How to Hit Your 3-Metal
By Dr. T. J. Tomasi, Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research
One of the toughest things for average golfers to learn is to trust the loft on their 3-metal club. With loft angles in the teens from 13 to 16 degrees, that’s not much more loft to look at than the amount found on most drivers (an average of 11 to 8 degrees of loft). With the 3-metal, the average golfer’s eye sees a very vertical clubface at the address, proffering the suggestion that there is not enough loft to get the ball airborne off the ground. The solution is to move the ball forward – a mistake that causes a host of problems.
Because of its design, the 3-metal should be swung on a shallow path that allows the clubface to sweep along the ground into impact with a sliver of divot after impact – but due to the loft issue, our average golfer makes the mistake of swinging the club up and back down on a steep angle, a mistake that is hard to recover from.
Avoid the Error
To avoid this error, let’s analyze the ball position. Simply put, many golfers play the ball too far forward with a 3-metal – as if it were a driver with not much loft. The difficulty is when you’re hitting your driver, the ball is teed up, and you want the driver’s clubhead to be moving upward into the teed ball at impact.
So, to get it right with the 3-metal off the turf, address the ball so it’s about halfway between the center of your stance and your forward heel – in other words, position it off the target side of the chest; or said another way, the logo on your shirt for a right-hander.
During the backswing, make a conscious effort to take the club back low; this will allow you to sweep the club on its natural arc and then slide the bottom of the clubhead into the back of the ball at impact. Transfer your weight to your front side by turning your upper body around your front leg as you come into impact. In the follow-through, allow your arms to extend toward the target as part of the fight to stay on a wide arc. (See the second photo).
Note how the clubhead sweeps the ball with balance on the balls of the feet. There was no divot from this pro’s swing because this shot was from a tee. The hole he is playing is a relatively short par 4 made for a low teed 3- wood or a long iron – depending on the wind.
As with any swing, keep your head behind the ball through impact and allow your arms to be pulled into their full extension on your follow-through.
Learn more!
Want more tips? If you want to take your game to the next level, contact our team at Keiser University’s College of Golf & Sport Management today. With our dedication and experience, together, we can elevate your game to new heights. Give us a call today at 888-355-4465.
