I replaced the 3 wood with a 4 years ago. The next club is a 7 (21*) wood before transitioning to my 6 iron (PXG 0211’s). It’s been a good combination for this 70 yr old.
Andy, I am now 75 years old and my clubhead speed has dropped from about 100-105 MPH (with the driver) to the low-mid 90s. I have not had a 3-wood in my bag for at least a half-dozen years. I carry a 16.5 degree 4-wood and usually a 20* 7-wood. However, for tight courses where I really want to be sure to keep tee shots in the fairway and don’t need to hit those tee shots more than 200-205 yards, I often drop the 7-wood in favor of a 19* “utility iron” (a/k/a “driving iron”). This old guy gets excellent results from the driving iron and it’s definitely a fairway finder for me. The next club in my bag is a 4 or 5 hybrid, depending on whether or not I will have a 5-iron in my bag that day.
Thankks for exploring these options. I'm old and recently back to the game. My current top end is driver, 4w, 7w, 5i. Working fairly well for the time being.
I put a 7 wood (Ping G430) from Santa in my bag this year. Still have a 5 iron for certain shots eg tee shots but using 7 wood every where else and I'm delighted with how well it performs and how easy it is to hit. In time I expect the 5 iron will come out of my bag. I certainly regret my ego/vanity stopping me from bagging a 7 wood earlier.
I am in my 4th year of golf, a senior at 71, after having 2 bad custom fittings and reselling everything I sorted it out myself by trial and error on the course not the range. At last I have a set of clubs that really work for me being short 5'6". I have Callaway Paradym X Driver 12°,Paradym X 4 hybrid 21° and a ladies Cobra radspeed 3 wood 18.5° which is the same loft as a mens 4 wood all fitted with ladies shafts as they are only 40g and much shorter. I can hit all clubs with ease and a nice straight shot keeping on the fairway!!! I can now get on with enjoying golf so I totally agree with you. Thanks for your channel it has helped my golf a lot.
Good thought process, thanks. Where I have landed (23 handicap) 4 hybrid - best club in the bag. 7 wood - Ping G25. Swing easy and it flies, can clear high trees to rescue an errant tee shot. 3 wood. Dont use it a lot but when I need it its good to have. Last piece of the puzzle is I have learned to play a stinger with my 5 iron. Great into the wind and as a rescue from under trees. The hybrid/7 wood is no good for this due to the low centre of gravity. Works for me, but also get where you are coming from. Cheers
If it ever stops raining I'll explore the top end of my bag. I've had several utility irons and I like having one in the bag. They come and go in my set-up on a regular basis depending on my current theory of practicality. My strong 3-wood (TSR2+) may well be under threat as a consequence ... which will then put the 5-wood under pressure. And so it goes on...
I play single-length irons at 36.5", the length of an 8-iron. Thus, I have to play hybrids at the top of the set. (A 4H the same length as the rest of the set, and a traditional Ping 3H.)
I kept the 3 wood in my bag but lofted it from 15* to 16*. That 1* I'm sorry does make a huge difference as you found going from 18* to 17*. Builds confidence, my friend. Thanks for the video.
I’m on a similar journey to you Andy. Last year I bought a G430 5 wood and adjusted it to a 4 wood loft. For me it goes perfectly. I’ve got 4 & 5 hybrid’s as to use your words Andy they give me more confidence than either a 4 or 5 iron
Being a senior golfer I too went through the same scenario as you've described. I ended up with a 16.5 degree wood, 18 degree and 20 degree utility irons marked as three irons. All are good off the tee and fairway. For some reason I don't like the feel of the hybrids.
