3 wood of the deck problems..

[kulreign50]

Anyone have ideas on how to fix my 3wood off the deck problem? These 2 scenarios play out each time..#1 I realize that I'm still far from getting to that par 5 after the drive so I go for it and hit it thin or top it.

#2 I slow down to make solid contact and then I end up hitting fade/slice far worse than my driver, and no where near my target line. Any ideas? Besides selling it and getting a 4-5 wood..thanks

[Reasonability]

Hi Kul.

I tend to make a mess of things if there isn't a video submitted to dive into specifics but I will sure give it a go. (if you ever care to submit a vid -- that would be great).

So if the tops and thins are an issue -- that one means the bottom of the arc is wandering on you. If the swing bottoms out above the ball -- there would never be that sense of brushing the turf. It would be almost a whiff.

If the swing bottoms out early -- there would be the sense of ground contact before the ball and the thin shot comes from the ball actually being struck on the upswing. Usually this problem has some fat shots sprinkled in. It can occur from reverse pivot, swinging too sharply down on the ball, swaying... (this is kind of where the video would help).

If the swing bottoms out really late, the ball is struck on the way to the bottom but some form of sway occurred and the ball was hit above the equator. That form of sway often comes when the hips don't turn very well under the spine and the little reverse K is missing.

What may help for any and all of the above -- is try keeping the hands moving in front of the chest more back and through. At setup REALLY relax and make a smooth flowing takeaway. Keep your spine angles (with a little reverse K) and avoid swaying. Keep the head behind the ball and give the ball a long sweeping strike. Its okay to actually take a mini little thin divot just in front of the ball.

Hope something in this sort of rings a bell for you. Best to you and good luck.

EDIT: Sounds like you fight a slice, There are lots of posts here on Wrx to help you with that one, too.

[darryl_giggs]

I've struggled with the 3 wood off the deck for awhile, but recently have been hitting it really well, and even used it to reach a par 5 green in two shots two weeks ago, something I've never done before.

Anyway, at the risk of stating the obvious, I would say that the 3 wood is a severe test of your swing fundamentals. I've been re-tooling my swing, checking my plane, checking my grip, checking my downswing (making sure I'm not swinging too inside-out etc) before I started hitting the 3 wood well off the deck. Although the swing is really no different from your other clubs, perhaps other than ball position, stance width and spine tilt at address, the longer shaft does pose challenges.

If you are slowing down, you could be spinning your hips faster than your hands leaving your hands behind your body and club face wide open causing the push slice or a huge push to the right.

Hopefully, I'm not simplifying it, but I say, check the following:

1. Ball position should be between middle of stance and inside of left heel, adjust accordingly.

2. Make sure you are not swinging too inside out - this was a huge problem of mine and I never realised it until my coach pointed it out to me. To check this, stop your downswing at the 8 o'clock position. If your shaft is behind your hip or even parallel to your hip, you are dangerously close to swinging too much inside out and under plane. At 8 o'clock position, the shaft should be angled slightly in front of your hip with your hands directly in front of your right hip but not touching your hip. This will ensure that you are on the right swing plane. This has been a revelation for me and totally transformed my swing for the better. If you are swinging too inside out, the consequences are: huge push to the right or the club bottoming out before the ball (i.e. a fat shot). If you are an early releaser (or flipper), then you will thin/top it or (snap) hook it. Very often, you can diagnose the problem based on the result.

3. DO NOT LOOK UP at impact --- this may sound cliche, but just go down to your local practice range or golf course and I guarantee you there are at least 50% of people (more like 75%) who will look up immediately at impact. In fact, i still catch myself doing this once in awhile. To combat this, I make sure that the ball disappears from my sight before I look up. I don't want to totally keep my head down because it causes a strain to my neck and I will not be able to see where my ball went (very important if you are playing alone and nobody is looking out for the ball for you).

4. Check your other swing fundamentals such as: grip, posture, completing backswing etc etc. Until your swing fundamentals are sound, it is very hard to consistently hit a 3 wood off the deck well.

