If it is really windy, I might replace the 7W with a 3H. I think this set up is superior for most mid handicaps.
Got recently fitted and yes for a Driver 430 LST Ping ( used to 400 Max ) and Callaway Paradym smoke Max D 3W HL & Max D 7 😮💨 & 11 😮💨😮💨😮💨 woods….😊😊😊 16 handicap, 74 y/o, swing speed 89 -93 mph at drive & 77-80 irons…waiting for the Montréal summer…..
@@aliasErEf The 3W high loft is pretty close to a 4 wood, at least in loft. So yeah, not surprised that works.
Love this post, thanks. I’ve been thinking the same, but may adjust my 5 wood down to 16.875 degrees.
I have both… but more as the 3-wood is a 13.5° and the 5-wood is 18° depends on the course and conditions. If I play a course with shorter par-5s I only carry the 5-wood and just drop the loft 1°, I carry the 3-wood on courses with shorter tighter par-fours for off the tee.
Due to this post, in the last week I replaced my 3 and 5 wood and exchanged them for the new Callaway AI Smoke 3HL, which is 16.5 degrees, or, a traditional 4 wood loft. Why Callaway calls it a 3 HL and not a 4 wood is unknown, but whatever…the change has been perfect. I can hit the 3HL 260 yards off the deck, and I can hit the 7 wood (also the Callaway AI Smoke) 240 yards. I finally feel good about my gapping at the higher end of my bag. Also, eliminating a wood, I added back my hybrid. Very happy. Thanks again for posting what I was contemplating doing
I am actually using a 4 wood (HL 3 wood) which I just hit more consistently than my 3 wood particularly from the fairway where I pick the ball up much better. Thought provoking 👍
Well I am using a Ping 9 wood and a Tight Lies 5 wood, looking to add a Ping 7 wood. so much easier and consistent out of rough or fairway with this setup for me ( 74 years old 12 handicap)
I agree
I also have a Tight Lies 5 wood. It is one club that I hit better than most.
I only have one club in between my 5 iron and my driver. That club is a 19* Cobra one length hybrid. It has simplified things for me, and saved me shots.
That is pretty radical but probably pretty smart. When you think about it what do all the options really get you? Especially for people with slower swing speeds.
@@centerbound99 You totally nailed it. My driver only goes 200-225. My 5 iron is 175. I had a 3 wood, 5 wood, and 4 iron that I just didn’t hit consistently. So I took them out of the bag. I bought the one length hybrid on close out because it was super cheap. It’s shorter than my five iron in length. It sounds stupid when you think about it. But I can hit it 190-200 consistently. It has become a confidence club for me. I even use it off the tee on tight driving holes. And because it’s so short, you can even chip around the green with it.
Switched from 3 wood and 5 wood to 4 wood and 7 wood. Big improvement in ball flight and consistency. The 4 wood is much easier to launch from fairway and the 7 wood holds greens on long approaches because of angle of descent. So many club choices out there so trying different combinations as you illustrated can really lower your scores. By the way after one of your videos I added a 7 hybrid perhaps my favorite club to hit. Poor lies fairway bunkers deep rough 7 hybrid to the rescue
Great video as always. I’ve just taken my 5 wood out of the bag and gone for a 3 and 4 hybrid, they blend nicely into my irons. Currently still carrying the 3 wood but haven’t used it in the summer. It will stay through the winter to see how much use it gets.
Thanks again for your content. I think I’ve been watching you too much as I pretty much now have most of the clubs you recommended in an earlier video in my bag. I also just dropped my 3 wood in favor of the new Rogue 5 wood which I love. I previously bought the 3+ Hy-Wood Launcher you recommended, which I also love, and even though it’s the same loft as the 5 wood they are two completely different clubs with different applications. The 5 wood is 10-20 yds longer and higher especially off a tee. The other big purchase from one of your older recommendations that I recently bought was a full set of the gen 3 0311’s. They are phenomenal, great feel and forgiveness. I don’t see them on the PXG website anymore so I think I got one of the last sets. Now if I could only putt! Lol. Keep the content coming, love the honesty.
I think a 4 wood (16.5) is an excellent option to replace both the 3 and 5 woods. It's easy hit off the fairway and light rough as well as provides plenty of height/landing angle and distance. It also gives room for one more club in the bag such as 7-wood, 4 hybrid, or utility iron.
