Hit the driver off the tee has often as possible! The accuracy gain with a 3 wood is minimal, but you will lose 20-30 yards. Get comfortable hitting a full driver and a less than full driver and you will be on your way to better golf!
The driver vs 3 wood debate continues on.
For years, golfers have gone back and forth on what club they should be hitting off the tee.
Unfortunately for many golfers, they hit their 3 wood fine off the tee, but continue to struggle with the driver. There are some reasons for this that I will get into below.
Overall, we want to help you hit both clubs at your highest potential level. Golf is a game where distance is becoming more and more important at the professional level and the analytics have proven the importance of hitting a driver far enough to play your best at a course.
The old wisdom of driver for show, putt for dough may be less and less accurate the more the analytics become clear.
To help all golfers, I decided to test the Driver vs 3 Wood head to head.
Process: I set up at the 2nd hole at Pebble Beach on my golf simulator on automatic rewind. I hit driver and then 3 wood for 5 total rounds. I collected the data for each shot and share it below.
Goal: Help golfers determine the major differences between the driver and 3 wood.
Data Collected: Total distance, ball speed, fairway hit.
Questions to Explore: We want to answer the following questions:
- Driver vs 3 Wood Distance
- How far should you hit a driver?
- How far should you hit a 3 Wood?
- What is the difference between the driver and 3 wood?
- Is a 3 wood more accurate than a driver?
- Do you swing a 3 wood like a driver?
- Can you drive with a 3 wood?
- Why can I hit my 3 wood but not my driver?
- Why do I slice my driver but not my 3 wood?
Below, I will dive into each of these questions. At the end of each question, I will provide a quality instructional video on some tips to hit your driver or 3 wood further and more consistent. Here at golfjourney365, we love the game of golf and the challenge to get better every day and every year.
Driver vs 3 Wood Distance
The driver on average will fly 30 yards further compared to a 3 wood. The golfer that can hit a solid driver and keep it in play has a competitive advantage over the golfer that can’t! Gaining distance with your driver is one of the fastest ways to game improvement!
Driver vs 3 Wood – Distance, Ball Speed and Fairway Hit Measured
| Shot # | Club | Total Distance | Ball Speed | Fairway Hit (Y/N) |
| 1 | Driver | 270 | 151 | Y |
| 1 | 3 Wood | 245 | 148 | Y |
| 2 | Driver | 280 | 157 | N |
| 2 | 3 Wood | 240 | 146 | Y |
| 3 | Driver | 287 | 157 | Y |
| 3 | 3 Wood | 252 | 144 | N |
| 4 | Driver | 288 | 156 | Y |
| 4 | 3 Wood | 235 | 148 | Y |
| 5 | Driver | 270 | 158 | Y |
| 5 | 3 Wood | 241 | 147 | Y |
Driver vs 3 Wood Averages – Total Distance, Ball Speed and Fairways Hit
| Club | Total Distance | Ball Speed | Fairway Hit (Y/N) |
| Driver | 279 | 155 | 4 out of 5 Y |
| 3 Wood | 242 | 146 | 4 out of 5 Y |
How Far Should You Hit Your Driver?
The average driving distance is 221 with a range of 201 on the low end and 275 on the high end. Swing speed, age and handicap have a major impact on the total distance a driver is hit.
Driver Distance by Handicap
| Handicap Range | Median Driver Distance Average |
| PGA Tour Professional | 275 Carry |
| Scratch | 251 |
| 0-5 | 244.6 |
| 6-10 | 231.3 |
| 11-15 | 220.4 |
| 16-20 | 210.3 |
| 21-25 | 201.9 |
| Total Average of 0-25 | 221 |
How far should you hit your 3 wood?
The average total distance is 204 yards with a range of between 176 on the low end and 243 on the high end depending on your current handicap level. Swing speed has a significant impact on total distance and can be improved through the proper training.
3 Wood Distance by Handicap
| Handicap Range | Median Driver Distance Average |
| PGA Tour Professional | 243 |
| Scratch | 220 |
| 0-5 | 214 |
| 6-10 | 203 |
| 11-15 | 193 |
| 16-20 | 184 |
| 21-25 | 176 |
| Total Average of 0-25 | 204 |
What is the difference between the driver and 3 wood?
The driver is 45 to 46 inches long with a loft of between 8 and 10.5 degrees. While a 3 wood is 42-43 inches long with a loft between 13 and 16 degrees. The longer shaft and less loft in a driver help it go further, but also can make it more difficult to hit straight.
| Club | Loft | Length | Distance |
| Driver | 8-10.5 Degrees | 45-46 inches | 221 |
| 3 Wood | 13.5-15 Degrees | 42-43 inches | 204 |
Having the right loft and shaft if the initial piece to check to make sure you have the right setup for your game and your swing.
The driver is designed to launch a ball off the tee and maximize launch angle and spin rate. A golfer wants a lower spring rate, somewhere between 2000 and 3000 with the driver for most swing speeds.
