That is a personal issue AP, what do you feel comfortable hitting? Some days I can hit a 3 wood and other days I can't and then I use a 5 wood. If it was my issue I would go to the range and see what club I like hitting.

I use a 5 wood because I carry a 3 iron as well. I have experienced that the typical 3 wood sets up to my eye funny making it distracting. I prefer a 5 but I suggest get fitted and see what is best for you before buying off the "rack"

Thats a good problem to have :)
John

Have you thought about a 19 deg Hybrid you can crank it down to 18 deg then it's equivalent to a 5 wood

I just picked up TS2 5 Wood. It filled the gap for me between the 4 iron and 3 Wood. I wanted a 230 club and it fit the bill just perfect.

I would look to see where it's going to fill you gap the best.

I was fit a couple weeks ago and we decided to go with the TS2 16.5 degree fairway. I tend to have a lower ball flight and the 16.5 was a great solution for the ball flight I needed/wanted and filling the distance gap between my hybrid and driver.

Have you considered a 4W? Great compromise IMO.

I used to play a 16.5* Titleist 915F (essentially a 4W head, but 3W shaft length), but have since moved to a 917F 15* 3W. My next club down is a 19* 818H which seems to fill the gap nicely between the 3W and my AP3 4i. At least it does for my game. FWIW, before the 19* 818H, I used a 915F 19* 5W which might have been a few yards longer than the hybrid....sometimes.

If you definitely want to use either the 3W or 5W because you already own both of them, my guess is you'll probably get more satisfaction using the 3W. Assuming you have the swing speed to hit a 3 iron well, then you should also have the swing speed to get good results from your 3W too. Even though the 5W is likely much easier to hit, I'm guessing the distance between the 3 iron and 5 wood wouldn't be all that great.

So much really depends on your swing speed and ability to make center contact with your long irons and fairways. If you hit your 3 iron, the same distance (or thereabout) as you hit your 4 iron, I'd really consider adding an 18 or 19 degree hybrid or 5W (in addition to the 3W) and dropping the 3 iron. On the otherhand, if you can hit a 3 iron better than most of us, and do so most of the time, you'd probably do fine going from 3W to 3i. Choke down an inch on the 3W when nec.

I play a 3 wood and a 5 wood. I also have a hybrid. My longest iron in my bag is a 5 iron since I like having a 3 and a 5 wood. I feel like I have better gaping this way instead of having a 3 and a 4 iron. Just works for me

I personally stopped carrying a 5 wood and switched to a 2-iron years ago to better control my trajectory. I think you need to ask yourself what you’re looking for - ie more distance or higher ball flight/softer landing. Also ask yourself which one are you more consistent hitting. I think DougE above also offers a good alternative - look into a 4w (17 degree-ish).

19 fairway all the way. I've learned how to maneuver one over the years. I have two 3 woods I hit pretty well: 913F 13.5 (set to D3) and 915F 15 (set to A3). I've hit the 13.5 250 yards on a couple occasions. Closer to 230 with the 15. I get about 200-210 with my 5 wood. My 25 hybrid is 180. 32 is 160. 8 iron 140-145.

Distance gap is the best way to determine. I'm not a long hitter so I use 3 and 5. Furthermore, I play on tightly mown Bermuda fairways, not the best for getting under the ball with woods so my 3 is 17 deg. and my 5 is 22 deg.

I carry both in my bag. I like my 5 wood for the 225 yard shot. I know it’s going to be spot on.

I made the change to a 5 wood and dropped the 3 wood a few seasons ago. More consistent, more solid shots with the 5 wood, especially off the turf. More loft & shorter shaft make it easier to hit for me than a 3 wood. Personal choice, but I am good with the 5 wood between the driver and hybrid.

I have a 915F 15 and 913F 19. Set both to A3 so I get 4 wood and 7 wood loft (16.5 and 20.5). I also have the option of a tradeoff between the 19F and a 915F 21H (at A2).

I might add that I have been playing a more lofted driver since 2011. Between 2011-2017 I carried a 13* draw driver so my fairway was 19 or 21. I currently carry a 910D2 set to B3 (12*) with a 44.5" shaft.

I hadn't been able to hit a 3 wood with any degree of success between 2006-2018. The answer was carrying a 915F 18 for a year. Found a 42.5" shaft set to D3 on a 913F 13.5 and 915F 15 with a heavier head weight was the answer. More consistent with the 915F, so I traded in the 13.5 (which I could hit off the deck). My 913F 19* has a 41.5" shaft and 15g headweight set to A3.

Ap, I'd lean toward the 5 wood. It's got a smaller head, and easier to hit from not only the fairway, but the rough too. Tweak the loft down from 18 to 16.5. Sounds like a good remedy.

I dropped 3 wood for 5 wood and added a wedge. 5 woods go so far now I don’t miss 3 wood but love the extra options around the green the extra wedge gives me.

You might consider where in a round you are most likely to hit a fairway wood and think about which one fits the situation best. If you have to negotiate a long par 3, or you are concerned about leaving yourself a comfortable distance into some long par 5, think about which would suit the most situations the best.

Maybe if you rearranged your wedges, you could carry both until you figure out what you like.

I dropped my three wood last summer and have not missed it. My 5 wood goes as far and the percentage of good hits is much better.

Recently added a 818H2 19degree to the bag to fill the 3 iron to 3 wood gap -- works for me. Used to carry a 5wood but as of late couldn't hit the darn thing.

Would also consider using both as needed as particular course dictates.

Recently added a 818H2 19degree to the bag to fill the 3 iron to 3 wood gap -- works for me. Used to carry a 5wood but as of late couldn't hit the darn thing.

Would also consider using both as needed as particular course dictates.