TECHNICALLY \u00b7 4 OF WOOD<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>The 4-wood \u2014 the underestimated bridge.<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>There\u2019s a gap between the 3-wood (190 m) and the 5-wood (170 m). The 4-wood fills that gap\u2014and yet 90% of senior golfers ignore it. Just think of the strategic value of those 20 meters.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>I<\/span>I had a 3-wood and a 5-wood in my bag for years\u2014and the same question kept coming up: 3-wood too long, 5-wood too short? With a 4-wood, that question was gone. 180 meters is 180 meters, I reach for the 4-wood and hit the center. Sounds simple, and it is\u2014if you have it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe 4-wood is the senior specialist for the 180-meter zone. Long par-4 approaches, par-5 layups, long par-3s. These are three situations that, without a 4-wood, are often played as \"just not enough\" or \"too far.\" Score effect: 1-2 strokes per round.<\/p>\n<\/div>
When the four of clubs wins<\/h2>\n\n
Situation 1 \u2014 Long Par 4 Approach<\/div>\n
\u2713 175\u2013190 M TO THE GREEN.<\/div>\n
On long par 4s (380+ meters), a good drive often leaves a 175-190 meter approach shot. A 3-wood would be too long, and a 5-wood too short. A 4-wood produces the exact carry distance \u2013 often even on the green.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Situation 2 \u2014 Par 5 Layup<\/div>\n
\u2713 SECOND HIT TO THE IDEAL PITCHING SPOT.<\/div>\n
On a Par 5, 480-510 meters: a 4-wood as the second shot ideally places the ball 70-90 meters from the green. This is the wedge distance where senior golfers have the greatest scoring leverage.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Situation 3 \u2014 Long Par 3<\/div>\n
Higher trajectory than hybrid.<\/div>\n
For long par 3s (170-190 m), a 4-wood produces a higher trajectory than a 4-hybrid, resulting in a softer landing on the green. More greens in regulation.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n
\n
180 m<\/div>\n
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is the median carry distance of a 4-wood among senior golfers<\/div>\n
TrackMan Senior Database 2024<\/div>\n
Exactly the distance where hybrids are too short and 3-woods are too long.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
Three tips for the 4 wood<\/h2>\n\n
Tip 1 - Ready to go<\/div>\n
\u2713 FAIRWAY AND HALFWAY HOUSE.<\/div>\n
Unlike a 3-wood: a 4-wood can also be played from the fairway. Higher loft makes it easier to get airborne, with more consistent carry. A must-have club for players who frequently miss the fairway.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Tip 2 \u2014 Ball position slightly behind center<\/div>\n
\u2713 3 CM BEHIND DRIVER'S POSITION.<\/div>\n
Ball position about 3 cm behind your left heel. This produces a clean sweep strike and enough backspin for a stop-on-landing effect on the green.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Tip 3 \u2013 Swing tempo beats maximum<\/div>\n
\u2713 85 % SWING.<\/div>\n
Senior golfers with an 85% swing hit their 4-wood more consistently and often produce more carry than with maximum effort. The smash factor is higher, and dispersion is smaller.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
Most senior golfers have a yardage gap they don\u2019t even know about. The 4-wood fills it precisely.<\/em><\/h2>\n\u2014 Tom Wishon, custom club designer<\/p>\n<\/div>
Three arguments for a 4-wood in a senior player's bag.<\/p>\n
Close the distance gap<\/h2>\n
There is a 15-25 meter gap between a 3-wood and a 5-wood. A 4-wood fills that gap perfectly \u2014 and answers the most common club question for long approaches.<\/p>\n
Versatility<\/h2>\n
Tee, fairway, rough, par-5 layup, long par-3 \u2014 the 4-wood is the most versatile club between a driver and irons. Few clubs can handle so many situations.<\/p>\n
Senior-Specific Equipment<\/h2>\n
Custom-fitted 4-irons with senior shafts (R-flex or Senior-flex) add 10-15 m more than standard configurations. Measurably worthwhile.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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ON THIS PAGE<\/div>\n
01<\/strong> When the four of clubs wins<\/div>\n02<\/strong> Three tips for technology<\/div>\n03<\/strong> What the 4-wood doesn't replace<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
MS<\/div>\n
\n
Mathias Struwe<\/div>\n
PUBLISHER \u00b7 HCP 31 \u00b7 68 YRS.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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180 m<\/div>\n
Median carry distance in older adults.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n
REFERENCE<\/div>\n
Lamontagne et al. (2021):
Senior Golf Biomechanics<\/em>. MyTPI (2020): The Golf Body<\/em>. Rose, G. & Phillips, D. (2018): The Golf Body<\/em>. Trackman Performance Database 2024. PGA Tour Stats 2014\u20132024.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>What the 4-wood doesn't replace<\/h2>\n
The 4-wood bridges the 180-yard gap \u2014 but it neither replaces course management nor the short game. Someone who hits the perfect 4-wood shot but pitches 50 yards off, only gains a portion of the potential advantage. A 4-wood is a bag lever, not a game all-rounder.<\/p>\n
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THREE FIRST STEPS<\/div>\n
How to get the 4-wood in the bag in 30 days<\/h3>\n\n
\n
01<\/div>\n
Distance gap test<\/div>\n
In the next round, note all approaches in the 170-190m zone. With which clubs? How close to the green? If often undecided between a 3-wood and a 5-wood, try a 4-wood.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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02<\/div>\n
Demonstration on the range<\/div>\n
Pro Shop or Online Demo: Test a 4-wood with a senior shaft. Record median distance with 15 balls. If 175-185m: ideal. If above\/below: a 5-wood or 3-wood is sufficient.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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03<\/div>\n
See through custom-fitting<\/div>\n
If a 4-wood makes sense: Custom fitting with launch monitor. Adjust loft (typically 16-17\u00b0), shaft, length. \u20ac80-120 - a permanent gain.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,231,8,4,34],"tags":[48,49,50,17,39],"class_list":["post-726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-annaeherung-short-game","category-ausruestung-schlaeger","category-driver-long-game","category-senioren-technik","category-senioren-golf-training","tag-4er-holz","tag-bag-setup","tag-distanz-luecke","tag-senior-golf","tag-technik"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=726"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1096,"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726\/revisions\/1096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/senior-golf.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}