Fairway woods/Hybrids

Real quick background...I've been playing for around 10 years, but really extremely casual until about the last 2 1/2 years. I shoot around 50 on the 9 hole course that I play weekly, and have gotten into the 110-115 range 18 hole courses that have any difficulty.

I decided to get serious this year, and have really been working on technique, and have upgraded some equipment. I went from the Walmart "Knight" brand set that I bought back in 1998 to a Taylormade R7 driver and a Pinemeadow Command Hybrid iron set. I'm doing much better with these clubs and some changes that I worked on with a couple of local pros. I still have some issues to work out (like putting for one) but I had some questions about hitting hybrids and fairway woods.

I'm not much of a divot taker. I have a steep swing and tend to pick more than dig. I don't seem to make great contact with either my fairway woods or my hybrids from the fairway. I hit them just fine off the tee. (though to be fair, I've only taken my hybrids on the course once so far...just got the iron set last week.)

Any advice on making better contact with these clubs?

My advice, for what it is worth, is to focus your eyes on the front of the ball, or even on a blade of grass in front of the ball. With your eyes focused there, your mind will try to make the club hit there. Since the ball will be in the way of where your mind wants the club to go, you will make much better contact with the ball, with a more "down and through" swing. This will work for all of your clubs, not just the hybrids and the fairway woods. Also, I cannot stress enough how important it is to swing the club slow. If you think you are swinging it slow already, you are still swinging too fast. Take the club away slow, make your transition slow, and the make the down swing at the same speed. Trust me, you will hit the ball pure, and your subconscious mind will accelerate the club at the right time to hit the ball.

Of course, this information is coming to you from a guy who cannot hit his driver off of the tee. I have been relegated to hitting a 17 degree hybrid off the tee, and right now am averaging 220-230 yards with it.

I was about to post a similar question, so thanks!

I have found that I have to take a different swing with my hybrids than I do my irons (all Adams Idea A1s). For my irons I just cock my wrists and swing away. With my hybrids I have to consciously slow down and just let the clubs do their job, being very careful to flatten my wrists at impact. If I use the same swing as with my irons I'm all over the place.

Is it normal to need a different swing with irons versus hybrids?

First, FW are meant to be swept off of the ground. I have better success hitting hybrids like I do mid irons, slightly to the left of center and take a small divot.

To be able to hit these clubs well, you need to be able to get confidence with your swing. I initially worked on hitting them from the tee and gradually lowered and lowered the tee to the point that I didn't need a tee, anymore.

With my fairway wood and my hybrids, I have the ball foreward in my stance and I sweep them off the ground. This gives me a nice, high trajectory.
If you have problems with topping the ball with your woods/hybrids, you may have the ball too far foreward in your stance.

ive just recently gotten my first hybrid clubs and i love them. what helped me is keeping my head down because its real easy to top the ball with them. my head and eyes stay focused on the ball even after i make contact. i dont see about the first second of flight. once my right shoulder (im a righty) hits my chin i smoothly turn my head to watch the ball. i used to hit and immediately try to watch the ball in flight, but it would always just roll down the fairway. good luck and once you start hitting well with them you will love them as much as i do!


oh ya and i hit them just like i hit my 7 iron