Strategy 5 wood or 3 iron

Equipment
#1

I used to have a single digit handicap in my youth. I have only played sporadically in the last 20 years. However, this year I caught the golf bug once again. I am trying to improve my game and the course that I play at is a tight where a premium is placed on accuracy above length. 210 in the fairway would be perfect on most holes. I don’t currently have that shot and it shows. Looking over my Arccos data I am consistently losing 1.7 strokes per round to a 10 handicapper. My only stat that is worse is putting. My go to clubs for that length are my 3-iron which may go that far, but I’m inconsistent. My 5-wood I have hated for years and is long enough, but not very accurate. I believe because it’s an offset hybrid that I inherited from my father years ago. I was a very good long iron player when I played, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that will continue in my 50s.

I’m having a strategy problem I believe more than a club problem. If I know that long term I will keep the 3-iron in my bag than I go that route since typically irons are more accurate than most woods. The other choice is to bite the bullet and get a good 5-wood to hit off of the tee. Have others faced this dilemma and how do I resolve it?

#2

If you have the budget, go get fit and get the club that fits your game today

Improve your game for 2 years and re assess

Also google decade ncaa driving video

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#3

I know very few ams who are better off playing a 3 iron than they are gaming a hybrid. The beauty of a hybrid is they’re easy to hit from all kinds of lies and depending on your needs you can dial them in to carry and roll out or you can set up to have plenty of carry and land soft and stop.

I’d go get fit for a hybrid to replace that 3 iron.

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#4

Couple of things.
I don’t have that shot consistently and I play at or near 0.
On your Arccos data you state you are losing 1.7 to a 10. Is that driving? Approach? etc. If it is driving and you are hitting irons off the tee it is an irrelevant stat. You are comparing yourself to others who hit driver.
I can say without any hesitation that the 3 iron won’t be in you bag for long.
Hybrid is probably the way to go. I haven’t hit it but Callaway’s super hybrid has received many positive reviews.

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#5

Just want to say that you should check the loft of your 3-iron. I game a 3-iron which is somewhat uncommon among amateurs, but at 22* of loft it is more like a modern 4-iron. I also game what a lot would consider a 3-hybrid at 19* of loft which is what a 5-wood would replacing.

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#6

First, congrats in having a golf bug relapse. I replaced my 3i with a 3H. It was a significant improvement in outcome and my outlook. You may want to look at getting an “appropriate” 5W at some point. But, I don’t think you’ll go wrong getting a hybrid. Fairways & greens!

#7

I have a 21 deg 3i and a 18deg 5 wood. I can hit good 3i shots but ask me to hit a 5 wood off the deck and I don’t even try it unless it is really sitting up in the rough. My typical shot with a 5w is a wormburner. For me the 3i is a no brainer

#8

That would be with the driver. Except of course on the holes I can’t hit driver. There are a number of spots on the course where driver is not the best choice, not for accuracy, but because of distance.

I’ve found that I need to work on my accuracy with my woods and I am, but that takes time. :slight_smile:

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#9

My 3I has a 20 deg loft. I consistently hit it in the fairway, but the distance variation is 170-220.

The 5W is currently all over the map, but a consistent 210.

#10

Have you considered a hybrid? If you can hit a 3 iron decently, it might be a solid option…

I’m a big fan of sub70 and their newest hybrid is pretty good… it’s also significantly cheaper than oems.

Www.sub70golf.com

I think the offset in your 5 wood is probably the issue, though.

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#11

There are also a class of utility irons you might try. They aren’t the old 1 irons of old and they do have some of the moi benefits of a hybrid but feel more like an iron in your hands. I used one for a while in my bag and while I could get pretty consistent line and distance, I ended up preferring the versatility of a 5 wood. The driving iron would fly a little low off the deck and didn’t have the stopping power i needed hitting into greens. My swing has changed over the winter so I may end up giving it another go but I feel super confident with my current 5 wood so I don’t want to fix something that isn’t broken.

I’ve always loved 5 woods from the time i was 11 and inherited my mom’s baby blue 5 wood so I’m kind of an odd duck when it comes to woods.

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#12

I would definitely demo some stuff. I am one of the few that hits a 3 utility iron better than a fairway wood or hybrid. I have really been trying to figure out a hybrid as I feel I need the forgiveness and distance, but the new utility irons are more forgiving and some people’s swing is better suited to irons.

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#13

Agreed on the demo! If he can hit a 3 iron decently, a 3 utility might have enough added forgiveness to dial in the dispersion… I also really like my Sub70 4 utility!

I’m carrying a 4 utility and a 3 hybrid… I like the utility for low shots and punches… great for stingers into the wind. I like the hybrid for higher shots and into greens… I feel like my setup might be backwards for how I use the two, but oh well…

I’ve never gotten along with 5 woods… my bag currently doesn’t even have a 3 wood in it, and I haven’t been missing it… The gap between driver and 5 iron is an interesting space, and I think people need to put more thought into what they are using there and HOW they are using those clubs… It’s similar to wedges where you want to have multiple bounce options.

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#14

Yeah I completely agree about the clubs between say 5-6 iron and driver. I often find myself never hitting the clubs in that space during a round. One reason is I’m pretty consistent with a 6i and if I need a decent layup I will use that club to be safe. My course has a LOT of OB and trouble and for me hitting a hybrid or fairway is a big risk. I will use 3 wood or hybrid on certain doglegs, but that depends on the tee, wind, etc.

I have been trying to find that ~ 200 yard club that I am really consistent with, but I haven’t found it or the swing for it yet. Half the time when I lay up with 6i, I flush it 180 yards and another 20 usually doesn’t help me much…of course when the par 3 is 180 I need to hit 5i or 4h because I NEVER flush the 6i then lol.

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#15

I was a very good 1-iron player in my time. However that time for sure has passed. :slight_smile:

#16

Isn’t that the truth about when you flush something. If you find that consistent 200 yard club be sure to let me know. I am looking as well.

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#17

I have two hybrids I take in and out of the bag depending on course and conditions. One is a heat seeking laser that runs out. The other is one I can carry 230-250 and have it stop where it lands. Not saying this is what you should do, but showing the versatility of hybrids.
Go hit a couple. If you don’t want to spend the money on a fitting go to Golf Galaxy or somewhere you can get some data for free then go out and find the right club for your game.

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#18

I’ve been through 2 fittings for hybrids, but I was unable to take the results to the course. Originally I had 3 and 5 hybrids. The 5h was pretty good, but overall I was better with a 5i. Similar with the 3h. They are more forgiving and they hit higher and longer, but the misses are also a LOT bigger. If I miss a 3i it generally goes 150 yds and fairly straight which is ok unless I am trying to carry a hazard. A miss with the 3h can go 40 yards left or right which is OB 50% of the time at my course. The 3h was a rocket launcher and could keep up with my driver off the tee, but I was straighter and more consistent with the driver. I’m wondering if a hybrid for me should be built more like an iron (shorter and heavier) rather than at least an inch longer. The only hybrid I ever loved was a Cleveland Halo with a steel shaft.

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#19

Get fit for the club that fits your swing today. Wiser words were never spoken.

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#20

Do as i say, not as i do

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