What's with all of the 5 Woods??

[BigMack]

It seems that a lot of the pros are carrying 5-woods in the bag instead of 3-woods. I am seriously considering replacing my Cobra F9 3-wood with a 5-wood. I am looking to get into a slightly smaller head as I find the 3-wood to be cumbersome when hitting off of the deck. Has anyone dropped down to a hot 5-wood at 16.5 or 17 degrees? Are your distances similar to your outgoing 3-wood or is there still quite a gap? Currently looking at pxg for the ultimate in low spin 5-wood to maintain distance.

[2Bad4u]

I'm not surprised at all... and haven't carried a 3w in years. I can actually hit a 5w off the ground which I've never been able to do with a 3w, and it's almost as long as a 3w off the tee. 3 woods are old school... long live the 5 wood. 😆

[dlygrisse]

5 wood lofted down is probably whats going on with a bunch of them.  It opens the face as well so it takes some of the hook out. If you struggle off the deck a 4 or 5 wood is a great idea.  You will probably not lose much in carry distance, elevate it easier and gain control.  

[Pepperturbo]

Makes sense to carry a STRONG 5wd.  Three wood is 13-15' and fly's nearly as far as their driver.  Most of the Par 5's on tour these days are reachable by most in the field.  As it is, they hit driver and most cases use a long iron in.  Some conditions dictate next best club, 5 wood vs 2-3 iron.

 

 

[Kale_m]

Technology now basically makes the 3w obsolete. Carry a 4/5w and add a wedge 

 

3w is basically a driver now 

[Gsea]

most are 4 woods about 16-17 deg

[sheppy335]

I carry both and love them both, was actually thinking of dropping the 3wd cause 5 wd has everything i need. I would add an additional iron to the bag. 

[BombinJim]

I just picked up a 5W and might change my 15 degree 3W in for a juiced 13-14 degree 3W to have a meaningful gap.

[lefthack]

I'm not a long driver and my 3 and 5 woods were negligible in distance with the 5 wood being more consistent.

[rondre3000]

My new 5wd (Mizuno St-z) kicked my old Cally Rogue Sub Zero 3 wood out of the bad. Much better ball flight and goes nearly as long if not as long. Much easier to hit off the turf as well.

[ctmason_98]

3 minutes ago, NotThatGuyorAmI? said:

Maybe someone has caused clubs stamped “5” to be placed in pro bags to induce others to buy clubs stamped “5.”. I doubt it is because pros cannot hit clubs marked “3.”

 

Yes, obviously that's exactly what the OP said. They can't hit the 3 woods. At all.  Ever. 

 

Do you want to talk about what's really upsetting you today? We're here. 

[MtlJeff]

It's because the world is now full of Low T Beta Males who lack the virility to elevate low lofted irons, or traditional hybrids. 

 

 

 

[ctmason_98]

Actually back to the OP, how many pros do you know for sure are putting in 5 woods instead of 3 woods? I'm curious who and how many because you said, "a lot." 

[Aviador Naval]

At least once a week there is a thread that proclaims loft jacking in irons to be the surest sign of the apocalypse.

 

When I started playing, 3 woods were 17 degrees or so, 5 woods 20 degrees or so and clubs with ~15 degrees were 2 woods.

 

Where is the outrage...

[lefty1978]

I carry both a 3 and 5 wood, both do different things. My 5 wood is an older JPX 900 that hits high and spins, but lands nicely on green. My 3 wood, ST190, is a low spin bomber that gets me on or near the green on longer par 5's and a great back up driver.

[lyzgaard]

You know a lot of the pros with a 5 wood trades it in and out for a 3 wood depending on the course they play? 

 

If you have a 3 or a 5 with a loft sleeve you can play around with what head size you fancy. 

 

5 wood is maybe the answer to newer 3 woods being to hot. 

Edited April 16, 2021 by lyzgaard

[BigMack]

I have an adjustable hybrid turned down to 13 degrees already. So that is my 210 yard club. I can sometimes carry my 3-wood around 240, but it is not consistent. If I could get a 5-wood at 230 carry I would be ecstatic. I would use it off of the tee and into the green.

Edited April 16, 2021 by BigMack

[BigMack]

Hideki had a 5-wood and they were talking about it during the Masters.

[@_the_crook]

 

My Ping five wood makes me happy.

though, right now I'm looking for a cooperative shaft for my Titleist strong three.

or I could dump the F2 and F3 and be done with all T fairways.

