How many of you have opted out of a 3W for a different club in the top of the bag?

[Eltrain41]

I ditched my 3-wood after 20 yrs. It went maybe 10-15 yards shorter than my driver and really only used it when I put the driver in jail. I could never really hit it well off the fairway. A friend gifted me an Adams 2H and after sitting in my garage unused for 10 yrs, I've swapped it w/ the 3-wood and it was a great decision. Now on Par 5's, I feel much more confident hitting a hybrid into a green than a 3 wood coming in low and hot. Off the tee, the hybrid goes about 235 so gives me options when i don't need/want driver. 

[tdroma98]

Great topic @C_Daddy19! 
I just got fitted & purchased new Titleist irons, the Titliest fitter blended the Irons:
T350 - 5i
T200 - 6i thru PW
Vokey SM10 Wedges - 48, 54 & 58 degree

I just swapped out my 5 wood (19 degrees Callaway Black rzor X) with a new 19-degree Titleist TR2 Hybrid with Tensei 65 S shaft and I've been playing a 4 hybrid - 22 degree with a UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 75 S shaft, ditching the 4 iron. Love the 4 hybrid! 

With getting the new irons, I've been tweaking the settings of the hybrids/woods and contemplating ditching the 3 wood for a 4 wood. 16 degrees easier to hit than a 15 or 14.5, especially off the deck.

The 19-degree Titleist hybrid is set at 18.25 degrees /.75-degree upright - the upright setting is how my irons were fitted (2 degree upright & 1 degree for the SM10's), so I thought I'd try the upright setting with the hybrid.
21-degree Callaway Apex is adjusted to 22-degree standard (from draw bias)
The changes are based off the new T350 5i, which will have a 23-degree loft. 

While the 19-degree TR2 is new in my bag (about 2wks old), I hit the club very well.  Which prompted the idea to ditch my Callaway Maverick 3w - 15 degree.  I'm convinced the 65-gram, stiff, Tensei Blue shaft is amazing!
Good conversation to see how other golfers set their bags up and the club thought! 

[Glennyboy]

Ditched my stealth 2+ 3w last april and went with the mini BRNR 13.5* pretty much a glorified 2w and have not looked back.

Off the tee its no comparison to any 3w on the market and is surprisingly really usuable off the deck.

It actually makes me take a conservative shot cause when I rarely do come across that I need to use it off the deck it has to be a pretty darn good lie. If not then just lay up while when I used to have a normal 3w I would try a hero shot with it and usually end up in crap 

[dpaulus]

I still carry a 3-wood but long ago I put a Taylormade 2-hybrid in the bag and still use it more than the 3-wood. It is easier to hit and has almost the same distance with a higher trajectory.. I have had several offers to sell it, but I am holding on to it since I no longer see a 16 degree hybrid around at a price I can afford.

[JBlacker]

Titleist TSR2 18*

[Ragtop27]

3 Wood and I love it and hit it well

[slash25rc]

I use a Sim 2 HL 3 wood (so 16.5 4w) and I really like it. I had traditional 3 woods that I couldn't hit well and this thing is a rocket with great launch. I have a Ping G430 7w at 21 degrees, a 22 degree 4H and a 24 degree 5H and only clubs close in gapping are 7w and 4H, but I play different shots with them. I could probable turn the 7w down in the 19.5 range to make it more like a 5w, but I don't want to mess with opening the face to do so, and I hit it so well that it's hard to tinker for a little extra distance. 

[Darwin Capwill]

I gave up my 3 wood several years ago. I now have a driver, 5 wood, 7 wood and a 9 wood. I  hit my 5 wood about as far as my 3 wood on it's best day. So I gave it up. My score has dropped and my game is much less stressful. 

[Dropping2]

Dropped my 3w and went with a 17* Apex UW and 4h. UW for off the tee and for longer 2nd shots without a lot of trouble. And the 4h for greens at 200 or a touch more. I played a 7w for a little bit too, but noticed I never took it out when accuracy was needed. 

[RetiredBoomer]

I stopped using a 3-wood when I switched from store model clubs to pro shop clubs many decades ago.  

2, 4, 5, 7 works best for me.

Factory published lofts on present clubs are 13, 18.5, 21, and 24°.    

[rogercarter]

Interesting conversation.

