Should i play 3w or 5w

[Cole Fleming]

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything new on this. Could be me being new and using it wrong. I was wondering thoughts on people play 3 vs 5wood i have a high SS 118 with driver 280s + carry. I really never use my 3wood now as my course doesn't really have the need unless i move back tees. I usually carry it about 260+. I'm ultimately looking for something easier to hit and maybe start trying to use it off the tee some to keep me out of trouble. I also play a 7w love it so dont want them to be to close. Ive never even considered or looked at a 5w i have a fitting today so im sure i could test them but wanted somewhat of an idea going into it to tell the fitter so im not swinging so many clubs.

[Thrummyfox]

10 minutes ago, Cole Fleming said:

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything new on this. Could be me being new and using it wrong. I was wondering thoughts on people play 3 vs 5wood i have a high SS 118 with driver 280s + carry. I really never use my 3wood now as my course doesn't really have the need unless i move back tees. I usually carry it about 260+. I'm ultimately looking for something easier to hit and maybe start trying to use it off the tee some to keep me out of trouble. I also play a 7w love it so dont want them to be to close. Ive never even considered or looked at a 5w i have a fitting today so im sure i could test them but wanted somewhat of an idea going into it to tell the fitter so im not swinging so many clubs.

I have all three. 7 wood likely to be in bag despite the wind - I figure it’s going further wind behind.  My 3 wood is a Rbz Tour which I love off the tee and is used specifically as a second tee club. Don’t get on that well with it off the floor because of the deep face. It also runs like a driver in summer. 

 

Conversely get on really well off the fairway with my 17.5 Ping G400 5 wood with it’s shallower face.  I also think it carries further but doesn’t run as far. 
 

so the three and five will interchange depending on conditions. 

[Hawkeye77]

Don't tell the fitter - let the fitter tell you.

[animalgolfs]

32 minutes ago, Cole Fleming said:

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything new on this. Could be me being new and using it wrong. I was wondering thoughts on people play 3 vs 5wood i have a high SS 118 with driver 280s + carry. I really never use my 3wood now as my course doesn't really have the need unless i move back tees. I usually carry it about 260+. I'm ultimately looking for something easier to hit and maybe start trying to use it off the tee some to keep me out of trouble. I also play a 7w love it so dont want them to be to close. Ive never even considered or looked at a 5w i have a fitting today so im sure i could test them but wanted somewhat of an idea going into it to tell the fitter so im not swinging so many clubs.

Call me old or old school - you need to be playing 7200yds with that swing speed. If you can carry a 3wd 260yds - and find you don't need unless you move back - then you need to move back. 

 

Just my opinion

[Cole Fleming]

5 minutes ago, animalgolfs said:

Call me old or old school - you need to be playing 7200yds with that swing speed. If you can carry a 3wd 260yds - and find you don't need unless you move back - then you need to move back. 

 

Just my opinion

Your probably right but and i do play that sometimes but for my first full year golfinf i prefer to make it a little easier on myself and enjoy the playing then struggling my was there. also my course is very hard 146 slope rating from the back so prefer to not get punished. 

Edited March 20 by Cole Fleming

[pu_golf88]

I'm dropping the 3 wood this year for a 5 wood. I hit my drivers a similar distance as you and find that my 3 wood isn't a fairway finder, I really only use it if there's a dogleg where a driver would go thru where I want to land the ball. I think a 5 wood goes far enough to use it as a fairway finder off the tee when I want more distance than hitting my 3 driving iron.

[animalgolfs]

2 hours ago, Cole Fleming said:

Your probably right but and i do play that sometimes but for my first full year golfinf i prefer to make it a little easier on myself and enjoy the playing then struggling my was there. also my course is very hard 146 slope rating from the back so prefer to not get punished. 

146 is no slouch - understand that aspect. It's like playing Karsten from the tips = no fun unless you're on top of the swing

Edited March 20 by animalgolfs

[Cole Fleming]

2 minutes ago, pu_golf88 said:

I'm dropping the 3 wood this year for a 5 wood. I hit my drivers a similar distance as you and find that my 3 wood isn't a fairway finder, I really only use it if there's a dogleg where a driver would go thru where I want to land the ball. I think a 5 wood goes far enough to use it as a fairway finder off the tee when I want more distance than hitting my 3 driving iron.

Exactly how i use mine if i do.

 

1 minute ago, animalgolfs said:

146 is no slouch - understand that aspect. It's like playing Karsten from the tips = no fun unless your on top of the swing

Yeah if i move back i run into 685-715 yd par 5s that i still dont really use the 3 wood cause trees or water get in the way. But that would also go for the 5w but if i could hit it a little better maybe a decent lay up club or off the tee is what im reffering to if people do that or not

[mstuewe]

I think I’m going this route.  Driver, 5 wood, 4 hybrid, 5-pw, 48, 52, 56, 60, putter.  118 swing speed with driver. 
 