 

WRX'r syndrome. more is not enough.

 

 

 

[minhjn]

I've seen more pros go with a 3 and 5 wood versus just the 5 wood

[Roejye]

I have a 3 wood, but it's basically just a tee club, I also have a "5 wood" that's an Adams xtd ti super hybrid that's dual purpose. The 3 wood is about a club longer. It is probably the club I could very easily take out of the bag, but it's also pretty good off the tee for me.

[ChipNRun]

4 hours ago, BigMack said:

Has anyone dropped down to a hot 5-wood at 16.5 or 17 degrees?

 

Lofting down to 16.5* or 17* basically gives you a 4W. Plus, the shaft is slightly shorter than a 3W - can help with control. And the lofting down opens the face angle slightly, which can lessen chances of leftish oopsies.

 

The Ping G4xx-series 5Ws come in at 17.5* as stock loft. These loft down nicely a degree to 4W.

 

And, let's shift from pros to average golfers. Several studies reveal that the average golfer can hit a 4W more reliably - and sometimes longer - than a 3W. The extra loft helps launch, and gives a bit more spin, which improves the carry distance of the average golfer. Those FWs that deliver the lower, boring distance shot of the ads only work for golfers with high clubhead speed.

 

At a demo day past, the Tour Edge rep had golfers hit the new Exotics in both 3W and 4W. Most of us got the same or more yardage from a 4W as a 3W. This includes a couple of long hitters (carried their driver shots 270+) who hit the 4W longer than the 3W.

 

4 hours ago, BigMack said:

Are your distances similar to your outgoing 3-wood or is there still quite a gap?

 

Let's think side-by-side comparison. The 3W might produce a couple of longer hits, but the 5W --> 4W would give more reliable distance overall, and probably fewer mishits.

[Ger21]

Watching the Masters, I saw a lot of 3 woods being hit from the tee.

[Golfdoctor]

I play the 917 D2 5 & 7 fairway wood, but play them at 17° and 20°. Also I have a three wood shaft in the 5 wood and the 5 wood shaft in the 7 wood. Love it!

[knackers]

more importantly a 5w other than getting out of rough, it has the ability to hold greens and not run on over. a jacked up 3w is harder out of the rough too much mass vs. 3w, most of late are going around 13degrees as a go to driver option off the tee for accuracy. other options with 5w equivalent: 3utility lower ball flight, less holding onto greens, 3h harder for some to control flight and keep it low when needed. old school players prefer 5w over newer hybrid for personal preferences.

 

[North Butte]

3 hours ago, Aviador Naval said:

At least once a week there is a thread that proclaims loft jacking in irons to be the surest sign of the apocalypse.

 

When I started playing, 3 woods were 17 degrees or so, 5 woods 20 degrees or so and clubs with ~15 degrees were 2 woods.

 

Where is the outrage...

3-woods have become drivers with smaller heads.

 

5-woods have become 3-woods by any rational loft and length reckoning. 

 

You’re right it’s just like my new irons where anything longer than a so-called “5-iron” has a loft down in the teens. 

[herkyjerk]

s*** I’m missing the boat.  I go from a 3 to a 7.  Shows you what I know.  

[Drivingrangehero]

6 hours ago, Kale_m said:

Technology now basically makes the 3w obsolete. Carry a 4/5w and add a wedge 

 

3w is basically a driver now 

I think there is a lot to be said in this statement 👏👏👏

 

with all the launch monitors, fitness, moveable weights, ability to try multiple shafts in an hour due to loft sleeve adapters, we’re able to dial in our drivers to be longer and straighter than ever before. 
 

 

[HappyGilmore22]

Pretty much most of the tour still use 3 woods you just see so many 5 woods because they use them on par 5s hitting into the green on their second shot. They launch higher with steeper angle of descent to hold the firm greens compared to hybrids and 2/3 irons. 7 wood is gaining popularity for the same reason as the 5 wood but they new clubs are so long the 7 wood is better for your longer players.

[JohnKHawk]

I ditched the 3 wood years ago. What I eventually found out was my 3 wood & 5 wood went the same average distance except the 5 wood was easier to hit, landed softer & was better dispersion.

 

Even off the tee the 5 wood was nearly equal to the 3 wood. Shorter club length just makes it easier to hit center of the club face with the 5 wood. Redundant to carry both...