I spent all last summer playing with my 3 wood. I also went to the range and would hit buckets of balls with just my 3 wood trying different ball position, stance width, ect. After not using my driver for like 3 months i started hitting my 3 wood pretty consistently off the deck to the point where i could hot it almost as far as my driver. Finding the right 3 wood helps too. you gotta hit at least 3 or 4 different ones

I always struggled with 3wd off the deck, I went to a 16.5 deg 4w, and the issue was solved for me, a little shorter and a little more loft helped a lot. I have a 60 stiff in my driver and 70 stiff in my 4wd.

I too went with a 4 wood (16.5) and it gave more confidence that I could get the ball up in the air, but that's just me.

I also went to a 16.5 deg 4w. No loss of distance, thanks to the high end Accra shaft. Easy and long from fw and tee.

My case is one where a proper 3W fitting would likely resolve my problems with a 3W off the deck. I may be losing a few yards, but I launch my 5W so well I opted to leave my 3W in the garage.

Not sure if this could be your problem without seeing your set-up, but 3W (or 4W) off the deck requires hands a bit further forward. I see too many golfers attempting to hit up off the deck with a 3W. That is just asking for chunks and thins. Sure, hit up off the tee, but not from the deck.

It has been said that you need plenty of swing speed to get a 3W up in the air from a tight lie. Well, I am a senior player. By no means do I have a high swing speed, yet I have no issues at all making great ball-first contact and attaining plenty of height (and distance) with my TSi2 from the fairway. A shallow, yet slightly downward path into the ball is all I do. No need to go after it. Just a smooth as silk swing.

And, fwiw, as a player in my mid-60s, I play a STIFF Graphite Design Tour AD-DI in my TSi2, a mid-high launch, lower spinning profile shaft. Just leave a roughed-up area of grass a few inches in front of the ball, the same place you would when hitting down with a proper 3 iron swing. Your ball will easily rise from the turf and take off like a rocket.

I'm old. A good 3W from the deck for me might go about 220y. I bet yours will go much further. Figure it out now. When the TSr FW comes out, you'll really be able to appreciate it so much more.

Generally speaking, a 3 wood shaft will be heavier than a driver shaft. One thing to try since you are having issues hitting off the deck is to choke up on the grip and swing it like a long iron.

If those suggestions work, I would check with a competent fitter on how to duplicate that setup with the new TSr you are considering.

Good points, Doug. Am a few years older (75) and my TSi2 15* 3 wood has now be converted into a 16.5* fairway and am loving my it. At my age, the distance is right and have to remember, as you say to move it up a little in my stance to insure that I hit down thru it and the the face is square, allowing the club to do all the work. Kinda what my instructor would say to me. We play together at least once a week. He is pretty good at elevating fairway woods. Actually hit it the same distance that I hit my 917f3 15* but think I have better control. Have Fujikura Speeder shafts in all my metals. I do not have to work so hard with them. The new heads and those shafts make a great combination. =)

Generally speaking, 3 wood shafts are about 8-10 grams heavier than a driver, but I don't think that's the issue. Hitting a club with low loft off the deck, requires really good contact.Not a lot of margin for error.You've really got to keep your head still and locked in. If you have a shallow angle of attack that might suit you better.If you come at it steep, it's a lot tougher.Doug E might be on to something in terms of setting the hands a little forward.I have a 13.5 and 16.5 fairway. I don't hit the 13.5 off the deck very often. Here's why; I get enough distance with the 16.5, but more importantly,I come at the ball really steep, and like you, more often than not thin it or chunk it.

Well said. 3 wood off the deck is basically a sweep. Trying to trap and compress, or trying to hit up simply doesn't work. You don't have to hit hard. One of the great things about a 3 wood off the deck is the number of shots you can produce. One of my favorites is a 60% swing that stays low and runs out.