Thoughts on playing a 5 wood as your longest wood.

[Rbsiedsc]

Always been a tinkerer of the top of my bag. Currently go:

16.5° Rouge st ls at 42.75”

21° apex uw 

18° Caley DI

 

looking at my last 15 rounds of data, I feel like I can consolidate some clubs.

last year I was hitting it much better but still mostly off the tee. That longest distance was a tee shot in a tournament after my driver cog malfunctioned and I couldn’t use it the rest of the round. The 3i longest here was also a different setup shaft wise that could really bomb it but I couldn’t time it well and couldn’t really hit it off the turf. I now have a more optimal setup. 

2023 stats

 

With the Callaway trade in deal I thought why not trade in my two woods and get a TD 5w as I believe the shorter shaft and low spin could help. My 4w I sometimes play off the tee but if I’m not careful I duck hook it like crazy. I was fit for it 2 years ago but lately just haven’t gotten along. I also rarely use it off the turf unless I have a perfect lie and resort to my UW or DI instead. The UW is mostly great but seems to go similar distance to my DI when struck well. On the range I can squeeze a little more out but those are ideal lie situations. Have also thought of trying a different shaft profile in my 4w instead. I could also let my swing changes take hold and grind it out and see if as the year progresses I can get more consistent. Maybe need to try stone executive courses out to get more on course practice. Thoughts?

 

Edited April 28 by Rbsiedsc

[ShortGolfer]

Get fit for wood you can hit off the deck.  The proper shaft choice allows me with my slow swing speed to do well with a 3HL!

[Rbsiedsc]

2 minutes ago, ShortGolfer said:

Get fit for wood you can hit off the deck.  The proper shaft choice allows me with my slow swing speed to do well with a 3HL!

Funny thing is my fitting was all off the deck. In hindsight I wish I could have gone with the max head vs the ls. Thanks

[poor_putting]

You can definitely go that route, especially with the TD 5 wood. That club is longgggg. I have a TD strong 3 wood and go right to a 7 wood from there. 
 

The 5w was so long, created gapping issues and I really needed another wedge on the bottom part of my bag. 

[picardyThird]

You need lessons and a fitting, in that order. Sure, you probably could make it work with a 5w at the top (plenty of people play golf perfectly fine hitting their driver no further than you hit your 7w) but you'd be leaving opportunities on the table.

[Rbsiedsc]

1 minute ago, picardyThird said:

You need lessons and a fitting, in that order. Sure, you probably could make it work with a 5w at the top (plenty of people play golf perfectly fine hitting their driver no further than you hit your 7w) but you'd be leaving opportunities on the table.

Thanks. Been doing the lesson part already for two years

[blades_are_life]

Get a Titleist 2H.

[Rbsiedsc]

3 minutes ago, blades_are_life said:

Get a Titleist 2H.

Not a great fan of hybrids. Had an OG Super hybrid that I traded in. Also a sub70 that was ok but didn’t suit me like the uw. 

[JMB3]

5w is longest club off the deck for me, unless I am feeling frisky and pull the Mini driver out.  Based on my delivery (shallow/inside), some extra loft can help optimize carry.  

[azgreg]

The top of my bag is D, 5w, 4h. Couldn't be happier.

 

[blades_are_life]

53 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

Not a great fan of hybrids. Had an OG Super hybrid that I traded in. Also a sub70 that was ok but didn’t suit me like the uw. 

I don't love them either but I make an exception for the Titleist ones.

[speedeuphoria]

2 hours ago, azgreg said:

The top of my bag is D, 5w, 4h. Couldn't be happier.

 

I'm doing the same

[mantan]

2 hours ago, azgreg said:

The top of my bag is D, 5w, 4h. Couldn't be happier.

 

Same here.  
 

modern day 5-woods are essentially the old 4 woods in regard to distance.  
 

And I’ll bang the drum on here every year that the overwhelming majority of amateur golfers can’t hit a 3-wood off the deck consistently to make it worth their while.  
 

A 5-wood is long enough that it should serve that purpose.  

[Pepperturbo]

Didn't read the thread. 

Nothing wrong with 5wd being the longest.  Just make sure you're as efficient with it off the deck as you are off a tee. 

 

FYI: People often have a slower SS off the deck, so not advisable to use your Driver SS as a reference point. 

