Recent Article on the 3Metal

General Discussion
#6

It’s a GC Hawk. Overall, my strategy on bag building this season was to figure out what shots I wanted to hit (not just distance, but also shot shape and trajectory)… I carry a driving iron and a hybrid to cover bother yardages (220 and 230) but also to have a low flighted shot (DI) and the high, soft shot (hybrid)… I have the speed to hit the driving iron, though.

I carry and love my 3 wood (Srixon 13+, which is mainly a tee club for me), but I have plenty of speed to get it done… I think it’s less “don’t carry a 3 wood” and more figure out what shot you are trying to hit with your fairway wood and find a club that does that.

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#7

This is something I’m still debating. Years ago I had given up the 3w and 5w for a 4w and 7w with good results, but then the fitter put me into a 3w and 3h. This also worked well until the faces on both flattened and I had to replace them.

I haven’t been able to make the replacements work as well and I sometimes struggle picking a club for the doglegs. Off the tee I definitely hit my 3w longer than a 5w and I generally need that yardage for a dogleg.

Any way my Winter/Spring project will be to find or tweak some sort of fairway wood and hybrid. Sadly they really are dogleg (or long par 3) tee shot only clubs. I never hit a fairway wood off the deck at my club. The course is too tight with too much OB and I am not consistent enough off the deck even with a 5w.

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#8

Here’s another take and it’s probably going to be too long to get to my point. I’m goofy. I still own my original Blades from 84…I will play a round or two every year with them AND I practice on the range and into the net with them because only a pure strike makes the ball go and it helps hone my swing before I start using my clubs. My iron set 2-SW that I purchased in 1990 are what’s in the bag!. (I also own a complete back-up set of the same clubs JIC I lose one) They are basically irreplaceable. My irons have been re-shafted 4x over the years and re-gripped every year. I also have a set of four CG12 Wedges that are currently crafted for me, by me, in my bag. I have a plethora of “woods”, metals and hybrids accumulated throughout the years in the basement. All of the “woods” I do use are newer technology, so I’m not behind…My Standard bag is a 9.5*, 14*(3W), 18*(hybrid), 22*(7W). Now, I also own 12* (2W), 15*(3W), 19*(4W), 21*(Hybrid) in the basement or car. Believe it or not I will tweak my bag according to the weather or where we are playing…since I’ve played like 95% of all the courses in the area several times. I don’t use my sets SW, PW, 9i anymore, I use my 4wedge system (60, 54,50,46). For me, I do find it necessary, especially now, to have something I can hit 225-230 which for me is the 3W. The 18* can go 210-220, the 22* can go 195-205. The Driver goes 235-260 depending on the strike. So, if I play a Par5 that is 535 or more and I only hit it 250ish, I’d still really like the opportunity to get home in 2 and the 3w is the only club that allows that. And on sharp doglegs, or very tight holes, I know I can hit my 3w with alot less chance of going “sideways” than my Driver…ALOT! For me that 12* up to 15* 3 wood is irreplaceable…Here’s the thing mortals do not hit 4i and 5i 250+ yards like you see on the TV nor do they hit 7i and 8i 200+ like you see on TV…to me that article was written for golfers that are “better than most”.

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#9

Seems to me that the Pro’s advice is played out in the folks I play with but I’m more amused by the deeper, and more disturbing point, made by the guy who wrote the article. He’s going to consider the pro’s advice even though he loves his 3 wood and hits it really well. That’s the real sickness in golf - people listening to others instead of just believing in their own experience - and that’s encouraged by all the folks hawking lessons and gear. I only read the golf.com article out of curiosity and I’m sure not going to take the advice seriously. But I’m a six and recently replaced an Nickent 15 degree three wood with a Srixon 13.5, which I hit quite reliably, but hardly perfectly.

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#10

I totally agree Tom!. The last sentence of the article got me…you don’t score with your 3w you score with your Wedges. First, you have to be able to get in position to score with your Wedges, or you are just using them to SAVE a score. Second, you don’t score with your Wedges per se…you actually score with your putter! The Wedges will put you in a position to score if you can hit it long enough off a tee. On 400+ yd holes, it is very rare for me to be hitting a Wedge into a hole. I’m hitting 7i on out to 7w usually. Now, on the 330-380 yd holes, yes I am using a Wedge. My partners…even from the Gold Tees they don’t get a Wedge in their hands that often, at least not as often as me. I spot them 50-75yds off the tee box and I have a Wedge in hand from like 120, and they are hitting 7i or 8i 120. Clubs that will get them distance is what they need. When you are into the “super-senior” category you lose distance…period and you need every bit you can find.

