The 3 Wood and 5 Wood golf clubs are two of the most common fairway woods. 

But does the average golfer need both of these clubs in their bags to be successful? When is the ideal time to use each club?

Let’s dive into how they’re different and when to use each…

The Main Differences Between a 3 and 5 Wood

Though there are a lot of similarities between the 3 Wood and the 5 Wood, these fairway woods do differ in a variety of ways. 

Let’s take a look at some of those differences:

1. Loft

One key difference between the 3-wood and the 5-wood is the loft of each club. 

Most 3 woods have 15 degrees of loft while most 5 woods have 18 degrees of loft. This may not sound like that big of a difference, but it has a profound effect on the type of shot a golfer can hit.

Why is loft important? Because it determines how high a golfer can launch the golf ball. More degrees of loft are needed when a golfer needs to hit a higher trajectory shot.

2. Distance

Distance is another area where the 3 Wood and the 5 Wood differ. The average male golfer hits a 3 Wood around 215 yards. He hits a 5 Wood about 195 yards.

The average distance difference isn’t nearly as prominent in women golfers. The average woman hits the 3 Wood about 150 yards. She hits the 5 Wood about 135 yards.

So, it’s safe to assume that most golfers will hit their 3-wood anywhere from 10 to 20 yards further than their 5-wood. This is because of the longer shaft length and lower loft of the 3-wood.

Keep in mind though, that the added distance doesn’t mean that the 3-wood is the best choice for all golfers. Being accurate with your fairway wood shots is often more important than sheer distance. What good is more distance if your golf ball ends up out of bounds?

3. Shaft Length

Another area that 3 Woods and 5 woods differ is shaft length. 

Though both of these fairway woods have what is considered a longer shaft, a 3 wood is typically an inch longer than a 5 wood. Most golf equipment manufacturers make 3-woods between 42 and 43 inches long and 5-woods between 41 and 42 inches long.

Shaft length affects both distance and control. A longer shaft gives the golfer the ability to hit the ball further. However, clubs with shorter shafts usually give the golfer better control and more accuracy.

4. Ball Position During Setup

Another way that these fairway woods differ is the ball positions that they require during setup. 

For a 3 Wood shot, you want to play the golf ball about two inches away from the heel of your front foot. This is similar to how you would hit your driver off the tee (except that with the driver, you position the ball directly off the front heel).

For a 5 Wood shot, you want to play the golf ball about one inch closer to the middle of your stance than the 3 Wood. This will help compensate for the 5-wood’s slightly shorter shaft and will allow you to make solid contact with the ball. 

No matter which fairway wood you choose to use, make sure you are positioning the ball correctly in your stance.

When Golfers Typically Use Each Wood

Best Times to Use a 3-Wood

1. Off The Tee

If you’re struggling to find the fairway with your driver off the tee, the 3-wood may be the solution you are looking for. 

Since the 3-wood has a higher loft angle than the driver, it’ll give you a higher launch off the tee and often a straighter shot. PGA Tour pro Henrik Stenson refers to his 3-wood as “the fairway finder” off the tee.

The shorter shaft of the 3 Wood will also give you more control over the clubhead. Lots of high handicappers find that their slice is not nearly as pronounced when they use a 3 wood off the tee instead of a driver. 

This extra amount of accuracy comes in handy especially when you are playing on tight holes with not a lot of room for error.

2. When You’re in the Fairway on a Reachable Par 5

The 3 wood is the toughest club to hit off the deck, even when you have a nice lie in the fairway. However, a great time to use the 3-wood is when you’re trying to reach the green in two shots on a Par 5 hole. (Only try this shot if you feel comfortable with your 3-wood)

The extra length that a 3-wood provides will give you a better chance of getting home in two shots. This will give you a rare opportunity for an eagle putt. Who doesn’t love more eagles on their scorecard?

3. When You Need a Lower Ball Flight Due to the Wind

When playing golf, you have to be prepared to deal with a wide range of weather conditions. One of which is those annoyingly windy days on the course.

When the wind is whipping, you want to keep the ball flight of your shots much lower. This will keep the wind from having such a dramatic effect on all of your shots on the golf course. Since the 3-wood has a relatively low amount of loft, it’s a great choice for hitting those low stingers that will stay out of those nasty wind gusts.

Best Times to Use a 5 Wood

1. Long Par 3 Holes

Some golf courses have Par 3 holes that are a little on the long side. Some of these holes can be anywhere from 160 to 190 yards. Beginners can have a hard time hitting their long irons this far, so a 5 Wood shot makes more sense.

The extra loft of a 5 Wood helps golfers hit high shots that land softly on the green. This is perfect for a long Par 3. Lots of golfers also feel that the large clubface of the 5-wood makes it much easier to hit than a 3-iron or 4-iron.

