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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42 Comments
Years ago I figured out that the only time I was comfortable hitting my fairway woods was off a tee … couldn’t hit either off the ground. I decided to go with Driver, 4w, 3h, 4i-9i, four wedges, putter and it worked well for me (one less fairway woods allowed me to carry one more wedge). I rarely reach for either the 4w or 3h, except off a tee. Good thing I trust all my other clubs!
I have a 5 wood only. Tried using both but didnt see much difference in distance as the 5 wood i seem to hit better and straighter.
I’ve got a 3 and 4 hybrid. My question is why would these clubs be better when we have a tight fairway than the easy to hit large face driver
I used to love my 3 wood but ever since I got a set with a 3 and a 4 iron and got proficient with them I replaced my 3 wood with a 2 iron udi and never looked back so I just run driver 2-pw, 52, 56, 60
I have a 3,5, and 7 but I really only use the 3 on par 4s when I am not comfortable with using the driver. I can't hit the 3 from the ground no matter the lie
No…ill keep mine…my bag is driver, 3w, 5w, 2i, 4i-PW, 56, and 62.
3w and 7w. Debating on keeping the 3w. Hit 7w 220 off turf and more consistently than 3w which can go 235 or more if hit well. Big if though. 7w is just easier to hit. 3w is good bit longer when its teed up. I do use it on several tees though.
Your inability to hit a straight shot really does skew your findings.
What loft are the 3 and 5 you are using I couldn't find that
Just looking at your swing with these clubs, you are far better off with your 5 wood as it appears you make much better consistent contact and your swing speed is very similar but I believe the smash factor on average is quite different! The higher loft suits your swing better and you don't generate enough club head speed to launch the 3 wood at the correct trajectory. Same situation why so many golfer hit there 3, 4 and 5 irons the same distance, they are far better off with hybrids launching the ball higher, longer club length, more clubhead speed, more distance, very forgiving and easy to hit! Carrying a 3 wood for most average golfers is a mistake, they just don't have the clubhead speed to launch at say 15 degrees loft, especially from the fairway, no chance at all! I have been teaching for the past 38 years and come across the same patterns with average golfers all over the world, 90% of them cannot hit their 3, 4 and 5 irons properly from the fairway! This applies even more to Senior Golfers with average handicaps. There are so many benefits to using hybrids or Rescue clubs for the average golfer!
Once in a while I lose touch with my driver then I go back to my old Callaway 7 Wood…a bit shorter but mainly straight and also great as a fairway club. A few months back I bought a used Cobra One length Hybrid…oh what a club. So…if I dump one club, it’s the driver
I have a 3 wood in my bag but also a 3 hybrid instead of 5 wood.
It depends on what condition is it.
But I hit better on my hybrid
I took the 3w out of the bag about a year ago after purchasing a 5w. The flight of the 5w is so much better and more consistent. Don’t hit the 3w enough further to use it as I am less confident. Todays drivers are so forgiving that the only times I am not using it off the tee are drives that need to lay back significantly.
I learned to hit my drives with a 7 wood when I was young. Definitely game me confidence seeing the immediate launch upward
personally I've used a 4 wood for years
I prefer a 5 wood over a 3 wood. Both clubs give me roughly the same distance
Good vid, thanks. I'm a 60yo mid handicapper. I dropped my 5 wood when I fitted 6 or 7 years ago with Titlist fairway woods, kept a 4 iron and 3 hybrid. With this set, I never really felt comfortable hitting my 3w from the deck, I would tend mishit it maybe 1 out of 3 or 4 times, and really only hit it well half the time, slight mishits don't go any sort of distance. I would use it on the tee on some holes, pretty effectively. My driver was 220, 3w 200, 3h 180.
Since then I've lost 10 or 20 yards, and sometimes I struggle with a sore back, and those times my distance drops even more. Mostly I play from 6-6200 yards, and especially in cold or windy weather, I suffer from 180+ yard approaches, totally unreachable.
Last year, I went into my old bag and pulled out my 15 year old Callaway big bertha 5 wood and dropped the 4i. It was a big help, and I'm confident hitting off the deck, it's' got a flat bottom, a compact face and a sharp leading edge, I can take a good rip with it even out of rough. I can think of it as a 165-175 club, maybe 180-90 off the tee hot weather and firm fairways. I also don't mind choking down a bit, and hitting it 150 or 160 windy or uphill, even off the tee. It frees up my hybrid which I now use pretty often at 145 155, which takes pressure off my 5 and 6 irons, which I struggle with in colder weather and when my back is tight
This year, I was shopping around for a 4w, or maybe a 2h that I would feel better hitting from the fairway, and on a whim, I went into my old bag for the matching callaway 3w, and guess what, I have no problem hitting it off the deck, and gives me 10 or 15 yards so I'm able to get near the green on longer par 4's again.