Stick the mini driver in the bag and you will have the old 2w & 4w combination I started out with - in the persimmon era! I also carry a 4h lofted up at 23 degrees, such a versatile club, if only I could get a bit more launch from it
Hi Andy so my gapping in the bag is: Driver - 250 5 wood - 230 7 wood - 210 I then have 4 iron which is similar to 7 wood but stays low, similar to your logic having some versatility. But I think I will try a driving iron like yours as I would like to feel more confident than i currently do with the 4 iron as I use a standard 4 iron. Not the chunkier one like this! Thanks for the video
Great vid again. I recently got a 5 wood with a longer shaft which is playing more like a 4 wood in distance, but gives me the flight I want. Fits the gap perfectly between driver and 4 hybrid. I couldn't get on with the 3 wood, just didn't feel right and as you say just ditch it if it doesn't inspire confidence. My 5 iron (G430) is similar to my 4 hybrid in yardage, but the different flights make it worthwhile having them both in the bag.
i do the same! on the top end i carry: 5 wood playing at 20° mizuno pro 4 hybrid playing at 23° mizuno st-z 230 driving iron at 19° taylormade p790 with a fujikura motore speeder shaft i love having options on the course and it’s been fun hitting different shots with each club
I for one understand the need for sponsorship but feel club reviews for other OEMs are as impartial as ever. In terms of club selection very much a believer in squad system for different courses and conditions. Just rejoined a course which is very tight and trouble left (you’d think I’d learn by now) . My plan on the whole was to go 3 wood and 7 wood , then 4 and 5h but the weather is really making me change my mind quite high up so exposed to wind …… bringing driver back for more open courses. But then my 5 wood is pretty much a 4 wood in old money …. I’ve struggled with a Tee club into the wind and the Ping Rapture 2 iron keeps looking at me from the subs bag and smiling, not sure about the carry with the wet ground. And the TM Burner mini driver suddenly looks like a very appealing self treat for my upcoming 50th!!!! Keep up the good work Andy
I’ve been going through similar decisions. I had been playing a 4W but switched to a 5W because it landed softer and I was slightly more consistent with it. But I just bought a new 3W because I wanted something with lower flight for those long runners. I’ve never had success with driving irons. I find hybrids fit the distance and flight profile for me better than the driving iron while yielding more consistency.
Had a 4wood in my bag since the mid 1990s. It just always fit and made sense. So much more versatile than a 3wood and gaps better with hybrids and even a 7wood.
Nice one, thumbs up. What I didn't get though Andy is why you simply didn't dial the 5 wood down 1 degree? Did the shaft length difference work better on the 4 wood?
😅😆 fantastic reaction after the first shot @1:08 to @1:12 And. Loved it. I was originally drawn to your channel because we have a similar philosophy on golf, and equipment. We also have similar swing speeds, distances, and handicaps. It's probably no surprise then that I ditched my 3 wood a few years ago and replaced it with a 4 wood (actually a 5-wood lofted down to 16.5* with lengthened shaft). For the same swing speed/gapping reason as you, I also replaced my 4 iron for a hybrid (a GAPR 3 Hi lofted up and shortened). I really disliked hybrids, until I did this mod. It is now one of my favourites and most versatile clubs. That leave the gap between the GAPR and 4 wood which I fill with a 2 hybrid (but might replace with a 6 wood). As much as I'd love to have a DI in the bag, I'm yet to find one I can get airborne.
Thanks Andy really love theses type of videos from you Over the years I’ve gravitated to a simple set up with fewer clubs, driver with 3 wood shaft, 21* hybrid, then 5-P,A,SW. All the same model (Callaway B21) so they all look and feel the same. I found I became more consistent because I played the clubs more often. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication they say 👍🏻
I used to have 15 clubs in my bag and would pick one for that round I wouldn't use. But I actually found I was more confident with 14 clubs, because now I have one less club i have to worry about hitting perfectly. Idk why, but it just gives me less anxiety. So now before I leave the house I choose between the hybrid and heavenwood, and just leave one at home for the day
Another great video and advice Andy just gone to 4 & 7 pxg XF gen 6 7 so easy to hit and 4 is great but as you say if your driver is working you have a great club that builds your confidence back and only 25 yards down from driver keep the great content up Andy 👍
Driver, 3 wood (lofted down), 5 wood (18.5*), 9 wood (24* love the height 😊), 6i, etc. Carry distance has been everything in the very wet conditions, so I now only gap on carry, not total distance.
