3 Wood for high handicapper?

[Metro07]

I slice the heck out of my driver so until I can get that ironed out I am gonna get a 3 wood. I am playing a set of Cobra F-Max Superlites now and am leaning towards a Cobra 3 wood, yeah I'm one of those guys that likes to be brand loyal, I don't know why. However, it's not set in stone. I just cancelled an order for a Cobra Big Tour 3 wood cause it was on back order and over a month away and because of that ordeal I found out that the shaft that was out of stock(Project X HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 70)and causing the backorder really wasn't the best for my skill level anyway.

 

I am 53 and not a long hitter so I obviously don't have a fast or even moderate swing speed. I got back into golf 5 or 6 months ago after being out for many years and was never really that good back then, I still haven't broken 100 on a real course. I'm hitting my 4 iron about 175 carry.

 

I'm considering the same club but with a more flexible shaft I think? Looking for any opinions, thanks in advance.

[swagee]

2 minutes ago, Metro07 said:

I slice the heck out of my driver so until I can get that ironed out I am gonna get a 3 wood. I am playing a set of Cobra F-Max Superlites now and am leaning towards a Cobra 3 wood, yeah I'm one of those guys that likes to be brand loyal, I don't know why. However, it's not set in stone. I just cancelled an order for a Cobra Big Tour 3 wood cause it was on back order and over a month away and because of that ordeal I found out that the shaft that was out of stock(Project X HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 70)and causing the backorder really wasn't the best for my skill level anyway.

 

I am 53 and not a long hitter so I obviously don't have a fast or even moderate swing speed. I got back into golf 5 or 6 months ago after being out for many years and was never really that good back then, I still haven't broken 100 on a real course. I'm hitting my 4 iron about 175 carry.

 

I'm considering the same club but with a more flexible shaft I think? Looking for any opinions, thanks in advance.

Carrying 175 on a 4i is perfectly fine, so it seems like u have no issue distance wise. I think u just need a little more practice to break 100, that’s all. 

3w is a good replacement for driver if u can hit it well. 
What flex are u currently playing? What is ur problem with the 3w right now? 
What are u looking to achieve? 

[Metro07]

On second and honest thought, 175 may be a little generous. If I really make good contact on a full  strong swing it is a possibility, but 160 would be more consistent. My main goal is hitting the ball straight, I am not a fan of smashing to ball 300 yards. Those days are over and now my main goal is keeping it on the fairway. I don't have a 3 wood and my driver is Older King Cobra High Kick S-flex.

[Nixhex524]

I'd focus on either a 4 or 5 wood honestly... and as far as forgiving goes, most Ping models will probably be helpful enough as far back as the G20 even.  Make things as easy as possible especially if you're not looking for distance.

[TheFlyingWASP]

I know you’re a Cobra guy but I swear the Ping G410 SFT is the easiest fairway wood I’ve ever hit off the deck... it’s not the longest out there (by far), but it’s point & shoot easy & great off the tee as well if you tee it down... plus lofts are a little higher than normal to help the ball in the air... 16* 3 wood & 19* 5 wood... it’s like cheating... it’s so good... seriously lol... try them

Edited November 26, 2020 by TheFlyingWASP

[Striker Ace]

I highly recommend the Callaway Big Bertha B21 5 wood, imo it is so easy to hit straight, especially with the amount of offset that this thing has. I use it as my driver also but it is also easy to hit from the deck. Give it a try!

[Metro07]

I am a lefty also. Some manufacturers make it harder on us. 😒

 

What do ya'll think of the adjustable lofts? I've seen some that will adjust from a 3 to 4 wood.

Edited November 26, 2020 by Metro07

[jomatty]

Are you more accurate with a 3 wood?  I hit a three wood basically as far as my driver, but the shallower face makes it harder to hit off the tee.  A 4 wood was a good compromise for me.  I can hit it long off the tee and also a lot better from the fairway than a 3 wood.  Ts2 16.5’s can be had for cheap on the bay and are solid...

[NoTalentLefty]

https://www.adamsgolftightlies.com/?mid=11614056&gclid=CjwKCAiAnvj9BRA4EiwAuUMDf00-81KxUnWyP_AFap9ofHytvmhR56TqrojcBIhpzFUBALi8IZfE_xoCOGkQAvD_BwE

[bvanlieu]

 A 3w won't help your accuracy woes due to it being  3w head.

 

What may help (and folks think its the 3w but its not, I used to do the same thing myself 🙂 ) is the 3w has  2" shorter in shaft. You are struggling with strike and path and have a slice. Shorter club helps minimize some of those errors in your swing. 

