Should i play 3w or 5w

[aquapig]

13 hours ago, animalgolfs said:

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

Which tees you play from should be more based on handicap than how far you can hit the ball. 

 

I see this at my club ALL the time and I'm usually stuck behind the 4 some who have no business playing from the tips. Usually it's a group of younger guys who probably, when they hit the screws, can hit a 300 yard drive straight, but most of the time they're spraying the ball all over the place and properly shooting in the upper 80s. Most of the time it's these same guys who are marking 2 footers for a triple bogey.

 

Unless your consistently playing par golf or better, you shouldn't be playing a 7200 yard track that's difficult. 

 

 

 

 

[animalgolfs]

13 minutes ago, aquapig said:

Which tees you play from should be more based on handicap than how far you can hit the ball. 

 

I see this at my club ALL the time and I'm usually stuck behind the 4 some who have no business playing from the tips. Usually it's a group of younger guys who probably, when they hit the screws, can hit a 300 yard drive straight, but most of the time they're spraying the ball all over the place and properly shooting in the upper 80s. Most of the time it's these same guys who are marking 2 footers for a triple bogey.

 

Unless your consistently playing par golf or better, you shouldn't be playing a 7200 yard track that's difficult. 

 

 

 

 

I've seen this argument pop up quite often nowadays- especially since the covid boom. If one can play bogey golf- then length should absolutely play a factor in tee choice. You enter a state sanctioned event - guess where you're playing? Club Championship? City championship? 

Now the weekend hack group has no business playing the tips - I'll agree on that - but if you legit have 115ss+ and a descent game - you should play the tips more often than a forward tee

 

[aquapig]

18 minutes ago, animalgolfs said:

I've seen this argument pop up quite often nowadays- especially since the covid boom. If one can play bogey golf- then length should absolutely play a factor in tee choice. You enter a state sanctioned event - guess where you're playing? Club Championship? City championship? 

Now the weekend hack group has no business playing the tips - I'll agree on that - but if you legit have 115ss+ and a descent game - you should play the tips more often than a forward tee

 

These guys playing the tips at my club that I'm referring to aren't playing in any sanctioned events.

 

Swing speed should ZERO to do with which tees you play. I play with buddies who play once a month or so who can swing it 115 plus and hit it 300. But they hit 1 fairway every 4 holes, their iron games are super inconsistent and have very little short game or course management. 

 

I also play with some older guys at my club, who swing upper 90s to low 100 with average drives of 250-260. They rarely miss fairways, irons spot on and ridiculous short games. They shot par or better from the tips. 

[driveandputtmachine]

It is a little of both for me.  If you can't beat bogey golf from the tees you normally pay every time, then you should move up regardless of your swing speed.  

 

If you beat better than 9 over par every round and you find yourself having to layup off the tee a lot(due to hitting it far) then you CAN move back.  

 

My club is full of 30 to 40 year olds that are 10-12 handicaps that hit the ball 250+ and always play the back tees.  They should move up.  Shoot I am a low single digit, played college golf and in the US AM once upon a time, I still swing at 48 around 112 and can get up to 115-116 and I don't play the tips.  I play a mixture of the tips and one set ahead we call "The Players" tees that have their own CR and slope.

Edited March 21 by driveandputtmachine

[ajbillings]

https://golf.com/gear/6-game-changing-tips-equipment-expert/

Marty Jertson said in this article (I'm sure there are exceptions, but seems to track in my case as I use my 3 Wood maybe once off the deck every few rounds and more so off the tee when I need to eliminate some sort of trouble, maybe I'm not hitting driver well that day, etc.) that:
"How you utilize your 3-wood is highly dependent on your clubhead speed. If you hit your driver 250-plus yards, you’re likely to hit your 3-wood more off the tee than off the ground. Keep this in mind as you get fit for a 3-wood. Longer players should prioritize tee-shot performance, while golfers who hit their driver less than 250 yards should focus their lowest lofted fairway wood as a club to hit off the ground. This is why Ping makes an LST for faster players and the SFT for the everyday golfer.”