Struggling with the same thing. I play a 4 iron but it’s 24.5 degrees which is closer to a modern 5. Then I go to a 4 hybrid (22 degrees) which I love and hit 200+ yards. After that I’m lost. I have a 16 degree 3 wood that I’m trying to like. I’ve carried a driving iron which I hit well but the 3 iron goes comparable to the 4 hybrid but I like the hybrid more and the 3 iron has a Tensi shaft that launches too high. I have a 5 (25 degree) utility with a low spin shaft that I hit almost as far as the 3 iron 🤷🏼. Considering a 4 utility with a low spin shaft which will probably be close to the hybrid but a lower ball flight.
An interesting take on a problem that I’d say occurs at that end of the bag with a lot of players. Heck of an expensive solution though, must be the guts of £700 to make those changes in the bag. I know there seem to be any number of people in golf for whom money is not an issue, but for the rest of us, that’s a big ask. Not decrying your assessment of a solution at all Andy, just agonising over what it costs these days.
Well Andy I’ve watched for years but no more. This pxg sponsorship like Crossfield’s has put into the can not thrust zone. Your channel will slowly die my man.
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I replaced the 3 wood with a 4 years ago. The next club is a 7 (21*) wood before transitioning to my 6 iron (PXG 0211’s). It’s been a good combination for this 70 yr old.
Andy, I am now 75 years old and my clubhead speed has dropped from about 100-105 MPH (with the driver) to the low-mid 90s. I have not had a 3-wood in my bag for at least a half-dozen years. I carry a 16.5 degree 4-wood and usually a 20* 7-wood. However, for tight courses where I really want to be sure to keep tee shots in the fairway and don’t need to hit those tee shots more than 200-205 yards, I often drop the 7-wood in favor of a 19* “utility iron” (a/k/a “driving iron”). This old guy gets excellent results from the driving iron and it’s definitely a fairway finder for me. The next club in my bag is a 4 or 5 hybrid, depending on whether or not I will have a 5-iron in my bag that day.
Thankks for exploring these options.
I'm old and recently back to the game.
My current top end is driver, 4w, 7w, 5i. Working fairly well for the time being.
That is a very good top end to the bag for many “seasoned golfers”!
I put a 7 wood (Ping G430) from Santa in my bag this year. Still have a 5 iron for certain shots eg tee shots but using 7 wood every where else and I'm delighted with how well it performs and how easy it is to hit. In time I expect the 5 iron will come out of my bag. I certainly regret my ego/vanity stopping me from bagging a 7 wood earlier.
I am in my 4th year of golf, a senior at 71, after having 2 bad custom fittings and reselling everything I sorted it out myself by trial and error on the course not the range. At last I have a set of clubs that really work for me being short 5'6". I have Callaway Paradym X Driver 12°,Paradym X 4 hybrid 21° and a ladies Cobra radspeed 3 wood 18.5° which is the same loft as a mens 4 wood all fitted with ladies shafts as they are only 40g and much shorter. I can hit all clubs with ease and a nice straight shot keeping on the fairway!!! I can now get on with enjoying golf so I totally agree with you. Thanks for your channel it has helped my golf a lot.
I`m 77 years of age, still play to a six index and can`t agree with you more!
Good thought process, thanks. Where I have landed (23 handicap) 4 hybrid - best club in the bag. 7 wood - Ping G25. Swing easy and it flies, can clear high trees to rescue an errant tee shot. 3 wood. Dont use it a lot but when I need it its good to have. Last piece of the puzzle is I have learned to play a stinger with my 5 iron. Great into the wind and as a rescue from under trees. The hybrid/7 wood is no good for this due to the low centre of gravity. Works for me, but also get where you are coming from. Cheers
I went with a Cleveland HyWood at 17 and Ping G430 4 hybrid to gap between driver and 4 iron. HyWood is performing really well.
If it ever stops raining I'll explore the top end of my bag. I've had several utility irons and I like having one in the bag. They come and go in my set-up on a regular basis depending on my current theory of practicality. My strong 3-wood (TSR2+) may well be under threat as a consequence ... which will then put the 5-wood under pressure. And so it goes on...
I play single-length irons at 36.5", the length of an 8-iron. Thus, I have to play hybrids at the top of the set. (A 4H the same length as the rest of the set, and a traditional Ping 3H.)