I recently changed the top of my bag.  I"m a 3 index and I swing my driver at around 100mph.  I used to have D-3w-5w-7w-5h-6i and then down thru the irons.  I had all my fairway woods and hybrid lofted up a little to try and create the right gapping off my 6i.  But it didn't work very well; I had a big gap between the 6i and 5h and my 5w and 7w seemed too similar in flight and carry.  I happened to see a WITB for Nelly Korda recently, and she carries (at least for one of her recent wins) D-3w-7w-5h-5i-6i and so on.  I thought if If its good enough for Nelly.......So I took my 5w out of the bag, lofted my 7w down, (so its closer to 6w), returned my 5h to standard loft and added a 5i to my bag.  Result was much better gapping throughout the bag.

In respect to eliminating the 3w, on my home course I have 1 hole I prefer 3w off the tee and two par 5's I need it for my second shot.  I've thought about taking it out, but I don't know what I would add that I need more than the 3w.

[sbeiden]

VERY Happily using a Callaway Apex UW in both 17 degree and 21 degree - and they act like very different clubs with the ball flight. I also have MP-H5 2i that I just added to the bag. Same carry distance as the 17 degree, however MUCH lower, and use it for windy days or courses where a low runner is best. I also find I hit a really reliable straight shot with the 2i and a fade with the UW 17 - so for now, they both have a place.

[USMCSnyper]

I purchased a Cobra LDTX Max and increased the loft to make it a 4 wood-ish. I did the same with the 5 wood and it seems to work well.

[Mark Brazell]

I actually love my 3 wood, I seem to hit all of my woods, driver, 3 (15 degrees) and 5 (18 degrees) woods well.  I've played around with a 7 wood too that I bought last year and interchange that with my Hybrid on occasion.  If I were to replace it I'd consider adjusting my 5 wood to a stronger loft and adding another hybrid, but so far I've been really happy with the Ping fairway woods.

Cobra Aerojet Driver 10.5

Ping G430 3 and 5 wood

Callaway Rogue 3 hybrid (18 deg) or Paradym 7 wood (21 deg)

Callaway Apex 21 irons 5 through AW

Titleist Vokey SM9 54 and 58 degree

Cobra Vintage Sport 45 putter

[CudaKota66]

I carry a Callaway Paradym set at 11 degrees at the top of the bag.

My 3W is a Cobra F9, but set at 16 degrees (considered a 4W loft)

Callaway EpicMax occupies the 7W slot

A 'old' Adams a12 OS is my reliable 3-hybrid

All of them misbehaved - at various levels - until I found an EvenFlow Green shaft fits my swing. Period. 55g Stiff in the driver, 65g Stiff in the FWs. ProLaunch Blue 60g Stiff shaft in the hybrid.

 

[Indy_Oz]

I have been thinking about making a similar change and pull the 3W out of my bag.

I hit my 3W great off the tee, but very rarely use it off the ground. I think a de-lofted 5W would be better as a '4W' to fit between my driver and 7W and ground interaction and launch may be better than an increased loft 3W. I also carry a 3H (dropped to 18*, so a 2.5H) in place of a driving iron as a fairway finder and to use for recovery shots and when keeping it low off the fairway. 

[Wheelieb]

I got rid of my 3 wood and just went 5 wood and then 7 wood. Do I have a big gap between my 5 wood and my driver? Absolutely. The courses I play, am I ever going to need a 3 wood out of the fairway? Absolutely not. I was playing at my “home course” and a par 5 I went 5 wood for 260 then 7 wood for 235 which put me just left on the fringe. 3 putted from there for par cause I got excited. 

[Atoomany]

I have just replaced my 15degree 3 wood with a 17 degree Hywood from Cleveland.    I Get the same distance but with more height and stopping power.       Much better for approach into par 5 and more control on short par 4. 

[unccross]

I had taken all fairway woods out of the bag, until recently put a 7 wood back in. 

[CrazyGolfNut]

Well, you got me thinking. I would like to add a wedge to my bag but don't have room. I never use my 3 wood from the fairway but use off the tee once in a while and for chipping out from under the trees.  It provides me with a low running 100 to 150 yard chip. I should try and see if I can get my 5 wood to do the same thing. 

[sman3115]

35 minutes ago, CrazyGolfNut said:

Well, you got me thinking. I would like to add a wedge to my bag but don't have room. I never use my 3 wood from the fairway but use off the tee once in a while and for chipping out from under the trees.  It provides me with a low running 100 to 150 yard chip. I should try and see if I can get my 5 wood to do the same thing. 

