Between Driver and 5 Wood

[Paul Hedrick]

OK, to start please no negative comments.  I really need something I can hit between my Driver and 5 wood.  I have found I just cannot hit a 3 wood.  My driver is about 200 yards(thank you wife for the fitted driver),and my 5 Wood is about 150 yards. I tried, and tried to hit my 3 wood but I just could not, so,  sold it. I would really like something between the two, but have not found it.

[KC Golf]

Depending on the 3W, they can be hard to hit.  

Have you tried choking down on the 3W to effectively give you a shorter shaft.  It might help you hit more center strikes / better contact.

In terms of clubs, I think you may want to try a driving iron or a low lofted hybrid.  It has a lower trajectory than your 5 wood and should roll out to 175 yds.   It could be a great option on windy days.

Good luck on your search.

[Paul Hedrick]

5 minutes ago, KC Golf said:

Depending on the 3W, they can be hard to hit.  

Have you tried choking down on the 3W to effectively give you a shorter shaft.  It might help you hit more center strikes / better contact.

In terms of clubs, I think you may want to try a driving iron or a low lofted hybrid.  It has a lower trajectory than your 5 wood and should roll out to 175 yds.   It could be a great option on windy days.

Good luck on your search.

Thank you.  Certainly something to look into

[rkj427]

As mentioned before this, possibly a hybrid club or maybe a 4 wood. Both would have more loft and less shaft length than a 3 wood and may be what you are looking for.

If the 4 wood would just increase the distance of your 5 wood, you also could consider moving on from the 5 wood to a 7 wood for better yardage gapping issues which potentially could arise.

[Bossfan]

I used to be be 3w the 5w. I went to fairway wood fitting a year and half ago. The put me in 4w and 4h. It seems to be working 

[oliver.jordan99]

I carry 5w and a P790 2iron works a treat for me

[elight]

You could try a 2h. Or, if going for a driver fitting dramatically increased your driver distance, you could consider going for a fairway fitting and see if they can find a 5 hybrid that is longer and closer to your driver. 

Personally, I do not carry anything between my driver a 5w. The reality is that I'm not hitting many greens at that distance and the extra 10 yards on par 5 second shots doesn't amount to many strokes gained. I'd rather have fewer clubs in the bag (based on where I am as a golfer right now) and more consistency with the clhbs I do have. And it eliminates some decision making. 

[hckymeyer]

Just based on your WITB in your signature it looks like you already carry a 2i.  Do you play it?  Where does that end up distance wise?

Like already mentioned you could look in to a 2h and see how that works out.  You could also try a 3hl (basically a 4w) and see if that fills the gap.

Where does your 4h in the signature fit in on your gapping as well?

Then there's always the club ho in me thinking, well maybe you just haven't tried the RIGHT 3w yet ...

[scbelowpar]

radical thought here.  Sounds like you are comfortable with your driver so what about a second driver in your bag but with a shorter shaft and higher loft?

[Paul Hedrick]

20 hours ago, scbelowpar said:

radical thought here.  Sounds like you are comfortable with your driver so what about a second driver in your bag but with a shorter shaft and higher loft?

hmmmm.... something I had not thought about.  I will certainly look at that.

[RickyBobby_PR]

On 5/3/2024 at 5:43 PM, Paul Hedrick said:

OK, to start please no negative comments.  I really need something I can hit between my Driver and 5 wood.  I have found I just cannot hit a 3 wood.  My driver is about 200 yards(thank you wife for the fitted driver),and my 5 Wood is about 150 yards. I tried, and tried to hit my 3 wood but I just could not, so,  sold it. I would really like something between the two, but have not found it.

What is the purpose of the club between driver and 5w?

 

[Richard Wise]

Might try Cleveland's new Hywood 3+, 17 degree loft it is claimed to be part hybrid and part fairway wood,I hit it at a demo day and it was impressive as I also have issues with a 3 wood.