That's what I do. Having said that, I hit the 7 wood way more often. The 4 is a specialty situation club for me. The 7 is a bread and butter.
Looking at a club that only offers 3w in 14.5 and 5w in 17.5. To achieve a 4w loft would it be better to get 3w and adjust to higher loft or 5w adjusted to lower loft?
I felt like I should ditch 11 of my clubs after shooting 78 (+6) at my courses 3 club championship we have once a year. It's amazing how much trouble you cannot get into when a 5 iron is the longest club you're carrying.
Yes. Too many solutions in a full bag looking for a problem. Can get confusing.
Shameless plug
Gotta love humble bragging...🤮
Haha! Well done! I won my clubs 3 Club Challenge with Driver, 8 and Putter. Keeps it simple!
Reduced my weekly kit from electric trolley, huge bag and 14 clubs to pencil carry bag with 8 clubs. Play far better and enjoy the freedom of carrying a light bag.
I dumped my 3 wood for exactly the same reasons as you’ve said in this video. 5 wood is easier to hit off fairways & rough than a 3 wood with more consistent shots. The extra distance gained with the 3 wood on well struck shots wasn’t significant enough compared with well struck 5 woods. My 5 wood at standard setting is 18.5 but I’m playing it at 17.5 to gap above my irons & 19 deg hybrid I carry. I’m going to test soon by taking my driver out & seeing what I score without it in, and yes I know I won’t drive as far but I’ll be consistently more straighter. Fun experiment in the winter months! Good video as always 👍⛳️🏌🏼♂️
Callaway Mavrik 4 wood 16.5 sub z is a beast!
I officially ditched the 3 wood at the beginning of this golf year. I just feel more comfortable with the 5 wood. I have far less bad shots with my 5. It was tough to eliminate my 3 wood as I just bought it last year but I think it was necessary. Great video!
I agree with the premise that we all have clubs in the bag that are redundant or just unnecessary, but that varies from golfer to golfer. I hit my 3W well and use frequently for tight fairways and when I want to keep a low ball flight. I cannot hit woods off fairway well, but for some reason I can hit H's well on fairways, so I have a 4H which is excellent for hitting on fairways or out of short rough. This is a perfect setup for my game. I do have a 4 iron I use maybe 2/yr, but it mainly plays the important role as serving as my alignment stick (yes, I am that guy). Maybe I can get rid of the 4i, but thats it, DO NOT ask for anything else.!
3w is my favorite club (very consistent) allows me that little extra to get there in 2 on par 5s. For me, the 5w-7w -3h is more of a conflict.
My clubs I bought last year consisted of Ping G425 Max Driver, 3 Wood and 5 Wood. As of this year I have sold the 3 wood and purchased a Ping G425 7 Wood. The 3 wood was a little more difficult to hit, whereas the 5 wood was such a confidence buiding club. Distance between the 3 and 5 was negligible, but the 5 wood was straighter.
Thank you so much! I was on the fence about adding a 3 wood to sit next to my 5. I'm getting a new bag instead!
17 Degree 4-wood and a 20 degree hybrid have been my long fairway shot combination since 2015. 4 wood works great from the tee and the fairway. Loved watching your discovery process, a favorite part of the game for me.
Me too. It was the best advice I ever got. It wasn't easy finding a used 4W by the manufacturer I like, but once I did it has never left my bag (and used with confidence).
4w/7w combo in my bag and has been for years. Haven't had a 3w for 15 years or more. The vast majority of amateur golfers don't generate enough speed to get enough out of a 15° club from the grass..
horses for courses, my 3 wood is a weapon. i don't tee it up on the teebox either, straight off the deck. most of the time it's as long as driver and i can generally shot shape it. Driver is hit and miss, 80% miss😂
3hl m2 for me. Really a four wood at 16.5. Getting old but if I start to lose distance, we’ll call it a five. Both would gap well with my 3 UDI
I play a short 8 club set myself driver 5w 6-pw irons and my putter just used my 5w today on a strange slanted lie cleaned it perfect to a nice wedge chip on a par 5 for me 3w and 5w have very similar distances
Exactly what I use, wouldn't go back 👍
I play driver then 2,3,4 Srixon ZX utility irons with 95 Recoil shafts.....easier to hit than hybrids and fairway woods. I'm a slightly faster than average swinger and the 2 iron goes 230-240...hi, low, draw, fade...very predictable. I struggled with fairway woods and so happy I found these.
