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Best 3 wood to play strictly as a driver


elthrill

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boys, i'm about done trying to keep my driver in the bag. I rarely play courses over 6900 yards and the driver is not giving me one stroke of advantage over my 3 wood. And is costing me strokes left and right. my swing through the bag hits the ball compressed and solid, but put a driver in my hand and i'm curving it both directions and lucky to get it 220 yards. its pathetic.

So i'm committing to just playing 3 wood off the tee. Interested if there are any models of years past that are absolute bombers off the tee?

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nope. pick one thats 13-14 degrees and made in the last 3 years or so. they are all pretty much the same as far as distance is concerned, i have hit/built them all. if you try to bomb it ull probably overswing and $#@% up.

If you can hit a 3 wood solid but not a driver, might be useful to post a video of each swing for some tips. its just a tool dont let it defeat u :)

Radspeed 8, 13.5, 17.5/hzrdusgreentx                                                           Radspeed 21/tz4100m5+
Utility one length 3,4 iron/mmt105tx
                                                              Forged one length 6-9/x100 wedge onyx

vokey 46*8, 54*8, 62*8/s400 wedge onyx                                                    phantom x5/stabilitytour

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Strictly for use off the tee I'd be partial to the 2016 M1. I still have two of those heads and will likely never get rid of them. One of the best ever IMO.

Mizuno ST Max 230 10.5 - LinQ Red 6F4

Mizuno ST Max 230 15/18 - LinQ Red 6F4

Mizuno ST Max 230 22 - LinQ Blue 75F4

Mizuno JPX 923 Tour 5-P  DG120 S300

Vokey SM9 50/54/60 - DGS200

Mizuno M-Craft II

CSX   

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Go get fit for a three wood, try all of three woods from various companies.

I use the Tour Edge CBX 119 15* . Its long, and versatile. Gives my driver

A run for its money, not a whole lot of difference in total yards. Can look at 13* offerings, which could give you as long or longer distance than a lot of drivers.

YMMV, but with some patience, you should be able to find a good 3 wood to

Replace your driver,



Play Golf.....Play Blades......Play Something Else.....Just Go Play.....

4 HC
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Tour edge exotics ....wide footprint like a driver, and nearly as long

TM Stealth Plus 10.5 Ventus TR Velocore Red 5

Ping G425 Max 5 FW 17.5 Ventus Velocore Red 7

Srixon ZX MKII 3UT MMT 95

Callaway X Forged CB 21' 4-PW Modus 120

Yururi Tataki 52.5, 56.5 and 60.5 DG S200
Ping Anser 2
MCC +4 Grips
Kirkland Performance+ Ball

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If you don't plan on hitting it off the deck, I'd go with a mini driver. I have an Aeroburner mini, but the Big Bertha Mini or TaylorMade Original One Mini would also work. The mini is 20 yards shorter than the driver, but its a fairway finder.

 

Ping G425 Max Driver 12 (0 Flat) - Aldila Ascent Red 50 Stiff (46")
TaylorMade AeroBurner Mini Driver 16 - Matrix Speed RUL-Z 60 Stiff
Ping G410 7wd 20.5 (0 Flat) - Alta CB 65 Stiff (43")
Ping G410 9wd 23.5 (0 Flat) - Alta CB 65 Stiff (42.5")
Ping G425 6h 30 (0 Flat) - Alta CB 70 Stiff
PXG 0311P Gen3 6-P (2 Deg Weak, 1 Deg Flat) - True Temper Elevate 95 S /

Ping i200 6-P Orange Dot (2 Deg Weak, 2 Deg Flat) - True Temper XP 95 S
Ping Glide 4.0 52-12 S, 56-10 Eye2, and 60-10 S Orange Dot (2 Deg Flat) - Ping Z-Z115 Wedge
PXG Blackjack 36" - SuperStroker Flatso 2.0

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thanks men. for me its a feel thing in the driver. my driver is only 43.75" and i was fitted for it but i just dont feel like i can get around on it. my swing is 3/4 in terms of arm position at top and i dont have much hand release in my swing and i just feel like im going to hit the thing a mile right, so i end up shutting down the face and hitting it a mile left. and its back and forth left and right all day. and my position is dead square at the top of my swing. its not an issue with my 3 wood nor my 3 hybrid. i know I could get it fixed but i dont know if the sacrifice with my other clubs would be offset with the improvement in my driver. I really like the way im hitting my wedges - 7 iron right now. Its flush.