[Lloyd_Christmas29]

I dropped the 3 wood this year and added a BRNR mini and a 5 wood. 3 wood was a club I straight up never used. Hitting it off the deck could be sketchy, and off the tee, I actually have more confidence bunting a driver on a tight hole compared to 3 wood.

[mjo23]

23 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.

16.5* 3HL/4Wood is always an option. Some 5 woods go much further than others depending on the face material (and loft of course), so it’s hard to say without testing

 

The Apex UW 17* goes just as far as many 3 woods, but it might be a strange combo if you’re using a 7wood that is longer (in terms of length, not distance) since the UW is only 41.5”

[GeauxGolfLSU]

23 hours ago, Cole Fleming said:

Yeah if i move back i run into 685-715 yd par 5s 

 

I think you meant to type par 6s. 🤣

[GeauxGolfLSU]

Double post

 

Edited March 21 by GeauxGolfLSU

[Cole Fleming]

2 hours ago, GeauxGolfLSU said:

 

I think you meant to type par 6s. 🤣

Par 8/9s for me 😂

[Cliffy2020]

TSR3 16.5* - I’ve said it before 4W is the new 3W

 

⬇️ Check the sig - my gaps are dialed (115 off the tee)

 

 

[ChipNRun]

On 3/20/2024 at 12:34 PM, Cole Fleming said:

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.

 

3W or 5W? Split the difference and go with a 4W. The 4W is easier to hit than a 3w because...

• A couple of extra degrees of loft help with launch
• A shorter shaft helps with control

On 3/20/2024 at 12:34 PM, Cole Fleming said:

I also play a 7w love it so don't want them to be too close (in yardage).

 

Then, you definitely don't want a 5W.

 

For the record: I have played some combination of 4W + 7W since 2012. Switched hardware a couple of times, but 4 + 7 has gotten it done!

 

[mantan]

I'm of the mind the overwhelming majority of people can't hit a 3-wood off the deck well enough to put it in the bag. It's either very skilled golfers or seniors/low swing speed players who rely on FW woods on approaches more than longer players.  Way back in the day before oversized driver, a 3W was a safe 'tee' club. A 460cc driver closed that gap a lot.  So then it comes down to what you can consistently hit from the deck.  

 

If the OP's swing speed is accurate, he can poke a 5-wood out there pretty good. And I'd bet hits it MUCH better off the deck.

 

 

[hammergolf]

On 3/20/2024 at 12:34 PM, 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.

Try a 4wd. It will be easier to hit than a 3wd and not go quite as far and gap well with your 7wd. Several manufacturers make them. Cobra, Titleist, Taylormade are some good options. 

[phizzy30]

8 hours ago, Lloyd_Christmas29 said:

I dropped the 3 wood this year and added a BRNR mini and a 5 wood. 3 wood was a club I straight up never used. Hitting it off the deck could be sketchy, and off the tee, I actually have more confidence bunting a driver on a tight hole compared to 3 wood.

I have the opposite issue.  I've tried the bunt driver and it's a disaster every single time.  Tough for me to square the face swinging slower plus if I don't fully get to my left side, it's game over.  Swinging 80-90% with 3 metal off the tee increases the chances that contact is good and face angle is square or close to it for me.  

Edited March 22 by phizzy30

[ShortGolfer]

I'm one of those slow swingers who can use the distance of the 3HL off the deck.

 

I didn't see anyone mentioning using an iron off the tee for more accuracy when you need it  Hitting a fairway with an iron off the tee is easier than hitting an approach shots off the fairway.

 

Maybe you don't really need a fairway wood?  Maybe another wedge would be more useful?

 

[Rstowe38]

I think you should try a 2i

[jonkevin]

Add a gap fitting to your fitting and the numbers will tell you what you should have in the bag

[hook_or_slice]

On 3/21/2024 at 8:36 AM, aquapig said:

Which tees you play from should be more based on handicap than how far you can hit the ball. 