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#11

I swore there were some studies years ago (Maybe Wishon?) that concluded that most “hackers” couldn’t reliably hit a fairway wood off the deck that was longer than 42". That was a 5 wood although clubs keep getting longer. That made sense to me as the longer a club got the harder time I had hitting it without teeing it up.

I’d sort of like to give up the 3 wood since I can’t hit it well off the deck, but I can hit it off the tee and during a round I may use it on 5 par 4’s where driver can put me through the fairway into trouble.

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#12

Can you achieve the same result by taking a 3/4 swing with your driver? I get that altering your swing might make things worse, but if you could do it, it’d allow you to add another club.

I’m sounding a bit monomaniacal about this, but if adding another wedge enables us to fill in a distance gap or three, in that 75 yds and in range, that seems like a much more useful option than a club we might be able to replace with a swing change. I just really, really like the idea of knowing that, no matter what yardage we have to the hole inside 75 yds, we have a consistent shot that’ll get us inside of 8 feet.

Now, making that idea a reality? Is proving difficult for me, so far…

EDIT: and that totally sounds like something Wishon would write. Then again, he thinks we should all be hitting 44 inch drivers and shorter, so who knows?

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#13

Thank God I’m not on Tour, cuz I’d have to lop a 1/2" off my Driver (46.5). My 3w is 43". I have no issues hitting woods. Maybe because I was taught the correct way to swing my clubs. I do see my partners struggle, but they are mostly self taught and actually play ok in general. They are never going to play consistently in the high 70 to mid 80 range because of that (they will occasionally), but their game is not built to do so even though they actually have the talent to do so. Their misses with longer clubs is that they lose spine angle because with a “longer” club the swing breaks down on the downswing and all stored energy is gone and the mind tells the hands to try and save the strike, so the swing gets rushed and you either top it or fat it. When they stay in the swing, they actually hit it very well and can get 170 out of a 3w. I mean most of the guys that post on this site take the game reasonably seriously, they work on their games, they take lessons, etc. Anyone can play this game, much like anyone can bowl or play basketball. Very few put in the work or time it takes to only get incrementally better. I’m certain, most if you take the time to learn to swing correctly…you can hit any club in the bag .reasonably consistently.

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#14

Sometimes, but not reliably. More than half the time I can hit driver because I’m just not swinging well enough to go through the fairway, but I hate when I hit it 250-270 straight and now it’s going to take a miracle to get back to the fairway assuming I can find the ball. The frustrating part is that 200-210 yards doesn’t always get you a look around the corner either. You want 220-230 from the Whites on many of the doglegs. The course is only about 6000 yards, but a bit tricked up in many respects and even the big hitters can’t really overpower it without a lot of risk.

FWIW I already carry PW, GW, SW and LW. I have dropped a longer club for a 64* a few times, but that’s a club you need to practice with regularly and I think 60* is enough.

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#15

I don’t really alter my swing per se, as my normal swing is basically 3/4 kinda Rahmbo-ish looking. I alter stance and ball position (open/closed/square–ball up or back), follow thru (high/low finish) or choke down on the grip. I use 2.0 Jumbo Grips with very little taper, if you choke down and execute your stock swing, (you also have to lower your CIG when you do that) you will lose 10-15 yds off your stock yardage…Altering your swing…wow…that can really develop into bad habits adjustment here, there and everywhere. Then you are totally mucked up!

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#16

Got it. I only have 3 wedges now, and I’m finding a bit too much yardage clustering, despite the substantially different shots. Not to mention I’m feeling the same trying to duplicate Pelz’s finesse swing motion, as I did long ago trying to throw a spiral, playing catch with my Dad… “You…, 'ya just throw it like this! Damn it!” It’s soooooo easy. Just swing your whole body! Grrr.

Sounds like a tough, fun course.