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> @elthrill said:

> thanks men. for me its a feel thing in the driver. my driver is only 43.75" and i was fitted for it but i just dont feel like i can get around on it. my swing is 3/4 in terms of arm position at top and i dont have much hand release in my swing and i just feel like im going to hit the thing a mile right, so i end up shutting down the face and hitting it a mile left. and its back and forth left and right all day. and my position is dead square at the top of my swing. its not an issue with my 3 wood nor my 3 hybrid. i know I could get it fixed but i dont know if the sacrifice with my other clubs would be offset with the improvement in my driver. I really like the way im hitting my wedges - 7 iron right now. Its flush.

 

I relate to this all too well. Driver used to be the biggest strength of my game. Lately I'm a double crossing snap hook machine. I absolutely love my m4 fairway off of the tee. It's larger headed and plenty long. I'm tempted to give the Original one mini driver a go, but then I'll have a day where I'm bombing driver long and straight, so decide to stay the course

G430 Max 9* - Ventus Blue 
Stealth 15* - Tour AD-IZ 

U505 2i - Hzrdus Black rdx

T200u 4i - Tour AD
Fly Z + 5-P - PX LZ

T20 50*

Jaws Raw 54 & 59*
Versa 7
Tour B X

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I just picked up a Rogue 3W from Callaway Pre-Owned after accidentally smashing my Big Bertha Fusion off a pole at the driving range. It feels POWERFUL. And even better, it only cost me $100 or so.

 

I also play with a 42-inch shaft as that feels way more comfortable to me. I prefer a 3W like the Rogue that allows me to tinker with the weight to bring up the swingweight without having to resort to lead tape.

Callaway Rogue ST Max 10.5 deg.

Callaway Rogue ST Max 3L

Srixon ZX 3 hybrid

Ping S55 irons

Ping Glide 3.0 54 & 60 deg.

Bettinardi BB-1W

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So many options in this category and the quality of offerings from within the last 5 years from the OEM's is there, near and dear to my heart as I rarely hit driver and hit woods all the time off tees. You could go from an 11.5* TEE to a 12*-14* mini driver all at very good pricing. RBZ, Stg2, XHP (personal fav till I caved 2 faces), X2HP 2/3 Deep, TEE, Adams Super LS. Last 'new' head I purchased was a '16 M2, fine head, but nothing better than anything I've mentioned.

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What's In The Ping Moonlite:
Ping Rapture '14 13*
Ping Rapture DI 18*
Titleist 690.CB 4/6/8/PW
Vokey TVD 54*
Odyssey Tank V-Line

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Either you get a mini driver or a strong 2 wood...that's my suggestion.

10.5 deg Titleist 905R with stock UST Proforce V2 Shaft (Stiff flex)
Titleist 990 (3-PW) with stock Dynamic Gold in S300
Taylormade V-Steel 5W & 3W with Grafalloy Prolaunch Red shafts (Regular Flex)
2011 Adams Tom Watson signature wedges in 52 and 56 degrees with stock steel shafts (Player's Grind)
Rife Island Series Aruba Blade Putter

 

"Loft for loft, length for length, and shaft for shaft, the ball will go the same distance when hit on the sweet spot regardless how old the iron."

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What 3w are you gaming now? Sometimes a simple ball change and shaft change can be comparable to throwing new $ on a new 3w to gain a little more distance. That said, M5 is a beast and my friends flash is long. Take a look at a TM mini driver. Im intrigued. Curious to know what you end up with.

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> @Barfolomew said:

> I play a 43" driver for control....