The 3 wood on the other hand is designed to be able to hit out of the fairway or rough, but also can be used off the tee. However, it is typically teed much lower than the driver due to the center of gravity on the club.
The driver is a club that golfers should be able to hit solid and far. The further you hit it, the easier the course will be. Let’s face it, we would rather have a 100 yard shot into a hole vs 150 years.
The analytics would be very clear that on average we will hit it closer form 100 yards rather than from 150 yards. This gives us a better chance to make more putts. This is why distance is so important.
Did you know that with a driver, the average golfer is only 6% more accurate?
However, the golfer gives up 20-30 yards in total distance. From the rough at 100 yards, a golfer is more accurate than from the fairway at 130 years.
Major takeaway: learn to hit the driver solid and to keep it in play. The extra distance will offset an lack of accuracy over the long term.
Selecting the Right Driver:
Is a 3 wood more accurate than a driver?
Yes, it is more accurate, but not by much. As stated above, a golfer hitting a 3 wood will only hit 6% more fairways, but give up 20-30 yards on average. The extra accuracy does not help a golfer shoot lower scores.
There are some factors, such as hazards and where the fairway narrows, but overall on average the golfer is better off learning to hit the driver.
The mid to high handicap golfer might struggle with the driver and accuracy due to the length of the shaft the reduction in loft. Some golfers might consider reducing the length of their shaft to provide greater accuracy.
How to hit your driver straight every time:
Do you swing a 3 wood like a driver?
Overall, the motion of the golf swing doesn’t change much from club to club. Simple adjustments in the setup, such as the angle of your shoulders, the width of your stance, and the ball position will alter from shot to shot.
With any swing, you still want to get a complete turn, make an athletic movement and get quality rotation through the shot. These basic principles will serve you well.
Ultimately, the game of golf is based on three fundamental listed below:
- Fundamental #1: The golfer’s ability to control the bottom of the golf swing. The best golfers will hit the ground in the intended spot, close to 100% of the time.
- Fundamental #2: The golfer’s ability to control the curve of the golf ball. The best golfers are able to start the ball to the right or left of the target line and have the ball curve towards the target without the ball over curving past the target.
- Fundamental #3: The golfer’s ability to have enough power to play the golf course. This means they are able to hit the ball far enough to play the course in regulation.
The goal is to control your low point, your start line and your curve. And then of course have enough distance to play the game!
Whether you are hitting driver or 3 wood, you want to control these three fundamentals. Your setup, weight distribution and overall athletic motion will have an impact on these three fundamentals.
Here are some drills you can utilize:
Drill #1
The Drill: The Low Point Control Drill
- Take some yard paint and patina a 1-2 yard long line.
- Setup with 55% of your weight on your front side.
- Try to hit the target side of the line and see how many times out of 10 you can do this successfully!
- Repeat this drill every day for a month, tracking your progress and your ability to to this successfully in trials of ten.
- You may need to start with half swing and progress to full swings.
Drill #2
The Drill: Control your start line (Build a Stock Shot)
- Set up an alignment stick 6-8 yards down your target line in front of the ball.
- If you have one, set up a second alignment stick 2-4 yards right of that target line
- Go ahead and see how many swings out of 10 you can get the ball to start to the right of the first of the alignment stick. The goal here is to progress to 7 out of 10.
- Practice this drill every `time you hit golf balls.
The key to golf is being able to control your contact and your start line. Could you imagine a round of golf where you strike the ball solid and 7 times out of 10 the ball starts down your intended target line?
This is the ultimate in golf and helps you start to focus on your course management. You will gain confidence and the consistency that we all seek!
Drill #3
The Drill: Increase your swing speed through overspeed training
- Check out SuperSpeed Overspeed Training Protocols
- Train every other day for 10-15 minutes.
- See a 4-6% increase in swing speed as early as the first training protocol.
The number one thing that has helped me gain significant distance is the SuperSpeed Training System. This overspeed based system where you train every other day for about 10-15 minutes with different swing sticks can help you increase your swing speed by 5-8% which can be 20-30 yards. Who wouldn’t want an extra 20-30 yards. Plus it helps improve your mechanics.
SuperSpeed Golf – Use Discount Code Golfjourney365 for some savings!
The analytics are pretty clear on the importance of speed in the game of golf. Would you rather hit your approach shot from 130 yards of 160 yards?
The answer is pretty simple! We know that over the course of time, we will hit shots from 130 yards much closer than from 160 yards, whether we are an average amateur golfer, a scratch golfer, or a PGA Tour member!
The key is having shorter approach shots, so we can hit the ball closer to the hole and then make more putts! Speed is king in the game of golf! Make sure you check out SuperSpeed Golf!
These three drills are connected to the three fundamentals and wil help you hit your driver, 3 wood or any club in the bag better!
