Anyone ditch the 3 wood for a 4 wood?

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I've had my 17* TM R9 4w in the bag for over 10 years. I've tried lots of other clubs--3-woods, 4-woods, and 5-woods--to try and kick it out, but I always come back to it.

 

The most recent challenger was, in fact, a Callaway XR 3w. After hitting them at the range and deciding the Cally had potential, I recently took both to the course for the final shootout.

 

I only hit tee shots with them, but found the R9 actually went further than the 3w off the tee. I would have expected that on shots off the deck because the 4w is easier to launch, but NOT off the tee. 

 

I guess this 4w is just about optimal for me, though I will continue the search because I am a WRX 'ho.

[jetmech879]

I’ve been in the 3HL camp for awhile now but just recently grabbed a Mizuno CLK 2 16*. I play it a 1/2” long at 41.5”. This little monster is just as long as any 3 wood I’ve ever hit and so much easier to hit off the deck if needed. I love the flat lie on these CLKs. Helps keep the lefts out of my head. It’s safely in the bag for 2022! 

[chipa]

In my opinion the flight of the ball is the determining factor. I have tried 3 and 4 woods that have the same characteristics for me. 

 

What I like is a taller face which means I need more loft to hit the ball the same height as shallow face woods. I am currently trying a 3-7-9 setup w/no driver as my course is very short.

[MaineMariner]

I've sort of gone this route. I have a high launching, game improvement 3W in the Callaway Mavrik Max that is a traditional loft of 15 degrees, but with a shaft that plays to 42.25". That's an inch shorter than most standard 3W's these days. I really think that the shaft length is what is causing problems with 3W's.

 

With a shorter shaft and the big head in the Mavrik, I feel extremely confident both off the tee and the deck. It's super easy to launch. It definitely does not go as far as a 3W COULD go, but it's a much more functional club. I did have to add weight to the Mavrik head to get the SW back, which was easy with the interchangeable weights.

[scott406]

On 2/26/2022 at 8:51 PM, Wasabi said:

I'm not carrying a 3 wood now but am thinking about moving my G400 5 wood from 17.5 to 16.5.

I just did this in the beginning of the year

So far the results are very good

 

 

I am also looking for a G410 hybrid because the G400 hybrid is not adjustable

 

 

[me05501]

I'm going driver/four wood/Heavenwood this year. 

 

My pro says that looking down and seeing a little more loft can be a real confidence booster when hitting from the fairway. I think that's correct.

 

I believe my average result with the four wood will be better than my average result from the three wood. A duffed shot is a duffed shot, of course, so that's the same with either. I'll be giving up the opportunity to hit that "once a season" straight rocket but hey...only once a season right? 

 

[JDIL]

I still have a 3 wood, Callaway Epic, turned up to 17. Hit it much better than at 15 which I couldn't hit. Also have a M2 3HL which is hot and cold for me. I rented some clubs in Hawaii and it was an Epic Flash 5 wood. On my good hits it went maybe only 10 yards short of my 3 wood. But mishits were significantly reduced. So I picked one up. It's become money but as I get better hitting it, it is launching a little high now.

 

Going to experiment with turning it down to 17. I want to try this shaft in the 3 wood at 15-17 but I think I read the EF fairway optifit is not compatible (annoying).

 

Got a Cleveland Hy-Wood coming today and that will determine which way I go with the woods

Edited February 28, 2022 by JDIL

[Mob]

23 hours ago, bvanlieu said:

 

There are two distinct things in here which has been discussed in other threads a lot: 

 

1. hitting fairways

2. hitting greens

 

For the first, length of shaft is the #1 issue. If you are using a tee and have problems controlling the face and strike, shorter is better and you are not going to lose much distance going 1" shorter vs. better ball speed from strikes.  I am a huge proponent, especially from the deck, of shortening these stupid long fairway and hybrids. 

 

For the second, in combination with the length, if you have issues elevating the shot from the deck to get a useful enough land angle or carry,  then loft is your friend. 

 

Combine both benefits of a 5w and people will say 'I hit the 5w better then my 3w'. Yes. Yes you do. But the reasons may be two fold 🙂 

 

- b

Yes, I already play my 3 wood at 42.5 inches and driver at 44.5 inches.  I typically do not have trouble elevating my 3 wood off the deck, but my ball flight is erratic.  I can push it, pull it, or hit it straight.  I never know where it is going to go.  If I can hit this 5 wood, turned down to a 4 wood, consistently in the fairway, or on the green, then it will obviously stay in the bag.  It comes in 2 weeks, right when golf weather starts here in Indy.  Can wait to give it a go.