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#17

Not alter it, per se. Just don’t take it back so far. I have a driver swing where I’m stepping on it, and go-ing, vs. one where I’m going what feels like 3/4, then dropping and swinging through. One is a lot more accurate than the other…

I tell you, videotaping your swing is eye-opening. Holy over-extension Batman!

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#18

I had D,3w,5w,4h in my bag…couldn’t hit the 4h and the 5w seemed to just naturally draw when i used it…well draw/hook lol. I got fitted for new woods by a Callaway rep at a local range and followed it testing TM’s, Ping and a few other brands before settling on Callaway Epic max D,5w and 7w…I went for a shorter shaft on the driver and for the course I play every week with my friend since I changed the woods at the end of Aug I have broken 90 9 times out of 12 rounds.
More importantly I now have more confidence in using the 5&7 a lot more during the round now off of the fairway…even if I don’t always hit them as well as I hope-I at least feel I can take in a 180-210 shot to a green now whereas before I wouldn’t entertain it.

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#19

Agreed (higher handicapper version).

Played a 4W this past season that I … sometimes but not always … hit decently enough off the tee; I do not have the skill nor the swing speed to even bother with it off the fairway.

The club after that for me is a 7W which I could hit well enough from the fairway or very light rough.

Next season gonna try and get the driver going and add a very player-friendly GI type of 5W that I could use on both tee and fairway. :crossed_fingers:

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#20

Nice! …that’s where I’d like to try to get to … as always: Work In Progress!

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#21

First, if you are close to breaking 80 then can we assume that you are a 12 or 13 HCP or lower? Seems a safe assumption. So if you are a 12 HCP, do you put clubs in your bag that you cannot hit consistently? I generally take those OUT of my bag unless I need them for a specific hole at a specific course. For example, a long (180+ yard) PAR 3 that you need to carry a hazard. Now the young guys say “no sweat I’ll hit my 8 iron!” LOL. Most of us ‘senior’ players dont have an 8 iron or even a 6 iron, that can make that shot. But I have used a 5W for a couple courses at 185-190 yards. Works well for me. I am a low ball striker so my hybrid doesn’t always give me the carry I need to clear water all the time. So I do swap those two clubs in and out. I do use my 3W a lot, especially on long (420+ yard) PAR 4 holes. I adjust my bag by: 1) Course I am playing; 2) Conditions (hot/summer or wet/winter); 3)How well my swing is working. All of these play into what is in my bag. Course - long PAR 3s or real long PAR 5s. Summer - ball will rollout better; winter - wet course needs more carry. Swing - since I am older my swing varies on what hurts that day. Arthritis and old age play hell with consistency.
For new golfers, working out what clubs work for you is part of the fun. Just like finding the best driver, the best irons, the best ball, and the best putter. That is one of the best parts of golf. I like hitting new gear.

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#22

As a 63 year old, I do feel I am a “senior” golfer. In my youth 6800 to 7000 yd courses never bothered me. At the height of my abilities, I played to a legitimate 2.5. I rarely shot over 75, course mattered not. I could hit my Driver 270, my 5iron would carry 195-200 without a second thought. As I have aged , I shortened the courses. I get maxed out around 6400 yds. It’s a long story, but I have come to this conclusion. No matter how old you are and you keep in reasonable shape, if you apply proper grip and swing mechanics the new equipment and especially the balls will really increase your carry distance and length. BUT, you have to put in some work. On a correct strike, my driver will carry 240ish and roll out to 260 and I’m generating about 140-143 ball speed consistently. Long story, I got injured 6 years ago, had to lay off, probably came back too soon and made swings that were not proper, so you begin a personal search, adjust here/there everywhere. Then I took a video of my swing and went Holy Mother of God…what the hell have you done. So I began a rebuild to get back to proper positions one step at a time…How bad was I? Well driver speed was maybe 87, distance was 190 to 200, my partners were like welcome to old age. Well, I went to work…My swing speed is 95-98, ball speed is what I told you, my distance is back to an acceptable distance for me, but I still think I can get more. If I have to carry 200 yds I can swing outta my shoes with my 22* 7w or take a normal swipe with my 18* hyb. I carry a 14* 3w and can carry that 220ish easy. It’s mechanics and the ball. Plain and simple. 420par, 2 weeks ago I hit a Dr 255ish leaving me 165in which was a smooth 7iron. There was very little breeze and it was like 65 outside. I have freaked my playing partners out. I play the course around 6000 yd and I spot them the gold tees which is 5300…even doing that, I’ll be hitting PW into some holes from 120 and they still have to hit 7i. Maybe people will disagree with my take…but I firmly believe it’s mechanics, I take vids and show them, no extension on takeaway, no dropping the club into the slot on the transition, head moving ahead of the ball, improper weight shift, no extension through the ball…I can show a horse water, but I can’t make them drink. I broke my bad habits and returned to my roots, I would say if I had todays ball back then I would have been able to bash drives in the 300 range. All said, know your distances, if you want to have FUN, play the proper tees…the game (and it is a game) is much more fun! I wanted to add this in about “senior” golfers. Mr. Player was out our way over the summer. He’s 85, now at 85 age catches up with everyone. BUT, he stays fit, eats well, works on his game. He hits his Driver 225-230 easy. I played a round of golf with Mr. Snead when he was 77 and had visible signs of Parkinsons, I was still in my youth! He busted the ball past me and we weren’t measuring. It’s mechanics, your ability to stay fit and keep flexible as best you can and now the ball. Today’s ball is just amazing for us old guys. Balls are custom fit for every swing today!

