Better Wood For H Hc'er: 3 Or 4 wood

[GolferJeff]

Was talking to the guy @ GG today, and he kept trying to sell me on a 4 wood, and said that "every high hcer should use this in place of a 3 wood", is this true?

[duffer888]

I think it is more along the lines of a high capper doesn't know when not to use 3w off the deck and when to use 3w instead of driver off the tee.

But I do think if you struggle with a 3w, trying the 4w isn't a bad option.

[Carstenbf]

Yeah. Most likely you'll be hitting it further than a 3w anyways.

That said maybe high HC'ers should stay away for FW's alltogether if you ask me. I'm in my first season and got me a G10 4w. Supposedly one of the most forgiving FW's around. It never sees any use. Can't hit it for the life of me. Maybe it's the custom shaft, dunno. Anyways off the tee my driver is obviously longer, but also way more reliable. And from the deck I have difficulty seeing how anything should be able to compete with my 3h. At least given my current skill level.

[againstthegrain]

Shorter shaft and more loft is easier to hit and more forgiving, period. More loft also compensates for steeper downswing plane and slower swing speeds typical of the mid-high cap player by launching higher.

[driverwedge]

4 wood hits almost as far and is easier to hit, especially off the deck.

[atlanta golfer]

[quote name='againstthegrain' timestamp='1284126767' post='2689159']
Shorter shaft and more loft is easier to hit and more forgiving, period. More loft also compensates for steeper downswing plane and slower swing speeds typical of the mid-high cap player by launching higher.
[/quote]

For higher HC's, perhaps even a 5 wood or even just a hybrid could be your longest club, imho. For people shooting over 90 regularly, think about the times you really need to hit it more than 200 yards in the fairway, and then think about the results of those efforts.......how many times did it end up costing you strokes........versus hitting a hybrid or mid iron, followed by a wedge to the green. My hc index is currently 8.8 and even for me, I don't carry anything longer than a strong 5 wood, and I seldom use that except for certain tee shots. On a wide open, flat golf course, things might be different, but for the typical course here in Georgia, you have lots of hills, water, and thick woods, and you are much better off to keep it in play.

[Bobbers]

4 wood at 16.5 or 17 degrees OR a 5 wood at 18 degrees is much preferable and easier to hit/get off the ground for a lot of golfers. That said, you can find some 17 degree 'morphed' 3 woods, Cleveland DST comes to mind, but in my opinion the salesperson was giving you decent advice.

[Oldnavycdr]

I pulled my Ping G10 3w and went to the G15 4w. It was night and day for me off the deck. Oddly, I don't think the shaft of the 4w is shorter but perhaps a bit.

[dtruman7]

Definitely 4 wood. In many cases even a 5 wood can be hit the same if not further than a 3wd for many higher handicappers.

[stugotz]

I added the G15 4W and indeed it is better off the deck. I replaced my TM 3W. SS is 87 - 93 hcp 15. It really made a big difference on par 5's. Like shooting darts with excellent length. You don't have to crush it to get excellent distance.

[JkaneP]

More loft, shorter shaft easier to hit.

[GolferJeff]

Thanks gang...will try it out, next time Im @ GG.....

[harold baines]

3wd vs 4wd is going to be a pretty minor difference, any gain you get by having a more effective club off the deck is negated by a less effective club off the tee

4wd is the new trendy item that many are buying (because literally NOBODY had a 4wd in their bag 3 years ago)

a 3wd is great for hitting tee shots with, but for most golfers trying to hit a 3wd (or a 4wd) from the turf is asking for trouble

if all the talk about more loft and shorter shafts making for easier clubs to hit was the best advice, then nobody'd carry a driver

[golfbum9]

[quote name='GolferJeff' timestamp='1284451098' post='2695589']
Thanks gang...will try it out, next time Im @ GG.....
[/quote]

Loft is your friend.

Try a 20-21° FW. Easy to hit off the deck as well as out of the light rough. And would likely go as far as a 3 or 4W.

Not all that long ago, a 3W was 16-17°.

[JOSEPHLB]

As mentioned... the 4 wood seems to be what is "cool" and is the trendy club to recommend to higher handicaps or for those that can't hit a 3 wood..

The reality is.. there is very little in differences between a 4 and 3 wood..

2º is going to be very hard to even notice to your naked eye. Also most 4 woods are just as long as 3 woods.. 42.5" to 43"..
Also, the 4 wood head is most like going to be similiar to the 3 wood head (from the same company)... face height.. sole design.. etc..

I'm a mid (15.6) handicapper' currently.. and can't hit my Sumo2, 3 wood from the deck worth a )*)(*..
Back when I was just starting out.. I had an Adams RPM LP #3 wood that was stupid easy to hit from the deck. I was good for at least 245-250, off the deck.. and off the tee. Sometimes I wonder why I got rid of that club. It was shallow faced and setup neutral face angle... had a Prolaunch Blue 75 gram, stiff in it.. one of the best 3 woods I had ever ho'd away

[Matty]

Don't let your ego influence your decision. If you're in the fairway and you don't have a 200+ yard club to hit GIR consistently, layup and shoot for the 100 yd marker or whatever distance your money short iron will give you the best chance to one putt. If you're on the tee and trying to avoid a reachable hazard with your driver, you can just choke down on your driver to hit a shorter shot. In general, and specially for high to mid h'caps, higher lofts and shorter shafts will be easier to use.

The only fairway wood that I carry is a 18* 5 wood. I dropped my 3 wood years ago for another wedge.

[pingman1]

My TEE xcg 4 wood is longer and easier to hit than any 3 wood i ever had.

[harold baines]

[quote name='pingman1' timestamp='1284498082' post='2696653']
My TEE xcg 4 wood is longer and easier to hit than any 3 wood i ever had.
[/quote]

maybe you should look at a TEE xcg 3 wood then

[pingman1]

[quote name='harold baines' timestamp='1284499242' post='2696681']
[quote name='pingman1' timestamp='1284498082' post='2696653']
My TEE xcg 4 wood is longer and easier to hit than any 3 wood i ever had.
[/quote]

maybe you should look at a TEE xcg 3 wood then
[/quote]

I did look at the xcg 3 wood, but like i said the 4 wood is easier to hit for me. my post said ANY 3 wood i ever had, including the xcg.

[Mookie91]

I'm a bit biased on this point because I love my setup and think it can benefit many different levels of players. I think many players should try the 9.5 or 10.5 45-46" Driver, 12.5 or 13 44-44 1/2" Driver & 5 wood or 7 wood setup for woods.


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