[Shanker84]

I turned my 5 wood down to a 4 wood and kicked the 3 wood out of the bag. I rarely have the need to hit a 3 wood and in reality, it really doesn't go all that much further than my 5 wood if I hit both solidly. In fact, it's pretty rare that I would hit either on the screws off the deck anyway so it's hard to do an absolute apples to apples. It is substantially easier to hit the 5 wood than 3 so but taking the 3 out of the bag, it at least takes the temptation out of the equation. I go driver - 4w - 4hy - 5iron.... and it seems like a pretty sensible approach. 

[onthebogeytrain]

On 2/26/2022 at 8:19 PM, chadly643 said:

Good evening WRX. I wanted to hear some stories of folks that have ditched the 3 wood and what they’ve replaced it with. I have a XR Pro 3 wood that’s always been really good to me and held its spot in my bag for a long time now. I just don’t find myself using it all that much though. Off the tee, it’s not too far behind my driver, so I usually just pull driver. In the fairway, I’m usually either to far to reach with the 3 wood or close enough to reach with hybrid or less. So it’s this weird spot in my bag that I’m considering changing. What are some paths that others have gone down?

A few years ago, the face cracked on my 3 wood while I had a 3W-5W setup. I never found a 3 wood I liked so adjusted my 5W down to 16* and just used it as a 4W. I definitely trusted it a lot, but the loss of distance was certainly apparent. However, its far easier to hit off the deck than my other 3 wood. Since I got an updated 5W with a slightly longer, heavier, and stiffer shaft which added some distance to my 4W. There are definitely positives to doing it. Im considering going back to a 3W-5W setup, but haven't yet. Currently have a 4W and rotate between a 20* hybrid and driving iron below that.

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

Though when I was younger I played a WarBird strong 3, now that I'm not as strong as I once was, 4/5 wood is far easier to get airborne and with latest technology long enough off both tee and fairway.  Definitely far easier to get a 4 wood off the deck than a 3 wood....YMMV

[kstrong84]

I am a big proponent of the 4 wood.  Easier to hit off the deck than a 3 and doesn't balloon off the tee like a 5.

 

HOWEVER, I got the tsi2 4 wood last year and it goes soooo high!  So this year I am switching to the 3 wood.

[JoeJoeJoeUrBoat]

I don't think I'll ever go back to a 15 degree 3 wood. It's too close in distance to my driver, so the gaping is horrible. It's harder to hit off the deck and harder to get in the air. 

 

Team 16.5 for life!

[Mych]

Ping Anser 4w has been in my bag for 2 years, and would have to be broken or stolen for me to imagine changing it.

[getitdaily]

I'm headed down the route. Have always played 15* 3ws. Through a lot of testing the last year I've found the newer "players" 3w to not spin enough and the "max" 3w to spin too much. I ventured down the 16.5 route and like them a lot.

 

Currently trying out a sim2 ti at 16.5 that I'll either play there or deloft to 16. If that doesn't work then it's off to a 16.5 rogue st ls lofted down to 16.

[DoughBack18]

Done the same as a lot of others here and delofted a 5 wood... For me its about yardage gaps and what clubs I can hit. I’m “turrable” with a 3 wood, so it ends up as a hole in my bag. The 4/5 wood covers the 250ish yard range for me, plus I can find the clubface with it occasionally. Then I go long irons down from there. But someone who is a strong fairway wood player may get benefits from a 3wd and 5/7 wood setup that I simply do not.

[JimGantz]

I go driver, 4 wood (turned down to just under 16*) and either 7wood/3hybrid/2iron depending course or how I'm feeling.  Generally it's 4wood, 7wood.  

 

I really like the 4wood.  Lost maybe 5 or so yards from the 3 wood, but have gained a much more playable shot more often.  No more low runners. 

Edited March 1, 2022 by JimGantz

[HOLN1UK]

I have a G410 5-wood turned down to 16* with a 3-wood shaft, a G410 3-hybrid turned down to 18*, and then a 4-iron.

[Bob Rice]

I have a 17 degree Cleveland 3 wood length

[wakit300]

I've always been a 3-wood guy but hardly ever hit it off the tee. I'm very confident in my driver so I just choke down if I need a straighter shot to narrow fairways. My 3-wood off the tee always had a chance of hooking.

Last spring I switched out to a 4-wood (Cobra 18.5 cranked down to 17°) and I'll never go back. 