Nothing really to add, but I have the same thought process as you.

[Cole Fleming]

1 minute ago, mstuewe said:

I think I’m going this route.  Driver, 5 wood, 4 hybrid, 5-pw, 48, 52, 56, 60, putter.  118 swing speed with driver. 
 

Nothing really to add, but I have the same thought process as you.

I currently play Driver,3W 3 hy i took the 3 hy out cause sometimes i over hook it went 7w and wow what a change

[Rosco1216]

Go 2h

[BombinJim]

What is your wedge situation like? Maybe split the difference with a 4WD?

[Ben B]

1 hour ago, Cole Fleming said:

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything new on this. Could be me being new and using it wrong. I was wondering thoughts on people play 3 vs 5wood i have a high SS 118 with driver 280s + carry. I really never use my 3wood now as my course doesn't really have the need unless i move back tees. I usually carry it about 260+. I'm ultimately looking for something easier to hit and maybe start trying to use it off the tee some to keep me out of trouble. I also play a 7w love it so dont want them to be to close. Ive never even considered or looked at a 5w i have a fitting today so im sure i could test them but wanted somewhat of an idea going into it to tell the fitter so im not swinging so many clubs.

Is there an area of your bag that's lacking? Another gap you need to fill? Or are the par 5s you are playing not long enough to have a 3 wood in and you end up in a yardage you don't have a club for...ie 5 wood or 2 utility?

[T626G]

I myself have decided to try a 5w. Never really had much luck or need with a 3w. Should be easier to hit. I'm going to cut it down a 1/2" just to help control it and swing easier 

[nvr3putt]

Can't tell if this post was just to humble brag OP's 118 mph SS. 😃

[aquapig]

3 hours ago, Cole Fleming said:

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything new on this. Could be me being new and using it wrong. I was wondering thoughts on people play 3 vs 5wood i have a high SS 118 with driver 280s + carry. I really never use my 3wood now as my course doesn't really have the need unless i move back tees. I usually carry it about 260+. I'm ultimately looking for something easier to hit and maybe start trying to use it off the tee some to keep me out of trouble. I also play a 7w love it so dont want them to be to close. Ive never even considered or looked at a 5w i have a fitting today so im sure i could test them but wanted somewhat of an idea going into it to tell the fitter so im not swinging so many clubs.

Go 4w, 7w

[Chunkitgood]

3 hours ago, animalgolfs said:

Call me old or old school - you need to be playing 7200yds with that swing speed. If you can carry a 3wd 260yds - and find you don't need unless you move back - then you need to move back. 

 

Just my opinion

 

Please don’t do this.

 

Get the 4 wood.

[hook_or_slice]

4 hours ago, Cole Fleming said:

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything new on this. Could be me being new and using it wrong. I was wondering thoughts on people play 3 vs 5wood i have a high SS 118 with driver 280s + carry. I really never use my 3wood now as my course doesn't really have the need unless i move back tees. I usually carry it about 260+. I'm ultimately looking for something easier to hit and maybe start trying to use it off the tee some to keep me out of trouble. I also play a 7w love it so dont want them to be to close. Ive never even considered or looked at a 5w i have a fitting today so im sure i could test them but wanted somewhat of an idea going into it to tell the fitter so im not swinging so many clubs.

 

These days with current lofts I consider a 3 wood to be the most expendable club.

 

At your swing speed you can't hit a 3 wood where a driver would be too long. How many 540 par 5s will you see? There isn't going to be a par 3 you would need a 3 wood.

 

Most players don't hit any more fairways with a 3 wood compared to a driver.

 

A 5 wood is a far more usable club for you.

[moostache]

I go driver, 4 wood (5 turned down to 16.5), 7 wood (turned down to 19.5), 4 iron ...

This gives me good usable gaps, and is basically like playing a chopped down 3 and 5 wood like I see suggested here.

 

They're 425 max models, and to me play quite neutral in the small minus setting.

 

It's about numbers. Even floating around 100 mph, at least for me I hardly ever seemed to need a proper 3 wood. Would put me in awkward approach distances to par 5s, and it was still long enough to bring trouble on the layup tee shots.

[animalgolfs]

40 minutes ago, Chunkitgood said:

 

Please don’t do this.

 

Get the 4 wood.