Can you drive with a 3 wood?
Yes, of course you can. However, if you want to reach your full potential as a golfer you should ultimately learn to hit your driver better. Tee the ball slightly lower and shoot your best score that day!
If you are in the middle of a round and struggling with the driver, go ahead and pull the three wood. One of my best rounds in recent years involved hitting 3 wood off the tee coming down the main stretch.
I was able to make several birdies in the last 3 holes and shoot a 68. I was hitting my irons great that day and had taken a penalty stroke early in the round from a loose driver.
I simply needed to keep the ball in play with my irons being on that day and the putter rolling nicely. I was rewarded.
We have to take every round as an individual around and when on the course find a way to shoot our best score. When we are practicing is the time to improve on our swing and technique and get better!
Hitting 3 wood off the tee or the deck:
Why can I hit my 3 wood but not my driver?
A lot of the issues could start with the longer shaft in a driver and less loft. However, here is a list of items to check:
- Are you over swinging with the driver to get extra distance?
- Do you have a shaft with too much flex for your swing speed?
- Are you hitting up enough on the ball with the driver?
These are the common swing faults or mindsets that can ruin a driver swing. Oftentimes, the golfer gets the driver in their hands and feels like he or she needs to hit it 300 yards.
Remember, when you are playing it is about scoring and not the distance. There is a time to train, practice and play. When you are on the course, play and try to score your best!
Shawn Clement on hitting the driver:
Why do I slice my driver but not my 3 wood?
The lack of loft, longer shaft or mindset with the driver could play an impact once again on the reason for your slice with the driver. The curve of a ball comes down the ball flight laws. There is some flaw in the swing that is causing a club face that is open to the path.
A golf ball curves to the right when the club face is to the right of the swing path. It is a rather simple ball flight law that the ball will curve away from the swing path.
For example, if your club face is to the left of the target line the ball will still curve right if your swing path is even further left. Or your face could be right of the target line and if the swing path is left of the face it will start right and curve right.
So if your ball is curving to the right, your swing path is left of your club face at impact. Wherever your face is aiming, whether that is right or left at impact, your swing path is left of that. The quick fix is to get your path moving more to the right and your club face more to the left.
Why does my ball curve to the right?
Understanding The Ball Flight Laws
Why? If you understand the ball flight laws you can start to become your own swing instructor and make corrections on the range or the course by reading the flight of your golf ball.
Too often golfers turn to the video of their swing when everything you need to know can be read off of your ball flight. Did you know that your ball flight can tell you the following:
- Where your club face was at impact.
- If your swing path was left or right of the club face.
Once you know these two items you can make the corrections by checking out our 2nd Tip on understanding what swing thoughts can help you get the proper matchups.
So let’s dive into the ball flight laws:
- Generally speaking, the golf ball will start where the club face is aiming.
- The golf ball will then curve away from the swing path.
There are two different lines that we must understand. The target line and the start line. The best golfers start the ball left or right of the target line and then curve the ball back towards the target.
Let’s go over some examples to help you better understand the ball flight laws.
Example A: Let’s say that the club face is 3 degrees right of the target line and the swing path is 5 degrees right of the target line. What will the ball do?
Answer: The ball will start right of the target line and draw back towards the target. This is known as a push draw.
Example B: Let’s say the club face is 3 degrees right of the target line, same as in example A, but the swing path is only 1 degree right of the target line. What will the ball do?
Answer: The ball will start to the right of the target line and will fade to the right. Keep in mind that the ball will curve away from the swing path. In this example, both the club face and the swing path are to the right and the ball will curve away from the path.
Example C: Let’s say the club face is 3 degrees to the left of the target line and the swing path is 5 degrees left of the target line. What will the ball do?
Answer: The ball will start to the left and curve to the right. This would be a pull fade or pull slice. Keep in mind that even though the face is closed to the target line, it is open to the swing path and the ball will curve away from the swing path.
Example D: Let’s say the club face is 3 degrees to the left and the swing path is only 1 degree to the left. What will the ball do?
Answer: The ball will start left and curve left. This shot would look like a pull draw.
Hopefully, these examples help you understand the club face and swing path correlation and how they match up. Once you understand these ball flight laws, it will help you read your own shots and possibly make in round adjustments.
Driver vs 3 Wood: Final Thoughts
Both clubs are important if you want to reach your full potential, but if you had to pick one club to bre really good with the obvious answer is the driver. The driver is hit more frequently and sets a golfer up for success on just about every par 4 and par 5. I have found that I can hit 3 different types of driver swings:
- The standard stock shot (normal swing speed)
- The “Bunt” (slower swing speed, shorter distance, increased accuracy)
- The “Blast” (faster swing speed, great distance, less accurate.
The “Bunt” swing with the driver has eliminated a need for a 3 wood off the tee, but it is still important on par 5s! Find a way to get really good with the driver then move onto the 3 wood!
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