I just bought a 3 hybrid which has the same loft as my 5 wood. I hit my woods fairly straight or left-to-right. The hybrid looks naturally closed at address so I'm thinking it could help produce a more right-to-left shot shape which would help me with dogleg left par 4's or 5's. But I have yet to test it out on the range. I'll be using it this weekend out on the range to see how it performs.
Very interesting and thought provoking. Not being the longest off the tee, I use a three wood quite frequently (from the fairway) with anything over 195 yards to the green. I don't carry a 5 wood, but would certainly prefer the higher ball flight it might provide. I'll get to the range and see how it goes.
My exact thoughts. I absolutely love the low trajectory and subsequent roll of the 3W off the fairway or light rough. When you don't chunk or top of course.....
With todays loft sleeve on wood is criminal to not get one with one when buying a wood. then you can turn you 3 wood into a 2/4 wood and 5 wood into a 4 / 6 wood if needed.
Like all clubs today the name "3 wood" comes in multiple lofts. I struggled with my old 3wood because I couldn't generate the club head speed needed to hit a 13* club well. And the harder I swung the more inconsistent my strike quality. I switched to 16* 3 wood and hit it great - higher ball flight, more carry, better strike quality, straighter. Get clubs that fit your swing. I also carry a 19* 5W and jump from there to a 5 hybrid. They gap well for me (15-20 yards). Don't buy a club because of the number printed on the bottom. Buy a club that hits the distance you want.
Spot on, this post! I'm not a long hitter, but I get on with my woods quite well. So the 20yds between driver, 3w and 5w suit me perfectly, before I go down to 4, 5 and 6h and then my irons. Also, I tend to find that once the ground is properly dried out, the 3w rolls out much further than the 5w because of its lower flight. This time of year there might not be much in it, especially with the rain we've had. But come June or July, there's a real difference between the total roll-out of the two.
Agreed regarding 3W. It gets little use and because it launches so low, it always puts me in a bunker with a protected green. I always worried about giving up too much distance without it, but it may be time to put the 5W in the bag and see what it can do for me.
I have a 3W and a 5W. You are spot on because I rarely use them. I have no confidence in hitting them from the fairway. In my irons I carry a 6 iron but no 5 or 4 iron. I have more confidence with my 22° hybrid and I also carry a 24° hybrid. My plan is to be fitted for irons next spring but with this great information I need to have a whole bag fit to make sure I am not carrying clubs I rarely using. Very helpful topic Andy. Great stuff!
I carry a 3, 5 and 7 wood and love them all. On long par 5’s the 3 and 5 woods are very advantageous. The 7 wood allows me to attack par 3’s that are a bit longer or 170 yard shots where I don’t want to risk duffing an iron shot.
I used to have a 7 that was just flat deadly!
Live my 3w. One of my most reliable clubs. If my driver is giving me issues during the game I’ll switch over to the 3w and carry on
It’s been 10+ years since I carried a 5W. There was 15-20 yards difference between it and my 3W. The 5W was the club “collecting dust” in my bag! 3W, 3H, and 4H give all the options I would ever want on the course.
I feel the same. I have a 3w, 3 crossover, and 4 crossover in my bag.
Agree. I play 3W, 3DHY, 4DHY! Removed 5W
Just got a stealth 7 wood, love it. I would be tempted to swap my ping g410 5 wood for the stealth. Ditched 3 wood years ago
I reached the same conclusion before watching your video. I found my carry distance the same with the 3 & 5 woods. Accuracy with the 5 wood is reliable and I can muscle it 250 if needed. I have removed the 3 wood and replaced that with a 3 hybrid, a solid 200 club. Great videos!
16.5* 4 wood then 19* hybrid in the bag for me. Been gaming this setup for years. Titleist/Fujikura always makes a great setup for me. I do find it interesting that the 7 wood seems to be making its way back into a lot of tour bags instead of a hybrid. The new school is old school. 😂
Data shows pros hitting 70% more greens in reg using the 7 wood over the hybrid. Hybrid is better vs iron, but wood>hybrid. If lower scores mean I swallow my ego. I'll be making the switch!
