Why so many tour player use 80gram shaft on their 3 wood?

[alanluoo]

Recently find out there is so many tour players use 60g shaft on there driver, but straight up to 80g shaft on there 3 wood, Rory and Morikawa both doing that, is it because they playing short length?

[boggyman]

Shorter length and it’ll aid in not being too quick as in possibly hooking the ball. Hybrids are done the same, 95-105gm in them usually. 

[13wes13]

I have an 86g in my fairway, Titleist 915 15*. Definitely helps keep it more in check. Lol

[stryper]

22 minutes ago, boggyman said:

Shorter length and it’ll aid in not being too quick as in possibly hooking the ball. Hybrids are done the same, 95-105gm in them usually. 

Also, it’s a logical progression from the lighter weight driver shaft to the heavier iron shafts.

[ezra76]

Control and probably just used to it. 80g used to be pretty light in a fairway wood. My old ones were 85 snd 95.

[WristySwing]

2 hours ago, alanluoo said:

Recently find out there is so many tour players use 60g shaft on there driver, but straight up to 80g shaft on there 3 wood, Rory and Morikawa both doing that, is it because they playing short length?

 

They also swing really fast.  Morikawa who is no stud when it comes to distance comparatively to the longest tour guys hits it farther than 99% of the people who have ever played golf.  There's just a big difference between a guy who swings "fast" at say 110 and tour speed that regularly sees 120.  It usually requires a lot more weight and stability than what you would normally think.

[phizzy30]

I go from 60 in driver to 80 in 3 metal because with driver it's about distance and 3 metal is more about accuracy and distance control.  A client of mine that plays on the Mackenzie tour also has the same set up and his reasoning is the same.   

Edited March 24, 2023 by phizzy30

[btyh]

Played during the steel/graphite transition Era.  130g dynamic gold s300 in fairway woods were standard.I'm currently 77g in driver and 86g in fairway. Velocore has been the best performing shaft I've ever played. 

[CLEVELAND59]

I currently just changed shaft weights.  Went shorter with my woods (driver at 44.25, 3 wood at 42.5) but went from 60 grams in the driver and 70 in the 3 wood to 70 in the driver and 80 in the 3 wood.  Actually gained yardage from my previous lengths, definitely able to be more aggressive swing wise with both, as well as increased accuracy.  

[ChristopherMcDonald]

Can confirm 80ish in the fairway is SWEET. Feels like a weapon

[grm24]

3 hours ago, ezra76 said:

Control and probably just used to it. 80g used to be pretty light in a fairway wood. My old ones were 85 snd 95.

Sergio used to use a Diamana Whiteboard 103x in both his driver and fairway woods.  IIRC Tiger at one time used a Blueboard 103x as well. 

[Sean124]

I think it’s a pretty logical progression considering 3 wood is usually 2+ inches shorter than driver. 
 

I play a 42.75” 3 wood with an 85ish gram shaft. The 7X range feels too light to me. 

[T.B.]

4 hours ago, btyh said:

Played during the steel/graphite transition Era.  130g dynamic gold s300 in fairway woods were standard.I'm currently 77g in driver and 86g in fairway. Velocore has been the best performing shaft I've ever played. 

I’m also from that era and I remember the true temper EI 70 in my driver and it was a great shaft, and everything else was steel, including the fairway woods. Now I’ve got a 50 gram Velocore and it’s been a great shaft, possibly the best shaft I’ve played also.  

[Stuart_G]

11 hours ago, alanluoo said:

Recently find out there is so many tour players use 60g shaft on there driver, but straight up to 80g shaft on there 3 wood, Rory and Morikawa both doing that, is it because they playing short length?

 

Not exactly.   I mean yes the fairways are shorter and in general there is a progression in weight as the length changes - but it's more typically ~10 gm difference between driver and 3w.

 

It's just that for stronger players, the extra weight can help with consistency.  And that's more important in the fairways to those guys than the potentially small gain in swing speed they might get with a lighter shaft.

 

Just realize that adding weight doesn't automatically improve consistency.   If one gets too heavy relative to their own limits, it can have negative effects.

Edited March 24, 2023 by Stuart_G

[ignitewvu]

10 hours ago, CLEVELAND59 said:

I currently just changed shaft weights.  Went shorter with my woods (driver at 44.25, 3 wood at 42.5) but went from 60 grams in the driver and 70 in the 3 wood to 70 in the driver and 80 in the 3 wood.  Actually gained yardage from my previous lengths, definitely able to be more aggressive swing wise with both, as well as increased accuracy.  

 

The Longer Shaft OEM stories are utter crap for the vast majority of golfers!  I'd say that vast majority would be much better off sub 45 Driver & sub 43 3 wood with a heavier shaft & maybe some added headweight.

Edited March 24, 2023 by ignitewvu

[alanluoo]

My ss is average 118 on my driver,I use tr red 6x on my driver, tr blue 7x on my 3 wood, tr blue 8x on my 5 wood, and hzrdus smoke black hand craft 85tx on my 7 wood, all of which I am very comfortable with except for my 3 wood. Am considering whether to change an 80g shaft to my 3 wood, btw I am a super high spin player, with my stealth plus 2 3 wood(turn down to 13.5),still spin around 3400-4000

[Rpete33]

13 hours ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

Can confirm 80ish in the fairway is SWEET. Feels like a weapon

You should try 95! Even better

[Phabs]

Stability at their speed... 

[Ri_Redneck]

I was always under the impression that they did it just because I did, but whatever!

 

BT

[Gtyler14]

I do 60 then 80 now when I use to do 80/103. It took me a while to adjust to 60g in the driver but the 80g help with my tempo. Tried lighter in fittings and I tend to get quick and snap hooks happen. I play my 3 wood at 42.5 as well.

[LCP]

I do the same. But here's the story. I was at 70's in the driver shaft, but found it was easier to swing faster with the 60's in the driver, and a shaft like the Ventus Black 6X is so good at spin and control that there's no need to try and hold on to some of that with the heavier weight.  Now, I swing just about as hard as I can with the driver.  Off of a tee 100% of the time with a giant club face.  I don't swing that hard, and do so off the ground some with a smaller face with a fairway wood.  Control is way more important there.  And weight gives feel which helps with control.  I had a 90's in a 5 wood and liked that, but figured there really wasn't much more control than 80's and having the same weight shaft in both the 3 and 5 wood could lead to more consistency.

Edited March 25, 2023 by LCP