5. Find a fairway wood that you are comfortable with and have confidence hitting. I'm currently using the Mizuno JPX 825 15 deg in regular shaft. I love the look and the sound of a flushed impact. Until I find something better and easier to hit, I'm sticking with that....

At the end of the day, you've gotta keep practising and keep analysing your mistakes. I reckon that's the best way to improve.

[Badgergolfer2]

If youre inconsistent, that means youre probably trying to swing beyond what youre capable of. Id suggest forgetting about going for the green in 2 and instead lay up to about 120 yards and try to attack the flag with a wedge.

[capt.murphy]

if you hit other clubs well, it could be ball position. being off just an inch on the 3 wood off the deck can cause problems.

[joey2aces]

hit a 5-6 iron... other than people who are short hitters I do not know why people go Driver - 3W on par 5's. But that's just me.

[verderraul]

[quote name='kulreign50' timestamp='1404890865' post='9664773']
Anyone have ideas on how to fix my 3wood off the deck problem? These 2 scenarios play out each time..#1 I realize that I'm still far from getting to that par 5 after the drive so I go for it and hit it thin or top it.
#2 I slow down to make solid contact and then I end up hitting fade/slice far worse than my driver, and no where near my target line. Any ideas? Besides selling it and getting a 4-5 wood..thanks
[/quote]

3 wood off the deck is probably the hardest club to hit.

[diehllane]

When will people stop trying this?
Just go with a 5W or a hybrid and lay up.
The only people who really should be hitting a 3W off the deck on a Par 5 are either super short hitters who NEED to or the people who actually can get there.
Going driver, 5i, 9i or whatever will work out and put you at a comfortable distance for a full swing into the green.

[timmy8151]

[quote name='joey2aces' timestamp='1404911098' post='9665579']
hit a 5-6 iron... other than people who are short hitters I do not know why people go Driver - 3W on par 5's. But that's just me.
[/quote]

I'm a short hitter and I've stopped trying to go for it on Par 5's. I know use a hybrid or iron and try to layup to about 100 yds which is a comfortable shot for me.

[bph7]

[quote name='verderraul' timestamp='1404911254' post='9665591']
[quote name='kulreign50' timestamp='1404890865' post='9664773']
Anyone have ideas on how to fix my 3wood off the deck problem? These 2 scenarios play out each time..#1 I realize that I'm still far from getting to that par 5 after the drive so I go for it and hit it thin or top it.
#2 I slow down to make solid contact and then I end up hitting fade/slice far worse than my driver, and no where near my target line. Any ideas? Besides selling it and getting a 4-5 wood..thanks
[/quote]

3 wood off the deck is probably the hardest club to hit.
[/quote]

Agree. OP, there's nothing wrong with not having this shot. Maybe try a hybrid or 5 wood from the fairway instead, but 3 wood off the deck is just a pretty difficult shot, no getting around it, and you could certainly play excellent golf without ever needing to use the 3 wood from the deck.

[diehllane]

[quote name='timmy8151' timestamp='1404937225' post='9668513']
[quote name='joey2aces' timestamp='1404911098' post='9665579']
hit a 5-6 iron... other than people who are short hitters I do not know why people go Driver - 3W on par 5's. But that's just me.
[/quote]

I'm a short hitter and I've stopped trying to go for it on Par 5's. I know use a hybrid or iron and try to layup to about 100 yds which is a comfortable shot for me.
[/quote]
I believe Joey was more referring to players needing to hit the Driver - 3W just to get to a layup... Short hitters like those who hit driver 200 yards. On a 500 yard (short par 5) hole, that's driver for 200, 3W for 175-180 and still left with 120 or so for the approach.

