Stupid Golf Question
3-wood vs 5-wood: what is the difference?
You need a fairway wood and the lower number looks automatically better
Plain answer first
The plain answer
A 3-wood commonly has less loft and a longer shaft than a 5-wood, creating more distance potential. A 5-wood commonly launches higher with a shorter shaft, which can make useful carry and contact easier, but lofts vary by model.
The NPG answer
The 3-wood wins the lower-number contest. Your actual shots still get a vote.
When it matters
It matters when choosing a tee club or a long club from the fairway, especially if your 3-wood flies too low or rarely finds the center.
What to do next
Compare both from a tee and the fairway using carry, launch, peak height, strike pattern, and dispersion.
Do this next
What is a hybrid golf club?
A hybrid combines fairway-wood-like head design with the role and length range of a long iron.
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