....

 

 

 

 

 

The best and simplest guideline I have ever seen on which tees to play is based on the fairway bunkers.

 

If you are always short of the fairway bunkers move up to the next tees. If you are flying over the bunkers move back.

[aquapig]

Like the hacks at my club that insist on playing the tips because they hit it 300...

 

Usually over houses, into neighborhoods,  deep into the woods..

 

Same guys who take 5 hours + to play, mark their 2 footers after firing 2 OB off the tee. All while being oblivious to the 2 some behind them that's waiting on them EVERY shot even though there's 2 empty holes in front of them. 

 

But they swing  fast and hit it far...probably if they counted all their strokes they're shooting 100. 

 

Edited March 23 by aquapig

[hook_or_slice]

On 3/21/2024 at 8:36 AM, aquapig said:

......... Most of the time it's these same guys who are marking 2 footers for a triple bogey.

....

 

 

 

 

 

That is the fault of the people they are playing with.

 

If someone is putting a 2 foot putt for triple the golfers in his foursome need to concede that putt. Unless you are playing on TV for a million+ dollar purse a 2 foot putt for anything higher than a par is a gimme.

[aquapig]

45 minutes ago, hook_or_slice said:

 

That is the fault of the people they are playing with.

 

If someone is putting a 2 foot putt for triple the golfers in his foursome need to concede that putt. Unless you are playing on TV for a million+ dollar purse a 2 foot putt for anything higher than a par is a gimme.

They're all doing it and they're all either oblivious or don't give crap.

 

Especially when you've been holding everyone up all round. 

 

Seems like ever since the Covid golf boom, there's more of these yahoos playing. 

 

Tip playing hacks, who would enjoy the game much more if they moved up a couple tees, played faster and didn't take themselves so serious. 

[dmeeksDC]

Pretty simple to solve with a 16 or 16.5 degree fairway wood. Not enough difference between a 5 wood and 7 wood. 

[wakit300]

I don't have your swing speed but I made the change from 3-wood (which I've always had in the bag since high school) to 5 wood a couple of years ago and can't believe I waited so long. If you get one with an adjustable hosel you can get your best gapping. My next club is a 3 hybrid. For me, the 5 wood is much more versatile than the 3 wood and hence I use it a lot more.  I would definitely recommend you give it a shot.

[dugue4]

Not that I'm any good, but I go driver (260ish), 5w(230ish), 4h(210ish).  I don't really have a need for a 3w.

[14mh]

On 3/20/2024 at 12:34 PM, 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 am surprised to see that you use such light shafts and in stiff flex in the two fwys with that swing speed. I would think dispersion and efficiency would increase with more weight and x-stiff in those same shafts. 

[Donn Rutkoff]

Cole.  Do you think anyone online can do better than if you go and try several 3s and 5s?  A 12 hdcp, you probably have access to fittings, tryouts, etc.

[dabohammer]

Funny to see this on WRX a day after I decided to switch to a 5W/4H setup.

 

I carried a 3HL for a while but it was getting close to zero use, so I sold that and consolidated my wedge setup to give room for 2 clubs at the top. With my 4i at 22*, 4H at 21*, and 5W at 18* I think i'll have a good setup. Obviously a little larger than ideal gap to driver, but better there than between 3HL and 4i

[MrStiber]

On 3/20/2024 at 7:23 PM, 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'm down that road, a little slower (110-112) on the ss. Driver, 5 wood (Mavrik SZ), 5 hybrid (TSR2 24*), 5-PW, 50, 54 and 58 + putter. Still got room for one more club, maybe a Titleist mini driver when they get their fingers out and release it 😄

[PumaClyde007]

I've hovered between a 13 and a 9 hcp as I've hit 65 years old and have been losing distance. About 10 years ago a fitter convinced me to go Driver, 4 wood and 7 wood, which was the perfect gapping. The 4 wood also improved my long fairway wood shots over the 3 wood. The 7 wood gave me better approach to green height and distance.