I hit a 2 iron off the tee on shorter holes so I can’t have 2 fairway woods. I settled on a 4 wood to split the difference between the 3 and 5 woods. Also, I can get that off the ground while I can’t do that with the 3 wood which makes the 3 only good off the tee. I can hit the 2 iron off the deck much better than the 3W. Been toying with buying a 3 high launch with basically a 4 wood loft with the size of a 3W
I took an Epic Flash 3 wood (15*), shortened the shaft and adjusted the loft to 17* and made it a 4 wood with a 3 wood head. It is very versatile as a driving club as well as on the fairway. Much more confident using it. I also like to use it to trundle putts to the hole on certain holes.
I have that same 3wood, great idea! I'll be setting that up this weekend.
For several years I carried Ping 5 & 7 woods with no 3 wood. According to Arccos, my 5 wood was going 5 yards less than my 7 wood so I took out the 5 and added a 16.5 degree high loft 3 wood (721 Tour Edge). I’m now getting 12 yards more than my 7 wood so it fills my needs. Driver goes another 11 yards longer than the high loft 3. I need to fix my driving.
I have the same debate when I look at my 5W versus 7W. Feel so much more confident with the 7W and I generally get almost the same distance but experience a similar phenomenon where the 7W flies higher with higher spin and less roll out. I do debate this every once in a while, but I tend to always end up with the same conclusion and keep in the 5W on the sidelines
I came to this conclusion 5 years ago. A buddy wanted to buy a 3 wood and I happened to be with him at the store. I told him why I stopped using a 3 wood and suggested he hit both prior to buying. He did. And walked away with a 5 wood - especially with adjustable heads. What's new for me the last 2 years, I've stopped using my 5 wood in favour of my 7 wood. Consistency is King. And this year I've opted to bring back my 4 iron, primarily because my wood swing became inconsistent even with my beloved 7w. Ah, dontcha just luv this game~
It's tough because a fairway wood requires a different swing than driver and iron - probably leading to your inconsistencies. I have been trying out a 2i hybrid and maybe ditch fairway woods altogether. Doesn't have the distance but way more consistent
Results probably vary some from golfer to golfer but for me there is usually about a 10 yard difference between my 3 and 5 Woods with the 3 going further. Now both those two are easy for me to hit because they are the Ping G 430 Max Woods. I value them both and even have the 7 and 9 Woods in the bag as well. None of them will be leaving my bag. :)
You carry a 3, 5, 7, and 9 wood? Can't say ever heard of a bag setup like that. Do you carry any long irons?
@@TheAboriginal1 I can't speak for him, but I carry a D plus 3,5, and 7 woods. I hit them all so well, I've thought about adding a 9W, too. Yes, I carry a 3 iron, with which I hit about 10 yards less than the 7W, but it's main use is for low shots out from under trees.
I used to have a 5 Wood but I got rid of it. Now I play driver 3 Woods and 2 hybrid instead. Then my irons start at 4 iron. Gives me a really good spread when it comes to distance between the clubs but also different ball flights. I have the old 915f 3 wood that I love and is easy to shape left to right with and the hybrid when I need height and the 4 iron when I need to hit a stinger of the tee
The number on the club means a little less than actual loft. I play 10.5 driver +1degree 14.5 3 wood +1 degree 18.5 5 wood + 1degree 23 9 wood and 27 degree hybrid. Good gapping and a little extra loft helps. If you have adjustable woods just add loft = better solution. Still carry my 4 iron for lower trajectory shots under trees etc. (57 yo 11 hcp )
I can only speak for myself... My 3 wood when struck properly off the turf is a 245 yrd club. My 5 wood when struck properly is a 230 yrd club. I can't remember their loft differences but I want to say there is 7 degrees between them. I use them for several reasons. Gapping being the biggest reason. But as much as the gapping I find them easier to hit in the fairway AND rough unless its really thick than hybrids. I also like the longer shafts on the woods versus the hybrids. I don't know, maybe its just me, but I wouldn't trade my woods for hybrids.