Do it.  I use my hybrid for those low punch shots.  It's a lot easier to punch down with some force to get some good distance on it without as much risk of hitting it too high in the air which is what would happen when I used to use my 4I for that

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

Interesting topic. I posted something elsewhere too and am on the fence to maybe move into a 5w:

 

Always been a tinkerer of the top of my bag. Currently go:

16.5° Rouge st ls at 42.75”

21° apex uw 

18° Caley DI

 

looking at my last 15 rounds of data, I feel like I can consolidate some clubs.

last year I was hitting it much better but still mostly off the tee. That longest distance was a tee shot in a tournament after my driver cog malfunctioned and I couldn’t use it the rest of the round. The 3i longest here was also a different setup shaft wise that could really bomb it but I couldn’t time it well and couldn’t really hit it off the turf. I now have a more optimal setup. 

2023 stats

 

With the Callaway trade in deal I thought why not trade in my two woods and get a TD 5w as I believe the shorter shaft and low spin could help. My 4w I sometimes play off the tee but if I’m not careful I duck hook it like crazy. I was fit for it 2 years ago but lately just haven’t gotten along. I also rarely use it off the turf unless I have a perfect lie and resort to my UW or DI instead. The UW is mostly great but seems to go similar distance to my DI when struck well. On the range I can squeeze a little more out but those are ideal lie situations. Have also thought of trying a different shaft profile in my 4w instead. I could also let my swing changes take hold and grind it out and see if as the year progresses I can get more consistent. Maybe need to try stone executive courses out to get more on course practice. Thoughts?

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Just recently, I have opted to replace my 3w with a mini driver. The 3w was perfectly serviceable, but my driver has been a bit erratic to start the season. The mini-driver gives me a longer insurance policy, in case the driver is acting up any given round, plus hitting it off the deck isn’t too dissimilar to playing a 3w for a similar shot. Given the length of my home course (6300 yards), I don’t use a 3w all that often anyway. 

[Tomc1]

I used to have a 3w in my, very,  old set.  When I had a fitting clubs had changed so much I couldn't hit the bloody thing.  I ended up with a Callaway Utility wood,  which was great during the fitting but I can't get in with it at the moment.  Since getting a Pimg 430 7w, which I love, I'm thinking of either going for a 3w or 5w instead of the UW. 

It's interesting reading others views on the 3w. 

[Slothsquatch]

For me, my 3 wood stays. I moved the 5 wood out once I got better with my hybrids. 

[Manny]

Very interesting question, as I am contemplating getting newish hybrids. I currently have a Callaway Xr hybrids 3 (19 degree) 4 (22 degree) and a Callaway Apex 5 (24 degree)

I'd like to get all 3  the same such as a Ping G hybrid set 3,4,5.

Any thoughts?

[KC Golf]

This is a great question.  Your driver swing speed is really impressive.

I still have my 3W in there.  I used the 3W for tee shorts where driver would be too long and I can't carry the trouble, etc.  I used to game 16.5 deg vs my current 15 deg.  But I found the 15 deg has a great lower flight pattern, so I get less wind issues with it.

I should really re think this part of the bag.  You got me thinking about it.

[CDB123]

I don’t think most people have the swing speed to carry a 3 wood.  Loft is your friend when you get older and slower.   I have my 5 wood and four wedges.  I was playing a round in Florida this year and got paired up with some old retired guys in their late 60’s and 70’s.  The guy tried to hit his 3 wood from everywhere and  just rolled it every time.  He had an old Callaway 7 “heaven wood” in his bag and said he hasn’t hit it in years.  I made him hit it and he hit it further and got every shot airborne.  Crazy how ego gets in the way of hitting the right club!  He just felt he needed to hit the longest club in his bag.

[Barley Spargewater]

Great question! I dropped a 19 deg hybrid for a 5w, pulled my 3w and replaced it with a TM mini driver.  This fixed some gapping issues at the top of my bag. I also got new irons and made a few tweaks to make my gapping of the scoring clubs more in line with the rest of the bag. 

[Jojostageleft]

I recently when through a similar thought process while looking to upgrade/replace my old Taylormade Burner (2008) 3w 15 degree. I was between a Titleist TSi2 15 degree, and a TSi3 16.5 degree and settled on the 16.5 as I felt it hit my yardage gaps a little better. There wasn't a huge difference between my 3w and driver, but the 16.5 degree has a more reliable gap. It's also a little easier to hit off the deck, and I feel much more confident reaching for it when I'm not on a tee box.