There are a few things to keep in mind when hitting a 3 wood off the tee. 3 woods are used for teeing off into par 3’s, getting the ball out of harm’s way off to the side of a driving area, and even providing a little extra distance off the tee.
3 woods have the longest shafts of any fairway wood other than driver so you should be able to get plenty of speed behind your 3 wood shots.
When hitting 3 woods off the tee, try to hit with an open stance.
Having your feet spread wider apart allows for greater control of your 3 wood and will also help you keep that left foot down on the follow through.
3 Wood Drill
To practice hitting 3 woods off the tee, grab your best 3 wood and stand away from the ball about 3-4 feet. Take a quick look at the target, then settle into your 3 wood swing keeping most of your weight on your back leg throughout. You’ll want to finish high even though it’s only 3 or 4 feet away so aim to peak about eye level at the highest point in your backswing.
With this stronger club in hand you can begin using it off the tee sooner than other fairway woods. 3 woods are generally meant for shots out of the rough or to get the ball back in play on drives that have too much hook.
One way to add some bite to your 3 wood shots is by choking down on the grip slightly. Choking down will help you keep your hands ahead of the clubhead and give you better control over where the 3 wood goes.
If you’re hitting a 3 wood off a tee box that has noticeable slopes in it then try aiming well right or left of your target so the ball will feed down into your target.
If you’re hitting 3 woods off of a tee box that has negligible slopes 3 wood shots are best hit with an open clubface to help compensate for the 3 wood’s heel bias.
If you have a 3 wood that is relatively hard to hit from where your driver sits then it may be time to consider picking up one of those 3 woods with much softer hybrids in them, these clubs often times fly higher and straighter than 3 woods.
A good way to ensure that you get 3 wood off the tee is to get a 3 wood with a good amount of loft. Loft refers to the angle of the club face when looking at it from behind, and this attribute plays a huge role in determining how far back you take the 3 wood and how much power you’ll be able to generate during your downswing.
The shaft length should also ideally correspond with your height, because having too long or too short of a shaft can make hitting 3 woods off tee difficult.
How to Tee up a 3 Wood
There is no one “correct” way to tee up a 3 wood, as there are many different factors that can affect your shots – including the type of club, the length of your swing, and the condition of the turf.
When teeing up a 3 wood, make sure to place the ball further back in your stance than you would with a driver. This will help ensure that you hit the ball squarely and with more loft.
Then, before taking your swing, take a step towards the target with your front foot. Finally, make sure to keep your head down throughout the entire swing. By following these tips, you’ll be able to hit longer and straighter shots with your 3 wood.
Some general tips for teeing up a 3 wood include:
- hold the club with a comfortable grip, keeping your wrists straight
- place the ball in the center of your stance, and make sure that it’s lined up with your front heel
- take a smooth backswing, and keep your hands ahead of the clubhead at all time
- focus on hitting down on the ball as you make contact; this will help you generate more power and keep the ball moving in the desired direction
How High to Tee up 3 Wood
Accuracy is key with a 3 wood, so you want to make sure you’re teeing it high enough so that the ball doesn’t travel too far off line. Most golfers find that teeing the ball between 2 and 2 1/2 inches high yields good results.
The 3 wood is probably the most versatile club in your bag. It’s great for driving off the tee, it’s fun to play with from the fairway or rough, and if you have a little room to work with, it produces some wicked spin around the greens.
You can use your driver off of just about any lie, but not all of them are a good idea.
If there isn’t much room between you and the trees, if your shot path is blocked by other players, or if you’re simply uncomfortable making a big swing with so little time to set up… well those are all great excuses to pull out the 3 wood instead.
3 Wood vs Driver for Teeing Off
In general, you should use a 3 wood to tee off if you want to hit the ball further. A 3 wood has a larger club face and loft than a regular driver, which means it will create more backspin and send the ball further down the fairway.
Additionally, the 3 wood club head is more forgiving on off-center hits, which can help you stay in play if your tee shot doesn’t quite go as planned.
However, it’s important to note that not everyone is suited to using a 3 wood – people with slower swings speeds may find it difficult to generate enough power to make effective contact with the ball. So if you’re not comfortable using a 3 wood, there’s no shame in using a different club instead. Just be sure to choose something that will give you the best chance of making solid contact with the ball and getting your drive on target.
When Not to Use the 3 Wood to Tee Off
There are a few occasions when you might not want to use your 3 wood to tee off. For instance, if you’re playing on a course with narrow fairways, you might find that using your driver is the better option.
Additionally, if the hole is located near water or another hazard, using a club with more loft (like a 7 or 8 iron) may give you a better chance of landing the ball on the green and avoiding disaster.
Finally, if you’re struggling with accuracy off the tee, it might be best to stick with a club that’s more forgiving.
When not to use the 3 wood to tee off:
- When accuracy is more important than distance (for example, on a tight fairway)
- In windy conditions, when it may be difficult to control the ball’s trajectory accurately
- When playing on a course with many obstacles near the green (for example, trees or water hazards), which could make it difficult to get up and down from short distances if you miss the green.
- When the situation calls for a straight shot, as opposed to a hook or slice
- When you’re trying to hit your ball very high into the air, as opposed to maintaining a lower trajectory. In this case it’s better to use a 3 iron instead
- In situations where there is trouble behind the green (for example, if you will have difficulty getting up and down from distance)
- In situations where you need accurate distance control from all distances beyond 200 yards or so. In those cases, using a 5 wood may be a better choice for accuracy purposes.