Anyone play a 5 wood only for their lone Fairway Wood?

[Bad9]

21 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

I remember when he was proposing that.  I admit I'm borrowing from his posts on that subject, in my above comments.  🙂

 

In a way, it's funny that those of us who were around in the GEA glory days are still talking about many of the same concepts discussed back then.  

 

 

When I look back at my club specs when I played my most consistent golf (I have write ups on most clubs back to 1997) it was with iron lengths a little shorter than what is around today. I'm going to reshaft my irons once the season is over and I might even go back to those specs.

[Retrop1]

2 hours ago, NRJyzr said:

A fair amount of commentary lately about 17* or 16* as one's lowest wood.  It's largely the same thing that's been going on in golf for 60+ years.  

 

TL;DR version up front:  pay attention to the loft of your woods, not the number stamped on them.  If 16* or 17* is the lowest loft you can effectively use, go with it.  Doesn't matter what name it's been given.

 

In decades past, few players carried a wood in 13* or 14* loft, the first wood past driver was generally 16* or 17*.  These 13*/14* lofted clubs were often used as the ultimate specialty club for faster speed players, or as driver substitutes for slower speed players.

 

The difference between then and now is the label attached to the club.  In the present, a 17* is counted as a 5w, 13* or 14* a 3w.  In the past, these were a 3w and 2w, respectively.

 

Funny that in spite of all this tech advance, we're in the same place we've always been. 🙂

 

For a few years I played a 5w only, typically 18*-19*. Post COVID, I decided to get a good clubfitting and went to the Kingdom (won it in a raffle) and also did a PXG full bag fitting with one of their master fitters. Both fitters had me at 16* as the lowest possible loft I could effectively hit off of the ground and my driver speed is just over 100 and have been a low single digit for years. The fitter at the Kingdom told me that it had a lot to do with delivery and speed, but very few can hit a stock loft 3w off the ground and they primarily only fit people for them as a secondary tee club. 

[Pastit]

6 minutes ago, Retrop1 said:

For a few years I played a 5w only, typically 18*-19*. Post COVID, I decided to get a good clubfitting and went to the Kingdom (won it in a raffle) and also did a PXG full bag fitting with one of their master fitters. Both fitters had me at 16* as the lowest possible loft I could effectively hit off of the ground and my driver speed is just over 100 and have been a low single digit for years. The fitter at the Kingdom told me that it had a lot to do with delivery and speed, but very few can hit a stock loft 3w off the ground and they primarily only fit people for them as a secondary tee club. 

Well I think their advice is well off the mark. 
 

Former 8HCP, easily use a tour spoon 13D off any sort of uphill lie.

 

Any marginal lies, cut a 15D up. If a fairway has no trouble left off the tee, then draw your driver, giving room to cut up your spoon or 3-wood. Very useful on par 5’s and helps with having a 5-wood in the bag after the 13D. 

[Retrop1]

1 hour ago, Pastit said:

Well I think their advice is well off the mark. 
 

Former 8HCP, easily use a tour spoon 13D off any sort of uphill lie.

 

Any marginal lies, cut a 15D up. If a fairway has no trouble left off the tee, then draw your driver, giving room to cut up your spoon or 3-wood. Very useful on par 5’s and helps with having a 5-wood in the bag after the 13D. 

No offense intended, but if you can do all that, why is your hanidcap 14 and never lower than an 8? That is an impressive skill set you display. 

[Pastit]

17 minutes ago, Retrop1 said:

No offense intended, but if you can do all that, why is your hanidcap 14 and never lower than an 8? That is an impressive skill set you display. 

I’m nearly eighty young man and riddled with arthritis. If you don’t like advice from those with experience why post ? Just use the advice you already have, no skin off my nose.  

Edited September 15, 2023 by Pastit

[Bad9]

43 minutes ago, Retrop1 said:

No offense intended, but if you can do all that, why is your hanidcap 14 and never lower than an 8? That is an impressive skill set you display. 

Probably can't chip and putt. Its the Wrx way.

[HGLucky13]

I was having some gapping issues between driver and 5i (which is my strongest lofted iron). I had D 10.5*, 3w 13.5*, 3H 19*, 5i 23.5*. I wanted to add 4w in between 3w and 3h, or ditch both and get a 5w. But before I bought another club I decided I would adjust the lofts around a little to try to make a little more sense of the sticks I have and see what happens first. I turned my 3W up to 16* (quasi 4W) and I am now able to hit pretty consistent off of the dirt. I actually love the flight now even off of a tee. I only use it on second shot on par 5's, or when my driver is going wonky.  Now have to do something about the 3H. I moved it up to 20.5 to better fill gaps, but I  have a mental struggle with the way the face appears at setup now. So I may have to move it back to 19* and find a filler club between it and the 5i (5H? or matching 4i), or get used to it where it is and buy a 5 wood. 

[Retrop1]

On 9/15/2023 at 12:16 PM, Pastit said:

I’m nearly eighty young man and riddled with arthritis. If you don’t like advice from those with experience why post ? Just use the advice you already have, no skin off my nose.  

I welcome the advice of anyone, I was simply asking a question to try and establish the validity of the advice. If you can work those low lofted clubs like you say at 80 with arthritis, then I am very happy for you. 

[Tiptx1122]

I really only have maybe 2 par 4's on the courses I play on that I will Tee up with a 5 wood. The other day I hit my TM Stealth Gloire 3W which I thought was nice on a 350 + yard par 4 and I was only 100 yds out and the I hit my Paradym X 5W right next to it as you could lay a blanket over both balls. I now have a Paradym X 3W with a GD AD UB 5 shaft coming in 1-2 weeks. Being 68 I will take a 250 yard drive all day but when it was my 5W I may use it more now.  

