Is the 3 wood becoming redundant?

[justcallmemoses]

With 3 woods going to far, are they becoming a waste of bag space?

 

What are people’s thoughts on this?

 

Are you pulling a 2 iron or 5 wood off the tee if you must find the fairway? Do you even have the speed to launch a 3 wood?

Edited November 10, 2021 by justcallmemoses

[Cellis]

I would have a hard time calling them redundant. Going from a driver to 2 iron or 5 wood that is probably around 18* is a massive gap. You also do not need a "crazy" amount of speed to launch a 3 wood, more so just a good swing. 

 

The only contemplation I have with my 3 wood is moving it from 13.5 to 15*, but it will definitely not be leaving my bag.

[tannyhoban]

Not for me. A 3w at 16 bridges a gap.

[Pepperturbo]

I can still wallop a 3 wood, but been using a 16' 4wd at 3wd length instead due to its slightly higher trajectory.  If I need to find a tight fairway or a specific spot in a fairway, I will always opt for my 2 iron, maybe 3 iron. 

 

Unless a Par 5 is somewhat short, I don't go for the green in two anymore.  Though I can get real close to some greens, I am all about course mgt, so chose my yardage leave wisely.  A few buddies that are longer than me, always go for the green in two.  I just laugh under my breath.  Their leave is often a yardage where they don't have the next shot. 

 

 

[manima1]

4W is the answer w/ these new lower spinning fairway wood heads in my opinon.

 

15 degree 3W's to me nearly chase driver length 

[PuffyC]

Hot sports opinion: 3W is a total waste of bag space.

 

Off a tee they're fine but off the deck? No way, and I don't need another one trick pony. I've been playing for decades and I've yet to encounter an amateur who helped themselves in any way trying to hit 3W off turf. They'll tell you they hit it 230+ , and maybe they did that one time back in 2007, but when they pull it out it always seems to go about 163 into the woods. But then maybe I exclusively get paired up with terrible golfers so who knows. All I do know is the gain in consistency with 5W far outweighs the few yards I may pickup with the 3W the 1 time out of 20 I actually hit it correctly off the deck.

[eht8266]

It really depends on how far the driver goes relative to the 3wd. If the driver goes 250 and the 3wd 240ish then it is redundant. Conversely, when a driver can result in a 270+ shot and the 3wd 240+ then it isn't.

 

 

[third-times-a-charm]

It was a tee only club for me and i realize I was not any more accurate with 3W than driver so I'm back to experimenting with a 5w turned down.

[lefthack]

I still haven't hit my Honma 3 wood off the tee but I love it off the deck. I haven't quite dialed in the yardage yet but it's what I pull when I need 220+. 

[DeCuchi]

For some people, yes.  It's all about getting launch and spin characteristics to fit what you need.  Some people need low launch low spin, another guy might not be able to get that off the ground and it becomes only suitable for the tee.  Other guys may just need more or less spin, or as mentioned, more loft.  Since most of us do not spend the time fitting a 3 wood like we do a driver, 4 wood loft is probably more effective in the long run for most guys.  

[R5Two]

All about the gapping any your tee shots. Most courses I play 4i - 3H - 5w(dialed down one degree is a much better option. 3 tee shots with the 5w, one with the 3h, and typically 1 3h and one 5w into the par 5s (other par 5s are a 4i and a 6i if inhit them well). Carry what ckub would replace your 3w and see which one you hit more for a month. 

 

I much prefer a 3w if I have to hit multiple draw tee shots, but my home CC only has 2 holes that have to draw and one I can take driver over the top. 

[phizzy30]

I've always had 3 metal in the bag and probably always will.  There's a good 20 to 25 yard gap between it and driver so it's extremely useful to me.  With that being said, I am no more accurate with it than my driver which is why I will pull out driver whenever I can and only use 3 metal or less off the tee if the fairway runs out or if there is a hazard in the way.

Edited November 10, 2021 by phizzy30

[GolfManCollin]

IMO, no. I'd drop driver before I drop my 3w.

[xkilgorextroutx]

1 hour ago, tannyhoban said:

Not for me. A 3w at 16 bridges a gap.

 

Same here. When my driver is off, this club is my safety blanket because I tend to get steep and want to hit with a downward angle which is usually what sends my driver into the woods. 3w doesn't go as far but I know when my driver is wild I can poke it out there 220-230 or so. 

[Lemonde]

Most people can hit a 3 wood off the tee and longer more consistently than a driver. Ditch the driver.  

[Pepperturbo]

1 hour ago, PuffyC said:

Hot sports opinion: 3W is a total waste of bag space.

 

Off a tee they're fine but off the deck? No way, and I don't need another one trick pony. I've been playing for decades and I've yet to encounter an amateur who helped themselves in any way trying to hit 3W off turf. They'll tell you they hit it 230+ , and maybe they did that one time back in 2007, but when they pull it out it always seems to go about 163 into the woods. But then maybe I exclusively get paired up with terrible golfers so who knows. All I do know is the gain in consistency with 5W far outweighs the few yards I may pickup with the 3W the 1 time out of 20 I actually hit it correctly off the deck.