I hit that 3 wood off the tee exclusively for more than a year when I broke the driver, and decided not to replace it and waited for the next season to fit a brand new set. Honestly, I never felt I lost much (I actually lowered my HC that year) hitting 3w off the tee, maybe a few yards here or there, but that was made up for by being in way less shit off the tee.
My theory is that the more modern Titlist fairway clubs are set up a bit more for higher swing speeds, maybe a slightly higher moi. When I was fitted in my early 50's, my speed was just on the edge for the clubs performance, and as I lose speed, I tend to try to muscle them a bit, and everything is a slight mis-hit, they all start to go about same distance. The old callaways can give a bit more punch with my slower speed.
I definitely think there are some fairway clubs that are better set up for hitting out of the grass with slower speeds, they have a bit of a sharp edge and aren't very tall. I suspect that some brands and models are focusing their newest designs on performance at higher swing speeds. It's hard to get decent information about clubs that are more suited for older golfers because of this. I really appreciate your channel for this.
like my 3 wood
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.
The top-end of my bag now consists of driver, 5-wood and 7-wood. After years of trying to play a 3-wood I gave up and found the addition of the 5-wood really helped me.
I am one of the least wood-centric player, I replaced my 3 wood with a 3 iron and I switch between my 5 wood and a 7 hybrid depending on the course
3 wood is my favorite club. For whatever reason it's by far my safest club off the tee. I just seem to hit it straighter than a long iron or a driver. I haven't ever carried a 5 wood I'd be interested if it's more useful on the course
Hybrids must be part of this conversation.
Ouch, the average golfer is 9 handicap.. I need a lot more practice.
I agree totally with you! I took my three out of my bag two years ago! Could not hit it off the ground! I play so much better with my 5 wood! Enjoyed your video!
I dumped my 3W for an extra wedge, I use a hybrid 4 and kept my 4i for those low shots which I prefer than the hybrid…
the average golfer is a 9 handicap nowadays?
After my mini driver 12º my next club is my favorite long club. A Ping 5 wood set to 16.5º and fitted with my 7 wood shaft (only 1/2" shorter). Pretty sure the psychological benefit outweighs other factors. Works wonders for my second shot game.
I have never had a 3 wood in the bag, when I need a 3 wood, I'll take my Mini Driver, hit it 215 yards easyly, so in my bag Driver 10.5, mini driver 14 degrees, then my heavenwood 20 degrees, ideal for me as hcp 10.4
I have been playing both. I recently switched to a full hybrid set, and thinking I don’t need a 3 wood for sure. I am thinking of just carrying a Driver and a 5 wood.
I picked up a Taylormade Miscela driver, which is actually like a strong 3 wood. So if I decide on not using the 5 wood, I could see that in the bag. It hits off the fairway easily. I tried my Taylormade R7 & the Miscela which looks to work good for me so far. 3 hybrid would be the next club to use after going down the scale.
I have both my 3 woods available to sell.
I play both clubs, 3 wood is good for up to 230 yards when I hit it well, five wood is good for around two hundred when I hit it well. The five wood is a lot better out of the light rough.
For me I love my 3/5w, the clubs I could do without are the 3/4i. Simply, I just can't hit them. But… I do use them to punch out from under trees but that's the only time I use them.
you can get a 5 wood from ping which almost as much length as the 3wood but loft like a 4 wood (17.5). and down (16.or 16.5) or up loft(18.5 or 19) depending what you need
I’ve ditched my driver and use the 3 wood off the tee – not as much distance but more fairway stats and no more hitting 3 off the tee
My 3W is almost never hit in my bag. But I have used it when I’m 220 out and want to go for the green.
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!
I was gapping my clubs, all good gaining yardage on every club till , I tried the 3 wood. Tonight I was contemplating taking out the 3 wood. My Data, your video convinced me to drop mine too. There is a bag in the corner for it. Has a square head driver in it, lol
16.5*HL 3 wood that is an 1” shorter than standard so it’s like a modern 4w
lower handicappers, use a mavrik 3 wood ahead 0f middle like a 5 .2 balls forward for a big hit and added distance . its all in ball position and hands into the shot enjoyed the video and have a wilson 18 5 wood just in case to hit it high and drop it soft occasionally
I don’t use a driver, but do use 3, 5 and 7 wood, I found that I am erratic with driver (working to rectify) but for now I am happy as I am… 🙏🏻👍
With a launch angle of 8.6 degrees Andy I agree, you should ditch the 3-wood. That is way too low, and hurting your carry distance. That is not, however, a typical launch angle for a well-struck 3-wood so my feeling is that you just don't get on with that club.
my usual s are Driver mini driver 7 wood 9 wood and 13 wood and a couple of hybrids ….as John Jacobs said ….loft is your friend….