Draw and the fairway wood

[Bigwill]

Since I got into the game 7 years ago, I've heard quite a few good players say that if they need to hit a draw, that it's easier to do so with a 3w than a driver. I asked my bro, who plays in the 70's regularly, and he couldn't tell me.

Why is it easier with the 3w? On the surface, it seems like it would be easier to draw the driver, as it has less loft.

 

[self-mastery]

Smaller head?

 

[StewartBannatyne]

Actually, it's a cause of two things, I believe...More loft, which keeps the club on the face longer than the driver, allows enough spin to be put on the ball to turn right to left...Also, because the COR or CT ,or whatever you want to call it, is so high on the drivers now, it is EXTREMELY hard to keep the ball on the face long enough to hit a good draw with the driver. You can pull draw them (start with the face square or slightly closed at impact and then closing through separation), but to start a ball just right or at your target and move it left with a driver, is quite difficult. Tiger has alluded to this on numerous occasions.

Stew

 

[Brian Manzella]

Thank God I'm back....

...cuz this is an easy one...

The Driver has TOO LITTLE loft on it to get the ball AIRBOURNE enough with a path vs. clubface difference of, let's say, five degrees.

That's why I DE-HOOK golfers with the driver off the deck trick.

I'll explain:

A path of 8 degrees inside-out, and a clubface of 3 degrees open, will produce 5 degrees of HOOK SPIN. Since HOOK SPIN is caused by a CLOSED face relative to the path, the EFFECTIVE LOFT of that club is reduced by the same FIVE degrees.

So a 10° driver would only have 5° of effective loft. Dive left duck hook.

A 15° 3-wood would have an effective loft of 10°, so it will work something like a normal driver shot.

 

[TYORKE1]

Let's do the opposite, why is so hard for the better player to cut the 3 wood?

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Let's do the opposite, why is so hard for the better player to cut the 3 wood?

IMO it's because they don't know how to swing left enough, just like i have a hard time swinging right enough to play a draw.

Part of the reason why my stock shot is a cut

 

[psteiner]

You gotta see this

That's why I DE-HOOK golfers with the driver off the deck trick.

I watched Brian help a student who hooked the ball by hitting drivers off a range mat. It was a convincing arguement and demonstration to say the least! A slow swing speed could get away with coming too far from the inside, but once Brian upped the speed the hook really took off. Then he showed how "To Do It Right".

Brian, this would make a great YouTube video. I think all six students at the Long Island school had unique issues that could be covered in brief YouTube lessions. (Guess I can't get enough). Thanks a bunch,

--Peter

 

[Bigwill]

...cuz this is an easy one...

The Driver has TOO LITTLE loft on it to get the ball AIRBOURNE enough with a path vs. clubface difference of, let's say, five degrees.

That's why I DE-HOOK golfers with the driver off the deck trick.

I'll explain:

A path of 8 degrees inside-out, and a clubface of 3 degrees open, will produce 5 degrees of HOOK SPIN. Since HOOK SPIN is caused by a CLOSED face relative to the path, the EFFECTIVE LOFT of that club is reduced by the same FIVE degrees.

So a 10° driver would only have 5° of effective loft. Dive left duck hook.

A 15° 3-wood would have an effective loft of 10°, so it will work something like a normal driver shot.

So it's not necessarily easier to turn over a 3w; it's easier to control. It makes sense. Thanks.