 

Top of my bag is D, 3wd, 2i.  I am a long iron guy, so 17' 2 iron over 5wd, even though 5wd is the longer off the tee and playing length, of the two, 39.75" 2 iron is dependably straight.

 

PS: This year when Titleist introduces new woods, I am switching 3wd back to a 16.5' 4 wood; something about it, I prefer.  

Edited April 29 by Pepperturbo

[unclefreizo]

It can't be a bad thing if you're not looking forward to 3-wood when it's the sensible choice.

[Ben B]

8 hours ago, Rbsiedsc said:

Always been a tinkerer of the top of my bag. Currently go:

16.5° Rouge st ls at 42.75”

21° apex uw 

18° Caley DI

 

looking at my last 15 rounds of data, I feel like I can consolidate some clubs.

 

Looking at your data, something certainly isn't jiving. 

 

As far as a 5 wood as the lonest club other than driver, absolutely nothing wrong with that. Most days mine is my Callaway UW 19*,  but I do have a Cobra LTDx LS 17.5* 5 wood that I play at 16.5* and absolutely love it....I just don't need it all the time. 

 

My current setup is:

Mizuno ST-G 220 at 10*

Taylormade OG Mini at 13.5*

Callaway Apex UW 19*

 

My 14th club is either a 60* wedge or the Cobra LTDx LS 5 wood at 16.5*.

[EddieEdwards]

I think 5w is the unicorn 3w that average golfers are searching for.  Especially off the deck.

[lil'mike]

Up til a couple of years ago I played the 5wd/7wd combo, now I play a 4wd (3HL)/Heavenwood combo.  Either works fine for me as I know I won't be hitting a FW 250 yard shot into a par 5.

Edited April 29 by lil'mike

[Rbsiedsc]

3 hours ago, lil'mike said:

Up til a couple of years ago I played the 5wd/7wd combo, now I play a 4wd (3HL)/Heavenwood combo.  Either works fine for me as I know I won't be hitting a FW 250 yard shot into a par 5.

That’s the thing. I don’t have WRX speed but above average 110-112 with driver. If I am anything more than 240 out, there is a very low probability I am going for the green. 4w would only be if I have a perfect lie, otherwise it’s hit it down there as far as I can. 

Edited April 29 by Rbsiedsc

[dugue4]

18 hours ago, speedeuphoria said:

I'm doing the same

Me too.

[RacineBoxer]

17 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

That’s the thing. I don’t have WRX speed but above average 110-112 with driver. If I am anything more than 240 out, there is a very low probability I am going for the green. 4w would only be if I have a perfect lie, otherwise it’s hit it down there as far as I can. 

 

Apologize if you know this already but it just came to my attention recently even though I had wondered for a few years why there seemed to be such a disagreement on what 3 woods are for. I'm about 100mph driver. So not a long hitter by good player standards (but been as low as a 4 hcp recently). For me, I ONLY use my 3W for going for par 5's in two. I never pull it as a tee club because my dispersion is no better and its rare I'm playing a course where I need (or want to) lay up short of trouble. I play a lot of par 5's that I basically can't get to in two. I'm pretty solid ball striker so as long as I can keep it out of hazards/trees then I often just bash 3 wood and try to get it as close as possible.

 

For players with more speed the usage flip flops. A lot of players with speed rarely use 3 wood off the deck to go for par 5's, they're usually hitting long irons or a hybrid. The 3W becomes a club that is used almost exclusively for positioning off the tee. So it's like the 3W can have polar opposite usage rates depending on swingspeed. Here's one example of an elite player talking about this spot in the bag: 

 

 

[Rbsiedsc]

27 minutes ago, RacineBoxer said:

 

Apologize if you know this already but it just came to my attention recently even though I had wondered for a few years why there seemed to be such a disagreement on what 3 woods are for. I'm about 100mph driver. So not a long hitter by good player standards (but been as low as a 4 hcp recently). For me, I ONLY use my 3W for going for par 5's in two. I never pull it as a tee club because my dispersion is no better and its rare I'm playing a course where I need (or want to) lay up short of trouble. I play a lot of par 5's that I basically can't get to in two. I'm pretty solid ball striker so as long as I can keep it out of hazards/trees then I often just bash 3 wood and try to get it as close as possible.