[Pastit]

2 hours ago, Retrop1 said:

I welcome the advice of anyone, I was simply asking a question to try and establish the validity of the advice. If you can work those low lofted clubs like you say at 80 with arthritis, then I am very happy for you. 

Well, like all lies, it’s a question of selecting the loft for the lie.

 

But I might add something which may or may not affect you. Many older courses in the U.K. are built on former marginal farm land which has ridge and furrow drainage giving a cheap method of drainage for sheep pasture.  
 

One can find oneself one day hitting a great drive and ending up with a downhill lie but the next day having a perfect uphill lie suiting a spoon. 
 

I’ve already suggested cutting up the shot from marginal lies but you want the smoothest swing in your bag for these shots. If you look at the TM mini-driver posts on here you can see many guys like these from fairways. Not for me, give me the tour spoon. My favourite is an old TM R7 TP with its original Fujikura stiff. Hope this helps.
 

 

Edited September 22, 2023 by Pastit

[Langaandy]

I did until recently. just a matter of how you play i guess. not sure what it is, but i somehow tend to get massive height on just about any hit, no matter what i do to try and combat it. Doesnt worry me, because it doesnt cause me any problems distance wise, apart from the fact that i dont get a ton of bounce and roll with most clubs.

 

Which is why i invested in a 3 wood. i wanted something to bridge that gap for longer 3s or shorter 4s

[Pastit]

On 8/17/2021 at 1:15 AM, VanTheMan0519 said:

My course is short. And courses around here are generally short. Only time I would need a 3 wood off the deck would be after a duffed drive on a par 5. 
 

But I was thinking of getting a 5 wood, tuning the loft down, say to 16.5 and using it as a tee club. Something I could float out there 245ish. Be a great backup for when the driver seems off or when I need more off the tee than my 20* driving iron. 
 

Thoughts?

Off your sort of handicap there should be no problem sticking to a 5wood but as we’re allowed 14 clubs it’s simply which mix suits you best. 

[philly2kuk]

I did for a long time, then I moved to a four wood. The five wood never sees the light of day now.

[Maine Golfer]

Yep as a min driver player, the 5 wood makes sense over having a 3. I know the 5 wood is getting in the air. RBZ line for me still 

[ApostateDrive]

The spot between my driver and my longest iron has been in a state of flux lately, but currently going driver, 5 wood, hybrid, irons and it's been working out pretty well.

[GoofySwing]

I played 5 wood as a 4 wood as my only fairway for the first half of the year. Found I was only really hitting it on tee shots. So I switched to a 3W lofted up to 16* with the 5w shaft in it.   My miss is a slice rather than a hook, so going higher in loft is better than adjusting lower for me anyway. And the 3W head is deeper and taller which makes it a tad more forgiving off the tee.  I can still hit it from the turf if needed - but it would have to be the perfect situation or a scramble round.  My longest club from the turf is a 3h or 7W depending on how I'm feeling that day (~200 yds).

[pbr2121]

I recently bought a mini driver playing at 13.5 degrees that is great off the tee and surprisingly easy off the turf. So I added a cobra five wood at 19 as my lone fairway wood for anything in the 200-225 range. It’s easier than a UW and honestly from that yardage I’m just trying to put a good swing on it. 

[JNewsted]

I'm really liking it now.  Bought one (well, another one) because I was bored and it's been entirely more reliable and versatile than the 3w.  I'm typically taking driver off the tee unless it's 100% not an option, so having an alternate tee club is not very important.  Having something I feel good about hitting off the turf 200-230y is pretty nice.  For a long time I had the 18° hybrid in there, but even that was -10 yards or so compared to the 5w.  Anyway, it's fun to experiment with.  I think the 3w is sacked for a bit, the 5w gets to stay for now, and will likely keep the 4h and 5i up next.  Seems to be the best combo for now.

[lefty1978]

I play a driver, mini driver and a 5 wood.

[Louis_Posture]

 I find modern 3-woods have too large a head and too long of a shaft to be useful from the fairway. They are good tee box clubs but that's it.

My bag is driver

16* hybrid

18* 5-wood

22* hybrid

[Tinkerer]

Me too on the 2H, mine is 16 degrees and is all round better compared to a 3W. I’d play 2H over a fairway any time. 

 

My next club has been the problem, a 20 degree hybrid or the 20 degree UI. I’d pick the UI all the time, but it’s not better than a hybrid and I keep swapping!
 

 

[scott406]

I play a G425 5 wood turned up to 16*

I have had no complaints since going that route

I go Driver, 5 Wood, Hybrid 22*

My home course it not the longest, so I really have no need for a 3 wood

The 5 wood cranked up allows me to reach some of the par 5 and puts enough air underneath to hold the greens if need be

 

 

 

 

 

[Tanner25]

Driver, hy-wood, 4 iron

[KeepCalmandCarry]

I go driver, 17.5* F8+ 4-5w playing at 41.5”, and then a nice big gap until my 28* 6i. But I only carry seven sticks!

[Avidswampthing66]

Revisiting this post.  I have been playing a Sim 2 Ti 5 wood turned down to 4 and it's all I need in the slot.  Does all the heavy lifting.  Then I go 7 wood, 4 iron.  Those three clubs carry the load and I can typically manufacture all the shots needed.  

[azgreg]

I played yesterday with driver (TM R540), 5w (TM V-Steel), and 4h (TM Rescue Mid). I don't think I'll be changing that up anytime soon.

 

[nosedive32]

Depending on how you want to debate it I may not even have a real fairway wood in the bag.

 

11.5 Brnr mini is lost somewhere between a driver and fairway wood.

 

17 Apex UW is lost somewhere in between a fairway wood and hybrid