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From Lois,
golfer: |
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How do I know which 3-wood is right for
me? I am considering pre-owned...but have not ruled out new. Please don't
suggest hitting a lot of different ones, it is not that easy to find
places that do that. There has to be another way to at least narrow it
down? It is a lot of money to spend on a club that does not work for me!
Thanks for your suggestions! |
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PGA/LPGA
TEACHING
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSES: |
Arizona
"Hi Lois: I would highly suggest that you get fitted for
a new 3-wood. Go to a qualified club-fitter in your area, where
you will hit a few balls and be fitted for a club in 4 areas:
1. club length
2. lie angle
3. shaft flex
4. grip size
With these 4 characteristics of a club fit to your swing, the only
other criteria that matters is how the club looks to you. The club
must look 'attractive' to you. A good 3-wood is important,
especially for women. Most women I teach use the 3-wood
frequently, because at many golf courses, the forward tees are set
where many women must use a fairway wood 2 or 3 times before
reaching a point where they can use a shorter club to reach the
green. Good luck in your search."
- Sue
Urry, Teaching Professional |
Arizona
"Selecting proper clubs has become a science. Proper
fitting is important. In order to select the proper shaft you need
to determine shaft load and or club head speed. If the shaft is
not properly fit you will not get optimum height and carry
distance. The club head design is influenced by your ability. The
higher the handicap the more forgiving the design should be. The
length of the club is also determined by you ability level. You
want to hit the longest club you can effectively. You can
determine that by the ball marks on the face of the club. Last but
not least, it is important to have the proper grip size. That is
determined by the length of your palm. If you are not able to
acquire any of this information, it is best to choose a club that
works for most of the golfers out there. In all the computer
testing I have done I have found that Callaway out tests most of
the clubs in the market place. Hope this helps."
- Pam
Bailey, Teaching Professional |
California
"Lois
- Depending on your swing speed, make sure you have the proper
shaft flex and loft. See a recommended club fitter who can check
your specifications on this. If there is no one around, you are at
the mercy of testing on your own. Try out all your friends clubs
either on the course or at the range. Seek out demo days and try
their models. Find the ball flight you like and the feel. If it
works for you, don't worry about the price - high or low. Above
all, don't buy off the rack without testing or on the
recommendation of a salesperson. After all, that's what they are
there for, to sell clubs and as you are not their student, it
doesn't matter what happens to your golf game after that. Good
Golfing."
- Kati
Biszantz, Teaching Professional |
California
"Most shops have a set of demo clubs given to them by the
manufactures for this specific purpose. If they don't, then your
right...it's tough. Remember, the bottom line to club selection is
personal preference and you are doing the right thing by trying
the club before you buy. If you can't, then that raises a red flag
and tells me that you are dealing with bad business. Friends is a
way to try clubs before you buy. If you know some friends who have
similar clubs, try those out. The other solution is the cost
factor. If you buy a used brand name (like Taylor Made) you spend
half the amount of a new club plus you will have a good resale
value. If you buy a brand new club then the resale value drops
as soon as you buy it. Tougher to get your money back." - David
Ruvolo, Teaching Professional |
Colorado
"You did not say what kind of player you are. The main
thing is getting the right shaft that fits your swing. Please tell
me more." - Paula
Adelman, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"Lois: Great question and your concerns are valid. A
fairway wood that has been successful for me is the Taylor Made
Cleek, more commonly known as a Baffler, Raylor and many other
names. The feature of these clubs that is so valuable is the
ridges on the bottom of the club that 1) allow the club to
get the ball up in tight lies and 2) have a lower center of
gravity that also gets the ball up. You may find this model of
club in most manufacturer catalogs and at varied lofts. So why not
replace that 5, 4 and 3 iron with woods too??" - Tony
Simpson, Teaching Professional |
Illinois
"Lois: I have a short and simple answer for you that I
guarantee will help you solve your dilemma. Visit
www.henry-griffitts.com then find a fitter that is located near
you in Texas. Call and make an appointment with that fitter and
within a 1/2 hour to an hour into your session, you will have a
perfectly fit three wood that you will never give up! Thank you
for your inquiry."
- Ryan
Graff, Teaching Professional |
Missouri
"First, find a club head that
you like when setting up to it. From there you need to focus on
the shaft type. I would have my swing speed checked. If
your not familiar with your club speed, flex points, graphite or
steel, length, grip size, etc., I would learn all this first.
From there you can pin point your club." - David
Mulso, Teaching Professional
|
North Carolina
"It depends on what your handicap is.
3-woods today come in several different lofts. If you are a mid to
high handicap I would look at a 14.5 or 15 degree loft. I would
have my swing speed measured to see what flex I would fall in and
then look for that flex. If you have trouble getting the ball up
in the air, look for a shaft with a low bend point, if you create
a tremendous amount of swing speed look for a shaft with a mid to
high bend point." - Ben
Hynson, Teaching Professional |
South
Carolina
"Find someone who does frequency
matching and be tested, or have your favorite club tested, then
have a 3-wood made to that frequency. Any questions call me at
1-888-250-1817."
- Sean
Carey, Teaching Professional |
Texas
"The first variable you should look for is shaft flex. Go
with the most flexible shaft you can control."
- Dave
Baron, Teaching Professional
|
Texas
"Ping i3 fairway woods. 14 degree is my choice. Get
fitted for a shaft."
- Kim
J. Brown, Teaching Professional
|
Texas
"Your ball trajectory will tell you a lot about which
loft to chose. If you hit a high ball get a 12 or 13 degree loft
if you hit a low ball get a 14 or 15 degree loft. A little larger
head will hit the ball lower a smaller head will hit the ball
higher. Shaft flex should match your set. Pick one that looks good
to you though not necessarily the most expensive." - Fred
Collins, Teaching Professional
|
Washington
"Dear Lois: You may not like
this answer, but there is only one way to insure that you
select the right 3-wood for you, and that is to go through a
club fitting. Club fitting is something every good player
including tour pros go through, and there are several components
to a club fitting that are essential to it being
successful. First, the club fitting must take place on
a practice range and with multiple test clubs so that true
ball flight can be evaluated. Second, the person who
gives the club fitting must be a golf professional, someone who
knows how to evaluate ball flight, and understands the
relationship between swing motion and ball flight. You
will indeed have to hit a few different 3-woods but
that is the only way for a club fitter to determine which shaft
flex, loft, head design etc. is the right one for you.
The good news is that a competent club fitting
professional will simultaneously help you identify
your most balanced swing motion while fitting you. That
way he can design a club that rewards you with the ball flight
you want when you make your most balanced swing. It's
kind of like getting a lesson thrown in for free (although many
professionals will charge a nominal club fitting fee if you do
not purchase). So call some courses in your area, or go
on-line and look up golf club manufacturers (e.g. www.henry-griffitts.com) for
your nearest certified club fitter. I know it
may be difficult to find a place that offers professional
club fitting in your area, and you may have to do some
research, or even travel a bit, but your efforts will be
rewarded. Good Luck." -
Kris
Kallem, Teaching Professional
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