Part of your decision should be based on distance gaps. It is also unusual to be comfortable with a 3W and not a 5W. Especially if you have the same series FW and the same shaft. I'd look to get a FW or Hybrid to fill the gap from your 3W to your next club below the 5W.

Wait a minute. You can't get your 5W in the air? But you can get your 3W in the air? I am confused. Usually it's the other way around.

In any case, you don't really give enough info to make that judgement for you (not that we should make that judgement for you), but my guess would be, if you can get your 3W in the air, then it may be a mental issue with your 5W that is not allowing a good launch.

A 5W is generally easier to hit off the deck than a 4W, so why would you consider that route?

Do you hit your 3W well off the deck, or do you use it primarily only off the tee? If you use it only for tee shots, and you can't hit your 5W off the deck, I would not consider a 4W to replace the 5W. Instead, I would consider an 816H1 19* hybrid. Awesome hybrid. Based on your post, I would bet, not only will you be able to get the 816H1 up in the air, but there will be little or no distance loss over your well-struck 5W, which my guess is, doesn't happen for you that often right now.

I'm wondering if you may have made a mistake in your original post. Could you have meant to say you can't get your '3W' in the air? If so, I have a whole different answer. I had that problem and DID put a low-profile 4W in the bag which made a world of difference. As a result, I got so confident with that 4W over time, that I recently added a 915F 3W. For awhile I used the 4W off the short grass and the 3W off the tee and lofty lies. I have now become so confident with the 3W that I am hitting it well off the fairway, so the 4W is rarely ever needed. So, now I am considering a 915F 5W or 816H1 19* hybrid for more flexibility in my bag. I presently play a 21* 816H1 (set to 22*) as my first club down from the 4W, which leaves a bit of a gap. A 19* 816H or 915 5W should fill it better.

Although I currently have a 3 and 5 wood in the bag, for the longest time I went with just a 4 wood. it was a good compromise. Long enough off the tee when I used it there and easier to get airborne than a 3w.

If I didn't love both these so much now, I'd look for a good 4w again and add a 19 degree H1 to go with my 21 and 23

Robert I use the Titleist 915F 16.5* and it's a bomber with the right shaft in it. Easy to hit and get in the air. Then if you need another club for the gap in would recommend a 915 or 918 hybrid.

You could drop the 5 wood and replace with a wedge or you could add a hybrid.

have you thought about trading out the 5 wood for a hybrid? I ditched my 5 wood two years ago and it was a great decision for me

I've actually made this change many times, now I'm very content with carrying my 4 wood (16.5) and my 7 wood (21 degree with a 5 wood shaft). I've spent years coming to this conclusion for a few reasons
1. My 3 wood was going to gosh dang far thanks to the great technology Titleist has incorporated that it wasn't making sense, now my 4 wood goes 265 to 275,
2. I wanted a high long flight and the 7 wood was getting high but not as far as I wanted, so I put the 5 wood shaft in the 7 wood and problems solved, I can hit a high long fairway shot now from 250 and land the green nicely,
I love this set up, I've switched and used every club there is and this works great for me, just my two pesos

You obviously have a hitch in your thinking or your swing. Relax and check your fundamentals. If you have no problem with your 3-wood, there is something basic going on in your approach to the 5-wood. Don't give up yet! You want some gap in your longer clubs, distance wise, so stick with the 5-wood.......EK

I carry one fairway wood (913 15o) and one Hybrid (913 21o) . My 3 is great off the tee when a driver is too much. I also choke down on the 3 and it gets about the same distance as a 5. My Hybrid is my 190 to 200 yard club.

Good question. I have been wondering about carrying 3 and 5 or just a 4 wood. My hybrids start at 21 degrees.

Go get fit and find the yardage gaps to see which club is needed.

Each person will have a preference, it's difficult to answer. Some may prefer the look of less loft and others prefer more loft. I use a 3 wood and 5 wood but don't have difficulty getting the ball in the air with either. Have you tried different shafts in the 5 wood to see if it adds help getting the ball up?

to me a 3 and 5 wood make more sense, otherwise your gap is very small
If you can hit a 4 wood, a 5 wood is even easier to get up in the air

Is your 5 wood a different make than your 4 wood? Also how well do you hit your 4 wood? Usually the 5 wood is one of the easiest clubs to hit in the bag …

If your 4 wood is a always a solid hit, the answer is yes. And if you can't hit the 5 wood, I'd remove it entirely.

I also sometimes carry a 4 wood and I use it off the fairway on longer par 5s. If the course is tight and has no long par 5s, I'll replace the 4 wood with a 2 iron—which for me is a straighter option off of the tee (than the 4 or 3 wood).

Have you tried the 816 hybrids? They are rather easy to hit and with the right shaft and super long. Might be a better alternative. Go see a fitter and get dialed in. I have a 816h1 set a 21* and hit it around 190 yards. I am not a long hitter. 70 years old and an 11 handicap. Also carry a 915h set at 18.25* which I hit around 205. I carry a 15* fairway but about the only time is use it is off the tee on tight par fours or when I need a draw and can hit it about 225. I have been fitted for all my clubs and it has made a big difference when I pull them out of my bag.

You have an interesting dilemma. Many struggle to elevate a 3w. What is your miss with the 5w? Are you striking the ball crisply? Is the shaft flex and kickpoint fighting your swing? My opinion would be that the 3 and 4 are too close to each other to be worth carrying, at least for my game.