2. Out of the Fairway, Especially for Beginners

Since the 3-wood is so difficult to master, most beginners should use the 5-wood anytime they need to hit a long shot from the fairway. The average amateur golfer can get the ball in the air much easier with the 5-wood. Again, this is where that three degrees of extra loft comes in handy!

The higher loft and shorter shaft of the 5-wood allows golfers to hit high, accurate approach shots into the green. Being able to hit shots like that will result in lower scores and a much more enjoyable round of golf. 

3. If You Need to Get Over a Tree

Have you ever found yourself needing to get your golf ball over a tree? This is a great time to hit your 5-wood. In this situation, you can hit your 5-wood out of either the fairway or light rough.

The large face of the 5-wood will cut through the light rough and still leave you with the ability to hit a high enough shot that will clear the tree. Never underestimate the ability of the 5-wood to get you out of trouble on the course.

Which Wood is Easier to Hit for The Average Golfer

Most amateur golfers struggle to get the ball off the ground with their fairway woods. By all accounts, the 5-wood is much easier for the average golfer to hit than the 3-wood. Though both are very forgiving clubs because of their large faces, the extra loft of the 5-wood makes it much easier to get the ball off the ground than the lower lofted 3-wood.

The 5-wood is also easier to control because of its shorter shaft. This results in a lower amount of sidespin, which means golfers are less likely to slice or hook the ball with the 5-wood. More accuracy is always a good thing, especially for mid-handicap golfers.

Do You Really Need Both of These Woods in Your Bag?

This is a tough question because the answer depends on the golfer’s swing speed, skill level, and personal preference. Most PGA Tour golfers will keep both a 3-wood and a 5-wood in their bags during most tournaments. However, most pros will swap out their 5-wood for a 2-iron or a 3-hybrid if the course requires more high trajectory shots.

Beginners and even most average golfers would be best suited to keep a 5-wood and a good hybrid in their bags and leave the 3-wood at home. A 3-wood is a phenomenal club, but it’s also a high-risk high-reward type of golf club. Those types of clubs are best left for single-digit handicappers.

Every golfer is different, so there is no right or wrong answer. If you use the 3-wood and the 5-wood for different purposes and you are comfortable with both clubs, then by all means keep them both in your bag.

What Type of Shaft Should You Choose on Your Fairway Woods?

Did you know that most golfers don’t put a lot of thought into what type of shaft to choose with their fairway woods? This is a huge mistake because shaft flex has a huge impact on both the distance and accuracy of your shots.

Light Shaft vs Heavy Shaft

When it’s time to buy some new fairway woods, make sure you take the time to experiment with different shaft weights. A lighter shaft will normally provide more ball speed and thus more distance. Since most beginners and high handicappers have slower swing speeds, a lighter shaft may help them hit the ball further.

However, a heavier shaft may give golfers more control of their shots. Golfers who are low handicappers with fast swing speeds may prefer a heavier shaft for the solid feel and extra amount of accuracy.

Graphite Shafts vs Steel Shafts

You also need to decide what type of shaft will work best for you. The majority of golfers choose to use graphite shafts with their fairway woods. This is because graphite gives the shaft a lighter feel, which is what most golfers prefer these days.

Graphite has become so popular that most golf equipment manufacturers don’t even offer steel shafts off the shelf anymore. Steel is much heavier than graphite, which usually slows down a golfer’s swing speed. 

One positive thing about steel shafts is that they are usually 20% cheaper than graphite shafts. Interestingly enough, PGA Tour legend Tiger Woods prefers a steel shaft.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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With golf season right around the corner, it’s essential to get your mind and body prepared.

Growing up in New York and knowing that my golf season was limited by the weather helped me develop some strategies to ensure I was ready to play my best golf as soon as the season allowed.

Here are some of those tips and tricks so that you don’t waste a single day of the golf season.

Develop a Strong Strength Training Routine

Fitness experts will tell you that the physical strength of your body will have a major impact on your ability to hit the ball a long way and to do it consistently.

As long as you have some basic dumbbells or bands, you can do exercises to encourage better leg strength, arm strength, and muscle tone.

It’s best to devise a physical fitness routine that you can do consistently throughout the offseason. This doesn’t mean doing a few squats, push-ups, or curls the day before you head back out on the golf course.

The strength training routine should also work on your stomach muscles and abdomen to ensure that your core is as efficient and quick as possible in the swing.

Winter Cardio Is Key

Winter cardio is something that many golfers forget to do.

Jumping on the treadmill a few days a week and walking “9 holes” will pay off when the golf course doors open. Golf is not the most physically demanding sport, but getting through nine holes or 18 holes of golf will be considerably easier if your heart is in better condition.