 

People too quickly go to a 3w for driving woes vs simply choking down. 

 

Yes it can get it your head you can't hit the driver. I play with people like that (my dad) and usually in the round I pull the driver out and just tell them 'hit this, choke down 2". Trust me'. 

 

Cheap seats way is practice with your current driver choking down significantly a bit. It may feel a tad light if you choke 2" (to 43.5 range if you have a 45.5 now). A bit of lead tape can be used to get some 'feel' back if needed.

 

The 3w/4w/5w discussion is usually centered around ability to elevate, ball speed etc...and the 4/5w is up your ally for that type of club most likely but I still think a driver is the right club to drive with, but it should be fit to a good length for you and likely at some point depending on your driver AoA, a good loft setting. But that is fine tuning: length/weight to get your strike better is the solution. 

 

Keep swinging!

[xkilgorextroutx]

A 4 wood, or an adjustable 3 wood that you can loft up, may be workable for you as noted a few times above.

 

I'm a 16 hdcp and my driver very often goes extremely cold on me. I have a Callaway Great Big Bertha 3w that I've lofted up to 4w territory and it's my go-to off the tee when the driver isn't working. 

[kmay__]

I'm not a great fairway wood player, and I've tried a couple newer models this season but came back to my 16 degree cobra baffler glued hosel 3w (more like 4 wood but labeled 3) The shallow head makes it easy to launch and its a fairly large footprint the head so is confidence inspiring off the tee for sure. You can find them cheap as well, mine has the stock graphite designs 60g stiff. Great club. 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2020 by kmay__
added address pic to show head size

[WH8844]

The Tour Edge family of fairways are built on ease of use. I think one attribute is the sole plate and how it interacts with the turf. Tour Edge and Cobra seem to have it right with rails or curvature that helps get it through the turf or short rough. Don’t underestimate the sole plate design. 

[cgasucks]

I do realize that you are loyal to Cobra but the first thing that comes to my mind is a Mini-Driver.  Unfortunately, they don't make them anymore but you can get them used for a decent price.

 

I'm not a long hitter myself and only carry my 4 iron 180y.  But then again my 4 iron has 24 degrees of loft and 38.25 inches long.

[Springsteennut]

I still play my trusty Tight Lies. 

[drb1956]

Callaway Diablo Octane 3 wood is the first 3 wood I could hit off the deck. Been in my bag since 2010...tall face, easy to swing. Must set up with ball in middle of stance, and swing like iron...most people top their woods off the deck because they set up the ball too far forward. It is NOT a driver swing!! Learned this long time ago...

[Zbear]

Honestly why not hit it further with a uber super forgiving Cobra.  I baught this two months ago and its a sweetheart.  Got it with a Fujikura x stiff tipped stiff 80, however I swing about 128 mph using a fairway wood so dont get my shaft; however it is long and very straight, I can even work it 40yrds left to about 30yrds right as well on command.  It also very adjustable.  $229 with the shaft you want next day aired free.  No brainer bud!  You wont regret it.

 

 

https://www.tgw.com/cobra-mens-king-speedzone-big-tour-fairway-wood 

[Flat4Boxer]

I'm going to second the Ping G410 SFT 3W. I had similar issues to you with my driver so I picked up a G410 SFT 3W and used it off the tee while I worked out the mechanics of my swing. The SFT is not a 'cure-all' but it offers some help getting the club face in the right position. Some good lessons and a lot of practice will go further towards getting your distance and slice worked out. 

 

 

[pinestreetgolf]

1. Search eBay for a Nike Lucky 13* or Sweet 16* with the stock Mitsubishi regular flex shaft.  I played a 13* for a while when I was just starting.

 

2. It is awful advice to tell someone with these issues to give up on 460cc clubhead off the tee.  Off the deck, sure.  Off the tee, these suggestions are awful.

 

3. They make 460cc heads with higher loft.  Don't go to a 3 wood off the tee.  You want loft, not a smaller head.

 

4. On an off-topic note, the difference between carrying a 4 wood 175 and 160 is enormous.  If you don't know the carry distance of your clubs +/- 20% the you will never be good, ever.  Get a rangefinder and go to the range.  Figure out where your irons stop going and that's where the used hybrids start.  I'm a decent-ish player and I don't even carry a 4 iron because its too hard to hit.