I kept the 3 wood in my bag but lofted it from 15* to 16*. That 1* I'm sorry does make a huge difference as you found going from 18* to 17*. Builds confidence, my friend. Thanks for the video.
Have wilson staff utility irons 15 and 18 degree clubs-no driver or hybrids and love them. Good distance to 230-240 yards and very versatile.
I’m on a similar journey to you Andy. Last year I bought a G430 5 wood and adjusted it to a 4 wood loft. For me it goes perfectly. I’ve got 4 & 5 hybrid’s as to use your words Andy they give me more confidence than either a 4 or 5 iron
Being a senior golfer I too went through the same scenario as you've described.
I ended up with a 16.5 degree wood, 18 degree and 20 degree utility irons marked as
three irons. All are good off the tee and fairway. For some reason I don't like the
feel of the hybrids.
Stick the mini driver in the bag and you will have the old 2w & 4w combination I started out with - in the persimmon era!
I also carry a 4h lofted up at 23 degrees, such a versatile club, if only I could get a bit more launch from it
Hi Andy so my gapping in the bag is:
Driver - 250
5 wood - 230
7 wood - 210
I then have 4 iron which is similar to 7 wood but stays low, similar to your logic having some versatility.
But I think I will try a driving iron like yours as I would like to feel more confident than i currently do with the 4 iron as I use a standard 4 iron. Not the chunkier one like this!
Thanks for the video
I had 3 wood jitters. Retired it for a 4 wood. So much more confident with it. A 7 wood is also now part of my set up. Then a 4 hybrid.
Great vid again. I recently got a 5 wood with a longer shaft which is playing more like a 4 wood in distance, but gives me the flight I want. Fits the gap perfectly between driver and 4 hybrid. I couldn't get on with the 3 wood, just didn't feel right and as you say just ditch it if it doesn't inspire confidence. My 5 iron (G430) is similar to my 4 hybrid in yardage, but the different flights make it worthwhile having them both in the bag.
i do the same!
on the top end i carry:
5 wood playing at 20° mizuno pro
4 hybrid playing at 23° mizuno st-z 230
driving iron at 19° taylormade p790 with a fujikura motore speeder shaft
i love having options on the course and it’s been fun hitting different shots with each club
I for one understand the need for sponsorship but feel club reviews for other OEMs are as impartial as ever.
In terms of club selection very much a believer in squad system for different courses and conditions.
Just rejoined a course which is very tight and trouble left (you’d think I’d learn by now) .
My plan on the whole was to go 3 wood and 7 wood , then 4 and 5h but the weather is really making me change my mind quite high up so exposed to wind …… bringing driver back for more open courses. But then my 5 wood is pretty much a 4 wood in old money ….
I’ve struggled with a Tee club into the wind and the Ping Rapture 2 iron keeps looking at me from the subs bag and smiling, not sure about the carry with the wet ground.
And the TM Burner mini driver suddenly looks like a very appealing self treat for my upcoming 50th!!!!
Keep up the good work Andy
I have a 4 hybrid which is the same loft as my 5 iron but the hybrid helps me off the tee on tight holes and out the rough.
I’ve been going through similar decisions. I had been playing a 4W but switched to a 5W because it landed softer and I was slightly more consistent with it. But I just bought a new 3W because I wanted something with lower flight for those long runners. I’ve never had success with driving irons. I find hybrids fit the distance and flight profile for me better than the driving iron while yielding more consistency.
Had a 4wood in my bag since the mid 1990s. It just always fit and made sense. So much more versatile than a 3wood and gaps better with hybrids and even a 7wood.
great video Andy all makes sense well done Cheers from Canada
Nice one, thumbs up. What I didn't get though Andy is why you simply didn't dial the 5 wood down 1 degree? Did the shaft length difference work better on the 4 wood?
😅😆 fantastic reaction after the first shot @1:08 to @1:12 And. Loved it.