Try getting paired with better golfers. It may surprise you.  LOL  I hit my 4wd 225-230+ off the deck, depending on my bones, still can't reach Par 5's in 2, unless I play ole man tees... My 2 iron 215-225ish. 

[puttingmatt]

I still find plenty of places where a 3 wood works very well for my game. As with all clubs,  a 3 wood is player specific. If you can't strike them well, you will need to search for an alternative. 

[dropkicked]

3w, will never leave my bag.

-Tight tee balls where position means more than length

-Off the deck to reach or be as close as possible on a par 5

[VanTheMan0519]

5 wood turned down to 16.5* for me…..

[Booker]

I still bag a 15 degree 3 wood, also use an 18 degree hybrid instead of a 5wood. Seem to be able to flight it down better than a 5wood. 

3wood I use off the tee at least twice a round. Its my go to draw club I know I won't loose it right.  

I will use it once or twice a round off the deck into a 5par from 245-255. 

If you spend some time on the range practicing with the 3wood its a good weapon. Way too may people think they need to hit it as hard as they can off the deck to get it airborne. More often than not leading to mishits or tops. 

[AP76]

It certainly is for me, I've been carrying one just for the sake of it. Going to put a 2 iron in the bag instead for a tee club. If anything I seem to prefer/perform better with older fairway woods.

Edited November 10, 2021 by AP76

[Barfolomew]

16.5 lofted 3wd is very versatile.... jus sayin 🦆

 

Its comes in more handy then needing the lower lofted one for extreme distance

[ChipNRun]

4 hours ago, justcallmemoses said:

With 3 woods going too far, are they becoming a waste of bag space?

 

What are people’s thoughts on this?

 

Are you pulling a 2 iron or 5 wood off the tee if you must find the fairway? Do you even have the speed to launch a 3 wood?

 

Not sure of your theme  @justcallmemoses... you need to find an Aaron who can help you articulate your thoughts. 

1. Are they redundant = do they perform same tasks as another club...
2. Do you use other clubs to find fairway... assumes this is main use of 3W 
3. Do you even have speed to launch a 3W = this would be the opposite problem #1. Years of recent research show that the average golfer can hit a 4W longer than a 3W. Problem #3 solved.

Trends have been found for 1 through 3 above. See 3W vs. 4W for details.

 

Just because there's more variety in bridge clubs does not mean the 3W is irrelevant (maybe that's what you meant to ask?)

 

Also... you omit the increasing popularity of the 7W. But, I have my own ideas. I just completed season No. 11 with some sort of 4W + 7W mix.

[lefty1978]

I carry a 3w and a 5w, both clubs fill a need and gap or else I wouldn't bag them. 

[bobfoster]

No way I'd ever get rid of my 3W. Its one of my go to clubs. Somewhat shorter off the tee than my driver, but much tighter dispersion. Use it off the tee when there's a narrow fairway, or on short par 4s. 

 

And I've never had a lot of trouble with it off the deck (though that's the conventional wisdom). But I'm kind of with Pepperturbo - I'm a bit too old at this point to go for par 5s in two - but solid course management can make up for loss of distance. Rarely use the 3 on par fives anymore. And one of the keys to good course management (in addition to the obvious "where would I want my miss to be") is "know your distances, and play to them". On a normal par 5, I know I'm not getting there in 2. So the second shot is never a 3W. I want to be about 100 - 105 yards out for my third shot (a full, but easy and smooth swing with my 52*). Don't want to go for a 3W, and leave myself 80 or 70 and fiddling with some half or three-quarter swing.

 

But ... the 3W is still immensely useful. Just got off a course today. Used my 3W from ... 60 out. Really low hanging tree branches. Choked up so much one hand was on the shaft. Just a little pop-punch shot. But the thing never got more than 5ft off the ground. Stayed well below the branches. 

 

Can't imagine getting rid of a club that I know so well, and have confidence with. 

[Jack Pearsall]

...each time he plays a new course he has to figure out if JP will need a 235+ shot. It isn’t that often actually. He has a 17* hybrid and a 18* 5 wood (he has like 3!) and has had trouble adopting the 5 wood. Haven’t really put enough time in...but he hits neither the hybrid or 5 wood especially well off the deck, which is a big issue this year. 

 

His tm m6 5 wood w an atmos red S @ 65g he hooks terribly. Was pretty sure the atmos would be a good fit...surprisingly dead feeling shaft...Given it’s reviews was pretty sure it would be a good fit...apparently not...

[halfsumo]

Trying to find that perfect 3 wood is part of the fun of being on golfwrx. I have owned I think seven 3 woods so far this year. 

[GHIN n Juice]

Whether it be a 3hl, 4 wood, or strong 5, the 16.5* loft with the proper shaft is a perfect compliment to a driver.  

[lefthack]

7 minutes ago, GHIN n Juice said:

Whether it be a 3hl, 4 wood, or strong 5, the 16.5* loft with the proper shaft is a perfect compliment to a driver.  

 

I just sold my M6 D type that was 16* because I just didn't seem to hit it like I hit the Honma. Also it was weird with only 2* to my 5 wood.

[Mike_Honcho]

2 hours ago, VanTheMan0519 said:

5 wood turned down to 16.5* for me…..

 

so, a 4W? 😉