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#23

I didn’t read the article but I assume it says the same thing every other article says about the average golfer with a 3 wood, which is, there are better choices from the fairway for the average player.

See the TXG video where they evaluate 3w, 4w & 5w with a 95 mph swing. Matty boy is amazing in that he can just shift down a gear or two on the swing speed thing. Results: There was no difference between the 4w & 5w in distance but better trajectory with the 5w, both went farther than the 3w. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2H2r2s2rRY&t=877s

Adam Scott actually carries a 4 wood (16.5*), not a 3 wood. Unless you are using a 3w as a substitute driver, you probably should be using something else off the deck for maximum distance.

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#24

Interesting… That’s not all that much slower than my driver CHS (105-108, judging by ball speed 155-161), and yet that’s not the case at all with my 3W and 5W. Part of the problem was that I was gaming a 40.5" shaft in the 5W, but even after lengthening it to 41.5-42, it’s still shorter. Even turned down to 18 vs 19. (147-150 ball speed 3W, 138-145 ball speed 5W). I’ve never tried a 4W, that I know of.

I’m all about ‘whatever works.’ I’d love to try a hybrid, just for $#its and giggles. I smack a 3i ok, but if a hybrid works better, why not?

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#25

Interesting vid. I do utilize trackers but not like this and I definitely don’t like to use any numbers off a mat. I have basically set up my bag over the last 15 years based on club loft only. My D is 9.5* 46.5"L, I actually delofted my 3W to 14* 44"L and even at my swing speed I can get 215 carry (with what I call a lower trajectory) —225-230 roll out off the turf ( I can take it up to 16.5* if I wanted to), I carry 18Hyb 42"L, I can carry that 200 no prob with a 215-220 roll out, what I call mid trajectory, I carry a 22 * 7W 42"L, I can carry that 190 with like roll out to 200. Very high trajectory, like 5i-6i trajectory, there isn’t a ton of roll out. I can choke down, I can alter ball position, I can ramp my swing speed up or down like 8-10% before stuff gets wonky. I kinda like my set-up right now, In general, I’m looking for that 10-15 yd difference in length total… These are what I prefer… I keep loft difference at 4 * all the way thru my bag, except LW which is 60. This seems to keep me out of the tweeners. Golf is an imperfect game, played by imperfect people, with imperfect swings. Most weekday or weekend amateurs don’t know how to recognize conditions & lies… I think that’s a lost art. I constantly see my partners try and force something with a 16* out of a lie that is screaming for a 22*, take a swipe and wonder why the ball does what it does, which is not go the desired distances. One of the best ways to figure stuff out is to play a couple rounds with 3 clubs and a putter… I’ve done that so many times and IMO, it helps you to understand what will work best for you out of your bag. Or just play a few rounds with nothing except 1 type of metalwood only no Dr. For me, for now, he 3W is firmly planted in my old man’s bag. On my home course, I end up using it at least 5 times a round, If I use anything more than 3x, I think it deserves a spot…