Best 3 wood off the tee

For many golfers, the 3 wood is a safe alternative to a driver off the tee. It is generally much easier to control the 3 wood, and because of this, you can get a better ball flight, a straighter shot, and sometimes even more distance than a driver.

A 3 wood hit straight and down the middle will go a lot further than a driver that slices into another fairway. Some 3 woods are better than others when it comes to shots hit off the tee box. Here are five of the best 3 woods off the tee.

TaylorMade SIM Max

Callaway Epic Flash

Cobra F9 Speedback

Top rated 3 wood off the tee

Callaway Epic Flash

The Epic Flash fairway woods are some of the best that Callaway has ever made. This 3 wood was the first to introduce the golf world to Flash Face Technology. Flash Face is a new face design that helps increase ball speed and gives players a significant increase in distance.

The reason we love the Epic Flash off the tee is that this is not the most forgiving clubhead, but it will reward you when you hit a great shot. Hitting off a tee gives golfers a bit more confidence and forgiveness to take advantage of all that the Epic Flash has to offer. The shape of the head is also conducive to hitting off a tee.

The Epic Flash is also an adjustable golf club, so you will be able to set the loft a bit lower when you are playing this club off the tee. This is such great versatility to have when you know that you need a club to support your driver on those difficult days. Another great thing to mention about the Epic Flash is that the pricing has started to drop since it’s the initial release. If this is a club you have had your eye on, now is the time to grab one.

Pros

• Adjustable
• Large sweet spot
• Great feel

Cons

• Not quite as forgiving as the Mavrik

TaylorMade SIM Max

If you have to step down to a 3 wood off the tee, you may be concerned about losing distance. As we mentioned, you may lose a few yards, but you will gain a ton of forgiveness and consistency. With the ball speeds that you can get with the TaylorMade SIM Max, you may hit this club just as far as your driver.

One of the best things about the TaylorMade SIM Max is the redesigned V Steel Sole. The sole of the club is designed to help improve turf interaction both from the tee and off the fairway. This makes the SIM Max a very versatile club that will work from a variety of lies.

When you add in the C300 face and the Speed Pocket for added ball speed, the SIM Max is a fantastic 3 wood when it comes to distance.

Pros

• Multi-material construction
• Twist face
• Available in many lofts

Cons

• Expensive

Cobra F9 Speedback

Many players don’t consider fairway woods to be expensive because they are priced so much lower than the driver. Although this is generally the case, most golfers carry at least two fairway woods in their bag. When you start adding up the costs on multiple woods, things can get expensive. Cobra is always so fair about their golf club pricing, and this F9 Speedback is undoubtedly no exception.

The F9 Speedback is a highly adjustable golf club, making it the perfect option off the tee. If you know you won’t be hitting this 3 wood from the fairway, you can set the loft lower and get some extra distance. If you play a round where you think you may need the 3 wood in the fairway as well, you can increase the loft for the day.

The F9 has a CNC precision milled face that gives it a great feel, and the 360 Aero Technology helps golfers gain some clubhead speed. With the Cobra Connect technology included to help you track your progress, this is one of the highest performing 3 wood golf clubs you can find.

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Great feel
• Offered at a low price
• Adjustable

Cons

• The new Speedzone may be a little longer

Callaway Rogue

It can be common for women golfers to have trouble with the driver off the tee. Hitting an incredible drive takes quite a bit of clubhead speed, and most women struggle in that category. The technology used to create the Callaway Rogue driver helps women golfers get the distance they need off the tee, even when using a 3 wood.

The Callaway Rogue is designed with the Face Cup technology to help make tee shots easier to keep straight. The Triaxle Carbon Crown was improved on this club so that the center of gravity could be lowered, and players could get better launch.

The Callaway Rogue features the Quaranta lightweight shaft that will make it much easier to swing fast and gain some extra speed. This is a fairway wood that will help your game both from the tee and from the fairway.

Pros

• Helps golfers get a higher loft
• Built for slower swing speed
• Very comparable to driver distance

Cons

• The feel is not as great as the new Mavrik

Cleveland HB Turbo Launcher

If your goal is to keep your 3 wood in the middle of the fairway, the HB Turbo Launcher is the best choice for you. This may not be quite as long as something like the SIM Max, but when you want consistent forgiving performance, Cleveland really stands out.

The club features the traditional Cleveland Hibore Crown. The Hibore will allow the club to have a much lower center of gravity and help golfers to get much higher loft and launch. This is not an adjustable fairway wood, so you will notice that the club is very lightweight. Players with a slower swing speed will enjoy the benefits that the Cleveland HB Turbo Launcher has to offer.

Part of the excellent performance with this club can be attributed to the Miyazaki shaft developed to fit with this fairway wood perfectly.

Pros

• Very forgiving
• Turbocharged Cup Face
• Helps players increase ball flight

Cons

• Not adjustable

And The Winner Is…

Buyers Guide

Here are a few questions that golfers should consider before purchasing their new 3 wood.

Should You Hit A Three Wood Off the Tee?

Part of great course management is learning how to hit a variety of golf clubs from all different locations. When a golf hole has lots of trouble at the distance where you normally hit your driver, sometimes it makes sense to hit a 3 wood instead. The 3 wood can help you keep the ball straighter and have you end up in a better location.

If you have never hit a 3 wood from the tee box, make sure that you tee the ball at the proper height. It should not be placed as high as your driver would be. Make sure the ball is in line with the sweet spot on the golf club. We review some golf alignment tools on AEC Info..

How Much Distance Do You Lose with A 3 Wood Off the Tee?

For some golfers that struggle to keep the ball in the fairway with their driver, they may gain distance off the tee. When you switch to a 3 wood, you will typically lose 10-20 yards. On a long par four, this distance could be tough to give up, but on a shorter, tighter fairway par four, the 3 wood may be the proper club to pull out of the golf bag.

When you hit a 3 wood off the tee, be less concerned about the loss in the distance and instead be more confident in the accuracy and performance you can gain. Golfers who are new to the game should consider using a 3 wood off the tee until they gain more consistency with their driver.

Why Are 3 Woods Difficult to Hit Off the Fairway?

The reason that a 3 wood can be difficult to hit off the fairway is that it is a very low lofted club. All of the other clubs in your bag that you attempt to hit off the fairway will have more loft than the 3. Golfers with higher swing speeds will have an easier time get the ball to launch from a tight fairway lie, but most will have no issues hitting the 3 wood from the tee.

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