Equipment
What GolfWRXers are saying about ditching their driver for a strong 3-wood
In our forums, our members have been discussing the merit of dropping their driver in favor of a strong 3-wood. Struggling with consistency with the big stick, WRXer ‘grisham’ says his accuracy off the tee has improved dramatically by using a strong 3-wood and asks have any fellow members taken the same approach.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Myherobobhope: “I’ve tinkered with ideas like this… but I think having a driver in the bag and confidence with it on the course is important to shooting your best possible score. It might be a 44-inch 13-degree driver… but I think you need to find a way to maximize length while minimizing risk. Step one is getting the ball in play, and step 2 is hitting the ball as far as possible while managing step 1…”
- BMC: “Swing speed plays a big role. Sub 95 mph, go with 44 inch/ 14*. Could be labeled a 3 wood or driver. Swing shape plays a role too. I use an OG Rapture 3 wood and can hit a high draw with it for max distance.”
- Newgs: “I go back and forth between my 3w and my driver as my top club. One thing I have noticed is I get in a lot less trouble with my 3w than with my driver, and that makes my round a lot more fun. What distance I lose, which isn’t much, is made up easily with more fairways instead of rough or worse. My thing is I tend to over swing with my driver, which, as noted above, is more between the ears than anything else. Go with what works for you at the end of the day though.”
- bubbagump: “I’ve been rocking a SLDR mini since it came out, and have zero regrets in using it as my main tee club. I do agree, that even if you mash it and are within say 10-15y of your driver you are leaving likely at least 1 club out there each hole which can add up fast, but accuracy can never hurt either, and if you are comfortable with some longer approaches in some cases, it equals out. I used the mini almost exclusively off the tee because most the courses I played it was all I needed but when I would play longer holes or courses the difference of a driver could really be handy. I really began to work on driver, and get it into shape, and now I am comfortable pulling it but still use the mini often as course management requires it the better club. I have kept the mini in also because I use it as a 3w, so I hit it both off the deck and tee, so its not just a boutique luxury club taking a spot in the bag. If you can find your way around most courses with a strong 3w, 2w or mini I would say go for it and see how it works for you.”
Entire Thread: “Ditching the driver for a strong 3-wood”
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Whats in the Bag
Taylor Pendrith’s winning WITB: 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Accra TZ Six ST
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 80 6.5 TX
7-wood: Ping G425 Max (20.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 90 6.5 TX
Irons: Srixon ZX (2, 3) Buy here, Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-9) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 6.5 90, 6.5 100 (2-3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 Tour Rack (46-10 Mid, 52-10 Mid, 56-10 Mid, 60-9 Full) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Odyssey Jailbird Versa Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Ben Kohles WITB 2024 (May)
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4, 5), Titleist 620 CB (6-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-12D, 60)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Putter: Scotty Cameron P5 prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Ben Kohles’ clubs in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)
- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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Scans
May 23, 2020 at 3:45 pm
I made the switch to a Taylormade Burner at 13.5* stiff shaft in 2008. I have been the best driver in my group since. It occurred to me that every time I got on a tight hole I pulled a 3 wood. Why not try a high lofted driver. It works great for me. My club is a tree lined tight driving course. Finding the fairway is required to score well. Far easier to hit than the 10.5* driver I had. Just switched to a Taylormade M6 at 12* adjusted to 13.5*. Honestly not sure it’s any better than my 2008 Burner but both are much easier than lowers lofted drivers. Give it a try.
15th Club
May 23, 2020 at 12:38 pm
I am as anti-driver as anybody. And I am sympathetic to this idea. But I wouldn’t drop driver from my 14-club set. (Driver is the first club tossed out when I walk with a Sunday bag and 7 or 8 clubs.)
Rather, I’d keep thedriver, and a strong 3w, and a fw, but adjust my long iron lifts to widen the loft gaps and drop the 3-, 4-, or 5-iron. Or else limit my wedges.