The 3 wood is an important club that can be used off the tee, from the fairway and even out of the rough. The shot is used when you are 175 yards or more from your target depending on your swing speed.
Update: The more we can see data and learn from it the more we understand that the driver off the tee is often the best club. The 3 wood often provides very little increase in accuracy, but loses 20-30 yards. Go with the driver in these situations!
In today’s golf world there are many options.
There are long irons, hybrids and fairway woods when it comes to the longer distance shots.
All of these clubs have advantages and are used by different levels of golfers. Regardless, of your current level a 3 wood is a club that a high percentage of golfers should carry and learn to hit well!
The 3 wood can become one of your favorite clubs and you should feel comfortable over the shot whether you are on the tee box, the fairway or you find yourself in the rough.
There are some clubs that should be found in just about every golfers bag. These include the driver, 3 wood, wedges and a putter.
Let’s dive into when to use a 3 wood in golf and look at the different situations.
When To Use A 3 Wood in Golf?
Here are the specific situations when to use a 3 wood:
- Off The Tee on Certain Holes
- Out of the Fairway on Approach Shots
- Out of the Rough on Approach Shots
- 2nd shot on a Par 5
- Potential Club To Use For a Punch Shot
Situation 1: Off the Tee on Certain Holes
If you arrive at a hole and there is a water hazard or a sand bunker that you need to avoid at a certain distance and you don’t have the swing speed to be able to hit it over the hazard.
This is a perfect time for a 3 wood off the tee. This happens every round on the 2nd hole at my home course. There is a creek that cuts across the hole at about 240 yards at the bottom of a hill. So even if you carry it 220 it can end up in the water.
The 3 wood or hybrid become the most selected club because one would need to be able to carry a driver 260 yards. Most amateurs should go with the 3 wood, hybrid or long iron.
Another time off the tee is if the hole is really narrow with trees lining both sides. If the hole is shorter and you are still left with a reasonable distance for your approach shot, the 3 wood is a great option at this point.
Other than your driver, the 3 wood is the longest hitting club for most golfers. However, it can be slightly more accurate than the driver because of shaft length and overall loft on the 3 wood.
When you get to that shorter par 4 that is really narrow and there are plenty of trees, go ahead and pull the 3 wood and swing confidently!
Situation 2: On Approach Shots Out of the Fairway
As a senior or junior golfer you might find yourself with 175 yards or more yards left on plenty of par 4s. If you have slower swing speed at this stage in your golf journey, having a trusty 3 wood that you can hit high enough and far enough to get to the green, then the 3 wood becomes a rather very important club in the bag.
Some people might get a little nervous getting the ball in the air on a tight lie in the fairway, but this is when it becomes very important to keep your head behind the ball and clip the ball just at the beginning of the upswing.
You might experiment with catching the ball right at the bottom of the swing to ensure clean contact.
Regardless, it is a shot that most juniors and seniors have to learn to hit to not sacrifice too much distance and have too many holes that they can’t reach in regulation.
Situation 3: Out of the Rough on Approach Shots
3 woods have come a long way in helping golfers be able to launch the ball out of the fairway and to help get through some thicker rough when faced with the situation.
The technology, starting with clubs like the Adams Tight Lies, have improved and make launching the ball easier than ever. They have also been designed to have versatility out of these more difficult lies.
Experimenting and learning about the different shots you can hit from different lies is important. Find a quality spot at the driving range or the next time you are out playing a practice round, experiment with shots from different lies and help your 3 wood become a versatile club in the bag!
Situation 4: 2nd Shot on a Par 5
Let’s face it, golf has become a game of distance! The further you can hit the ball, the better chance you have of hitting approach shots from a shorter distance, which results in shots closer to the hole. The end result is more putts made and lower scores. This all starts with the distance of the tee.
Once you achieve that distance of the tee, you have to be able to capitalize on par 5s and be able to get the ball on the green or leave yourself a simple chip to turn par 5s into par 4s and give yourself 4 possible birdies during every round of golf.
This starts with the confidence to launch that 3 wood, high, straight and far enough to put yourself in this desirable position. Par 5s, if you are looking to get to an elite level, are the holes you have to take advantage of.
If you are laying up on every par 5 you find yourself losing shots to your competition on every par 5! Get comfortable with the 3 wood and have it become a scoring club in your bag!
However, proceed with caution and still play the par 5s smart with some course strategy. Know when to be aggressive and when to leave a simple 80 yard wedge into a par 5.
Situation 5: Potential Club To Use For a Punch Shot
I have seen plenty of golfers utilize their 3 wood for punch shots. We all end up in the trees or in some sort of trouble off the tee and need to advance the ball far enough down the fairway to leave a short chip shot and the opportunity to save par.
If you have to punch straight out and don’t get the ball closer to the green you are adding strokes to your score over time. Once again, this is a shot that you have to practice and experiment with.
How To Measure Your Game and Swing
All five of these situations are important shots to be able to hit with your 3 wood. You have to be a complete player and maximize each of 14 clubs in your bag. If you are hesitant to hit a 3 wood at the times when the course strategy calls for it, you are giving up potential shots.
I would highly recommend utilizing a launch monitor to learn your swing speed, ball speed, spin axis, spin rates and other vital information that can be provided to golfers for a rather reasonable price.
If you visit any PGA Tour event you will see golfers on the range with their launch monitor. This doesn’t mean you have to buy the 15,000 dollar plus version of a launch monitor, as there are much more affordable options that provide quality data to the amateur golfer.
At the end of the day, game improvement and ensuring you have the right clubs in your bag comes down to knowing your swing and knowing your numbers.
These launch monitors can help you monitor your swing and your game overall from a club selection process and mapping your bag.
Here are three launch monitors that I would recommend:
I personally purchased the SkyTrak Launch Monitor and use it both indoors and outdoors. I have a golf simulator setup in my garage and play golf over 300 days a year and have access to my personal driving range and courses like Augusta, Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits and other high end courses.
The ability to play golf when I want and not have the rain, snow or cold weather stop me from enjoying and improving at the game I love has been a game changer.
I am shooting the best scores of my life (68-74 range) on the majority of my rounds. My ball striking has improved immensely and the overall satisfaction in getting to play golf frequently is a life improver!
How To Gain More Distance With Your 3 Wood
I would highly recommend overspeed training. Over the past year I have spent time working with SuperSpeed Training system. Their club system where the golfer follows protocols is a game changer. There are different speed training systems on the market.
Check out the price on Amazon here:
Another option if this won’t fit into your game is Swing Man Golf (see link below)
Gain 30-40 yards in 30 Days – Swing Man Golf
Alternatives to the 3 Wood
Maybe you have tried everything with your 3 wood and you just can’t seem to feel comfortable and hit quality shots and you are seeking alternatives to the 3 wood.
The good news is that there are plenty of hybrid options that have some pros and cons versus using a 3 wood. These options might be perfect for your game and if you have a launch monitor you can measure and compare carry distance, curve of the ball and other key information to help you make an informed decision on what is best for your game!
3 wood vs 3 hybrid: which one should I carry?
Make sure you check out this post for a deep dive into the pros and cons of these two clubs.
Other 3 Wood Related Posts and Resources
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.