For me, I just don't have the money to throw around buying new clubs and learning how to hit them. I hit my 3W about 235 and my 5w about 215. There is a bit of a gap down to my 180 5i, but I can scale down on the 5w much to 190 more easily than I can try and hit a 3i consistently.
Definitely thinking of buying a 5 wood. I’m a new golfer and have tried a 3-W off the fairway and get inconsistent results. Tend to use my hybrids instead but they don’t go as far as a well hit 3-W. My cousin uses a 5-W and he loves it.
Worth a try Ritish
My 5 wood is my favourite club out the bag I’d definitely recommend giving one a try.
you might like a 7 wood. I would certainly try out a 5 and a 7
Try a Ping G 425 Max 5 wood. I think you might like it. :) Much easier to hit that a 3 wood but still has plenty of power.
I dumped my 5 wood in favor of the Cleveland Hy-Wood. Even though I did hit the 5 wood well off the turf or tee even, the ball flight of the Hy-Wood is much straighter and higher and I can take some off or add some too it real easy so it covers a wide range of distances for me. But the 5 wood is still not dead yet. I took it out to force me to use the Hy-Wood, but it could easily find it's way back.
I have a 3 wood but no 5 wood in my bag. However, I often struggle with it and usually prefer using my hybrid. Maybe it is time for me to raise the angle on my wood. Thanks for your analysis.
I only carry a 7 wood as I struggle to get anything with a stronger loft airborne, the 7 wood is so versatile for hitting low and high shots.
I think this changes a lot when you hit the ball further and have higher swing speeds.
I agree. The carry and overall distance gap between them is gonna grow with swing speed.
It's also going to change when you tend to hit all shots high, which I do. My irons go high, but not that far. I hit my 5 iron about 155 and my Driver 230. That's a big gap, so I need a selection of clubs to fill it. If I hit my 5 iron 185, one or two clubs between that and the driver would be plenty.
My wife and I would be very pleased with this video, but not why you think. I have a doctorate from the University of Leicester and she was an Air Force nurse at RAF Lakenheath. Anytime we see a sunny day in the UK, we scream, "When was THAT filmed?" :)
Go Foxes ⚽ !!!
Replacing my 5 iron with hybrid. Thinking of pxg gen 6 or Cleveland halo. Senior golfer. Any recommendations?
I use my taylormade sim 3 wood pretty regularly instead of my driver, I tend to be a lot more accurate and still get around 235 to 245 yards with it. I am considering the 5 wood though and definitely upgrading to the new stealth 2 HD
I used a 16.5 ( 4 wood ) for many years and now have had a Cobra Fly Z 3/4 fairway wood turned to 16 degrees for the last 5 plus years. I have always liked the 4 wood over the 3 wood.
Really tempted to take both of them out of my bag since I have a 3I that I am capable of hitting just about as far as my 5W now.
A great video and totally agree with what you say. I have a ping G425 3, 5 and also a 7 wood and total love the 5 and 7 woods. I get the distance i need from the 5 and 7 and with more control so the 3 wood seems to say at home, but i am practicing to see if i can push the 3 wood to a 250 avg then it may make the odd outing depending on the stile of course and time of year. Always worth looking at google Earth if you are going to play a new coruse to get an idear of the lay out and what clubs you may need.
I’ve done exactly the same over the last few weeks. Even though my G400 Stretch 3 wood was a great club from the tee and I could hit from the fairway I just couldn’t get the launch. Replaced it with a Rogue ST 5 wood which is about 10-15 yards shorter but far more versatile for those 200-210 approaches.
I’ve played Driver-4-7 much of the time for years, intuitively, and just got fitted, which verified the choice. I got a Stealth 3HL (16.5) and 7, and took out the 3 wood and 2 and 3 hybrids, making room to add a 60-degree wedge. Works for me. (When I was younger and stronger, it was different, but in those days I hit a 3 wood 275 yards-hit the 3HL about 240 now.)
