Accepting 5 wood over 3 with age?

[Dan Drake]

I'm with everyone else here in suggesting the "3HL" as it allows for a softer ego reaction, while accomplishing the ultimate goal.  

 

And as I've been assembling my 1/2 - retro - walking set with PING Eye 2 fairways, I'm lol'ing at the lofts!  Believing what I do now about bag setup and how it relates to having the best scoring averages, I would have carried D, D2, 3w, 4w back in the day most likely! 

[NRJyzr]

38 minutes ago, Dan Drake said:

Believing what I do now about bag setup and how it relates to having the best scoring averages, I would have carried D, D2, 3w, 4w back in the day most likely!

 

Green dot driver and red dot driver?  🙂

 

(for those unaware, red dot Ping laminates were 13.5*)

 

[Greenie]

I'm with those suggesting a 4W and possible shorter shaft.

 

I play 4W, 7W, and 4H. 

[gerger]

5 hours ago, Greenie said:

I'm with those suggesting a 4W and possible shorter shaft.

 

I play 4W, 7W, and 4H. 

What’s your gapping on the 7W to 4H?

[gerger]

How about an adjustable 3W lofted up? The G430 3W is very forgiving!

[jwb10]

just get a 3 wood with more loft. keep the headcover

[Greenie]

36 minutes ago, gerger said:

What’s your gapping on the 7W to 4H?

 

My 7W and 4H are both 21*. I hit my 7W much higher and a little longer. I carry both and use them in different situations. 

[Alpha3]

On 3/25/2023 at 10:47 PM, Hawkeye77 said:

This is hilarious - you going to tell your wife, who is an accomplished player, she should give up her 3w because you got affirmation from strangers on the internet? Tell her at least one stranger says she knows best, if she listens, lol. 

WOW, as if I wasn’t on course and fitting with her, not exactly new to this!

[Alpha3]

Looking for better ways to explain her swing may need optimized equipment compared to many years ago. (better than saying you’re old and can’t hit 3 wood anymore). Thanks for the many great answers.     
I like the 3 HL idea and have our fitter set it up with loft and shaft that work. Then she can get a 3 wood that will work much better and doesn’t need to know why.

[JungleJimbo]

On 3/24/2023 at 9:03 PM, Rapidcat said:

To throw a couple of other clubs into the historical mix (showing how loft variants and shaft lengths started bouncing all over the place even decades ago) I bought a couple of Orlimar Trimetal 14+ and 20+ fairways (think strong-lofted 3 and 5 woods) back around the turn of the century. 14+ was 43.5 inches, 20+ was 43 inches playing length). Considering the 20+, maybe where the Heaven-wood idea really came from?

 

They were one of the first - if not the first - really low profile fairways (apologies for the image sizes & orientations):

 

 

 

Absolute bombers in their day, only sold them off 3 years ago!

 

Sorry for the nostalgia.

Has anyone mentioned the Adams Tight Lies (either 2014 version... or the newer Taylormade 2021 infomercial version)... shorter shafts, ease-of-use with the 3W at 16*+?

 

(2021-09-29) https://www.golfwrx.com/661565/adams-golf-unveils-new-tight-lies-fairways-and-hybrids/

 

 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

On 3/24/2023 at 2:07 PM, Alpha3 said:

My wife is a good player club champion yrs ago etc. now we’re 65 she swings at 70mph with driver, 12* G430 max.  Hard to convince 3 wood is not next club anymore. We are both in good shape. We use a local fitter. Of course it’s mental. Any ideas?

Hi OP @Alpha3 What if you gifted the Mrs with a Heavenwood (with adjustable loft sleeve) ... with no indication/admission that you intend it to be a replacement for her 3-wood? 

...would that lessen the pressure, and simply let there be self-discovery w.r.t. an easier-to-hit club & it might become her "new favourite multi-purpose club"?

 

Have heard good things w.r.t. the new Great Big Bertha GBB series albeit expensive. 

 

Ditto XXIO! (fringe benefit: it's pronounced zeck-si-oh... or "sexy- ohh!" 🙄)

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query="XXIO"+&sp=EgIIBQ%3D%3D

 

 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[Alpha3]

Thanks, I’ll ask my/our fitter.

[mootrail]

I'd say a 4 wood, but I haven't seen a true 4 wood in a few years.  Now they're just a 3 wood head with the face tilted back and the same length 3 wood shaft.  They might call it a 4, but it's just a 3 HL.  One less mold saves those cheapskates a ton of money.

 

Next I'd say a 5 wood, but she's probably bagging one, so...

 

Try the Apex UW.  Not a hybrid, looks like a old school fairway in size.  It's a hot and low launching, I've got the 21° and waiting for the 23°.  A custom shaft will be mandatory, try the UST Helium Nanocore.  An amazingly stable lightweight shaft.