My 3 Wood: In Memorium

[Mors Ab Alto]

Well, it's official: I have buried my 3 wood. It's in my garage, where all clubs go to die, and is to remain there for the forseeable future. I have been unable to hit this club in the same ferocious manner to which I had become accustomed, and finally decided that the 2 shots per round that I was pulling it out for were, in fact, better off hit with a shorter club. I have come to the realization that some par 5's were meant to be reached in 3, so in that line of thinking I have decided to rekindle my love affair with the 4th wedge.

I used to carry a GW, along with a PW, SW and LW, during my brief Phil Mickelson emulation period, but dropped it to add a 16* hybrid during my Todd Hamilton phase. Between then and now, well, I've just been using my old Retro Raylor/V Steel 3 wood as a Longhorns headcover holder. There have been brief stints where I would keep my driver in the bag due to my enormous confidnce in my spoon, and I would intentionally lay up on short par 5's to hit 3 wood instead of 3 iron, but those days are a thing of the past.

Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I say farewell, at least until this phase wears off.

[JEFF4i]

Well hopefully it wears off quickly, that's a nice club,

At least you have the right idea, Odyssey Putter and the rest TaylorMade, you're a good man.

[gwlee7]

I ask myself almost every round why I insist on carrying my 3 wood in my bag. I have a hybrid that has 17* loft and I hit it to within 10 yards of my 3 wood. By carrying both, I have a gap in my wedges that I used not to have because I have taken my 56* wedge out. I have a 48*, 53*, and a 60*. I need to bend the 53 back to 52* and put my 56* back in the bag and ditch either the 3 wood or the 17* hybrid. I have way more wedge shots per round than I have shots that are in the 220 to 230 yard range. I have made way more birdies on par 5's from hitting a wedge stiff as my third shot than I have missing the green or hitting into bad trouble trying to get on in two.

[FKA19]

who not trying a 15* as opposed to the ts ? much easier to hit consistently imo.

[ezra76]

These things happen. I dropped mine for a while and am now back to the 3W-5W combo. The 3w is great off the tee, nearly as long as my driver. I've hit it decently off the deck a few times too. I usually try to play a fade with it, much better chance of a solid strike for me. I hate feeling like I'm shying away from a club. I'm at the point where it's BS to think it's the club, it's me and my swing. I've hit it before I can hit it now, if I duff it then so be it.

[JEFF4i]

When you hit it well, it is definately worth it though. Just take it to the range every so often, you know how this game goes.

[Mors Ab Alto]

Originally Posted by 19handicap

who not trying a 15* as opposed to the ts ? much easier to hit consistently imo.

If I went to a 15*, then there would be an even smaller distance gap between my 16* hybrid and 3 wood. Right now, I have about a 10-12 yard disparity between the 2, and since the only time I'm faced with a shot where I HAVE to hit 3 wood is on a long par 5, laying up inside 100 yards in the fairway is much better, in my opinion, than trying to reach the green and missing 30 yards left/right pin high.

There seems to be no valid reason for me to carry a 3 wood anymore, regardless of loft, because there are really no shots that I feel NEED 3 wood distance, as I, and my ego, have come to grips with tha fact that laying up on long par 5s is acceptable, and just smarter, than pushing it. I can even manage short par 4s, where I used to hit 3 wood off the tee, by choking down on my driver and taking a nice, easy swing to produce a low, little cut that goes the same distance. And this shot is easier to hit than a full 3 wood.

The gap between my 54* SW and 45* PW is very noticeable (105-127), and I come upon these distances much more often than 250. Plus, around the greens, a 50* GW would add yet another option to choose from. So for me, an extra wedge just makes more sense.

But maybe that's why I can't get below an 8.

[ezra76]

Definitely go for the wedge. That PW is a 9iron lol. I have a 47* and play a 50* GW. It's all a matter of figuring where the best place to have a distace gap is. I've gone quite a few rounds without taking the cover off my 23* hybrid. I'm picking up a 4iron anyway and the jump from 18*5W to 4iron will be my gap. I may strengthen the 4iron loft by 1/2 to 1* depending on how I feel about the gap. Anyway, sounds like the extra wedge will help. Good luck.

[Hybrid-Heaven]

Originally Posted by Mors Ab Alto

If I went to a 15*, then there would be an even smaller distance gap between my 16* hybrid and 3 wood. Right now, I have about a 10-12 yard disparity between the 2, and since the only time I'm faced with a shot where I HAVE to hit 3 wood is on a long par 5, laying up inside 100 yards in the fairway is much better, in my opinion, than trying to reach the green and missing 30 yards left/right pin high.

There seems to be no valid reason for me to carry a 3 wood anymore, regardless of loft, because there are really no shots that I feel NEED 3 wood distance, as I, and my ego, have come to grips with tha fact that laying up on long par 5s is acceptable, and just smarter, than pushing it. I can even manage short par 4s, where I used to hit 3 wood off the tee, by choking down on my driver and taking a nice, easy swing to produce a low, little cut that goes the same distance. And this shot is easier to hit than a full 3 wood.

The gap between my 54* SW and 45* PW is very noticeable (105-127), and I come upon these distances much more often than 250. Plus, around the greens, a 50* GW would add yet another option to choose from. So for me, an extra wedge just makes more sense.

But maybe that's why I can't get below an 8.

How far do you hit a 16 degree hybrid?

[Dannykos]

i've just completed my distance re-evaluation and have bought a 13 degree V-steel 3 wood - and a 19 degree hibore hybrid, then 4iron–>

was playing driver, 16degree halo, 4 iron–> but the gap was just too big!

this way i can still carry 4 wedges, but have better options on shorter par 4's, rather than trying to smack my halo past 220 to get in range.

whatever works i guess....