3wood for someone who can't hit one

[spartyjeff]

I'm about a 3 handicap and currently have a massive gap between driver and 2 driving iron. All in all I'm not a bad ball striker but I absolutely cannot hit a 3wood. Bagged the Titleist 915F for years (I know bad idea). Any suggestions on forgiving three woods? Been kicking around the idea of the Callaway Apex UW and a 2 hybrid (used to love my 2 hybrid). 

[Milfordlefty]

A forgiving 3 wood is a 5 wood. The 17° Apex UW is 5 wood loft with an inch shorter shaft, so a good option.

[ZA206]

What’s your main use? Off the deck or off the tee?

[RainShadow]

SIM2Max HL. Easy distance.

It's essentially a 4wd @ 16.5*

 

Edited January 11, 2022 by RainShadow

[jswjr]

Ping K15 3 wood

[3PuttLefty]

Im thinking 2 hybrid.  More versatile…u can use it off the tee or rough.  

[MountainKing]

Depends on the use, if it's a tee club maybe look into a 13 degree mini driver.  If it's off the deck, get a 5 wood or a 17/18 degree hybrid.  Both the Callaway UW and Super are long in those lofts.

Edited January 11, 2022 by MountainKing

[Dax279]

If you can, try the PXG XF 3 wood.  I was surprised found how easy is was to launch off the fairway and the tee.  It is lofted 1 degree higher than a regular 3 wood as well and so is kind of like a 4 wood. 

[kwcsports]

I've got a TM High Launch 16.5 that is the easiest I've ever hit. It's really a 4 wood I guess. 

[JAMH03]

4 wood is the answer.

[paulman21]

I'll echo a 4 wood. My 3 wood would hit these unplayable knuckle bullets with no spin. I now have a 5 wood turned down to a 4 wood playing at 3 wood length. The extra loft combined with the shallower face depth of the 5 wood have given me something I can actually hit really well.

 

If you go with something like that, just be conscious about managing weight (both total and swingweight)

[SylvesterLundgren]

Meet me at forrest Akers driving range I’ll show ya how to hit a 3w lol but everyone is suggesting a “17” as a 4wd/5wd, but for me my 5wd is 19 degrees. I’d just say get something that is repeatable and has a easy pass. 
a lot of “4wd”s are out there and I have hit the apex UW and it (to me) felt like I was hitting a midsize fairway wood and it got up pretty nice. So if you get the chance go to Carl’s or something maybe even try a gap fitting/wood fitting to see which wood or hybrid is a good fit. 
 

plus got to be weary, there’s people out there that can hit the hell out a 6 iron but have some sort of a mental lapse when hitting a fairway or can’t even stand to hit a long iron (2-4) . Even those who keep sharing about the 4w. Probably don’t even realize that the technique they’re putting on is the same kind you should put on a fairway in general 🤷🏻‍♂️🙏🏻 Lmao the games we play 

Edited January 11, 2022 by SylvesterLundgren

[kb7]

46 minutes ago, JAMH03 said:

4 wood is the answer.

Yup, what you're looking for is a 4 wood. Something around 16.5-17 deg. I just picked up a Mavrik 4 wood and love it. 

[forrester_fire]

Are you looking for an alternative off the tee or something you play to play off the fairway?  I assume you intend the latter, so I'll echo what a lot of other guys are saying and get a 17* 5W.

Edited January 11, 2022 by forrester_fire

[amace04]

4w or 5w.

 

I have a SIM Ti 5w, turned up 2* to 17.  That opens the face up, which is fine as I have a tendency to pull my woods/hybrids.  The SIM Ti (I haven't tried the SIM Max) is real easy to get up off the deck.  I used to have an m5 3w, and this thing is just so much easier to hit.

[paulman21]

1 minute ago, amace04 said:

4w or 5w.

 

I have a SIM Ti 5w, turned up 2* to 17.  That opens the face up, which is fine as I have a tendency to pull my woods/hybrids.  The SIM Ti (I haven't tried the SIM Max) is real easy to get up off the deck.  I used to have an m5 3w, and this thing is just so much easier to hit.

 

That's the exact setup I have. It's awesome

[Sparty4202]

1 hour ago, spartyjeff said:

I'm about a 3 handicap and currently have a massive gap between driver and 2 driving iron. All in all I'm not a bad ball striker but I absolutely cannot hit a 3wood. Bagged the Titleist 915F for years (I know bad idea). Any suggestions on forgiving three woods? Been kicking around the idea of the Callaway Apex UW and a 2 hybrid (used to love my 2 hybrid). 

You could start by turning up your 915 2* and make it a 4 wood…if that helps find yourself a better option in 17-19*. Personally after struggling with fairway woods, I’ve had really good results with the Callaway Epics.

GO GREEN!! 

[amace04]

1 minute ago, paulman21 said:

 

That's the exact setup I have. It's awesome

The m5 was great as I was coming from an older Callaway FT, which was really nice at the time, but old.

 

The SIM Ti is a whole new beast.  Easy to launch it and it goes almost as far as my m5 3w with a bit more holding power.  I've taken the 3w completely out and go D, 4ish Wood, 4H at the top of my bag.

[JahSteve]

again depends on if you are looking to primarily tee up the 3 wood BUT i grabbed a Callaway steelhead VR pretty cheap off CPO. It was a game changer for me in the tee box. 

[Toybota]

Can't you just add more loft to your 915? pretty sure it can go up to 17 deg. 

[scooterhd2]

Cobra F6 Baffler.

[m3fuz]

Mizuno ST-Z 3W turned up to 16 or 16.5*.  

[dsmil]

There's definitely no rule that you need to use a 3 wood, and it's probably more of a delivered loft issue rather than needing a "forgiving" 3 wood.  A 5 wood or a 18 degree hybrid could work.

[mbl32465]

I think Ping makes the easiest launching and most forgiving fairway out there.  Titleist ts2 or tsi2 are probably a close second for launch and forgiveness. 

[OsnolaKinnard]

Ping 425 SFT...will go straight, high, and easy to hit.  Comes in 16* of loft that is +/- 1.5*

 

 

[T-W]

A lower lofted hybrid was the answer for me. I always struggled hitting a 3/4 wood off the ground.  Many of the adams 'super' hybrids can be had for a steal on ebay now. 

[ChipNRun]

5 hours ago, spartyjeff said:

All in all I'm not a bad ball striker but I absolutely cannot hit a 3wood.

 

Uh, you need to try a 4W. An extra 1.5-2* loft for launch, a slightly shorter shaft for control.

 

In Pingland, golfers often take the 17.5* 5W with 42.5" shaft, take it down a degree maybe, and make it their mainstay.

 

Years ago at a demo day, the Tour Edge guy has us hit an new model Exotic fairway in both 3W and 4W loft. Most of use could hit the 4W more reliably - and sometimes longer - than the 3W. This included a couple of big hitters who carried their driver 280+.

[jomatty]

What is the specific issue you have with 3 woods?  

[Dpavs]

30 minutes ago, jomatty said:

What is the specific issue you have with 3 woods?  

 

This is a great question. OP, when you say you cannot hit a 3 wood, exactly what do you mean? I would ignore the equipment cannons until you understand exactly what you are struggling with.

Edited January 11, 2022 by Dpavs

[J_Tizzle]

I think the big issue with 3w usually comes from the faces being too deep (for me personally at least).  Might look for a shallower faced 3w like the Pings?

 

Do that or if you like hybrids try out the UW (its on my radar for sure for 2022) or the Super Hybrid.  Or if you're lucky like me, find the Adams Idea Pro 16* hybrid :).