It's not quite as long as a well struck 3-wood but the 4 has such a better trajectory that I can hit into par 5s in two and hold a shot on the green. And honestly if I hit the middle it's maybe 10 yards less than the 3. It also fills the gap between my 19° hybrid and driver better than the 3-wood.

Edited March 1, 2022 by wakit300
spelling

[Orange Hog]

This past Fall I swapped out my SIM Ti 3 wood for a Callaway Apex UW (17*) and I love this set up.  Distance is almost identical between the two but the UW feels/sounds incredible and it's easy to hit off the deck and off the tee.  I also love that the UW sets up a bit more neutral, so it has taken away the left miss with the fairway wood for me.

[Stinger83]

In my opinion very few players really benefit from a three wood over a four wood. 

 

For average Swing speeds a four wood will carry more and have a more consistent launch. For faster swing guys it will give them a more usable carry distance. I carry a four wood - and i still hardly ever hit it. If i'm 270 out from a green i'm probably laying up 

 

I play with quite a few good players and quite a few average ones. Three wood is by far the LEAST hit club by every single one of them. I think guys see them hit on tour quite a bit and think they need them. But you have to remember thats on the PGA tour where missing birdie opportunities is death. Creating par opportunities is probably better for the rest of us. 

[rocketmutt]

I did and won't go back, switched to a TEE 16.5 4 wood.  As others stated - same distance but softer landing

[ezpz]

I used to have my 3 wood as a backup off the tee. After improving my driving and learning that I hit my 3 wood just as crooked as my driver I barely used it, I wanted to get a 5 wood to see the difference but settled on a used titleist 915f 16.5 playing at 17.25. My SS with the "4' wood is 95 and on average, off the deck, both carry and total distance averages are very similar. Obviously the 3 wood has some shots that go further but those are 2/10. So to me its a no brainer, at my speed I need this kind of club into long par 4s and short par 5s and its no use having something that I have no confidence with off the deck. I am now looking to go 17/18 degree wood -> 22hybrid -> 5i.

[brando74]

Good timing on this topic for me, had a fitting this past Saturday and wanted to experiment with dropping 3 wood for a higher lofted wood and seeing how that worked out. 3 wood going into the fitting was a Ping i20, worked well when I was able to get a lot of practice in with it, but as soon as it doens't get attention I struggle. During the fitting 3 wood was carrying between 235-240 and rolling out to 255-260. Quite a bit of variance in those numbers due to a tendency to hit up too much on it. 

 

Tried a Tsi2 5 wood but didnt like the look at address, fitter handed me Stealth+ 5 wood and holy s*** is that club long. Loved the look at address, carry between 245-250 but a similar total distance as my current 3 wood. Was so much better for me having the extra loft for when i do want it to hit into greens

[IL2AZ]

I just picked up a Sim 2 Max 3HL that sits a little flatter and square with a Tour AD XC 7X shaft to play around with.  Was launching between 11-12 degrees with 3,400 spin on the GC Quad.  Will be interested to see how it performs on the course off the deck on these tight AZ fairways.

[evoviiiyou]

No 3 wood in my bag but I did recently add the SIM OG Ti 19* 5wood for the par 5's I play that my SIM DHY 3 can't holder comes up a bit short.  I would probably never use the fairway off the tee because I like the low chaser stinger I can hit with my DHY but when I ned it to fly high and land soft, this 5 weird is cash money! Also I really like the sound it makes...

[blink3665]

I've been using a Taylormade M3 HL since it came out. It is a perfect fit in my bag. I havent found anything that can give it the boot.

 

That being said... Did you just say you have a 3w that you hit really well and you're thinking about putting it on the bench? BRAVE MAN! 🤣

[UofAGolf007]

OG sim 5wood turned down far as it will go. Such a nice club to have. 5 wood shaft length, open face, very versatile club. Still goes like stink off the tee, but very consistent in length off the deck. Never going back to a 3wood in my bag. Would switch to a mini driver before putting the 3wood back in haha

[The Black Rabbit]

I've had a 4W and 7W (rather than a 3 and 5 for example) for some time now.

 

4W can be hit from a low tee or from the turf... and for me, it seems so much easier than a 3W to do what I want with it.

 

My 4W is a  (2010 ish) Cleveland Launcher. Cleveland call it a 3W (they made 15° and 17° versions) but ... well... at 17°, it's a 4 isn't it?

 

I think Russell Knox still uses the 19° 5W Launcher from 2010(ish) in his bag too.

 

My 7W is another Cleveland Launcher from that year. At 22° it's often money for me.