David Leighton Reid

Wish I could like this part 1000 times. Hopefully people read this part when they visit the thread.
Go on any golf forum or golf group and there’s going to be a thread almost every week if not more frequent about what loft, what shaft, what driver, fw, hybrid, iron or wedge should I play.
Many are going to be based ing the op’s swing speed, handicap, age. 
 
Only way to know what works best is to hit the club yourself or go get fit. Everything else is a random guess that may or may not work for the op

The past few years I have noticed my 3 and 5 woods were basically the same distance, so I split the difference. I have my 5 wood turned down to 17 degrees, so its really more like a 4 wood. I swapped out my 3 wood for a mini driver, but it is only used off the tee.

I used to play only a 5 wood because I couldn't reliably hit a 3 wood off the deck.  My swing speed isn't that fast, around 100mph driver.  But I never really liked hitting the 5 wood off the tee if my driver was having an off day.  This year I have switched things up.  I now have a 3 wood in the bag for tight fairways off the tee, and a 7 wood in the bag for off the deck.  I tried a 5W in my fitting, and while I did sacrifice some distance from the 5W, it wasn't much (maybe 5 yards on average, 7-9 yards on a perfectly flushed hit with the 5W).  But the difference was that the 7W was so easy to hit.  I'm sure my average yardage wouldn't be much different in real life, as I hit that 7W way more consistently.  So now I play a 3W/7W setup and am liking the results.  If I am further than a 7W distance from the green, I just accept that its out of reach for me, because the chances of me hitting my 3W flush while under pressure aren't great.

I removed my 3 wood from my bag, and use my 5 wood exclusively.  I am hopeful that someday, when I improve, I can hit my 3 wood.

Hi @Jnoble89and welcome to MGS!
I'm still in the experimental phase of this same question. I also have a similar thread that you might want to check out.  I got lots of great feedback from many of the same forum members responding to your question.  Key is that for most amateurs, a 4w or 5w is the better option to a 3w off the deck.  But, because I'm of stubborn German/Irish stock, and really wanted to wring out 3w options, a few decided to indulge me and provide advice.
I don't have an issue launching a 3w (at least those I've played) but I definitely hit my G400 5w more consistently.  My G400 3w flushed just wasn't getting me the yardage I wanted so I just recently picked up a TSi 2 3w with the Tensei Blue AV shaft.  It was the 3w I was fitted for and did offer about 7 yards more distance. But, I'm still finding that my ability to hit it consistently challenging - that is getting optimal launch angle.  I'm also still fine-tuning the hosel LL adjustments to offset fade.  The "teaser" is that when I do flush it, I'm getting that added distance... which keeps me from abandoning a 3w 😆.
I do miss the low/flat profile of the G400.  Not sure why, but that flat sole just exudes confidence for me.  I might try one of the Callaway's 3HL or even a 4W and see how that compares.  Good luck with the challenge.
 

Let’s ignore swing speed. It’s not as big a factor into finding the right club as people want it to be, same with handicap.
Swing technique, how one delivers the club, head shape and type of course conditions one plays are more important.
Even at 105 mph some people are going to see better results with a higher lofted wood than a 3w. 
 
It’s also not just about the loft, as mentioned some head shapes work better for certain golfers than others. But also getting into the right shaft that feels good and provides the golfer with the ability to make better swings. Two options. Go hit a bunch of 4&5 woods with different shafts and find one that works, or go get fit

I wound submit a warranty claim through Taylormade. On the website, they disclaim a 2 year window from purchase date, but I can attest that I just went through the same thing with my M6. Cracked the face and noticed when I was just hitting balls on the range. Taylormade got back to me within a day of submitting the warranty claim and replaced it with a SIM 2 (free upgrade) despite being outside of the 2 year warranty mark with no questions asked. 

TaylorMade has been pretty good about replacing cracked heads.Have your local golf store reach out to them for you.

