Xander Schauffele Tells Average Golfers to Ditch 1 Club

With the 2025 Open Championship teeing off this week from the Royal Portrush Golf Club, the Rainmakers Golf crew dived into our archives to find some pro golfer tips from the defending champion, Xander Schauffele.

Not only did we get a chance to hang on the driving range with Schauffele and fellow 2-time major champion Justin Thomas at Panther National a few months back, but we stole 15 minutes of their time afterwards to ask some pressing golf instruction questions, too.

One of the most important questions we needed to ask: Which golf club should an average player never use?

Without much hesitation, Xander Schauffele shared his thoughts, saying the 3-iron should be avoided at all times. He explains why in the video below.

Why Xander Schauffele Thinks Average Golfers Shouldn’t Use a 3-Iron

https://youtube.com/shorts/QLLVbLjp_jk?si=SWdS7H5lOuva16kk

While asking both Schauffele and Justin Thomas the question, I prompted them with something that the great Lee Trevino once said, suggesting average golfers should avoid using a 60-degree wedge.

“The 60-degree wedge is the worst thing that ever happened to a high-handicapper, because he can’t use the 56 yet,” Trevino once said on the Subpar podcast. “I mean, he’s got to learn to use the 56 before he goes to a 60. I don’t know why they’re carrying a 60. They can’t use the damn thing.”

Echoing Trevino, Xander Schauffele suggested something similar when talking about the 3-iron.

“3-iron; it shouldn’t be in the bag,” he said. “A lot of pros don’t even use a 3-iron.”

When I ask him to elaborate a bit more, Schauffele suggests that there are just so many other options to use that are easier to hit.

“You just need speed to get it up in the air, and there are Hybrids and Utility Woods out there that are way easier to hit,” he adds. “[Most players] can’t hit a 3-iron out of the rough, but with a 7-wood or Hybrid you can.”

So if you’re carrying a 3-iron in your bag — and continue to make poor contact with it — not only is it common to do so, but it might be time to reconsider even keeping it around as an option.

The video on Rainmakers' Instagram account has more than 1 million views and hundreds of comments, so it's clearly a hotly-debated topic. So chime in to let us know if you agree or disagree with Xander Schauffele's take.