[The Space Between My Ears]

I was a big slicer of the ball on anything higher than 5 iron until I shallowed my swing on the bigger stuff. Once I was able to do that I with an instructor I got fitted and found out I had waaaaay too much spin on my longer clubs. Went low spin, low trajectory shafts on my long clubs. Hazardous Smoke Black on my TSi2 3 wood and Even flow t1100 white on my TS3 Driver. Hitting pretty darn straight these days. There could be 100 reasons you struggle with the slice on your driver and they may go to your 3 wood; I had two reasons. I went from a 19 HCP to a 11 basically over a week with those two fixes. Find out the root cause of the slice or your gonna spend money on the wrong thing. 

[JungleJimbo]

11 hours ago, pinestreetgolf said:

460cc heads with higher loft.  Don't go to a 3 wood off the tee.  You want loft, not a smaller head.

+1. Try a Callaway Bertha Fusion (2016) 13.5* driver with shorter 44.5" shaft? Or one of Taylormade's 12* drivers? (or "HL" i.e. 13*)
... if intended use = primarily off the tee, then the larger driver head > smaller 3-wood head?
..

 

Edited November 27, 2020 by JungleJimbo

[SwingMan]

On 11/25/2020 at 5:44 PM, Metro07 said:

I slice the heck out of my driver so until I can get that ironed out I am gonna get a 3 wood. I am playing a set of Cobra F-Max Superlites now and am leaning towards a Cobra 3 wood, yeah I'm one of those guys that likes to be brand loyal, I don't know why. However, it's not set in stone. I just cancelled an order for a Cobra Big Tour 3 wood cause it was on back order and over a month away and because of that ordeal I found out that the shaft that was out of stock(Project X HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 70)and causing the backorder really wasn't the best for my skill level anyway.

 

I am 53 and not a long hitter so I obviously don't have a fast or even moderate swing speed. I got back into golf 5 or 6 months ago after being out for many years and was never really that good back then, I still haven't broken 100 on a real course. I'm hitting my 4 iron about 175 carry.

 

I'm considering the same club but with a more flexible shaft I think? Looking for any opinions, thanks in advance.

 

Well, if you are still in decision time, please forget the 15 degree for a high capper.

 

I recommend something in at least a 4 wd at 16.5-17 degrees at 42.5 in BUT I would say go first with a 5 wood, 18 deg at 42 inches.

 

I would try the new Callaway Bertha series and Tour Edge - for friendly clubs. Tour Edge has several very friendly lines with friendly pricing.

[JoeyJoeyJoeJoe]

Ping K15 3 Wood is the easiest ever. Cheap too!

[plim123]

Callaway X Hot 5 wood. You can thank me later 😃

[Hougz79]

I echo all previous statements about a 4 wood.  Something with 16.5-18* loft.  I have always been a long hitter, from the very first year I began golfing to today. I only have put a 3W in my bag for the past 5 years.  I gamed a 4W for over 20 years.  The extra loft will help launch a little higher at almost zero distance penalty from 15*, especially at lower swing speeds.  

 

As far as brands, it’s hard to find more forgiving models out there than some gently used Callaways or Pings. 

[MattCarter]

Seems kinda backwards to me, I don't find a smaller head any more forgiving.  Maybe a higher lofted driver?

[ChipNRun]

On 11/25/2020 at 5:44 PM, Metro07 said:

I slice the heck out of my driver so until I can get that ironed out I am gonna get a 3 wood. .. 

 

I am 53 and not a long hitter so I obviously don't have a fast or even moderate swing speed. I got back into golf 5 or 6 months ago after being out for many years and was never really that good back then ...

 

I'm hitting my 4 iron about 175 carry.

Before you spend $250 on a 3W, consider spending $60 on a tune-up lesson. Being out of the game for several years, you have the benefit of allowing your swing to go fallow. This is actually a term from farming for not planting in a field, to allow the field to rejuvenate.

 

Get the lesson now, before you engrain bad habits in your revitalizing golf swing.

 

See what causes your long-club slice. Possibly it has to do with set-up, possibly with overswinging because woods are longer clubs.

 

Hitting a 4 iron about 175 yards is respectable contact for irons... find out your motion problem with woods.

[third-times-a-charm]

The best 'three wood' for a high handicapper is called a 'five wood' (or a four).

[dejanomics]

My vote is also the Ping G410 SFT 3 wood.  I have it in 3 wood and the 5 wood and I cannot say enough about them....it really is like cheating.

 

I was playing with a buddy of mine last weekend who just picked up the game this year and he was fighting the ocassional slice and really struggling hitting his woods off the deck.  Let him borrow my PING G410 SFT 3 wood for an approach shot he had.....was the best shot he hit all day and he was just laughing afterwards at how easy of a club it was to hit.  Highly recommend giving it a swing at your local shop as they are discounted right now in anticipation for the new 425 line.