That's actually one of the first points that I have seen that I understand and agree with that doesn't have some sort of political motivation. Everyone complained about the source of the money, PGA Tour Legacy, 54 hole events, not cut, etc and I personally never agreed or cared about any of those reasons. You have helped me realize a rational, unbiased reason why LIV and PGA can't peacefully coexist with players being on both tours. I had thought about that stuff before but never really had it click into place.

The issue is that the LIV Tour events are required (at least so far) for the LIV players, which means that every single LIV player would miss the PGA Tour event on the same week.  Those 14 weeks every year, the PGA Tour event becomes minor league if enough players go to LIV.  Does the John Deer survive if even fewer top-tier players are available?  Some of the others?  And would LIV stop at 14?  Its just not a sustainable model, in my mind.

Golfworks has a lot of good information on their site. One is a list of shafts for irons, woods, hybrids and wedges.
With threads always popping up about shaft comparisons, specs, etc I’m posting this here as a reference for anyone interested in comparing specs.
If you look at the woods off there are 12 pages of shafts. 
 
Also why it’s anyones guess what shaft will work for your swing.
https://www.golfworks.com/choosing-the-best-shaft-for-your-game/a/1650/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVnE0W-cjgY
This popped up on my Google feed... Wow.

Enjoy all!
 

... I think I can honestly say not a single club in my bag is giving me hell. My bag is in very good shape at the moment. I on the other hand, can give hell to any club. Last several rounds I have topped a 5 wood, thinned a 4 iron, hit a LW fat only covering 30 of the 60yds to the pin, flew a 7 iron out of light rough over the green and hooked a hybrid into a bush necessitating a drop. As much as I would love to claim otherwise, none of the above were the fault of any of my clubs. 🙄

I trimmed my 5 wood shaft an inch so it is more like a 9 wood shaft and I love it. I fiddled around with gripping down for a few rounds to make sure I was comfortable with it. I lost very little clubhead speed and distance and, naturally, had a more consistent strike. Again, try gripping down at first but as a guy with a long torso and long arms it makes sense that I might like a shorter shaft. 

I believe I have a lifetime membership. So wishing that it would expire! 

My brother from another mother, Tom!  Yes, my course's par 3's are different yardages as well... but offset almost exactly by the prevailing wind, or "strategic" pin placement front to back.  It has gotten to the point that I can walk to all 4 tees without looking at my gps or rangefinder with my 6 iron, LW, and Putter and tell my playing partner to meet me at the green. 🙃  My next visit to the range will be with one club...  I will learn to hit that thing just as you have!
I guess I need to search for the "Aceless" thread... I think I could have been a charter member and still in good standing!  

Now I know we are twins. I went through that last year with my 6 iron. everything was fine except for the 6 iron. All four of my courses par 3's require a 6 iron. They are different yardages but play differently due to elevation changes which all require a 6 iron. I spent 2 weeks of range time with a 6 iron in my hand until I got it worked out. I hate the range but it was necessary.  Figuring out the 6 iron was  my only hope of getting out of the Aceless thread.  And I'm still trying to get out!

6 iron.  Why do those 4 little degrees of loft from a 7 iron make it such a different animal to hit?  Either its a toe - short and right, or a fat short and left.  Leaves me a huge gap between the 7 iron and my 5 hybrid that seems to be exactly where every par 3 at my course, and most of my approach shots on par 4's play from.  As much practice as I get with it "on course" you would think I could learn to hit it.

At the moment, my 3 wood; it hates me.

Driver, it's always the driver!

I force myself to carry and use a hybrid between my 3W and 4i, even though I've never liked it. I certainly get some good shots with it, but it's never been as reliable for me as a long iron - probably because my formative years in golf there was no such thing as a hybrid... 

"What club in your bag is giving you hell right now?"
Hmmmmm.... 🤔 ... I can only pick *ONE*??!!??
hahaha
Real answer is 5W then driver. 

I may have to look into the fairway woods.  As for the "for old men" part, unfortunately there is a lot more going on in my body that make me look/feel old than just a couple of clubs in my golf bag. 😉 

Hybrids - still not used to these short shafted tiny fairway woods.  Getting better but still considering giving up on them all together.