I play a turned down 5wd - why?  I can't carry 3wd over 210yds. I can muster a 5wd farther carry wise- I still play 6800yds. If i still hit my 3wd 260+yds carry.... I'd be playing 7200yds+

 

To each their own

[robbie91]

I plan to move to a 5 wood this year for a similar reason. Three wood is too long to hit the wide parts of the fairways on tight par 4's in my area making it a rather useless stick in the bag. In my testing, 5 wood was pretty close to the perfect number and also felt easier to hit off the deck with the shorter shaft. If I was playing 7,200 yard courses it would be a different story, but five wood appears to be a much more usable club for my weekend warrior rounds with friends. 

[Emac005]

Every year I try to justify building a 3 wood yet each year my 5 wood gamer is only 10 or so yards behind it. Dropped the 3 wood and put a hybrid in then go 4-Pw. The distance on the 5 wood is enough that I can use it on shorter par 4’s or tighter holes. The hybrid is now the experiment club. If i had the swing speed you had I’d prob be interested in Driver, 5 wood and then maybe a utility iron type stick

[dsmil]

I think 4 wood and then either hybrid or 7 wood will work for a lot of people. If you’re looking at a model that only comes in 3 or 5, you can see if one of them is better after adjusting the loft sleeve. Either adding loft (closing face) of the 3 wood or reducing loft (opening face) of the 5 wood.

[jedc]

Adjustable 5 wood turned down to 4 wood loft (and open looking face is nice). I had a fitting last month and really liked the PXG Black Ops 5-wood.

[phizzy30]

Same ss as you and I have a 15*, 3 metal in bag.  At some point you'll need a 3/3hl/4 metal that you can trust once you start playing more/different courses.  My driver doesn't behave at times or I need to hit a certain number distance wise because there's a ditch running across the fairway or what not and that's when I pull 3 metal out.  You need to find out your distance gaps if you haven't already and fill that spot between driver and 7 metal and tell the fitter this info and if he's any good, he'll know what to do. 

Edited March 21 by phizzy30

[parl112]

8 hours ago, mstuewe said:

I think I’m going this route.  Driver, 5 wood, 4 hybrid, 5-pw, 48, 52, 56, 60, putter.  118 swing speed with driver. 
 

Nothing really to add, but I have the same thought process as you.

This is my setup exactly and I have similar SS as u. This gapping has worked well for me in most situations (course plays around 6800 yrds

[gtrade]

I have quite similar ss, and been thinking the exact same thing, but just going from 5w to 3w. My current 5w is turned down to 16.5°, and the numbers are quite good (spin +3000, launch 10, bs 158) but wouldnt mind extra 10y carry for better gapping with my 7w at 19.5.

 

I'm going to experiment the 5w head with a 3w shaft to see if thats enough. I dont want to lower my 5w flight at all as the landing angle is already ~33°.

[Teebs]

I used to have 

3HL(Rogue ST)

3H

4H

 

And swapped to

TSR2+

TSR5w

4H

 

I've found the 5w is just as long off the deck as any 3w I've had, especially in winter where it's 100% carry. Picked up the 2+ to use off the tee on certain holes where driver is too much..

[vtpachyderm]

While I don't have the swing speed of the OP - I'm between 100-104mph, I will put a 3 wood back in the bag this year. The last two seasones I've played driver, 5 wood turned down to 16 deg, 3 hybrid, 4 utility at the top of the bag. But towards the end of last season and this winter, I've really worked on my swing and sorting out my driver (Aerojet LS at 10.5 deg), and now the gapping between by driver and 5 wood is a bit too much for my liking. I've ditched the hybrid and am playing a 3 wood turned up to 16 deg (Aerojet LS), and a 5 wood turned up to 19.5 deg (Aerojet). I'm generally a spinny player off the woods, and thus went with LS heads - and worked on launch and spin characteristics.

 

So far on the sims (both Trackman and GC Quad), the gapping is just right - carrying 240-250, 215-225 and 195 - 205 yds), with dispersion I'm happy with.

 

However it comes with one caveat - in about 6 weeks I get to hit them outside on grass so we'll see if what happens inside translates to the outside LOL.

[Valtiel]

16 hours ago, Cole Fleming said:

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything new on this. Could be me being new and using it wrong. I was wondering thoughts on people play 3 vs 5wood i have a high SS 118 with driver 280s + carry. I really never use my 3wood now as my course doesn't really have the need unless i move back tees. I usually carry it about 260+. I'm ultimately looking for something easier to hit and maybe start trying to use it off the tee some to keep me out of trouble. I also play a 7w love it so dont want them to be to close. Ive never even considered or looked at a 5w i have a fitting today so im sure i could test them but wanted somewhat of an idea going into it to tell the fitter so im not swinging so many clubs.

Based on your signature is there any reason you haven't simply tried the 16.5* version of your current 3w? 4w/7w is becoming increasingly common, and while there are a few guys that the "turned down 5w" thing as well, they usually aren't doing that with a 7w in the bag too as they're usually too close, unless you're someone that really delofts the club a lot.