Improving a Player's 3-Wood

Glenn Mahler

Glenn Mahler, Advanced Fitting Specialist from the California-based Titleist FittingWorks Tour Van, discusses a fitting condition he often encounters that derives from the player using a driver swing for each club in the bag.

"I often work with players whose strongest club is their driver while the 3-wood is their weakest," Glenn said. "What makes this fitting condition so common? The answer is often a combination of their path and angle of attack.

"This player likely understands that high launch and low spin is optimal with the driver, so they tee the ball high and "swing up" and from the inside to increase launch and to turn the ball over from right to left. Players may unintentionally groove a swing that can add to the difficulty of hitting fairway woods and even irons. This habit of "swinging up" may result in a swing that causes fat or thin shots.

"When fitting a 3-wood under these circumstances, I will use impact tape to show where they strike the ball in relation to the center of the face. Almost without exception, this player will produce impact marks which are low and in toward the heel, resulting in low launch and high spin shots that miss to the right. To improve this player's game, I will have them grip down on the 3-wood, one-half inch at a time, and make sure they hit ball first, then turf. Inevitably, impact marks move toward the center and launch conditions are improved with a shorter length 3-wood. When they see their ball flight has improved as a result of this improved ball striking, they begin to have more confidence hitting down on the ball."

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Glenn recommends the following when fitting players whose weakest club is their 3-wood:

1. Use impact tape when fitting 3-woods to show the player where on the face they strike the ball.

2. For players with excessively inside and upward swing paths, have the player grip down on the 3-wood to help move impact marks toward the center of the clubface.

3. Ensure the player hits ball first, then turf, to improve launch conditions and consistency.

Share your best practices with FittingWorks by e-mailing the Fitters' Forum at fittingworkshelp@acushnetgolf.com.