[mtaxter]

Three years ago I went to the Callaway Epic Super hybrids. 2, 3, and 4. Simply because I could not hit a 3 fairway metal. Now I game the Paradym Supers. These are built like their driver counterparts. I adjust the 2 to 15 degrees and the 3 to 19 degrees. Presto! A 3 fairway and a 5 fairway. Taller faces and smaller heads fit my game. The 4 hybrid is a replacement for a 4 iron. Same loft; easier to hit. 

Edited May 13 by mtaxter
Spelling

[Coachbutnotgolf]

Have you tried the mini-driver from Taylormade? A driving iron, or maybe a super hybrid from Callaway. 

[flsw19]

You could try a 4 wood or another 5 wood with stronger loft.

[frazzman80]

I really enjoy my Callaway Apex Utility Wood (UW). I carry 2 in 17 degrees and 21 degrees. They are not quite woods and not quite hybrids, both are long off the deck and off the tee and I can hit them from any lie. They both fly high and land soft. 
 

My swing speed is higher than yours based on the yardages you provided (I hit the 17 degree 225 and the 21 degree 200), but they have really solidified my long game. Check them out and see if they may bridge the gap for you.

[AvgGolferinPA]

I hit my driver around the same distance, FWIW.  Love my 5W off the fairway or off the tee.  Same issue, was looking for a little more distance between the driver and 5W.  Currently trying a Paradym X 3HL.  Then adjusted up 1 degree, increased loft.  So it's more like a 4+W.  It's been great off the tee.  And improving off the fairway.  Still up to me to put a good swing on it, but I like this combo much better than the 3W I traded.  

[Donn lost in San Diego]

Look at a bunch of large cavity-back irons, find a 3 that looks good to your eye.  A bit harder to hit but might work, I have a Mizuno 3 driving iron, the MP 18 MMC.  Or shave a full inch off your 3 wood shaft. Add back a little lead tape on the head if swing weight feels to low.  Or find another 5 wood that you can add an inch to its length.  Used to be woods called Strong, notated with a Plus sign, usually meant a 3 wood 1 inch longer, 4 wood 1 inch longer.  

[crisj]

I've had trouble with a 3w for years, the cleveland xl halo line is pretty easy to hit imo.  Head is quite a bit larger than most so gives you some confidence for sure.  Definitely not the longest though 

[Paul Hedrick]

On 5/13/2024 at 7:21 AM, Richard Wise said:

Might try Cleveland's new Hywood 3+, 17 degree loft it is claimed to be part hybrid and part fairway wood,I hit it at a demo day and it was impressive as I also have issues with a 3 wood.

Thank you.

[Paul Hedrick]

3 hours ago, crisj said:

I've had trouble with a 3w for years, the cleveland xl halo line is pretty easy to hit imo.  Head is quite a bit larger than most so gives you some confidence for sure.  Definitely not the longest though 

Thank you

[Rob231]

Paul, Are you trying to sweep the 3 wood, like a driver? Try to hit down a little bit and take a very shallow divot. Just my 2 cents worth. I really like my older Cobra F9 3 wood with sole rails. 

[RetiredBoomer]

On 5/3/2024 at 5:43 PM, Paul Hedrick said:

OK, to start please no negative comments.  I really need something I can hit between my Driver and 5 wood.  I have found I just cannot hit a 3 wood.  My driver is about 200 yards(thank you wife for the fitted driver),and my 5 Wood is about 150 yards. I tried, and tried to hit my 3 wood but I just could not, so,  sold it. I would really like something between the two, but have not found it.

IT's really hard for an average recreational player to hit something stronger lofted than a five-wood from the fairway. 

These days, with five woods being so strong lofted compared to the old wooden ones,
most high handicappers probably don't even try.

My own 5-wood (18°) is two degrees stronger than my driving iron (20°) which I don't even attempt hitting off the fairway. 5-wood is my STRONGEST fairway wood.  

Just play from the right set of tees for your game level is what I'd recommend, but good luck with whatever you decide.

[KC Golf]

There are some great suggestions here.  The Cleveland Hywood and the TM Burner Mini sound great to try out.  I think finding the right shaft at a fitting will be critical .  Good luck with your search.

Please keep us posted!