Do I need both a 3 and 5 wood?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 24, 2026
For average golfers, adding 5 wood to the bag will perform better than having 3 wood. The increased loft and shorter shaft length will hit the ball almost as far but will hit more fairways and greens in regulation. To figure this out, I got both clubs and took them to the course.
Is it worth carrying a 5 wood and 3 hybrid?
The main distinction between a 5 wood and a 3 hybrid is the distance it can go. While a 5 wood is ideal for tee shots, a 3 hybrid isn't as effective. The difference in their length also helps distinguish them from one another. The 5 wood club would be the best on the fairway as a result.
Should a high handicapper use a 3 or 5 wood?
For example, a high handicapper is often able to carry a 5 or 7 wood much further than 3 woods because the 3 wood flies lower with less forgiveness. The extra backspin and loft of a 5 or 7 wood produces much more elevation and in turn more carry distance, even on mishits.
Are 3 woods necessary?
For instance, most players agree that without a putter, a pitching wedge, and even a seven iron, it may be hard to get in a great round of golf. However, the 3 wood is one of those clubs that are not necessarily mandatory to keep in the bag.
When should you use a 5 wood?
A 5-wood is used by golfers who need to hit the ball between 180 and 240 yards, depending on the skill level of the golfer. High-handicap players generally use a 5-wood to hit second shots from the fairway on par 5s and to reach long par 3s. Low-handicap players normally use a 5-wood to reach long par 5s in two shots.
35 related questions foundDo pros carry a 5 wood?
Of the top 100 PGA Tour players only 2 use a 4-wood, 30 use a 5-wood and 12 use a 7-wood. The lofts of the different fairway woods used by the pros however do not always match the standard so a 4, 5 or 7-wood of one player may be the same loft of a different numbered fairway wood of another golfer.
Is a 3 wood or 5 wood easier to hit?
5 wood, in fact, can go as farther as 3 wood because its relatively shorter shaft makes the golf club easier to hit/control. You're most likely hitting longer with a 3 wood because of the particular shaft flex on that more than anything else.
How far should you hit a 5 fairway wood?
5-wood: 105-210 yards
The 5-wood is often used on a follow-up to the tee shot. A 3-wood can be hard to use off the fairway, so probably opt against if you've got some distance left to run to the pin.
What's the difference between a 3 wood and 5 wood?
A 3 wood has a loft between 15 and 18 degrees, and a 5 wood has a loft between 20 and 22 degrees. The higher the golf club number, the higher the loft. Higher lofted woods (7, 9, 11, and so on) are commonly referred to as utility woods. The majority of fairway woods on the market today also feature adjustability.
Why do I hit my 3 wood farther than my driver?
This is due to too much spin. A lot of mid to high handicappers are too steep and hit down on their driver. This causes the ball to be struck high on the face with an incredibly high launch angle and the spin of an iron.
Should high handicappers use woods?
High handicappers can use fairway woods from both the tee and the rough. In addition, if a high handicap golfer is struggling to hit their driver, the fairway wood can be the perfect solution to consider. Hitting a straight fairway wood off the tee is certainly better than hitting a wild driver.
Should I hit 3 wood off tee?
Most people have more success with a 3-wood off of the tee due to the loft forgiveness factor. While many manufacturers are promoting drivers with more loft on them, players that choose a 3-wood off the tee often drive it better than they normally will with a driver.
How far does the average golfer hit a 3 wood?
The average 3 wood goes just under 190 yards and the average 7 iron flies 133 yards. With technology constantly improving in golf clubs and balls, the common conception is that golfers are hitting the ball further than ever before which is therefore making our courses obsolete.
What is easier to hit 5 wood or hybrid?
Easier is better
Despite being labeled as fairway woods, these clubs are usually harder to hit off the turf than hybrids. One could chalk this up to fairway woods being longer in length and more driver-like, or maybe it's because hybrids are more versatile.
What club does a 5 wood replace?
The larger clubhead of a fairway wood compared to an iron makes it easier to achieve more distance without over-swinging. As a rough rule of thumb, a 5 wood would replace a 2 iron, a 7 wood the 3 or 4 iron, a 9 wood the 5 iron.
Can you use a 5 wood off the tee?
Hitting a big-headed driver off a tee is considerably easier. With that in mind, think about putting a 5-wood in your bag instead. The slightly shorter shaft and the extra few degrees of loft make it much easier to hit.
Which fairway wood is easiest?
Most Forgiving Fairway Woods
- Callaway Rogue ST Max Fairway. Fast and forgiving. ...
- Titleist TSi2 Fairway Wood. Simple design impressive results. ...
- TaylorMade Stealth Fairway. Power meets playability. ...
- Ping G425 SFT Fairway Wood. Reasons to buy. ...
- Cobra LTDx MAX Fairway. ...
- Wilson Launch Pad Fairway. ...
- Mizuno ST-Z Fairway Wood.
Does a 5 wood go further than a 4 hybrid?
Differences Between 4 Hybrid and 5 Wood
The 4-hybrid has an average loft of 22 to 24 degrees, while a 5-wood is set at 18 degrees. Naturally, the 5-wood delivers 15 yards more distance than the 4-hybrid.
Can you hit 3 wood fairway?
The 3 wood has the potential to be one of the most versatile clubs in your bag. It can handle tee shots, of course, but it can also be used from the fairway – and you can even play bump-and-run shots with it around the greens.
What woods should I carry?
Many golfers choose a second fairway woods, typically a 5-wood or 7-wood, usually to perform shots of a specific length. Golfers should also carry a set of irons. However, golfers don't have to carry a full set of irons. Most golfers carry at least a 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron and pitching wedge.
Is a 5 wood worth it?
The 5 wood is a great option for approaches to the green from the fairway or even from the semi-rough. If you need more height to approach a tough green then the 5 wood will help you out there too. It creates a softer landing with more spin which will help you stick the ball on the dance floor.