>

> Which club do you think is more forgiving and goes further off a tee:

>

> 43" club with a small 3 wood head or a 460 driver head.... yeah baby its just logic man

 

Head size is one factor but so is loft, the higher loft on the 3w will give more forgiveness on a variety of mishits.

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I found that the Tour Edge EX9 long from a few years back is pretty amazing (13*), and it has an adjustable hosel.

I put in a different shaft and play it at 42.5" and it's been really amazing for shorter courses for me.

I don't play as often as I like, so having a shorter shafted wood makes it easier to make good contact on the face.

TM SIM 10.5* - Ventus Velocore Blue TR 5S
TEE  XCG7B  3h  19* Ventus Velocore HB Blue 8S  
TEE  XCG7B  4h  22* Ventus Velocore HB Blue 8S
TEE  XCG7B  5h  25* Diamana Thump i465ct 4iron shaft
Wishon 560MC 5-PW (26,30,34,38,42.5,47) Recoil Proto 125 F4
Vokey SM7 50-08F S200 bent to 51*
Wishon HM wedges 56/60 Wishon Smooth steel Stiff
2013-2016 SC Futura X5R 33' flownecked by Bastain-cerakote sniper gray-silver dots-white flange sight line-SS Flatso 2.0

TM TP5x

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I think there is an Rapture in Buy,Sell and Trade, and I saw someone selling a 2deep there as well.

TM SIM 10.5* - Ventus Velocore Blue TR 5S
TEE  XCG7B  3h  19* Ventus Velocore HB Blue 8S  
TEE  XCG7B  4h  22* Ventus Velocore HB Blue 8S
TEE  XCG7B  5h  25* Diamana Thump i465ct 4iron shaft
Wishon 560MC 5-PW (26,30,34,38,42.5,47) Recoil Proto 125 F4
Vokey SM7 50-08F S200 bent to 51*
Wishon HM wedges 56/60 Wishon Smooth steel Stiff
2013-2016 SC Futura X5R 33' flownecked by Bastain-cerakote sniper gray-silver dots-white flange sight line-SS Flatso 2.0

TM TP5x

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The rapture is a cannon...

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Cobra Aero LS 9 Fuji Evo IV 569 X

Honma TR21 15* VIZARD FP7 Stiff

Honma TR21 HY 18* VIZARD UT 7

Honma TR21 HY 21* VIZARD UT 8

Honma TR21X 5-11 VIZARD IBWF 100

HighToe MG3 54* VIZARD IB 120

HighToe MG3 58*/13 VIZARD IB 120

MackMade custom Slide MMT putter                         

 

 

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I also typically play shorter courses (SS>115mph) and for most of my life have been a streaky and mostly poor driver of the golf ball.

To compensate, I have always used a 13* 43"+ 3 wood 70 percent or more of the time from the tee with decent success. However, I recently stuck an old x100 3 wood shaft into a TM tip adapter and put it in an SLDR with really promising results, tight dispersion, and the wieght and length gave me the confidence to prefer the club over my 3wood (3deep). After some additional tinkering and late night ebay purchasing I have assembled an r15 430 head playing at 12 degrees (standard loft/lie setting) with a 103g steel shaft at 44". The larger club head, heavier and more stable shaft, and larger sweet spot has made this club a more accurate and more forgiving driving club as compared to previous strong 3 wood. I also set the weights with one on heel and one on toe for max stability and forgiveness. I have gained about 15 yards over my 3 wood with tighter dispersion. I still keep a longer, lower lofted, low spin, fade biased bomber in the bag for par 5's, wide open par 4's, and dogleg rights.

 

Main point, a smaller headed (though bigger than the mini drivers on market) driver will create faster speeds over a larger face area. A shorter heavier (steel is great) shaft with a higher loft will create the accuracy you desire with a 3 wood, and possible even better when compared to a 43.5" lightshafter "bomber" 3 wood.

 

I am starting to build some of these fairway finding gamer clubs for friends so DM if you want one for yourself!

 

Best,

 

Colton

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