[misplacedtexan83]

This article help me out:

[url="http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2013-11/best-teachers-sean-foley"]http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2013-11/best-teachers-sean-foley[/url]

[joey2aces]

[quote name='diehllane' timestamp='1404943448' post='9669063'][quote name='timmy8151' timestamp='1404937225' post='9668513']
[quote name='joey2aces' timestamp='1404911098' post='9665579']
hit a 5-6 iron... other than people who are short hitters I do not know why people go Driver - 3W on par 5's. But that's just me.
[/quote]

I'm a short hitter and I've stopped trying to go for it on Par 5's. I know use a hybrid or iron and try to layup to about 100 yds which is a comfortable shot for me.
[/quote]
I believe Joey was more referring to players needing to hit the Driver - 3W just to get to a layup... Short hitters like those who hit driver 200 yards. On a 500 yard (short par 5) hole, that's driver for 200, 3W for 175-180 and still left with 120 or so for the approach.[/quote]

Yessiree. Thanks for clarifying.

[Badgergolfer2]

Same here. I used to try to smash a 3-wood off the deck on par 5s but now, I go 5-wood if I have a good lie or else I will go 5-iron. Theres nothing wrong with laying up on par 5s and settling for par. It beats duffing a 3-wood and then having to scramble just to make par.
For me, the 3-wood is strictly an off the tee club when there is little margin for error.

[Krt22]

[quote name='diehllane' timestamp='1404943448' post='9669063']
[quote name='timmy8151' timestamp='1404937225' post='9668513']
[quote name='joey2aces' timestamp='1404911098' post='9665579']
hit a 5-6 iron... other than people who are short hitters I do not know why people go Driver - 3W on par 5's. But that's just me.
[/quote]

I'm a short hitter and I've stopped trying to go for it on Par 5's. I know use a hybrid or iron and try to layup to about 100 yds which is a comfortable shot for me.
[/quote]
I believe Joey was more referring to players needing to hit the Driver - 3W just to get to a layup... Short hitters like those who hit driver 200 yards. On a 500 yard (short par 5) hole, that's driver for 200, 3W for 175-180 and still left with 120 or so for the approach.
[/quote]

In this instance they should probably consider playing a shorter course...but im my experiences folks who hit like this are normally older/experienced and have no issues hitting 3w off the deck

[diehllane]

[quote name='Krt22' timestamp='1404944132' post='9669121']
[quote name='diehllane' timestamp='1404943448' post='9669063']
[quote name='timmy8151' timestamp='1404937225' post='9668513']
[quote name='joey2aces' timestamp='1404911098' post='9665579']
hit a 5-6 iron... other than people who are short hitters I do not know why people go Driver - 3W on par 5's. But that's just me.
[/quote]

I'm a short hitter and I've stopped trying to go for it on Par 5's. I know use a hybrid or iron and try to layup to about 100 yds which is a comfortable shot for me.
[/quote]
I believe Joey was more referring to players needing to hit the Driver - 3W just to get to a layup... Short hitters like those who hit driver 200 yards. On a 500 yard (short par 5) hole, that's driver for 200, 3W for 175-180 and still left with 120 or so for the approach.
[/quote]

In this instance they should probably consider playing a shorter course...but im my experiences folks who hit like this are normally older/experienced and have no issues hitting 3w off the deck
[/quote]
A par 5 at 500 yards is actually not that long.
That could be on a fairly short course.

[markponi]

You probably dont have a shallow enough AOA. Do you take deep divots?

[Smash Factors]

I used to have issues with the 3 wood but only off the tee. Topped it a lot when teeing up the 3 wood. Off the deck was no problem.

I was just reaching out a bit too far with my hands. Brought my hands in a little bit and problem solved.

[h71y6]

i could never hit my 3W off the deck before i realized i was always opening the clubface in the backswing.

(1) Trying to rapidly flip the clubface to close,
(2) while hitting slightly down at the ball,
(3) and achieving a zero or in-out path

... is something i think is almost impossible to do. At least that's what i personally concluded.

Now that i have changed my clubface going back (and it's all parts of the body that does it), 3W off the deck is not something i fear anymore. Still if the approach is tight, i wouldn't consider it at my level.

[AlexCzervic]

Have you tried staying in posture, being in and releasing on plane? Works everytime for most people.

AC