I'm giving up on 3 wood!

[AP76]

Tried so many and for some reason can't hit them and have absolutely no confidence with them! It's crazy as I'm a decent ball striker but just can't do 3 wood? I think it's a mental block, anyone else have this problem?

[caniac6]

I hit my 3 wood good off the deck, but awful off a tee. Try to figure that one out!

[Aviador Naval]

Sorta…  I’ve never owned a club 43” long that I could hit well from the ground and I don’t have the swing speed to elevate a 15 deg club from the deck with anything other than a perfect lie.

 

However, a 16.5 degree club, with a smaller head than modern 3 woods, and a 42.25” inch shaft is the cat’s pajamas.

 

Ultimately, the shorter shaft probably has a greater impact than the additional 1.5 degrees of loft.

[MuskieCy]

THE DEVIL'S CLUB!!!!!!

[Jeff58]

A modern 4 wood is a complete advancement over the conventional 3 wood. Easier to hit, they go as far with a higher flight, so they have some degree of stopping power. 
 

If/when you hit it thin off the ground, it flies like a 3 wood should. Replacing both the 3 and 5 woods with a 4 obviously gives you the opportunity to play with 13 clubs or add a wedge.

[Volnut]

I play a 5 wood turned down to a 4 wood. Great of the tee, hit or miss off the deck. But the 3 wood was miss or miss off the deck. 

[seth514]

as above, replaced both 3 & 5 woods with a 4 wood. 

[Ivyguy]

Me too. 
 

The 16 degree Tour Preferred UDI is now back in the saddle. 

[John45Parker]

Not too far behind you. Just got a TSi2 3 wood and it's my last attempt. If it doesn't work, the M2 L.I.F.T. 2 iron is back in the bag.

[jkim]

I'm a member of this club too. I may try a Callaway UW.

[mantan]

Lots of posts on this recently. The modern 3-wood just isn't a playable club for most amateurs off the deck.  And with 460cc drivers and hot 5-woods and low lofted hybrid, there isn't a big need for a lot of players.

[jtmagic]

Yep. 4 wood or HL 3 wood for me. 

[Tax77]

I usually hit it well off the deck with what feels like a punch shot, it would never stop on a green. Off the tee its either dead straight or a very nasty pull. It works better with beer rather than sober.

[Lobber]

2 hours ago, caniac6 said:

I hit my 3 wood good off the deck, but awful off a tee. Try to figure that one out!

I'm the opposite.  Great off tee, horrible off deck!

[Lobber]

2 minutes ago, Tax77 said:

I usually hit it well off the deck with what feels like a punch shot, it would never stop on a green. Off the tee its either dead straight or a very nasty pull. It works better with beer rather than sober.

Most things do!  Cheers

[BiggErn]

2 hours ago, caniac6 said:

I hit my 3 wood good off the deck, but awful off a tee. Try to figure that one out!

 

don't tee it up. 

[Billfitz]

My 3, 5 and 7 woods all got replaced this year with hybrids. I kept them in the garage for two months, realized that I'd never use them again, donated them to the local high school team.

[KBong]

2 hours ago, caniac6 said:

I hit my 3 wood good off the deck, but awful off a tee. Try to figure that one out!

Makes no sense to me.🤣

[KBong]

3 hours ago, AP76 said:

Tried so many and for some reason can't hit them and have absolutely no confidence with them! It's crazy as I'm a decent ball striker but just can't do 3 wood? I think it's a mental block, anyone else have this problem?

The hardest club in the bag to hit off the deck...try a 4W/3HL.

[BabyCarrot]

I tried the Pinhawk single length 3 wood (16 at 42.5). It looked like a pancake at address. Sold it and got a 5 wood. Much happier now.

[eht8266]

Went through this exploration too. I think it might be about the shaft. Found that I needed to feel the head / and a heavier shaft. The combo worked has well and I think I like my 3 wood now.

[agood3putt]

3 hours ago, Volnut said:

I play a 5 wood turned down to a 4 wood. Great of the tee, hit or miss off the deck. But the 3 wood was miss or miss off the deck. 

This…opens the face as well and shorter shaft gives you more control. Just wish I would’ve done this a long time ago!

[CoachCraigie]

There's a reason I created a topic in this forum regarding those who have a driver then go 4w or 5w haha. Seems as though a lot of people have the same issues as me!

[mc2]

15deg Mini driver for tee shots and 17.5deg fairway for off the deck

[Righty to Lefty]

6 hours ago, AP76 said:

Tried so many and for some reason can't hit them and have absolutely no confidence with them! It's crazy as I'm a decent ball striker but just can't do 3 wood? I think it's a mental block, anyone else have this problem?

I used to be in this same boat until I broke it down and realized that it is no different than hitting any other club being hit off the ground, and if it is being hit off a tee then it is no different than any club being hit off of a tee.  A common thing that I hear that I utterly reject is the thought that the fairway wood is to be swept off the turf.  The fairway wood is to be hit down on just like an iron is off the ground it's just the build of the club with the shaft being inline with the club face means that the AoA will be shallow.  The low point of the swing arc is still a few inches in front of the ball just like an iron when being hit off the ground. 

 

When being hit off of a tee you have the option to hit up or down on the shot and the low point should be adjusted accordingly and be a few inches in front of the ball if you intend to hit down on the ball and a few inches behind the ball if you intend to hit up on the ball.  Where you set the low point is very important to know prior to hitting a given shot and once this concept is understood then hitting a fairway wood becomes no different than hitting any other club.  This is coming from someone that used to despise hitting fairway woods! 

 

This is a video that I made for one of my friends that explains the basic concept of setting the low point: 

 

 

And this is me working through the concept.  I literally touch the ground out in front of the ball where my low point is being set and try to stay stacked over that point.  I feel like I am hammering down on the ball like an iron shot but the result is a shallow and very heavily levered golf shot.  This was an important concept for me to learn and I went from hating fairway woods to loving them and making it a weapon in my bag.  If I can do it then anybody can!! 

 

 

 

[Hack Daddy]

Figure out of you need a shollow or deep face. Will completely change your ability to hit a 3w.

[BIG STU]

3 hours ago, CoachCraigie said:

There's a reason I created a topic in this forum regarding those who have a driver then go 4w or 5w haha. Seems as though a lot of people have the same issues as me!

Naah would not call it an "issue" it is more the norm now. 

[liamw]

Just put a TSi2 4 Wood (16.5) in the bag and it’s so freakin easy to hit off the deck and great off the tee. Would highly recommend giving it a try.

[Mustard_Tiger]

Like many in this thread I play a 5 wood adjusted to a 4 wood loft (16.5/17 degrees). I bag just one FW. I haven't played a 3 wood in 15 years.

 

 

 

Edited October 31, 2021 by Mustard_Tiger

[philly2kuk]

I can hit my m4 16.5 3hl off the tee but not the deck, but my v steel 15 3 off the deck and not a tee so go work that out!