The 3W slot has to be my most unsettled slot in the bag, because I'm just never sure of what I want to do there. I don't hit my 16* Mini badly at all - in fact I hit it quite well - but I find myself constantly wondering what value it provides because I often don't hit that much shorter than driver. And not a whole lot straighter either. I hit driver very well typically - it's one of the stronger clubs in my bag, so I don't have a driving need for an alternate tee option. The main thing for me is filling a distance or usage gap between driver and 5W.
Options that I cycle between:
1) Conventional 3-4w, 14-17*. I can typically shape these easier than drivers/mini drivers, and they give me more option to hit off the deck, but I rarely do that anyway as I find that the 5W typically goes just far and I can control it much better. It often ends up being more of a second tee option to hit a little shorter than driver, but in that case it makes more sense to have a little bigger clubhead for extra forgiveness. Which leads me to...
2) Mini driver, 14-16*. Essentially the same as the above, but with a bigger head for increased tee focus and forgiveness. However, I've found I don't really tend to hit it that much straighter - though it is much easier to shape right to left. Which led me to try...
3) Short full-size driver, higher loft. This I toyed with, but it doesn't really seem to help me much. Something about the giant head and very short shaft just doesn't look or feel right to me, and again, I don't hit it that much straighter. It just doesn't really feel like I'm gaining that much compared to my driver.
4) 2nd driver at normal length, that's either straighter and a little shorter, or perhaps is really suited to shot shaping. I have a Vapor Pro w/ UST Elements Chrome that doesn't carry quite as far as my Triton, but it launches lower and is a little easier to shape with control because of the stouter shaft. It can be a nice option on a windy day or if a particular shape is needed.
So now that I've outed myself as a complete head case - thoughts? What would/do you folks do in this slot and what are your reasons?
Options that I cycle between:
1) Conventional 3-4w, 14-17*. I can typically shape these easier than drivers/mini drivers, and they give me more option to hit off the deck, but I rarely do that anyway as I find that the 5W typically goes just far and I can control it much better. It often ends up being more of a second tee option to hit a little shorter than driver, but in that case it makes more sense to have a little bigger clubhead for extra forgiveness. Which leads me to...
2) Mini driver, 14-16*. Essentially the same as the above, but with a bigger head for increased tee focus and forgiveness. However, I've found I don't really tend to hit it that much straighter - though it is much easier to shape right to left. Which led me to try...
3) Short full-size driver, higher loft. This I toyed with, but it doesn't really seem to help me much. Something about the giant head and very short shaft just doesn't look or feel right to me, and again, I don't hit it that much straighter. It just doesn't really feel like I'm gaining that much compared to my driver.
4) 2nd driver at normal length, that's either straighter and a little shorter, or perhaps is really suited to shot shaping. I have a Vapor Pro w/ UST Elements Chrome that doesn't carry quite as far as my Triton, but it launches lower and is a little easier to shape with control because of the stouter shaft. It can be a nice option on a windy day or if a particular shape is needed.
So now that I've outed myself as a complete head case - thoughts? What would/do you folks do in this slot and what are your reasons?