I started back a few years ago with a set of Cobra F9 clubs. Being fairly new to golf ( aged 64) my swing was not what it is now at 68, despite Covid interruptions over 2 years, and showing some improvement. I had the F9 3 wood and 5 wood in the bag then, but with Arcos data and on course experience, I came to the same conclusion. The 3 wood was deleted from my bag. Then I tried a TS2 7 wood, which gave much the same performance as the F9 5 wood. In the end I dropped the 5 Wood and reinstated the 3 Wood for a backup off the tee club. I was having control issues with Driver and on some holes even if I hit the 3 Wood tee shots poorly, I was less distance into the trees/ rough than with Driver. In summer I loft the 3 Wood at 14.5 to increase run distance, but in winter ( no run to be had) I loft is to 16 degrees. Occasionally I elect to use it off the fairway if the ball is sitting up nicely and I need another 10 m than I can get with the 7 Wood to the green.
I've put my 3 wood in the cupboard and been using my Ping 5 wood and Cobra 3 and 4 hybrids for the last 4 years. I was only using the 3 wood off the tee on 2 short par 4s and on the fairway on open long par 4s and 5s. I found as you did that the 5 wood is more versatile and easier to hit with not much difference in distance. At 67 I need flexible and forgiving longer clubs and the 5 wood and hybrids work for me. I am thinking of trying a 7 wood and dropping my 3 hybrid. Thanks for your great videos and discussions. Cheers
I have a driver, 3W, 5W, and a 7W. The course i play has a lot of doglegs amd creeks running across the fairways, plus the wind and elevation changes. I need the different options and i use them all pretty much every round.
Great info. There also seems to be data available that shows that most golfers are not any better hitting fairways with 3w over driver.
I just added a Ping G425 Driver and 3 Wood (14.5 degree loft) on top of a Taylormade M2 5 wood (19 degrees) and a Taylormade 4 Burner Rescue hybrid (21 degrees). The 3 wood is straight and helps me hit narrow fairways carrying 200 plus and it’s good in the wind. The 5 wood is good off the off the tee hitting fairway on longer dogleg par 5 holes and for me carries 180-190 with a draw. The TM burner 4 hybrid is the best of the lot and the oldest but is good off both fairway and rough to carry 190-200 with a fade or draw and a terrific sound. So I am gapped pretty well, but on a wind day I might play the 3 wood more often off the tee to get the slow rising ball and better accuracy than a driver. Without much wind the 5 wood is maybe a better option vs the 3 but either way the 4 rescue club is staying in the bag for good measure.
Interesting video and got me thinking. I recently picked up a Cleveland Hy-Wood based on your review and some others too. Have not had a chance to try it on the course yet, but my old TalorMade RBZ 3 wood is on borrowed time. Only time I really ever used it in the past is when I was having problem hitting my driver. I already retired my 5 wood for the HyWood which is more versatile. If it does go I will be down to 11 clubs. Although I do have my eye on a 9 wood....another of your recommendations. My bag is starting to look like a "Custom Set by the Average Golfer" 😉 Curious about this new swing too. Appears based on your practice move you are trying to take the club more outside on the start of the back swing?
This is a superior video. I subscribe to many golf videos, and I'm going to add this to the mix without even seeing a second one. Great stuff!
Interesting video. I just bought a 5 wood (TSR3) and now I’m wanting a 3 Wood for those par 4’s that are too short for a driver. The new equipment now will allow a 3W to go 260+ off the tee so that’s the only use I would have for it. I love having a 5 wood in the fairway for long par 5’s. It just feels better to me!
You make so much sense, fantastic analysis! I saw your proposal regarding the 9 wood and it really got me thinking about my game, hence dropping my driver for the Cobra King Tec 3 Hybrid Rescue, it’s starting to work more favourable for me now I’m getting use to it ! Now you’ve thrown in the 3 wood / 5 wood scenario , better tell the wife another club may be coming through the post 😬😆
Switched to a 17* Callaway Apex UW from a 3 wood. Been a huge game changer off the tee and off the deck, especially from the rough. I go straight from that to a driving iron.
I had an old 3 and 5 wood. Never used the 3 wood much, so I replaced them both with one adjustable 5 wood which I can crank down to a 4 wood if I'm playing in windy conditions - otherwise I'm just happy to play my new 5 wood with normal loft.
Just started using my 3 wood to tee off and it’s been very great. Will try using my 5 wood this week and see how it goes
Andy - great analysis that I’ve been through w my own game. I bought a Callaway UW (17 degree) and could easily replace BOTH my 3 wood and 5 wood w this club. I hit this club 250 yds off the tee and 230 off the deck. Chose to drop the 3 wood and kept the 5 wood in the bag for the occasion when I need high launch (descent angle) from the fairway! Pretty much lines up w your conclusions!!
