Golf ScoutHow far should you hit a 3 wood, 5 wood or hybrid?
Most male club golfers hit a 3 wood 190 to 220 yards and a 5 wood 180 to 205. On our chart, a 10 handicapper hits a 3 wood about 214 yards, a 5 wood about 200 and a 4 hybrid about 186. PGA Tour players carry a 3 wood about 249 yards.
Woods and hybrids by handicap
| Club | Scratch | 5 hcp | 10 hcp | 15 hcp | 20 hcp | 28 hcp | 36 hcp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 275 | 260 | 245 | 229 | 212 | 182 | 161 |
| 3-wood | 240 | 227 | 214 | 200 | 185 | 158 | 141 |
| 5-wood | 225 | 213 | 200 | 188 | 174 | 149 | 132 |
| 3-hybrid | 221 | 209 | 196 | 184 | 170 | 146 | 129 |
| 4-hybrid | 209 | 197 | 186 | 174 | 161 | 138 | 122 |
| 5-hybrid | 199 | 188 | 177 | 166 | 154 | 131 | 117 |
| 5-iron | 199 | 188 | 177 | 166 | 154 | 131 | 117 |
Typical total distance in yards, carry plus roll, on a still day at sea level. The same figures as the club distance chart.
Hybrid numbers assume typical lofts: about 19° for a 3 hybrid, 22° for a 4 and 25° for a 5. Check the number on your club's head, because lofts vary between makers.
What the tour players hit
Trackman data puts PGA Tour average carries at about 249 yards with a 3 wood, 236 with a 5 wood and 231 with a hybrid. For male amateurs, England Golf's iGolf gives 190 to 220 yards with a 3 wood and 180 to 205 with a 5 wood.
Is a 3 wood much shorter than a driver?
From the tee, a 3 wood typically goes 20 to 35 yards shorter than a driver; on our chart the gap is 29 yards at a 15 handicap. From the fairway the gap is bigger, because a ball on the grass launches lower than one on a tee. Many club golfers hit their 3 wood off the deck little further than a 5 wood, and with less control.
Wood or hybrid?
- A 5 wood launches high and lands soft, and its wide sole sweeps the ball off tight lies and light rough. It's often easier to hit than a 3 wood.
- A hybrid replaces a long iron. It's shorter and easier to control than a wood, and better out of thicker rough, where its head cuts through the grass.
- A long iron flies lowest, which helps in the wind on a links, but needs the most swing speed to get airborne.
The test is the gap. If your 5 wood and 3 hybrid go the same distance, you only need one of them, and the space in the bag can go to a wedge.
See every club for your handicap
Related guides
- How far should you hit a pitching wedge?
- What is the average driver distance by age?
- How far should you hit a 7 iron?
Sources
Golf Scout's caddie picks the club for each shot from the distances you actually hit. Get Golf Scout on the App Store, free for iPhone and Apple Watch.