Many times in the early part of the golf season, players will start to make mistakes when they get to holes 15 and 16. This is not necessarily because of your golf swing but because your body and heart are tired.

Schedule Putting Practice

It may sound ridiculous to add putting practice to your schedule, but it is not!

Set up an area in your home where you can work on your putting and practice for at least a half hour per week. Feel free to split this up into 3 ten-minute sessions.

If you buy the right putting mat that will hold your attention and challenge you, chances are you will see much better results and want to practice more often.

When you head out to the course in the spring, the green will be bumpy, but your consistent stroke will only help that first round of the new season.

Swing As Often As You Can

Professional golfers often have the advantage here because they have large studios where they can work on their golf game and watch the progression of their swing on a launch monitor. Many amateur players do not have this same opportunity.

However, there are often indoor driving ranges or a space in your garage where you can at least swing a club. Even if you can swing just a few times per week, you will help make the start of the golf season much easier on you.

Go For a Golf Club Fitting

People often like to argue that a golf club fitting is for players searching for new clubs, but this is not the truth. Golf club fittings are for golfers that want to ensure their equipment is the best possible choice for them.

Going to a fitting could mean you come home with a new club, but it could also be a slight tweak to a loft or lie of a golf club in your bag.

Getting on a launch monitor and having a fitting expert determine if you are using equipment that supports your goals is a really smart choice.

Regrip Your Golf Clubs

Whether you do it yourself or you have someone do it for you, regripping your golf clubs is a great way to start the new season. When your golf clubs have slippery grips on them, your grip pressure will increase, and you may struggle with releasing the golf club.

When regripping clubs, ensure you have the right size grip and the proper material and thickness. Golf club regripping is an investment but one that is well worth taking if you are keeping your equipment through the golf season.

Brush up on Rules

Rule changes happen in golf more frequently than they once did. If you want to be sure you are adequately prepared to follow the rules on the course, take a glance through a new rule book. Many golfers have this idea that the rules are there to punish you; however, they are there to help you.

Knowing the rules of golf will help you understand what your options are should you hit a bad shot. Trust me on this one – for many years, I didn’t have enough of an understanding of the more detailed rules, and I ended up dropping the ball in areas where it didn’t make much sense.

When you know the rules and your options, you can save several strokes this season.

Set a Goal for The Year

What is your goal for this golf season?

Having the goal in place and developing it in the off season will help you set up a plan and figure out a way to achieve it. The goals don’t always have to be scoring-related.

You may find that you want to play golf more on Wednesdays or that you want to meet some new golf partners. These are all good goals. However, in the months when you can’t play golf because of the weather, you can think about your goals and how you will accomplish them.

Chipping Practice in The House

We mentioned putting practice in the house, but I also highly recommend working on your chipping.

The key here is to find foam golf balls and a small hitting mat or even a carpet where you can hit some wedge shots. The key here is to take an effortless motion and try to make clean contact.

Chipping practice does not need to be anything fancy or expensive. Even taking a small bucket from the garage or a bowl from the kitchen and trying to chip the foam balls into that will be enough to get the lower body and upper body working together.

The key to chipping is often the tempo, which establishes it at the perfect time of year.

Mentally Prepare Your Game

The mental game is such a huge component and one that many amateur golfers neglect to pay attention to.

If you want to mentally prepare your game, it is essential to work on it. There are books and videos out there that will teach you the proper mindset and alternative ways to look at scoring.

I highly recommend developing a pre shot routine that is the same every single time. In addition, it may be worth looking into some type of app or device that will help track your stats when the season starts.

Knowing if you are hitting greens and fairways or if your putting is terrible can give you more direction as to what to work on. Over time, mental preparedness is going to pay off even more than physical preparedness.

The golfers on the PGA Tour that are winning each week are mentally tougher than other players on tour. At some point, everyone is able to make good golf shots, but the mentally tough will win.

Check The Fundamentals Before They Turn Into Bad Habits

When you finally get to start hitting golf shots, make sure that you use alignment sticks to check that the golf ball’s direction is as straight as you think it is. These first few weeks of the golf season are when you start to notice issues with the bad habits sneaking back up.

Many players jump out on the golf course after several months off and start swinging as hard as they possibly can. Of course, this is not necessary, and until you get your setup, stance, posture, grip, and tempo down, don’t attempt to do all that much.

Starting the golf season unprepared may end up causing you some frustration when it comes to lowering scores and having a successful year. Take it slow in the beginning, and be methodical about the swings you are taking and the practice you are putting in.

In the end the work you do on the fundamentals will pay off the most.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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