Ditched the 3 wood last year, have a fairway finder ping 425 4 hybrid.. also have a 5 wood and love it..
I'm a 10 handicap and 3 wood for me since I started never thought of a 5 wood, I do have a hybrid 3 and 3 iron in the bag
I have not caried a 3 wood for years because I can't generate enough speed to get the ball in the air off the ground, however my 5 wood can be a problem into a strong wind, so I'm considering a 4 wood to replace it, to maybe get the best compromise. Cheers Andy.
I just got a 3 hybrid that I really like. What do you think about adding a stealth 3 wood to the bag as well? Would it be worth having both in your opinion?
Funny you put this up today. I had this conversation today with my instructor. I noticed that my 5 and 3 were going about the same but I hit the 5 more consistently. I also carry a 22.5degree 7 which, for me, is dead on at 150yrds. Of the tee I get between 170 and 180 with either club. I love hitting both but I concluded that I'm going to start carrying just the 5 and 7 for a few rounds and see if I miss the 3 at all. Great timing on this video.
Great comments on the 3w and or 5w and then using a 7w. It comes down to distance off the tee and how much you have coming in to the green, and accuracy in hitting fairways. If you struggle in accuracy of the tee then trying to hit a 3w from the rough May be very challenging for some, and then hitting 3w from a tight lie fairway can be challenging as well. So I can see that a 5w and or 7w would be the preference… especially with the launch angle of the ball flight. I am 61 yrs old, 5.4 handicap, and I use 3w regularly on par fives second shot to get near or occasionally on the green, and then drive with 3w on some of the shorter or tighter Par 4s… so 3 w for me is a go to club and one of my favorite clubs. I also like my Ping Hybrids 3 and 4 Hybrids that get me what a 5w or 7w might. I then also use a 4i (190-195 yds) and 5i. As I get older I do anticipate moving to a 5w and 7w but for now will leverage my 3w.
I use a Ping G410 3 wood which I loft down in the winter and loft up in the summer thus making it effectively a five. It really does the job. Generally I can keep myself out of trouble with the three. I never go with more than ten clubs in my bag too so often need to craft a wee shot here and there and apart from a nightmare ten that I took on Sat ( first double figures in years) I generally play steady “average golf”
I currently have no woods in the bag (other than a driver). I only carry a 3 hybrid. I did an extensive test of 4 clubs side-by-side, only playing those 4 clubs for 9 holes for 20 shots. The 4 clubs were a 3 wood, 4 wood, 3 hybrid and 4 hybrid. Simply, I found that the best shots of each ended at the same distance, but the 3 hybrid was more accurate. I now have 5 iron as my highest iron, then 3 hybrid, and fill the vacant spots in the bag with wedges and chippers for scoring. I am intrigued however by the 3 hywood to see if I can gain any distance on the 3 hybrid. Thank you for the video- a very pertinent and important thought on correctly building a bag and getting rid of redundancies
My 5 wood plays easily with confidence, but not my 3 wood. I dropped some hybrids for the 5 and I love it. I don't think I used my 3 wood once this year ... maybe 2x last year. The only reason I haven't put it away is that it was expensive so I feel obligated to keep it ... with the unrealistic hope that some day things may change.
Years ago I added a 5H 'rescue' as a bit of a confience club. At around 220-230 for me it pretty much replaces the 3w and 5w with greater accuracy and reliability off the tee fairway or rough. Seriously considering just losing the woods from the bag completely and moving the P and putter to those spots as on a good day thats about all I would use outside of some longer par 3s.
I took the 3 wood out of my bag a month ago and I have been surprised by how much I haven't missed it. I bought a cheap(er) 7 wood but I will be adding a PXG 0211 5 wood after I get fitted for one.
It's nice that you can drop a 3 wood. For those of us that are not long off the tee, the 3 wood comes in very handy on long par 4's and par 5's
Andy this is a video I can relate to. Deleted my 3 and 5 woods and am using a 19 degree rescue. Getting less distance but staying in play more often.
I have dropped my 3 wood and kept my 5 wood because it's more versatile and I tend to hit it farther than my 3. Added another wedge instead. Very good information!