I was originally drawn to your channel because we have a similar philosophy on golf, and equipment. We also have similar swing speeds, distances, and handicaps. It's probably no surprise then that I ditched my 3 wood a few years ago and replaced it with a 4 wood (actually a 5-wood lofted down to 16.5* with lengthened shaft). For the same swing speed/gapping reason as you, I also replaced my 4 iron for a hybrid (a GAPR 3 Hi lofted up and shortened). I really disliked hybrids, until I did this mod. It is now one of my favourites and most versatile clubs. That leave the gap between the GAPR and 4 wood which I fill with a 2 hybrid (but might replace with a 6 wood). As much as I'd love to have a DI in the bag, I'm yet to find one I can get airborne.
Thanks Andy really love theses type of videos from you
Over the years I’ve gravitated to a simple set up with fewer clubs, driver with 3 wood shaft, 21* hybrid, then 5-P,A,SW. All the same model (Callaway B21) so they all look and feel the same. I found I became more consistent because I played the clubs more often.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication they say 👍🏻
Andy you play some great looking courses, so lucky.
Great vid
I think its a great idea banging in a driving iron i use a gapr TM hit lower then my hybrid on those windy days
The key statement, find what group of clubs work for you.
Sometimes also depends on what type of course you play as well.
I used to have 15 clubs in my bag and would pick one for that round I wouldn't use. But I actually found I was more confident with 14 clubs, because now I have one less club i have to worry about hitting perfectly. Idk why, but it just gives me less anxiety. So now before I leave the house I choose between the hybrid and heavenwood, and just leave one at home for the day
Love rocking my 5hyd 4hyd 4 wood and 2 wood set up.
I use driver, 5w for teeing off, then 3h, 4h and 5h. Much easier to hit than fairway woods.
Thank you Andy. It’s part of the game to keep swapping clubs and think it will improve the fun. But this doesn’t often work out to good. 😊😊😊
Another great video and advice Andy just gone to 4 & 7 pxg XF gen 6 7 so easy to hit and 4 is great but as you say if your driver is working you have a great club that builds your confidence back and only 25 yards down from driver keep the great content up Andy 👍
Swing looking good andy 👍👍
Want an alternative off the tee? Consider a TM mini driver. You can play it as a driver, yet hit it off the deck.
Driver, 3 wood (lofted down), 5 wood (18.5*), 9 wood (24* love the height 😊), 6i, etc. Carry distance has been everything in the very wet conditions, so I now only gap on carry, not total distance.
Struggling with the same thing. I play a 4 iron but it’s 24.5 degrees which is closer to a modern 5. Then I go to a 4 hybrid (22 degrees) which I love and hit 200+ yards. After that I’m lost. I have a 16 degree 3 wood that I’m trying to like. I’ve carried a driving iron which I hit well but the 3 iron goes comparable to the 4 hybrid but I like the hybrid more and the 3 iron has a Tensi shaft that launches too high. I have a 5 (25 degree) utility with a low spin shaft that I hit almost as far as the 3 iron 🤷🏼. Considering a 4 utility with a low spin shaft which will probably be close to the hybrid but a lower ball flight.
Great content...Carry on
I had a Magregor super eyeomatic persimmon 4 wood in my back in the 80s best club I have ever owned, used it until it snapped and broke in two 😱
Heaven wood.
Great idea. Just have PXG send me those three clubs and I'll give it a try.
My 4h is so versatile, I'll never take it out. Great from rough, fairways, tees, the lot
An interesting take on a problem that I’d say occurs at that end of the bag with a lot of players. Heck of an expensive solution though, must be the guts of £700 to make those changes in the bag. I know there seem to be any number of people in golf for whom money is not an issue, but for the rest of us, that’s a big ask. Not decrying your assessment of a solution at all Andy, just agonising over what it costs these days.
JMAX Bazooka Ironwood #3 (21 degree). Best club I've ever added to my bag. Does everything.
2 iron is a great club to have in a bag, I love my 2 iron
5 wood head...on a 3 wood shaft...you heard it here first.
😂😂. People have been doing it for years...
Good common sense advice
Well Andy I’ve watched for years but no more. This pxg sponsorship like Crossfield’s has put into the can not thrust zone. Your channel will slowly die my man.