Who carries a 3 wood these days ? No good off the deck unless you are a low handicapper, so are these just for use off the tee ? but if a hybrid can be used is this the end of the 3 wood ?

I carry a 3 wood, but not for the tee because I am no better with the 3 wood than the driver. For me a bad swing is a bad swing whether on a 3 wood or a driver.

I do hit my 3 wood off the deck (it is the small headed type) and have quite some success with it. I also carry a 7 wood, which I seem to have lost the feel for, so I can feel a 5 wood coming...........

Anyone got a 5 wood V Steel2 for sale ?

I've not carried a 3 wood for ages. I have 2 Taylor Made V steel mk II fairways in my bag.

One is a 5 wood which at 18 degrees is a 4 wood in old money. The yardage difference compared to a 15 degree 3 wood is minimal if not non existent and the extra 3 degrees makes it easier to hit off the deck.

The other is a 9 wood which at 22 degrees is really a 7 wood. This takes the place of my 3 iron and is a peach of a club, a wee gem.

My TM rescue has pretty much made a three wood redundant. Maybe its just me, but i see less and less people playing with them now. I find the low lofted resue so much more versatile.

I carry a 3 wood 'cause when my driver stops working (I have days like that) my 3 wood is usually good. And vice versa.

Don't tend to use them both together during a round - it's usually one or t'other.

I am in the same situation as Bill, ie I carry the 3w (15deg) to cover those days the driver decides to go-one strike.  I will also use it on longer par 4 / 5's if I am just off the fairway.

It's a club I really enjoy using and when it's going well the connection and ball flight are just works of art....

I would never be without my 3W in the bag. It's always my go to club if I'm playing a hole with a tight fairway, or a short risk or reward par 4 where you may on a good day drive the green but just as easily loose it to the bushes. TBH, the course I play has limited opportunity for use of a 3w on anything other than the tee,  as all but 1 par 4 is in reach with a mid to high iron 2nd, and the one that isn't has a big risk going with 3w or utility with your second unless well up with your drive. I also find that although I'm not a big hitter, I still drive the ball a fair distance with 3W.

I play to mid handicap but on most occasions manage to get the ball airborne off the deck with 3w. At the range, do you practice hitting 3w or even driver off the mat? I do quite often, though very rarely attempt driver off the deck on the course!

Its maybe also the wrong 3w for you Stokie? Have you tried many others? I agree with Geldap, there's a big gap between driver and utility. I've got a Benross 3G Trimass which although a semi budget club, is without doubt my favourite. (Until I get my Versus driver from pure forged or MP60's in 7 days!) 

I appreciate that a 3 wood can fill the gap between a driver and a rescue, but i wonder how often that sort of yardage is called for. If i want to lay back off a tee i can either hit my rescue or bunt a driver, if I need a slightly longer shot.

The only time I miss a 3 wood is when i am say 220-230 from the green (ie on a par 5). I have always been able to hit my driver off the deck so that is always an option. If I don't fancy it, I know that while a rescue might leave me a little short, I've always got the chance of a pitch/chip and a putt. The increased accuracy and consistency of the rescue, in my book, makes up for this "gap" in the bag.

This may though have something to do with the make up of the holes at my course, and if i played my golf at a different course (say with longer par fours and fives) I might have a different view.

Hi All,   Up until recently my 3 wood was only to fill the empty space in the bag. Like topslice***etc i also bought a benross v6 3 w and was surprised by the height it flew both off tee and deck.  Nowadays if there's a tailwind it will be first choice as the height equals carry! Last time out with a tailwind i out drove my partners by 20yds with it. I'm sure when our fairways dry out i'll be more inclined to try and tw*t  it to the greens on par 5's!  It's definitely staying in the bag.

"erm yes, driver 265, hybrid 210, 55 yard gap filled by 15 degree 3 wood"

Snap, I use the 3 wood at least 6 times every round

does that 6 include tee shots Worm, or do you genuinely face 6 240 yard approaches per round?  (If so, I'm glad I don't play at your course!)

If you had an acceptable alternative strategy off the tee (ie a bunt with a driver etc etc) how many times would you actually need the three wood?

One more question, what loft do you have on your hybrid?

230/250 yards Driver 10.5* - can't hit off the deck

200/220 yards 3 wood 15* -  off the deck if required and sitting pretty + long par 3's into prevailing wind - three at The Vale over 180 yards. Eg S.I. 17 = 197 yards off white tee & faces South West.

180/200 yards hybrid 19*  - go to off the deck for any lie + off tee par 3's

160/170 yards hybrid 24*  - off the deck approaches to clear bunkers & stop, or into par 3's from tee.

This is the long end of my bag and although my 4/5 irons also slot in distances similar to the hybrids - not as high, drop & stop, which our summer time unreceptive greens require.

I would have a real problem without a 3 wood on The Vale, as it is a long track even off the yellows (6648) and off the whites (7154).  Luckily my previous shorter course didn't really require a driver so I became quite adept with the 3 wood and I have kept the same one in my bag for 8 years.

I have a 3 wood and 4 wood that I alternate between-according to the course/conditions.

3 wood is a Ping G10 14.5 degree with XS UST Proforce and the 4 wood is a Tour Edge Exotic 16.5 degree with Mitsubushi Bassara XS.

Both fill the gap between the utility at 210-220 and the driver at 265-285 yards - on a good day that it is!!