And it's an interesting question: Just how useful is your 3-wood, really? Teachers Butch Harmon and Mackenzie Mack appear to have a difference of opinion, and Golf Digest has two articles that contrast their thoughts.
The older article, from Butch Harmon, is called Bench Your 3-Wood . Butch says the only time you should use your 3-wood from the fairway is when you can reach the green. Otherwise, he says you probably won't hit it well and should probably use your 5-wood instead. (I don't carry a 5-wood. My 7-wood has always been my magic wand when I'm in need, and that's my go-to club.)
Butch does say that, if you're going to apply your 3-wooden, function the ball some inches inner your lead heel -- that is, in the direction of the middle of your stance -- and ensure you get off your trailing foot at some stage in your downswing. (But in case you're swinging that difficult, so you're reverse-pivoting, perhaps you should simply lay up to an amazing wedge yardage as an alternative. That's what I assume.)
The newer article, from Mackenzie Mack, is called Three Shots You've Never Used Your 3-Wood For, But Should . Ironically, Mack seems to feel that your inability to hit a 3-wood well can be an advantage! At least, his three shots never get the ball very high off the ground.
He says you can use the 3-wood off hardpan because you just want to keep the ball low and get it rolling. He even wants you to set up to the ball as if it were a putt, so that sounds a bit like Butch's setup. (Personally, I'd be using my 7-wood here. I'd be more confident with it off hardpan.)
He also recommends you use the 3-wood to get out of the trees. Even if the grass is pretty thick. That's what he says, and it's because -- again -- you don't really want the ball to get up in the air in the first place. (You might want to practice that before you try it. I understand the logic, but from thick grass? That sounds iffy to me.)
And finally, he wants you to use the 3-wood to putt from the fringe. For this shot, he wants you to set up with the ball in the back of your stance, as if you were going to chip the ball. (So why not use a shorter club like a hybrid? Still, a 3-wood chip shot is a nice one to have in your arsenal, especially for long chips.)
As you can tell, I trust you should think two times earlier than the usage of your 3-wood anytime it isn't teed up, except you have practiced with it and are assured the use of it. Especially if a poor shot may cost you extra strokes than a decent shot will benefit.
And if you're having trouble breaking 80 -- or even 85 -- that poor shot probably will. Play smart!
0 comments