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3w dialed up or 5w dialed down

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NullNomad

NullNomad

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So as I'm sitting in my office looking at my bag of spare clubs and my mind started to wander a bit. What this lead to was me wondering what would you do if you had adjustable 3w and 5w that could both be adjusted to 17*. Which would you game at that 17* setting?
 
To answer the question, I would prefer dialing down the loft since that opens the face. If you slice the ball, dialing the 3 wood up to close the face may be a better option. BTW, I carry a 17* 4 wood which is the correct solution.
 
tahoebum said:
To answer the question, I would prefer dialing down the loft since that opens the face. If you slice the ball, dialing the 3 wood up to close the face may be a better option. BTW, I carry a 17* 4 wood which is the correct solution.
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Same here. May also depend on the head size. Sometimes the 3 wood heads are huge and the 5 wood heads are perfect. On the rare occasion, its the opposite.
 
I would loft up rather than down.
 
Shrug, don't play with a wood! But if I did, would definitely dial up
 
I'd adjust the 5w...and keep the 3w a 3w.
 
I currently play my 5W at °17 so that would be my answer. 😎
 
Ready depends on what you like looking down at. Open faced 5w or closed face 3w.
 
I play a 3w at 16.5
 
I originally had my Epic Flash turned to 17 degrees and no 3 wood. But, for my club, there are certain holes that a 3 wood at 15 is ideal. So, I picked up an Epic Flash 3 wood off CPO and changed my 5 wood back to original loft.
 
I’d like to try both and see which I get along with better. I really like looking down at the shape of my 5W, but think the 3W option would probably suit my swing better.
 
YukonLiving said:
I’d like to try both and see which I get along with better. I really like looking down at the shape of my 5W, but think the 3W option would probably suit my swing better.
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This is what I'm going to do over the next few days. I've had my 5w set at 17* for a LONG time and curiosity just got the better of me this morning.
 
As mentioned, desired shot shape/face angle and head size. I'd probably err to the 3W if it had the bigger head of the two if it didn't hook.
 
tahoebum said:
To answer the question, I would prefer dialing down the loft since that opens the face. If you slice the ball, dialing the 3 wood up to close the face may be a better option. BTW, I carry a 17* 4 wood which is the correct solution.
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What this gentleman said. 17* is too much loft for me in a FW. I also play my 3+ at 12* and don’t have another answer until either 4h or 4i in my bag. They both go the same but ones a “get of jail” club (4h) while the other is a FW finder and a pin seeker if the right range.
 
Titleist offers a 16.5 fairway wood with a neutral face. Don’t forget a 2H in this slot if you hit hybrids better.
 
I ditched my 3 wood and turned my 5 wood down to 16.5 degrees, and it works very well for me.
 
ohthehumanity said:
I ditched my 3 wood and turned my 5 wood down to 16.5 degrees, and it works very well for me.
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I did the same thing with my G410 5W, and it has worked out very well for me.
 
Not your question, but a fixed hosel 4w is a thing of beauty. Enter for example, my Mavrik SubZero 4w. I like it better than either a 3w lofted up, or 5w lofted down.
 
I like a 4 wood ... but for 3 or 5 do you like a larger head or smaller? 5 wood will be smaller cc and should launch higher. If I had to pick just one fwy, it would be a 16.5-17 degree - either in 4 or 5 wd form at 42.5 in.
 
Desmond said:
I like a 4 wood ... but for 3 or 5 do you like a larger head or smaller? 5 wood will be smaller cc and should launch higher. If I had to pick just one fwy, it would be a 16.5-17 degree - either in 4 or 5 wd form at 42.5 in.
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I hit my 5 wood really nice most of the time and it is 18.5 degrees, but I stink on the 3 wood at 14.5. I think a 16.5-17 degree would be the perfect wood. I may set my 5 wood -1 degree and see how I do with it.
 
Luchnia said:
I hit my 5 wood really nice most of the time and it is 18.5 degrees, but I stink on the 3 wood at 14.5. I think a 16.5-17 degree would be the perfect wood. I may set my 5 wood -1 degree and see how I do with it.
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DO IT!!!!!!!
 
NullNomad said:
This is what I'm going to do over the next few days. I've had my 5w set at 17* for a LONG time and curiosity just got the better of me this morning.
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Of course the loft only changes from standard if you square the club at time of impact.

I'm playing my G410 17.5° 5W at the minus one setting, which isn't that far from a traditional "4W" at standard setting anyway. I generally play it from the slightly open soled position, not manually squared at address. (Also do that with my 7w.) From shot shape I believe I generally get the "loft change". But I also benefit from:
a) a slightly open clubface that is much more appealing to me than a closed one would be
b) a shorter shaft in the 5W that should promote overall easier contact and versatility from various lies
c) with the higher starting (standard) loft I should benefit from generally better carry at my swingspeed, moreso over a 3W, especially if I don't make good contact
 
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