Just added a Srixon ZX utility 2i to try to fill this slot in my bag, loving it so far primarily for tight tee shots.
I use a 3 sim & 5 sim2 and they both suit me perfectly. The 3 is just great and on my home course I use it for three holes on the bounce for tight holes where a driver would put me into trouble. I’m a 64 year old with a 9 handicap so I think it’s all about what suits you and where you play/how you play against what’s right and wrong.
I've used a four wood for a number of years and when testing it outperformed the three wood on the course in every way.
Because age is now limiting my distance with all clubs, driver plus 3 wood leaves me short of the green on the par 4s over 310 m (340 yards). So, for me my 3 wood is essential - driver + 3 wood on 11 holes of my home course. I have abandoned my 5 wood in favor of a 19° hybrid, which has a number of other uses like stingers from under trees, recovery from the rough or chipping through a couple of feet of rough to the green.
I''m only a minute or so in, but according to Shot Scope data the difference between a 3 wood and driver off the tee, accuracy wise is negligible. So you shouldn't use a 3 wood for "tight par 4's" but to hit a distance that would get driver into trouble.
I'm only carrying 12 clubs these days. Driver, 5W, 5-PW, 54° and 58° wedges, chipper and putter. When I really took stock of what I was actually using effectively, it was those 12 clubs. I don't mind the lighter bag either.
I love my 3 wood. I generally use it on par 5s only. I am able to get on the green or very close to it on 2nd shot with 3 wood. For tight par 4's I pull out my 4 hybrid off the tee which works excellent.
Changed to a 4-wood and 7-wood setup recently and enjoying the easier launch off the fairway.
Higher lofted 3 woods (16-17*) give a great mix of distance, height and control. You can hit them off several types of lies. Especially cobra 3-woods with their baffler tech.
I have both but only ever carry one. Depends on the course and conditions. In the SIM there was very little difference for me in terms of distance after I knocked the loft up on the 3 wood to make it easier to get up in the air.
Did the same thing a few years ago, when I started playing more. The 3 wood was almost never used and the 5 wood was a security blanket for me. But after another couple years, I finally let the 5 wood go and have 3 and 4 hybrids in the bag. Had also tossed the 3 iron, before I bought a new set that didn't even include one.
I'm deliberating this now and this video pretty much sealed it. I've got a 3H and am unsure as to how the gap between 5w and 3h will be. A good one or too close? What do you reckon? Any advice?
Driver, 5 wood, 4 hybrid 22*, have not carried the 3 wood for over a year now. Still looking for a 4 wood that suits me. I also took out my 5 iron as my 6 iron travels same distance, added another wedge.
I learned to hit my drives with a 7 wood when I was young. Definitely game me confidence seeing the immediate launch upward
I'm carrying both (3W & 5W), but am considering swapping a Lob Wedge for up close and dropping the 3-wood. I also carry a 3-Hybrid/Rescue and grab that more often than the 3-wood. My most played course I seem to end up just off the green in the fringe or rough 10 to 15 yards out from the pin very often and a Lob Wedge might be handy.
The three wood is my 246y pin seeking missile launcher. Perfectly matched for the first tee at my local, where it gave me several eagle opportunities (only hole I've ever made an eagle). I also use it off the deck on two other longer holes if my drive hangs up and falls a bit short. The only clubs that I omit from the bag are hybrids and 5 wood. If it's really windy out, I'll throw the strong 3 in the bag as well.
Great video, I've recently added a sim 2 max 5 wood to my sim 2 driver and its working wonders on shorter holes and on the fairways, I recently broke my best score with 84 at leasowe golf club on the wirral with my mate Brian who is a member there.
Great score 👍
When I started golfing, the assistant pro at the club I was a bartender at put a used bag together for me. It got me started, and I used a 3 wood as a driver for a while. Ive always had one in the bag, even though I hit the 5 better every time. Maybe time to make room for something else, and retire the 3 wood.
Seeing some comments below I really agree with about ditching the woods altogether. The clubs slide in and out soo much easier when there's more room in the bag.
I took the 3 wood out of the bag a couple years ago, decided to go with a Ping G400 5 wood (17.5 deg) that I delofted a bit. So I suppose you could say it’s really more like a 4 wood, but whatever it is, I like the way it performs.