 

For players with more speed the usage flip flops. A lot of players with speed rarely use 3 wood off the deck to go for par 5's, they're usually hitting long irons or a hybrid. The 3W becomes a club that is used almost exclusively for positioning off the tee. So it's like the 3W can have polar opposite usage rates depending on swingspeed. Here's one example of an elite player talking about this spot in the bag: 

 

 

Very interesting. Marty’s bag has me thinking lol. Yes the majority of my shots with 4w are off the tee. My home course is 6300 yards from the tips and there would maybe be 2-3 times I may use it of the turf. Two par 5s are pretty straight but both have bunkers in front of the green making it a risky play in. Another par 5 is s shaped and sloped. I have hit 4w here a couple times when I am on a flat spot (on the upslope it is a near disaster)and of course the best one I ever hit smacked a tree 125 out from where I was. The last par 5 is a dog leg left and if I cut the corner, no need for a 4w and if I fade it too much I could use it but then I am either kind of on a slope or near some trees and need to flight it down with my DI. 
I like the idea of tuning it for off the tee. There are a few holes I could play it off the tee. Current setup I need to be a little smoother than my driver when swinging otherwise I get these screaming toe hooks which mentally destroys my confidence with that club. 

Edited April 29 by Rbsiedsc

[Rbsiedsc]

I do see the CPO sale going on and maybe i should consider a straight swap for my 4w and a TD 5w that I could loft down. just need to find the right shaft for it. that way i can also keep my Uw

Edited April 29 by Rbsiedsc

[Avidswampthing66]

I have played  a *strong five wood with great success for the last 3 years.  I had a Sim 2 Ti 5 wood tuned down all the way, and played it just slightly longer than a 5 wood.  Deadly from the tee or fairway.

 

I just ordered a Smoke TD 5 wood and will do the same with it.  For me, they are just about as long as a 3 wood, but fly higher.  Win Win

[Rbsiedsc]

4 minutes ago, Avidswampthing66 said:

I have played  a *strong five wood with great success for the last 3 years.  I had a Sim 2 Ti 5 wood tuned down all the way, and played it just slightly longer than a 5 wood.  Deadly from the tee or fairway.

 

I just ordered a Smoke TD 5 wood and will do the same with it.  For me, they are just about as long as a 3 wood, but fly higher.  Win Win

aren't the smoke TD  5wds non adjustable?

Edited April 29 by Rbsiedsc

[Avidswampthing66]

Just now, Rbsiedsc said:

aren't the smoke TD  5wds non adjustable?

Sorry, P TD not smoke.  (good catch)

[Avidswampthing66]

2 minutes ago, Rbsiedsc said:

aren't the smoke TD  5wds non adjustable?

Just boggles my mind that they would do that.  Callaway is whack.

[Rbsiedsc]

Just now, Avidswampthing66 said:

Just boggles my mind that they would do that.  Callaway is whack.

totally. I also wish there was a way to get a cat4 80g KBS TD shaft for a 5w. Then i would probably do what you are doing. With a trade in of the 4w it would be the same price as CPO + buying a shaft second hand. Sometimes OEMs do the silliest things.

[lil'mike]

7 hours ago, Rbsiedsc said:

That’s the thing. I don’t have WRX speed but above average 110-112 with driver. If I am anything more than 240 out, there is a very low probability I am going for the green. 4w would only be if I have a perfect lie, otherwise it’s hit it down there as far as I can. 

 

I don't have that WRX speed either but I do use a 4wd/3HL off the tee once in awhile just not often.  Could I play just a 5wd as my only FW?  Yes I could.  I am sure that there will be one hole or two on a course that I won't score well on because of me not hitting the right distance but they are few and far between.  I really like my 3HL, it is easy to hit like the 5wd and gives me just a little more distance like a 4wd.  

 

My bag setup prior to getting the Heavenwood was driver, 3HL, 4H and it worked pretty well on a course that was just over 5900 yds.  On a couple of holes I wish I had a second FW but it was fine.

 

 

[speedeuphoria]

3 hours ago, Rbsiedsc said:

totally. I also wish there was a way to get a cat4 80g KBS TD shaft for a 5w. Then i would probably do what you are doing. With a trade in of the 4w it would be the same price as CPO + buying a shaft second hand. Sometimes OEMs do the silliest things.

I was confused about the charts shown in the op. Which club is 7wood?